I don't own anything!
Chapter Five
When Bella had woken up the second time that morning Edward was gone. She smiled and rolled over to inhale his scent in his pillow. Then she looked at the clock thankful that it was still early. She had promised her grandmother to let her take her shopping so with effort trying to ignore her screaming aching body from Edward's lustful appetite, she dragged herself out of bed and headed to the shower.
After she finished getting dressed and pulling her hair back off her shoulders she took some time to phone Rose. She knew that her friend said to wait, but she wanted to tell her the good news and see how she was doing. To her surprise it sounded as if her spirits had lifted considerably since she last spoke to her and she chatted endlessly at the sound of Bella's voice. It turned out that her father and she had a long talk and Emmett was allowed back in her life, but only as far as the driveway. Bella grinned. Again she apologized for what had happened and according to Emmett, Jacob was beyond guilt ridden.
"It's okay Rose, he wasn't himself. I think he was foolishly drinking like me." Bella assured her.
"I told him that you wouldn't hold it against him Bella, because that's the type of person you are." She said sincerely, "I need to forgive myself for what I've done to you too, so I know how he feels."
"Rose—"
"No, it's okay. I deserved it. I did act like a spoiled brat. And I'm happy for you and Edward. However," she paused with a chuckle, "You will have to fill me in on every juicy detail about that stud."
Bella laughed expecting that, "It's still not happening."
"I'll weasel it out of you when we go shopping for bridal gowns."
"Oh gosh, it just sounds so surreal." Bella said.
"I can't wait to see you. Dad says I can when you come back, then we'll plan your wedding." She said excitedly.
"I can't wait either." Bella said before they said their goodbyes. She'd have to tell Edward that Rose sounded reformed, and she sure hoped he would approve of her having her friend around again.
If she thought her and her grandmother would be alone during their shopping trip, she was wrong. Edward had sent Jasper with them. She hadn't told Edward that he frightened her, but she was sure that Edward trusted this man for a reason. He would have come but he was still taking care of the security with her grandfather.
Oddly enough, he seemed uncomfortable in the boutiques that they went into but still kept close to them. She actually felt sorry for him especially when Esme insisted on his opinion with everything she tried on. If Bella was blushing, she was certain Jasper was even more uncomfortable despite his outward appearance. However, when she asked what he thought of the dresses his eyes would glance off her before he gave an approving nod. Esme seemed completely undeterred from his reluctant reactions.
It was refreshing to her because then she knew that he wasn't as cold-hearted as she originally thought and Esme had told her that she'd known him for five years and she seemed to like him.
It was the last boutique that they visited where Bella found the gown of her dreams. It was a velvet satin number that was royal blue in colour. Esme clapped her hands when she emerged from the change room.
"It's lovely! Absolutely lovely! Isn't it Jasper?" She said to the tall man beside her who, like he did in every other store, was scanning the surroundings with practiced eyes.
He settled his gaze on her and smiled this time, "Edward is a lucky man."
Bella near fell over at that statement. Especially when she saw the glint of approval followed by a wink. How come everything about this man was so contradictory?
Esme seemed to notice as she was tugging absently on the material to straighten it on her granddaughter's flawless figure, "Don't mind Jasper," she said looking at Bella with an assuring smile, "He's in military mode. They all are. It's nothing personal honey."
"How did you know?"
"Because I married one." She smiled with understanding, "Jasper's on duty. He was since they picked you up. Edward usually is the one with the expression etched in stone, but he's in love with you, so it's only fitting that you see that side of him that no one else has."
"I never even thought about that." She said looking past her to Jasper who'd resumed the task of scanning the store and the passing crowd outside the large storefront windows.
Esme lifted her arm and looked at her watch, "Well it's two o'clock and the party starts at five. So we'd better get you home. Not only that the caterers are due to arrive a three."
"I'm excited. I've never been to a party like this."
"Well darling, I hope they'll be plenty more because I love parties." Esme said causing Bella to laugh.
On the ride back to the General's, Bella took the opportunity to ask Esme some questions about Edward even though Jasper was sitting across from them. It was still hard to get used to riding in a limousine but she had to admit it thrilled her.
"He said his parents were dead."
Esme pursed her lips and stared at her granddaughter, "They are, but Edward should talk to you about them."
"How long have you known him?"
"Since Carlisle brought him home about six years ago. He was recovering from being shot." Bella gasped and Esme held up her hand to quell her worries, "He's a tough man Bella and as you can see, he's fine."
Jasper cleared his throat, and Bella saw a smile tug at the corner of his mouth. Obviously the man admired Edward, just like she witnessed when they first met him.
"You said he saved your life?" she asked Jasper. She was still nervous of him, but there was a reason why Edward trusted him with her, so she would trust him too.
He nodded, "He did. We were abandoned by our commander but Edward came back to rescue us." This time he did smile, "The first time that happened, General Carlisle got us out. The second time, it was Edward. After that we formed our own militia."
"You work for money?"
He brought his unreadable gaze to hers, "Yes, but we don't do anything bad—anymore." He grinned, "The stigma attached to the word Mercenary isn't always correct. Yes we work for money, sometimes a lot of money, but the deed we get hired for needs to be approved by Edward. The last one we did was about four months ago when we rescued a diplomat's kidnapped child in the Middle East."
"Oh! So you still work like that?" the unmistakable sound of a cell phone went off and she watched Jasper pull it out and shut it off while grinning as he shoved it back in his pocket. She was sure that was the sixth time it went off in an hour but he'd yet to answer it. Her grandmother's had rang once too, but unlike Jasper she'd answered in the boutique but she couldn't hear the conversation because she'd walked outside to talk.
"We did," he stared down at her, "From what I hear, our sergeant is hanging up his rifle for some pretty gal he met in Montana."
Bella blushed. At least Jasper didn't sound angry about it, but she supposed that they had made a lot of money doing what they did. Regardless, if the group was helping people she felt guilty. She didn't want to be responsible for someone's suffering if Edward's team could save them. She would have to speak to him about that.
Edward was pacing the porch restlessly as party supplies and staff started to arrive. Carlisle was sitting in a porch swing behind him smoking a cigar.
The older man grinned as Edward lifted his wrist to glance at his watch several times then he pulled out his cell phone again to call his man who wasn't answering. Carlisle knew everything was fine because he'd called his wife a half an hour ago and informed Edward that everything was fine.
Jasper was just aggravating Edward by not answering his calls. It wasn't unlike him at all. They always had a friendly rivalry going and Jasper didn't like to be dictated to which is probably what Edward would do if the man answered his phone.
He was given a job and he would do it without interference. If something had happened they would have heard about it because Alec was following the limo unseen. It was just an extra precautionary step that Esme and Bella didn't know about, but it still was angering Edward that he didn't know how things were going.
When the familiar grey stretched car pulled up the drive Edward was off the steps and walking toward it with a long determined stride with a mixture of menace and worry in his expression.
Jasper saw him and grinned. Edward had opened the door and gave him a deadly look but didn't say anything. "I don't need to be babysat." Was all Jasper said as he walked off still grinning.
Edward cursed under his breath but still managed to replace his anger with a more pleasing expression when he reached in and took his fiancé's hand, "Did you enjoy yourself?" he asked squashing the urge to break Jasper's nose.
"Oh yes, she spoiled me." She said happily to the older woman who was being helped out by the driver.
"She's easy to please." Said Esme, "Tom, please get the parcels out of the trunk."
"Yes ma'am." Said the driver as he turned and walked around the back of the car.
"If you don't mind," said Esme giving Edward a warning look before taking Bella's hand out of Edwards, "She's still mine until the party." She led Bella toward the house with the driver behind them holding half a dozen shopping bags. Bella shot him a sheepish grin over her shoulder and Edward placed his hands on his hips shaking his head.
"Leave Esme be," Carlisle said after the women went in the house, "She's missed out on eighteen years."
Edward gestured toward the house, and opened his mouth to say something, then stopped and bowed his head in defeat placing his hands back on his hips. Carlisle's laughter reached him through the throng of noise from the party setup. It looked like he wasn't the only one addicted to the woman and Carlisle had a valid point.
As the day wore on Edward found himself slipping into the comfortable suit of emotional armour that allowed him to take control of many situations overseas. He dished out orders to his men which were immediately obeyed and Jasper even gave him a nod of approval seeing him assume his command readily.
They had set up a makeshift security room in the General's library that covered all of the cameras set up around the party which Ben was supervising. Jasper and Alec had put on the elegant red and black waiters uniforms and Edward was adjusting the cuffs of his expensive tuxedo. He had hired extra men to frisk the guests as they arrived and gave them all a recent photo of Paul but they all knew it wasn't one hundred percent proof. Paul was talented and could easily change his appearance.
"I think I like your suit better." Said Jasper looking at Edward's tux.
Edward smirked while scanning the small monitors, "Well, when you get engaged I'll wear that thing and you can wear the tux."
"God forbid!" he said with mock indignation causing several throaty chuckles.
Just then Carlisle rapped on the closed door and told Edward and the men to get out to the back patio where the guests were gathering.
Edward straightened himself to his full height and took on a serious expression making him look distinguishable and authoritative, "Okay men, let's make sure my girl stays unharmed." He held out his hand.
The other three placed theirs on his and murmured a series of agreements before they all left to take their places.
Upstairs, Esme's maid was just completing the finishing touches on Bella. She had swept her hair up off her nape and managed to pile it elegantly on top of her head with a few wisps escaping to tickle her neck. She was nervous. She knew that Carlisle was going to announce her engagement to Edward and she wondered if her real father would somehow make it in to the party. A shudder went through her and she glanced up at her reflection. She was sad about that, her father, never knowing her mother or her grandparents until now. Charlie and Renee were still her parents as far as she was concerned.
A soft knock on the door let her know that Carlisle was there to escort her down to the party. She stood up wishing it was Edward, but she knew he was busy seeing to her safety. Her heart swelled thinking of him.
"My dear, you are lovely." Carlisle said with warmth in his eyes while gripping her shoulders. He bent down and kissed her soft cheek affectionately. "You look so much like your mother." He added feeling moisture prick his eyes.
Bella saw it and felt terrible for him. It must've been horrible to lose a child in such a way. She herself was upset, but she never knew her mother, so it wasn't as bad as what Esme and Carlisle went through she was sure. What she did feel was robbed and part of that made her angry at the man who was biologically her father. She looked at him shyly, "Es—my grandmother bought the gown." She said trying to distract him. It hurt her to see him upset.
"Esme has a way with fashion." He said holding out his arm which she took. "Are you scared?" he said studying her expression.
"Absolutely terrified." She admitted as he led her towards the long staircase.
"Well when we get to the crowd, Edward is going to take over as your escort—but," he shot her a look, "That doesn't mean he gets all of the dances."
Bella smiled, "no, of course not."
Nothing could have prepared her for how devastating Edward looked in a tuxedo. Obviously she wasn't the only one who noticed seeing the crowd of young woman around him. However when he caught a glimpse of her coming out of the patio doors on her grandfather's arm, he brushed though them like they didn't exist and she felt awash with pride and love for him.
"Thank you General." Edward said taking Bella's hand without even taking his eyes off of her to acknowledge the other man.
"My pleasure." He said with amusement in his tone before he walked away.
"My God Bella, you could bring me to my knees in that gown." He said huskily while placing her arm through his.
"Quit it." She breathed looking up at him feeling her cheeks heat up.
"I just keep thinking that I'm the only one that knows what lies underneath and you have no idea how that makes a man like me feel."
"Edward!" she whispered, "People will hear you."
He grinned down at her before he bent and pressed his lips to her temple, "Mine." He mouthed against her skin before leading her down the stone steps and into the crowd.