Reaching for Love
Chapter 8: A Gift and Fear
BELLA
The seatbelt light went off and then came on again as Mike's voice came of the com-system again. "Hit the wrong button. Welcome to Las Vegas. We'll be at the hanger in few minutes."
Edward shook his head. "He didn't hit the wrong button. He does the seatbelt on-off thing every time I have guests on the jet."
I didn't know what to say to that. I thought it was an indicator we had landed and needed to wait until a bit longer to move about the cabin. But what did I know, being a first time flyer. I was actually proud of myself for not being nervous and freaking out. Though it could be the way Edward kept me distracted when we first took off and during the majority of the flight.
When the seatbelt light went off again and stayed off, I unbuckled and stood as Edward's phone beeped and he picked it up off the table, looking at it. His forehead wrinkled and then he was smiling.
"Alice sent something for you. Let me go get it."
He disappeared through the open hatch after retrieving our bags. His was a suitcase and a garment bag. Mine the pathetic duffle bag I had once used for sleepovers in grade school. Peering out the window, I watched him accept a large bag from a gentleman standing next to a… limo? No way! I had seen limos in Seattle. Heard my classmates talk about renting one for prom. I was envious senior year and never thought I would have the experience of riding in one.
Edward returned with the bag and had something slung over his arm.
He placed the bag on the table. Before I could examine it, he held opened a coat for me. All I had to do was slip my arms in and the moment I did the fur trim tickled my face and wrists.
"She sent shoes. How do you feel about heels?"
I grimaced and shuddered. "Heels are not my friends."
"Hmmm. That's good to know. Fortunately, Alice sent ballet flats." He winked at me and moved back to the bag.
I wanted to hit him, but when he turned, my jaw hit the floor when he held out a Jimmy Choo box. I pulled off the lid and black suede ballet flats stared up at me. The cost!
Young lady, do not think of the price tag. He wanted to buy you clothes and that includes shoes. Say, "thank you." The voice in my head sounded like Grandma Swan.
"Thank you."
His responding smile melted my heart and made my face split.
"You're welcome."
He motioned to one of the seats and knelt before me. Removing my sneakers and socks, he slipped the dress shoes on my feet. Not to sound cliché, but I felt like Cinderella. Edward was definitely my prince charming and fairy godfather wrapped into one.
I scoffed at myself. First, the Cheshire Cat with a prince mixed in. Now, a prince charming, fairy godfather mix. I was pulling out the stops on literary references.
He stood and returned to the table and pulled out one last item. A black bag and handed it to me… a Gucci purse.
"Alice is a character. She leaves nothing out."
"I… I…" I did not know what to say.
"Did not expect this?"
I nodded.
"Shall we?" He motioned to the open hatch.
Instead of moving toward the open hatch, I headed to the back where I knew there was a mirror. There was no way the woman staring back at me, wearing the luxurious coat and shoes, could be me. Yet, it was.
I turned and found Edward leaning in the doorway. He legs were kicked out in front of him, crossed at the ankles and hands buried in his pockets. It was like he was saying, take all the time you need.
Taking a deep breath, I blew it out. "Okay, I'm ready."
Descending the steps behind Edward, I took in the night. There was a slight chill in the air and I was grateful Alice had the foresight to send a coat.
I slipped through the door the chauffer opened into a spacious backseat. Wishing I had an iPhone to take a picture with, I settled back and waited. My phone was old and didn't have a good camera on it.
"We will be at the hotel in a half hour," Edward remarked, slipping in next to me.
His phone was in his hand. I stole it from him and tried to figure out how to turn it on. He watched me in interest before taking it from me and typing something on the screen. Handing it back, I searched the screen for the camera app. I blew out a frustrated breath.
"Camera?"
His chin fell to his chest, barely hiding his smile and chuckle. Without taking it from me, his finger touched an icon and then another.
My face filled the screen when he was done. Leaning against him, I angled the phone until we both were on the screen. I struggled to hit the button.
I wanted to throw the damn phone out the window. Others made taking selfies easy. Edward took the phone and did some more button pushing. A countdown appeared on the screen and he kissed my cheek as the flash went off.
He's evil, I thought, my face heating.
"Horrible," he said. "Let's try another."
I shook my head and faced him. "It's adorable."
Looking out the front window, the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign came into view and beyond the neon of strip.
"Let's stop here for a moment," he said.
The driver pulled over. Edward got out and soon my door opened. His hand appeared.
It was bright. Signs flashed. I spun in a slow circle, taking in all the neon.
A camera flash went off when I was facing him again. His phone was in his hand. I laughed. Why not!
"We are on the strip. Our hotel is somewhere in that direction." He pointed to the right.
We slid back in the limo, and I rolled down the window. The tourists I saw were dressed like me in jeans.
Boom. I turned back. Seeing fire, smoke, and… lava?
"Uh," I said, looking over my shoulder at Edward.
"The Mirage Volcano. It's one of the free shows. We can go see it, if you like, and the others, like the dancing waters and a pirate show."
Facing Edward, I was speechless. It was all too much. Then a similar thought about Jacob entered my mind again. This time it was about Jacob doing something to Edward to hurt me.
EDWARD
The smile of Bella's face faded slowly after she turned to face me. I had a good idea she was thinking about money. Reaching up, I tucked a lock of hair behind her hair. I wasn't sure how I was going to convince her she had nothing to worry about.
"You're worry about money, I can see that and understand."
She looked confused a moment.
"I wish I didn't have to."
This is where I had to choose my words wisely. "I hate you have to, Bella." I paused a moment. "Let me ask this. If you won an all-expensive paid vacation, would you go?" I hoped my question didn't backfire.
Bella turned her head slightly to look past me. Out at the glittering, neon signs. I could see the wheels turning in her head. Considering what I asked. "But I didn't win a vacation."
Pursing my lips, I tried to prevent the chuckle and failed miserably. "I know you didn't win one. Hypothetically, you won one. Would you take it?"
"Yes, I would. I don't see your point," she answered, looking back at me.
I dropped my chin to my chest. Why couldn't she… no, I would not go there. She was smart, intelligent. Our conversation about one theme in Dracula told and showed me that. Saying nothing, I lifted my head and looked her in the eye.
"Are you saying…" she paused, drawing her lower lip in between her teeth.
I remained silent, letting her work it out. My actions so far should give her an answer.
Her fingers moved to the fur collar. Her eyes moved around the interior of the car before landing on me again.
I saw the moment realization dawn in her eyes. "I guess I did win a vacation and more."
"Then, please let me worry about any and all expenses for this vacation, Bella." The scale model of the Eiffel Tower was coming into view, indicating we would be at the hotel soon.
She smiled. "I think I can allow that with you soon to be my husband and all. The worrying part I can't say I won't do." She sighed, and I could tell something was on her mind other than money.
"What's wrong?"
"Wayward thoughts about Jacob."
I didn't want to ask and the lawyer inside of me was telling me to ask. The lawyer won this time. "What about Jacob?"
Another sigh left her. "I have this little fear that one day he might come to his senses and want contact with the child growing within me. That he'll hurt my child in order to get to me or worst come after you."
It's not like I hadn't thought about the same scenario in concerns to the child. What I hadn't considered was Jacob coming after me. I couldn't address her fear without more information and, to me, it seemed she was willing to discuss her ex with me.
"What are you founded your fear on?"
"The complete one-eighty he did. I knew he didn't want kids but thought he would man up and support me and his baby. I didn't see us marrying." She shrugged. "He was good to me. Though he sometimes showed up when we didn't have plans."
"That can happen."
"I know that. I thought it was weird he would show up at my dentist and doctor. I never told him where or when my appointments were. It was all in my phone."
Was it all just coincidence? I wasn't sure and trusted Bella's judgment. I knew there were ways to track people without their knowledge, but what those ways were I didn't know. Emmett would. Bella was staring at me, waiting for me to say something.
"Do you have your phone with you?"
"Yes. It's off. I didn't grab my cord."
"Android or iPhone?" The answer was obvious to me, since she couldn't find the camera app on my phone.
"Android. It's in my pathetic bag with my wallet."
"I'll check with the front desk and see if they have a any that were left behind. I would also like you to consider letting a friend of mine check your phone to see if there are any fishy apps on it."
Her lip disappeared into her mouth. "I would like that. It would give me peace of mind if nothing was found. I would chalk it up to coincidence."
The car came to a stop at the hotel as I lean forward and brushed my lips against hers. "Let's go freshen up. Then you and I have a date with the county clerk."
