Bella

"I still think he wants to light up your Christmas tree, if you know what I mean," she says before turning on the mixer and giggling to herself.

I shake my head. She thinks she's so funny.

"Alice, I think he might still be married," I shout as I try to get a batch of my special recipe red velvet cupcakes in the oven.

"What?" she asks, leaning over from the frosting station.

I shrug. "I'm not totally sure. And it's certainly not a subject that I can just ask freely on. He's kind of like my boss."

"Well you've babysat the kid for like…seven months now," she says, ticking off the months on her fingers. "And you've never seen a woman there before, right?"

I shake my head. Not once has Edward ever entertained company while I've watched Ej.

"Well there you go."

"There I go, what? What the hell is that supposed to even mean?" I wonder as I begin to grab ingredients for Mrs. Miller's order. The bakery always gets a little crazy this close the holidays. So Alice and I are working our tails off trying to get all of our orders filled.

I love owning a shop. But other than around the holidays, I find myself with a lot of free time on my hands. So babysitting is great for me. I love kids, they usually love me. And it helps pay the bills.

"I mean, that he must be divorced. If he wasn't she would've been there by now."

I roll my eyes. "Whatever you say, chief."

"You're the one that likes him," she says, as she passes by me, headed for the fridge with some strawberry filling.

"Yeah, I might like him," I say with an internal eye roll. "But that doesn't mean I'm looking to act on it. I love Ej and my job there. I would never want to do anything to wreck that."

She nods, before pushing her glasses up on her nose.

"Besides," I sigh. "Edward is quite possibly the sexiest male specimen I've ever laid eyes on. And well, I'm me…"

Alice shakes her head and begins to rattle on about how that's not the truth. But it's all best friend bullshit.

"Bella, you have to see who you really are," she admonishes.

I shrug.

"Look at me. Going by your logic a woman like me shouldn't have a man like Jas, but I do."

I raise an eyebrow in her direction. Alice is gorgeous. Tiny frame, busting with her beautiful personality. She's covered in amazing tattoos that just enhance her being that much more. She's sweet, talented, and my best friend.

She huffs. "I have coke bottle glasses, because I'm damn-near blind. I can hardly ever shop in adult stores. I think black is the color that looks best on me because it covers all of my pasty, white skin."

"Alice, you're amazing, knock it off."

"Then you knock it off because you're nothing but a knock out!"

To me, I'm okay with who I am. I know that being curvy or fat is just who I am. But to other people I look like I sample a few to many of my own goods. And I'm sure that a man like Edward wouldn't want a tubby chubby like me.

Thankfully, I'm saved from hearing Alice ramble on any further about the subject by a customer. The doorbell goes off and I wipe my hands and head to the front.

I help a mother and daughter with some cookie treats before returning to the back, where Alice is waiting for me.

"Don't even look at me like that," she says, pushes her tiny finger into my chest.

I shrug.

"Damn it, Bella! You said you had a moment. Doesn't that cement anything in your feeble mind that a man can and usually does find you sexy?"

"Alice stop talking crazy and let's get cracking on the orders," I tell her, not wanting to think about the same situation that I've already spent far too long over-analyzing in my mind.

But it isn't long before I'm torn away from gingerbread whoopie pies thanks to the doorbell.

I step out front and am surprised to see Edward and Ej standing there.

My heart melts momentarily, but I remember that this is my job and I love it. So I slap a smile on my face and snap into bakery owner mode.

"Hey guys! What brings you two here today?"

"Bella!" Ej shouts threatening to crack my flimsy exterior.

"Hey little guy!" I wave over the counter.

"How are you this morning?" Edward asks, looking just as fantastic as he did a few days ago, when I last saw him.

"I'm good, how about you guys?"

"We're great, but Ej wanted to see his favorite pastry chef and get a little sweet before we try to get some Christmas shopping accomplished."

I smile. There goes my heart. The boy is my weakness. I could never deny him. "Awe, that's so sweet. I love when you guys visit." I look down and see his sweet blue eyes staring up at me.

"See Daddy, I told you she wouldn't mind," Ej whispers to Edward as he picks the little guy up so he can get a better look in the case.

My eyebrows dip at Edward.

"I just thought because this is your busy season and all, that you wouldn't want a nuisance visit."

I shrug and shake my head. "A visit from you guys could never be a nuisance."

What a silly notion from some of my favorite people.

"Bella, can I please have one of the sparkly snowman cookies?" Ej asks after perusing the case for a minute.

I watch as Edward takes his time making his decision. His tongue pokes out of his mouth as he gets to our chocolate selection. He's always been a chocolate fanatic. "And I'll take one of your death by chocolate brownies."

I nod and wrap them both before handing them over to Edward.

He pulls out his wallet but I stop him. "Don't worry about it," I tell him.

"No Bella, you can't keep doing that."

"Yes, actually I can. And Ej you have fun today. I'll see you guys in a couple days!" I tell them as I close up the case.

"Thanks Bella!" Ej shouts.

"Yeah, thanks again," Edward says warmly with a great big grin.

They leave and I get right back to work. These orders need to be filled pronto.

"Laying it on a little thick out there?" Alice asks as she finishes up what looks like a buttercream frosting.

I shake my head.

"I still think he wants to jingle your bells."

We both crack up.