Chapter 9

"So, I called Charlie and he has to head back to Forks so he won't be able to come with us today. He said he'd come up in a few weeks and take you there himself," I tell Natalie when she gets done in the bathroom. I can't say I am upset that he can't join us.

"Aww, that sucks! But at least I get to see him again soon! What about Edward, can he go?"

"Yep, he'll meet us at the diner around the corner for lunch and then we'll ride with him to the zoo."

She bounces on her toes while clapping her hands. "That's great, get dressed so we can go!"

I hurry through a shower and pull my wet hair into a pony tail before dressing in a floral maxi dress and sandals. Natalie is wearing her beloved purple dress and toting her doll. I pack my purse with some snacks and a few bottles of water and we head out.

When we get to the diner, Edward is waiting at a table for us. He stands and his smile takes my breath away. He really is gorgeous. As we make our way to the table, I take in his appearance. His copper hair is shorn close to his scalp and his green eyes are bright as blades of fresh grass. He has on another "v" neck shirt and the coppery hairs that peak out, have me very intrigued as to how far they go. I notice his chest is well defined behind the thin shirt. He has on cargo shorts and a pair of well-worn gray Vans.

He reaches out and shakes Natalie's hand, making her giggle. "Nice to see you again, Miss Larks, how are you today," he says is mock formality.

"I am just lovely, it's nice to see you again as well," she answers him with the same silly tone.

"Oh you two are quite the pair," I say shaking my head. Edward looks up from Natalie and his eyes rake over my body before settling on my face. "Smooth," I laugh.

"You look beautiful," he says taking my hand and kissing my knuckles. I can feel the blush as it takes over my face.

"Thank you, you look quite handsome yourself."

We sit and Natalie keeps our attention focused on her while we order and wait for our lunches. She is chattering away about what she wants to see at the zoo. Watching her and Edward interact is possibly the sweetest thing I've ever witnessed. I love how he smiles and laughs when she gets really excited and how they play off each other. I even have to laugh when they think they've ganged up on me.

She is so free and more like a child than I've ever seen her. She doesn't seem to be trying to keep the focus on her like she used to do; now it seems more like she is a child out with her family. Our conversation flows easily, as if Edward had been a part of our little group since the beginning.

We eat our burgers and fries; Natalie once again gets a milkshake that she guzzles down. We head to the zoo with an agenda of which animals Natalie has to see.

In the car Edward keeps Natalie laughing as he sings along with the radio. I am completely infatuated with him already and every time I hear her laugh at something silly he does he digs down deeper into my heart. We pull up to the zoo as my two crazy companions are finishing up their version of 'Forget You' by Cee Lo. I'm sure anyone walking near our car could hear them singing at the top of their lungs!

We head inside and Natalie is ready to sprint through the place. "Honey, I promise you, we will get to see everything you want. We don't have to run through it," I say as I try to slow her quick little feet.

"I know but I'm just so excited. Can we go see the elephants first?" she asks pointing to the map.

"Yes, why don't we start on this end and work our way all the way around?" Edward offers.

We set of in search of the elephants, Natalie holding both our hands. I can't help but watch her as she gets to see every one of her requested animals. The elephants; where she practically climbed the fence to look at. The hippos that she thought were really gross up close because "they swim in their poop".

She spent a lot of time on Edward's shoulders while we walked around the large cat area; the snow leopard being her favorite. If I didn't know better I would think she and Edward were father and daughter. He gave her a lightness that she desperately needed. Her ribs were bothering her by the time we had gone half way around the large zoo so he carried her on his back for a good hour.

Before long she was really tired and ready to go home. We got her some ice cream and a face painting and then headed back to the hotel. She fell asleep quickly in the car.

"Thank you," I say quietly, taking Edward's hand in mine.

"What for? This was your idea."

"For making her so happy today. She really needed it. I've never seen her so carefree and happy, and I was the one who watched her drink her first milkshake," I say trying to make light of the enormity of the situation.

"She's a great kid. It was nothing. I'm always a little goofy around kids. It's like an excuse to act like one myself."

"Well, thank you. I really appreciate it."

The way he smiles at me has long ignored parts of me wanting attention. I have to remind myself that I've only just met him and that I am now living in a hotel room with a traumatized little girl. I don't know what our future holds because so much of it is up in the air but I know that after today it will include Edward in some way. Hopefully for both of our sakes everything works out for the best.

When we pull up to the hotel, Natalie is sleeping so hard that her head is leaned back against the window and her mouth is wide open, the softest snore coming from her.

Edward lifts his hand that is still encased in mine and waves it at me. "Can I have this back now?" he says with a chuckle.

"Oh, gosh I'm sorry. I didn't even realize I still had it," I say embarrassed.

He just kisses my knuckles again and says, "I did and I didn't mind at all." He looks at me for a moment and I know that he is going to kiss me so I bite my lip and lean forward slightly. He leans in and just before his lips touch mine, Natalie snores very loudly. We both laugh and lean our foreheads together.

"Later," is all he says as he pulls away and opens the door. He carries Natalie into the hotel and all the way to our room. He lays her on the bed and we meet in the kitchenette.

"I had a blast today," he says as he enters.

"I did too. Would you like to hang out for a while? I was going to cook some dinner and she and I will probably watch a movie tonight," I ask knowing I really don't want him to leave yet.

"I'd like that," he says as he moves close to me effectively pinning me between the counter and his body. I look up into his eyes and see that he wants to kiss me just as badly as I want him to. He wastes no time in crashing our lips together. It's not sweet or soft but needy and hurried. There is no hesitation in opening up to him. His tongue invades my mouth. I reach my arms up and around his neck and he lifts me up to the counter. I know this to too much too fast but I couldn't stop if I wanted to. I can feel the heat of his hands on my back as he presses into me fully. I wrap my legs around his and we kiss until we are both panting. He sneaks in a few small pecks as we catch our breath.

"I have wanted to do that since you walked into the diner today. I'm sorry if it was too much," he says.

"Not too much at all. I'm pretty sure I've never been kissed like that in my life," I say with a smile.

"That's too bad," he says as he kisses me again, this time slower and more seductively. When he pulls away I can't help the fears that overtake me.

"Edward, I really like you but I have to know something?" I say before I chicken out. "I have Natalie to think about and a lot of legal and medical stuff coming up, not to mention a book tour and probably moving, can you deal with that? Are you ready to date someone with all this stress because I can't start something with you only to have you freak out and take off?"

He steps back and I feel like I just got my answer. I drop my head and feel the tears start to form. He lifts my chin with his knuckle and when I look at him he is smiling.

"I don't know what the future holds for us but I am more than ready to find out. All day today I felt like we were a family; like we were made to be together, all three of us. I hate that we came together the way we did but I am thankful that I found you both," he says as he looks me in the eye. I can feel the sincerity in his words so I just smile and pull him in for another searing kiss.

"Good because that is exactly how I felt all day too. I'm gonna need a lot of help the next few months, I hope you are up for it," I say after we pull away. He smiles and pecks my nose.

"I couldn't be more ready."