Reaching for Love
Chapter 4: Getting to Know You
EDWARD
As we drove away, I thought about the way Bella answered my questions. They made me think I wasn't getting the whole story about her situation. The lawyer in me wanted, no needed, the whole story, but pressing her when she was still visibly upset wasn't something I could do. I had enough to know she needed help. The rest of the story could come later. At a time when she felt safe.
I reached over and took hold of her hand, letting her know in the simple touch, I was there for her. Again a feeling of rightness washed through me. There was just something about Bella that brought out the real me, the side of me I showed my small group of friends and family.
"You will know when you meet the right girl," Esme told Mike and me. "She will be the one to bring out the best in you. Don't let her get away. You marry her."
Marry her? Hmmm. There was a thought. But first I was going to try and get a little more information.
I gave her hand a gentle squeeze. She looked over at me as I merged onto the interstate. Glancing over at her, I broke the silence. "What about your mom. Didn't she have a say?"
In a small, tentative voice, she said, "She left when I was three. I don't remember much about her." She swiped at her eyes with the back of her hand. "My father doesn't like to talk about her. I feel like he was never really there for me. Always working."
Tightening my one-handed grip on the steering wheel, I made a decision. The corners of my mouth turned down and I narrowed my eyes. I didn't want to believe what she was telling me, but I couldn't argue with her feeling. She felt what she felt.
Carlisle was not what I would call the perfect dad, but he was always there for me. Would drop everything if I needed help with homework or just needed to talk. Speeding up, I changed lanes without signaling. Releasing Bella's hand, I reached into my pants pocket and pulled out my cellphone. With a few swipes, I pressed the phone to my ear and waiting for Mike to answer.
"What's up, Edward?"
"Mike, will you please meet me at the hanger?"
"Where are we heading?"
"Not sure yet. I'll text you in an hour or so. Prepare a flight plan and leave the destination blank for now.
"Okay… I will have the jet ready when you arrive."
After thanking Mike, I hung up and tossed my phone in the cupholder.
I drove a couple more miles, whether it was to think or to talk myself out of what I was about to propose. "Bella, how old are you?"
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Bella wrap her arms around her middle.
"Why do you want to know?"
Hell, that was a good question.
Blowing out a breath, I swiped a hand down my face. "I want to protect you."
It was honest. I did want to protect her. It was the how I was afraid to tell her.
"Protect me… how?"
She would make an excellent lawyer. I was hoping she and I would be thirty-thousand feet in the air before I broached this subject. Looked like I wasn't going to be giving a break. "By marrying you."
She was silent for the longest time. "I couldn't ask you to do that, Edward. I'll manage somehow and on my own."
I brought my right hand up and pinched the bridge of my nose. "I know I don't—"
She cut me off. "My father will believe you're the one who got me pregnant. He'll kill you."
Her breathing hitched, and she tightened hold on her sides.
Bella had a point, but I had the perfect counter. "It's a risk I'm willing to take to help you. I'll even take a paternity test."
Momentarily taking my eyes off the road, I glanced over at her. She was staring at me wide-eyed. Like she didn't quite believe me. I was about to expound a little when she blurted out, "Twenty-one."
Twenty-one. That was good. No need for parental consent. Not that Bella looked underage. It was my lawyer's mind working. I had thought she was possibly nineteen, she wouldn't need consent in Washington, I wasn't sure about other states.
"How old are you?"
Logical question. I switched lanes again, signaling this time, and got off the interstate. We were near the airport. So, was it going to be Las Vegas or Atlantic City?
"Twenty-nine."
My earlier thought about her being hungry came to me again as we idled at a stoplight. I know I could eat. Mike wouldn't be at the hanger for another half hour and we were about ten minutes away. Preparations would take forty-five minutes, if not longer, unless his co-pilot helped.
"Have you eaten?" I asked, thinking about what was in the area. Internally, I cringed. I shouldn't have asked that way.
Her "No" sound as if she was about to burst into tears. "I was at Palisade to pick up my paycheck. That's when I encountered my ex and the staff manager fired me before I could go in and get it. He said he would mail both to me." She lifted her hand in a gesture I took as "Need I go on."
I got what she was saying. You don't fire someone without given them the paycheck that is ready. I get the need to mail the current week's pay. Taking a calming breath, I chuckled. "I get what you are saying. What do you like?"
"I don't know where we are or what's nearby," she admitted sadly.
My right hand went to the bridge of my nose again. She was impossible. No. It wasn't her, it was the situation she found herself in. She had every right to her statement.
Another calming breath to push my frustration out of my voice. "Please tell me the type of cuisine you like, and I'll take it from there."
She drew her lip between her thoughts, whether thinking or to prevent herself from answering.
"Come on," I said, slipping my hand over hers again. "You can tell me. It's my treat."
Switching pedals, I depressed the gas lightly moving down the road again when the signal turned green.
I felt her relax as she answered. "I haven't ventured much outside of traditional American foods, like burgers and fries."
Of course she hadn't. Her head turned left and right as I pasted one fast-food joint after another. I was all for the occasional quick bite, but there was no telling when she last had a decent meal. I pulled into a spot outside of Claim Jumper and cut the ignition.
Bella peered out the window. Watching the families entering. Most were in casual attire, like her. Others were in business attire, like me.
BELLA
I jumped when my door opened and Edward's hand appeared to help me out. With a calming breath, I put my hand in his. For the second time since meeting him, a spark raced up my arm.
After closing the door, his hand moved to the small of my back as he guided me to the glass doors. He stepped away from me and opened one side, motioning for me to precede him. What a gentleman, I thought.
The hostess smiled at Edward and me. My jaw about dropped when she batted her eyelashes at him as he slipped his hand into mine and pressed his lips to my cheek. I took it to mean, he didn't care for the blatant way the hostess was flirting with him.
The hostess's eyes strayed to me before she looked at the tablet on the stand. "Is the bar okay?" she asked, her eyes going to me again, a malicious gleam in her eyes. I took this as her way of asking me if I was old enough.
I balled my free hand into a fist. Geesh! I didn't look that young.
Edward followed her gaze. He smiled when his eyes landed on me as he nodded as he answered, "That's preferred." He leaned in and kissed my cheek again.
The hostess pursed her lips and glared at me, shooting the awkwardness from a five to straight off the chart. "This way," she said, going cold. Her back was ramrod straight as she grabbed two menus.
Menus? I swallowed. Folded menus usually meant the meals were pricey. This place didn't scream high class like Palisade, but still.
We followed, my hand still encased in Edward's much larger one, with the same electricity running through me as earlier. The hostess led us to a high-top table. She threw the menus down, instead of placing them in front of two chairs.
High chairs? Oh, grow up.
"Matt will be right with you." She walked away without another word.
"Wow," I remarked, looking around and noticing several open booths.
"Yeah," Edward said, pulling out a chair and holding it while I climbed up. "She couldn't have been ruder. And it should have been clear I was with you."
So, he had noticed flirtatious looks but paid no heed to them. I didn't know what to think of it, of him.
I accepted the menu he held out to me and opened it. My eyes popped out of my head when I saw the prices. With the little I make and my tips, my budget was tight. Going out to eat was a luxury reserved for payday and only McDonald's. A single item on the menu I held was three times greater than my order of two cheeseburgers, small fries, and a small drink. That came to a little over five bucks. My life was a sad one.
EDWARD
The menu was no use to me. No matter how many times I've been to Claim Jumper, I got the same thing. I only opened it so I could covertly watch Bella.
Her eyes widened as she took in the menu. This was not your run-of-the-mill cheap burger and fry place, and I had the feeling this wasn't what she expecting. "Order whatever you want, Bella."
"But…" she started, peeking over her menu at me. Her deep, alluring eyes captivated me as flecks of gold danced within the deep swirls of cocoa, making them appear to have a mystery hidden inside waiting to be discovered. And she was a mystery, one I never wanted to solve.
Where in the hell did that thought come from?
I took a calming breath.
"It's my treat," I reminded. "Please order whatever you want."
She looked back down at the menu and gulped.
My thoughts wandered as I watched her. She was enchanting. When I saw her sitting on the bench outside Palisade crying, my heart went out to her. Before I knew it, I was striding toward her. The moment her eyes connected with mine, I was lost in them. They held so much emotion. Confusion. Fear. Not once did desperation or a plea for help appear in them. She was strong, a survivor. I could tell in the way she hesitated in accepting my offer of help.
The waiter took our drink order. I had ordered a sweet tea and Bella a strawberry lemonade. Once the waiter was gone, she closed the menu and placed it on the table.
Mentally, I shook my head. Money wasn't a problem for me, so I didn't understand why she was worried. I would pay for her meal.
"There are so many choices," she said, putting her chin in her hands. "I don't know what to get."
A smile graced my face. "Would you like me to choose something for you?" I asked, knowing exactly what I was going to order for her. She looked healthy but there was no telling when she last ate, and the little I knew about pregnancies revolved around mother-to-be eating more calories.
She nodded. "Please."
It had not escaped my notice that she had yet to smile. Given what little she had told me, I knew she was going through hell.
My smile went up a notch. "How do you like your steak?"
"Warm and pink."
"Do you have a preference for a side?"
"Uh?" she said, reaching for the menu again.
I covered her hand with mine. I still didn't know what to make of the warmth radiating through mine and up my arm. I had felt to three times at this point. "Fries, baked potato, mashed potatoes, sweet potato, rice, broccoli, potato cakes, or mac and cheese," I rattled off as my thumb slipped under her hand to caress her palm.
She stared at me for a moment. "Sweet potato with cinnamon and a little butter," she said, freeing her hand from mine.
The waiter returned with our drinks and placed them on the table. "Ready to order," he asked, turning to face Bella.
Bella motioned to me.
"I'll have the seared ahi spinach salad and she'll have the filet mignon cooked medium with a sweet potato. Butter and cinnamon, and a side order of broccoli."
Once the waiter left to place our order, I switched seats so I was sitting next to her instead of across. She was silent, not looking at me. The urge to mess with my phone, like I usually did on dates, was strangely missing. I wanted to get to know Bella and the best way to do that was to tell her about myself.
"I hate sitting in silence," I started. "So, let me tell you about myself. I'm a lawyer. Entertainment lawyer."
Bella arched an eyebrow and looked over at me. "You're a lawyer," she remarked.
Reaching for my tea, I took a sip before replying. "Yes. My day consists of reviewing contacts for blossoming talent of stage and screen. I protect said talent from being steamrolled by studios and theatrical companies."
Her mouth formed an 'O,' but she said nothing, offered nothing about herself.
How can I get her to tell me more about herself? To smile? "I love reading," I said in hopes to strike a subject we could discuss before I broached the subject of me protecting her, of us getting married once more.
"Really?" she asked, a slight smile gracing her face. "I love the classics, especially Wuthering Heights. I read it every year."
"I haven't read it since I was forced to in high school. I can't say I enjoyed it. My favorite would have to be Dracula."
Again, Bella arched an eyebrow. "Dark and scary," she remarked. "Although it does have some good themes."
My curiosity was piqued. I took another sip of my tea. "Like?" I asked, setting it back on the table.
"The consequences of modernization, for one. The people of England were easy prey for Dracula because they turned their backs on superstition in order to accept the modern ways of thinking." Bella reached for her drink for the first time and drank deeply.
I scratched my nose, covering my smile with my hand. "Interesting point. I never considered the cost of technology and ideals evolving. Would Dracula represent big business then?" The answer was obvious to me from what little she said however I wanted to know her thoughts.
She tilted her head to the side, regarding me a moment. "Only if they gain profit by deceiving their clients. There are many companies that want to help others. Take Bombas for instance. The more socks they sell, the more socks they donate to homeless shelters. They're making a profit and doing something good at the same time."
My eyes widened. I was impressed. "Hmm, but what does that say about companies who are only concerned about profits?"
Again she regarded me as she sipped her drink. "Don't all companies care about the communities they have offices?" she asked.
The question caught me off guard, and I nearly toppled my glass as I reached for it. "I suppose," I answer. "What does that have to do with anything?"
Her smile lit up her face. "Everything. If they care about the communities around them and make donations to the Red Cross, United Way, or other community outreach programs, then are they solely focused on profits? Sure, companies need to be concerned about staying in the black but preying on the poor is wrong."
I shook my head to clear it. Bella was young and had already grasped what I hadn't until my last year of law school. I was at a loss for words and took a moment to formulate a reply. "Preying on anyone, no matter their bank account is wrong," I said as the waiter arrived with our meals.
Shock appeared in her eyes and I had to wonder why.
"Another lemonade?" the waiter asked as he placed Bella's steak in front of her.
"Please," Bella replied before turning her attention back to me. "Well said. What music do you like?"
The transition was smooth. And, strangely, it didn't bother me. None of the women I dated cared about my likes, only my bank account. I never had a deep and meaningful conversation with them. That was why I was always playing with my phone on dates. Bella was the polar opposite of all the women who lost interest when I wouldn't commit.
"I'll listen to most anything. Hardcore rap and heavy metal I tend to stay away from, though."
"Same here. My grade school music teacher taught me to appreciate music and that it was all intertwined together." Bella speared a floret of broccoli and bought it to her lips.
"What do you mean?" I was confused, having never heard that before.
It was a few moments before she responded. "What's modern country music without the fiddle?"
"Huh?" I had no clue where she was going.
She smiled. "It's pop music. Take the fiddle away and all you have left is drums, guitar, bass, and keyboard. That's the main reason Taylor Swift easily transitioned from country to pop. All it took was removing one instrument."
Taylor Swift? I made a mental note to look her up and listen to some of her songs.
Bella's knowledge and insight was remarkable and had me wondering about something. "Are you a college student?"
Bella shook her head. "No, I wanted to go but could not afford it. I found a job and started saving. I eventually found myself at Palisade until today. I made enough to take care of the essentials," she said. Her eyes studied her plate and fell silent as she finished eating.
I didn't know how to respond. What she said had me making what some would think was a rash decision. Setting my fork down, I pulled my phone out and texted the destination to Mike.
Las Vegas.
Slipping it back into my pocket, my eyes moved to Bella. My offer was hanging out there for her to – to what? Accept? Reject? I didn't want to think about her rejecting me. I wasn't one to believe in love at first time, but now… yeah, I was falling in love with her even though I recently met her.
She had given me the perfect opening to bring it back up.
The waiter placed the check down at my elbow. Reaching back, I pulled out my wallet and then my credit card. Without looking at the total, I slipped it in the folder and then took hold of Bella's left hand. Again, warmth radiated up my hand.
"Bella," I started, "with a baby in your future, you getting by will not be enough. You need someone to help you, to take care of you and your child. Yes, there are programs out there to help but I don't feel like it will be enough."
She sighed. "But marrying you…" She shook her head. "No. I couldn't put you…"
Without thinking, I leaned in and pressed my lips to hers. Her sharp into of breath, had me pulling back. Her eyes were soft, holding no censure. I couldn't be sure, but it seemed she didn't mind my kiss.
"I want to help you, Isabella."
She gasped, drawing her hand free. I was expecting her to correct me, but the smile on her face was beautiful. It was enough to make me want to kiss her again. I went on instead of drawing her to me.
"The only I way can think of is to marry you. Then and only then, can I add you to my health insurance." It was the best argument I could come up with without telling her who I was and about my wealth. I would have to eventually, I wouldn't go into marriage with her not knowing. In the short time I was acquainted with her, I knew she wasn't one to willingly take a handout. I wasn't going to force her. It had to be her decision.
She shook her head, whether in denial or disbelief.
I gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "You've got time to think about it."
"What do you mean?" she asked.
I ignored her question, signing the check after adding a nice tip. "Shall we," I said, standing and offering her my hand.
Bella didn't accept my hand. She glared at me. I met her gaze. The question I ignored was written across her face in the way her eyes were drawn together and one eyebrow was raised. My hope of explaining where I was taking her and my other reasons in the air was chased away by that look.
It had to be her choice to come with me, I reminded myself.
Taking a deep breath, I thought about how best to answer. "If you decide to take me up on my proposal, I want to be where it can take place right away. Las Vegas is three hours away if we fly. We can get the marriage license and marry the same day."
Tears started forming in her eyes. Of happiness or sadness, I couldn't tell.
"I couldn't pay for my dinner, what makes you think I can pay for a plane ticket?"
It was neither. Her tears were about money. I understood.
Raising my left hand, I cupped her cheek. "You don't need to worry about the money. I will take care of any costs."
A tear slipped free as she answered, "I wish I didn't, and I couldn't ask you to do cover a plane ticket."
There was no holding off. I wasn't quite ready to reveal who I was, but I had to give her something.
My thumb ran under her eye, catching the lone tear. I leaned in close to her, whispering, "You don't need a ticket. We'll be traveling through private means."
Her shoulders slumped. "Still, I won't be able to pay back whoever owns the plane."
I wasn't winning with Bella, at least not yet.
"Trust me. The owner is a generous guy," I said, stroking her cheek. "He's a corporate angel."
That caught her attention. "Corporate angel?"
I heard the curiosity in her voice and smiled. "Yes," I said. "He offers free flights to cancer patients so they don't have to worry about how they are going to get their treatments. He always makes sure there are seats on his jet."
It sounded like I was bragging, but I wasn't. Money wasn't my motive. Helping others felt right and made me happy.
"Are you sure he won't mind?"
My smile hitched a little higher. "Positive."
"How? How are you so sure?" she asked.
I hung my head. She definitely sounded like a lawyer. Looking back up into her eyes, I caressed her cheek and whispered, "Because it's my jet, Bella."
Her back stiffened, but she did not pull away from my touch.
My hand dropped to my sided. "I have money, plenty of it," I said.
"How much?" Her voice was small, almost a whisper. She was still sitting stiffly. I had to get her to relax again.
I leaned closer and whispered in her ear again. "I'm not quite sure. I let my accountant handle the bills." It wasn't the truth, but it was not a lie either. I knew my approximate net worth. Telling her would not help matters.
"Who are you?" she asked in a low voice.
I reached for my wallet again and pulled out my business card. With a sigh, I held it out to Bella, not knowing if she would believe me without proof. I was glad it had my picture on it.
Her eyes moved across the card before a gasp left her.
"Cullen? Edward Cullen?" she asked with her eyes back on me.
Her eyes were unreadable now.
"The one and only," I said with a slight chuckle, brushing my hand through my hair.
Bella shook her head. "Why? Why would you offer to marry me? You could have anyone, including the hostess."
She had me there, I thought.
Bella was right I could have anyone, but wrong about something. I didn't want the hostess. The hostess was a gold-digger. And I was through with them.
"We can talk about my reasons during the flight," I said, once again offering her my hand.
Bella stared at it before she told hold.
She was silent until we reached my car. "This isn't me saying yes, Edward," she said. "I want to know your reasons before I decide."
"I know," I remarked, opening the door. Under my breath, I add "trust me, I know."
