Previously

Bella finds the cookies and circles the tables of food to find the line of ice chests for Mac's beer. He likes Heinekens, and she finds them in the third chest. Victorious, she turns and unexpectedly bumps into a man.

"I'm sorry," she laughs and moves to step around him only to stop as he steps into her path. "Hey, I saw you with Mac. Are you his girl?"

She takes a good look at the guy blocking her path. He has rakish good looks and a sly grin that could mean trouble. He seems about Mac and Edward's age, but they have a good six inches on him. He's handsome, and she's pretty sure he knows it. He smooths back his thick, brown hair and waits for her response.

She takes a step back and shifts the food and drinks in her hands. "No, Mac's my friend."

"I'm Garrett. I'm Mac's friend too, and you are?" He says as he holds out his hand with his most charming air.

She gives his hand a brief shake and withdraws hers quickly to balance her load. "I'm Bella."

He grabs a beer from the nearest ice chest and turns to her. "Well if you have all you need, let's go say 'hi' to our friend, Mac."

Garrett offers his arm to the sweet, little thing. She smiles and begins walking beside him while leaving plenty of room between them.

He smirks to himself. Game on, baby girl.

Chapter 21

"Well hell, look what Sweetness found!"

Mac and Dunny bound out of their seats and Bella finds herself surrounded by masculine back slapping as she leads Garrett to them. Seeing her fumble with the drinks and food, Garrett backs up and takes the bottles gingerly from her arms while he says, "Man, it's good to see you guys. I drove through the night and all day to get here. How's Marcus?"

Mac and Dunny regain their seats as Garrett sits next to Bella at the picnic table.

Dunny studies the cookies Bella handed him and drops them to his knee as Mac speaks.

"He's having good days and bad days, but he's winding down, sleeping more. We're staying ahead of the pain, and that's good."

Garrett's distress fades to relief as he realizes he has arrived in time. Touched by his concern, Bella pats his hand and offers him a cookie.

"Thanks," he says and wiggles his eyebrows at Mac as he takes a bite.

Mac laughs at the idiot who thinks he has a chance with Sweetness and sits back to watch the show.

Dunny stands with his cookies and kisses Bella's forehead. "Garrett, I'm really glad you're here, son. I know Bob'll be glad to see you in the morning." He turns to Mac. "I'm gonna head to bed. Can I keep Rose for a bit more while I catch a few hours of shut-eye?"

Mac pats Dunny on the back. "Sure boss, I'll come and keep her company after a while."

"Sweet dreams, Dunny," Bella says softly with a hug and a kiss to his weathered cheek.

They retake their seats as they watch Dunny shuffle through the crowd near the bonfire.

Garrett looks at Mac. "He's moving awfully slow himself."

Mac takes a tug from his longneck. "It's been hard on him."

"I can imagine."

Bella leans forward to give Mac a cookie. "How do you know Bobby and Dunny, Garrett?"

Garrett laughs and looks at Mac. "Bobby—I don't think anyone has dared call Bob Marcus 'Bobby' since Betty passed."

Mac smiles and shifts tender eyes toward Bella. "Yeah, well, I think Sweetness here reminds Bob of Betty. She's sweet and good and mighty fine on the eyes."

Garrett glances at a blushing Bella and nods. "She is that. All that sweetness makes my teeth ache," he says as he sucks his teeth and gives her a sly grin.

Bella shrinks away from Garrett's notice, and Mac kicks himself for not being more careful with her.

~o0o~

"Edward, slow down," Carlisle says. He watches Edward work his hands on the steering wheel before finally easing his foot off the gas. "It won't get you back to her any faster. It just means we'll spend more time waiting around the airport for their arrival."

"I know, Pops."

Carlisle studies his son's profile in the dim dashboard light. "What has you so keyed up, son? It seems to be more than just being separated from Bella."

"It does make me antsy to be away from her. We have this bubble." He shrugs. "I don't like being very far from her. I don't know why."

Carlisle remembers in the first few years of their marriage, how hard it was to leave Esme snuggled under warm blankets while he faced the cold and a long shift as an intern. "It doesn't get easier to leave them, but you do find a balance that makes you able to function."

Edward grins. "That's good to know. I can't seem to control myself when it comes to her."

Carlisle smiles. "Is there something else troubling you?"

Edward hesitates for a long moment. "Alice."

"Ah," Carlisle says. "I'd like to say your fears are unfounded, but I've never seen her behave as she did over Christmas."

Edward nods as he drives into the parking garage of the airport. "Mom wants her here. That's enough. I want to reconnect with her, but I can't abide the idea of her hurting Bella again. Did I tell you Bella almost left that night we fought?"

Carlisle shifts toward him. "No."

Edward pulls into a parking space. "Yeah, she thought I wanted her to leave. I just wanted her safely out of the way while Alice spat her venom."

Carlisle joins him outside the car, and they walk toward the elevators. "Is that why she was crying?"

"Yeah, one of the reasons."

Carlisle takes a deep breath as they step into the lift. "I hope Alice is past all of this nonsense."

Edward watches the door close. "Me too, Pops, me too."

~o0o~

Mac leans forward and waves his bottle. "Garrett, why don't you get us a couple more? Bella, you want something?"

She tucks her hair behind her ear. "No, I'm good, thanks."

Garrett touches her shoulder as he walks past her and Bella stiffens.

When Garrett's out of earshot, Mac leans forward. "Don't let Garrett get to you, Bella. He's all bark and no bite. He likes to talk big, but he's got no game."

The sight of his broad smile and laughing eyes puts Bella at ease, and she smiles back before taking a bite of her cookie. "When's Moondoggie coming back?"

"It'll be after midnight; I'm guessin'. Edward's sister said they had to schedule around her husband's work."

"Jasper's such a sweet guy," she says and nibbles on her cookie with a soft smile.

With Garrett's return, Mac slides onto the bench across from Bella to the marked relief of one and the consternation of the other.

Garrett drops four longnecks on the table before turning his attention to the little brunette.

"I brought sweets for the sweet," he says as he slides a Jell-O shot in front of Bella.

"Oh, orange, I love orange." She looks at Mac. "We had orange Jell-O with pineapple bits on Thursday's at the women's shelter. She tucks her hair behind her ear and looks for a spoon.

Garrett picks up a red one. "Like this," he says as he brings it to his lips and squeezes the cup into his mouth.

Her bell-like laugh rushes through him, and her innocent eyes widen as she copies him. "Mmm, it feels so warm."

Mac leans forward. "Don't down too many of those, Sweetness."

"I know, I didn't eat much dinner, but a little dessert is always a good idea," she says as she eyes the cups filled with orange goodness.

"Let the girl have some fun, Mac," Garrett says as he slides another shot toward Bella.

~o0o~

"EDWARD!"

Edward's shoulders pull up to his ears as he turns to see people scattering away from the screeching banshee running down the airport corridor.

Edward braces for impact and holds his breath as Alice wraps around him like a little python.

"Uh, hi Alice," he says while he pats her back. Jasper brings up the rear pushing a cart full of designer luggage with a sleeping Maddie draped over his shoulder.

Carlisle kisses Alice's cheek as he moves around them to greet Jasper.

Edward pulls back from the embrace and takes the leather messenger bag from her shoulder and slides it over his. "How was your trip?"

Alice shrugs. "Oh, you know—airplane food, recycled air, cranky little girls."

Edward looks over her shoulder to see his pops take the warm weight of the sleeping girl from Jasper.

"Looks like she gave up," Edward says.

"Finally," she sighs before grabbing his arm. "You're getting married," she sings and vibrates next to him.

He smiles shyly, "Yeah—thanks for coming to be a part of it."

She pulls his arm to lead the procession toward the doors. "Oh, I wouldn't miss it for the world."

~o0o~

"Sweetness, maybe you've had enough Jell-O for tonight," Mac says while he watches Bella's finger search for the last bit of orange in her forth plastic cup.

"I like orange the best," she murmurs.

"Would you like one more, Sweetness?" Garrett asks as he scoots another toward her.

Mac smacks the table between the Jell-O shot and Bella. "Enough."

"My name is Bella, Grant."

"Garrett," he reminds her and glares at Mac.

She pats the table near Garrett's hand. "I like you, Garren. Mac likes you. Don't you, Mac-Man?"

Mac shifts tender eyes toward Edward's girl. "Yeah, I like Garren fine."

Garrett snorts, "You're a dick, McCarty."

Mac laughs and leans back with his arms folded over his chest.

Bella rests her head on her arm. "Mac, where's Mmm-doggie?"

"He's probably on his way. It won't be much longer."

"I want him to come back."

"I know Sweetness; it won't be much longer," he repeats.

Garrett leans into the conversation. "You have a dog, Bella? I love dogs."

She rubs her nose with the back of her hand. "Meeee tooo, Gary. Mmm-doggie is sweet and good and sweet …" she closes her eyes with a sigh.

"Garrett," he reminders her.

She nods and labors to sit up as she hums How Much is that Doggie in the Window.

Garrett reaches out to help her, but a muscled arm intercepts and wraps around her shoulder as Mac gently lifts her.

"What's your dog like?" Garrett asks as he scoots closer.

"I had a puppy—for a few days," she mumbles and rests her chin in her hand.

Garrett frowns. "What happened to him?"

She brushes her hair away from her face only for it to fall back into place. "Mama said he was hit by a car," she says with a sad, sleepy shrug.

Garrett looks at Mac and back to Bella. "But you have a puppy now?"

"No puppy."

"Well a dog," he clarifies.

Bella lays her head back on her arm. "Mmm-doggie."

Mac watches Garrett struggle to keep Bella talking and shakes his head.

"Yes, your doggie," Garrett says.

Mac cuts in. "What's Mmm-doggie like, Sweetness?" he asks and takes a swig of his long neck as Bella smiles drowsily.

"He's big and strong and sweet." She giggles. "Mmm-doggie has a big beautiful bone."

Mac chokes on his beer and Bella giggles again as he wipes his chin.

~o0o~

Edward's knee bounces as Carlisle sets the cruise control two miles below the speed limit.

"Carlisle, have mercy on the man. At least run the speed limit," Jasper says as he leans forward from the back seat.

Alice and Carlisle laugh and Edward forces his leg to still.

Alice leans around the car seat. "Mom told me you were hoping to get married in the next few weeks."

Edward turns toward her, "I'd like both Dunny and Bob to be there to give her away. It would mean the world to her, and that means the world to me."

Alice pats his arm stretched across the back of the front seat. "We'll make it happen, big brother."

Jasper asks, "Carlisle, how is Bob?"

"He's holding on. He's got his bad days, but he's still engaged with the world around him."

"Is he in much pain?" Alice asks.

"No, but he's sleeping more because of the pain relief," Carlisle says as he turns from the interstate to the two-lane road that runs in front of Dunny and Bob's place.

"I'm glad," Alice says and begins to bounce in her seat. "I can't wait to see Mom."

"She's excited to see you, too. You'll have so much to talk about," Carlisle says as he smiles in the rearview mirror.

Jasper snorts. "Carlisle, you have no idea what this woman has planned. Wait until you see the notebook she's packing."

Edward pipes up. "There's a notebook?"

"My friend, once Alice gets with your mom, there'll be no going back for you."

Alice smacks her husband's shoulder, but Edward just smiles. "That ship sailed when Sweets walked through those swinging doors."

~o0o~

"What the hell, Mac!"

Mac dodges the slender hand swinging for his head. "Hey, back up, woman."

"Woman?" Rose's eyes narrow as she takes a step closer.

"Sorry Rosie, I meant no disrespect. I was merely reacting to an attempted abuse on my person." Mac flashes his best smile, and Rose flips her hair and tries not to grin.

"What happened to Bella?" she asks as she slides in next to Mac.

"Hello Rosie, I'm Garrett."

Mac slides his arm around her waist and nods toward Garrett. "That happened."

"Is she drunk?" she asks as she watches Bella try to blow her hair away from her face. Rose turns on the worm of a man laughing next to her friend. "Did you get her drunk?"

Garrett shrugs. "She's cute when she's tipsy." He reaches to brush Bella's hair from her face, but Mac's hand crashes down on his, bringing it to the table.

Rose leans forward and hisses "Don't touch her."

Mac pulls Rose back into his side. "Hands off, buddy."

Garrett looks pointedly from Rose to Bella and back to Mac and lifts his eyebrows at Mac in challenge. Mac shrugs and gives him a cheeky grin before taking another pull of his beer.

"Hi, Rose—rosie—posie—ring around the rosie-posie …"

All at the table turn to see Bella sitting up with her chin in her hand. Her mane drapes her face and shoulders as she blows a spit bubble and grins when it pops.

Rose groans. "Hi, Bella. Do you need to go to bed, honey?"

"No," she says as she shakes her head until she sways toward the ground. Mac leaps over the table to grab Bella's shoulders and right her. "Where is he?" she moans.

Garrett leans toward the luscious blond. "She's waiting for her dog to come back. I think it went to the vet in town. Someone's bringing him home for her."

Rose raises her eyebrows at Mac who snickers and shrugs. "Thanks for clearing that up, little man." She looks at her rumpled friend. "Mac, you shouldn't have let her get this bad."

Mac runs his hand down Rose's arm and kisses her hair. "I've been here the whole time." He smiles as he looks at a sleepy Sweetness and adds, "She's had fun, and it distracted her while she's waited."

"Well, your ass is going to get handed to you, and I'm not going to lift a finger to save you."

"Mac pursed his lips and looked at the mess of a girl across the table. "Yeah, you're probably right."

~o0o~

"I'll see you all in the morning," Edward says as he kisses Maddie on top of her tumble of curls.

"Go get her, son," Carlisle laughs while Alice and Jasper join in his laughter. They turn toward Carlisle and Esme's RV as Edward races toward the crowd around the bonfire. He weaves his way through the crowd and sees Mac standing near the picnic tables.

"Mac," Edward calls as he scans the area for Sweets. "Is she in bed?"

Mac laughs as Edward comes alongside him. "Naw, she's been hanging with us and waiting for you."

Edward's gaze follows Mac's, and he freezes at the sight of a very drunk Sweets laughing with Garrett Lee.

"What the hell, Mac?"

Mac smacks his back. "Calm down, dude, she's fine."

"The hell she is—she's drunk. And Garrett is all over her."

Rose sashays up to the two and hugs Edward from behind before leaning into Mac. "I told him you were going to hand him his ass."

Edward groans, "I might at that."

Mac nudges him with his shoulder and laughs. "Just watch them for a minute."

Edward crosses his arms across his chest and focuses on his Sweets. His heart fills with warm honey as he watches her. She's sleepy and obviously drunk, and as she rubs her little button nose, he adds, terribly cute.

His hackles rise as Garrett leans closer to the girl resting her head on her arms.

Bella's muffled voice mimics a deep male voice as she says, "Mac said, 'No more orange goodness, Gary.'"

"Garrett—and one more won't hurt. Then maybe we can go for a walk."

"He'll be here soooon," she mumbles as she shakes her head across her arms.

Garrett sits back in defeat and Edward smiles. "She missed me."

"Good Lord, she has talked about nothing but your sorry ass all night," Mac says.

Without thought, Edward's feet carry him forward, and Mac and Rose follow.

He stops a foot from the table and watches his girl pull the tips of her hair as her head rests on her arms.

"Sweets."

Her head pops up sending her hair flying around her shoulders. "Mmm-doggie!"

Edward steps closer as she sways. "Come here, baby."

She surprises everyone by standing on the bench and launching herself toward him. He catches her and helps her wrap her legs around his waist.

Garrett groans. "Aww hell, you're her 'doggie'?"

Mac and Rose laugh, and Garrett glares at them.

Edward shifts her, and she lays her head on his shoulder. "I'm her Moondoggie."

"Mmm-doggie," Bella purrs against his collar.

Edward kisses her cheek as he gazes at his old friend. The resentment, mixed with deep longing trapped in Garrett's eyes, stops Edward cold. He holds Garrett's stare, giving him a threatening look of warning as he pulls Bella closer and she tightens her arms around him. When he feels her lips run along his neck, Edward's eyes cool to stone in primal superiority.

That's right, fucker—Mine.