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The reviews for this story have been so supportive for our Bella. Her journey is far from over, but at least now, she will get to enjoy some of life.
Thanks so much for joining me, and I hope you enjoy this chapter.

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Chapter 10

I ate the breakfast Emmett handed me so fast that my belly rumbled in mild protest, and I gently rubbed the lump forming beneath my T-shirt. In the last couple of years, I'd learned to smash the food placed before me as quickly as possible or risk losing the meal entirely–not that I'd had many meals. Of course, Alice and I stole in order to pay bills, yet after paying for most necessities we didn't have much left for food. Even while my stomach began to revolt, I forcibly swallowed the last of the fried potatoes, stealing random glances at the men seated across the room.

They didn't try to hide their curiosity. At one point, I caught Edward staring at me while I shoveled eggs into my mouth like I'd never get another chance to eat. I should've been embarrassed by my lack of manners, but I was enjoying the different flavors absorbing on my tastebuds to care. I mentally shrugged off their attention and continued to consume the meal.

Emmett's voice cut through the silence, setting his empty container on the small corner table, as he sat back in his seat. "What's the plan, Ed? While I hate to cut the party short, Rose has been texting wanting me back home."

The tone he used piqued my interest, and I couldn't help but listen to the conversation between him and Edward. My soon-to-be husband. My husband. What kind of crazy fucking shit had I walked into? Before I could contemplate the question running through my head, Edward's answer was immediate, his deep tone engaging in an odd sort of way. Peeking in his direction through the veil of my lashes, I studied him intently, always making sure to have the knife at my side handy.

It was weird. While I should be cautious about what Edward had in store for me, his behavior since our brawl gave me little worry over. Judging by the size of his arms, and the maneuvers he'd pulled while we'd fought for dominance, he could snap my neck without blinking. Suddenly, I wondered how many people had succumbed to an awful fate at those hands. A shiver raced up my spine at the thought. Even though his ability to kill at a whim should petrify me, he'd been more than fair considering I'd stolen a hundred grand. Then, of course, he was giving me a chance to keep it, which blew my fucking mind.

"I figure you can rent a car back to Chicago. I have a few things to do before I head that way. It's a nice time for a mini vacation, and I'm in no hurry to head back just yet." He stated, hopping off the dresser. He collected his garbage and Emmett's empty styrofoam box and shoved them into the trash. His pale gaze focused on Emmett, intense and full of meaning. "When I come back to town, I need you to go along with whatever I say."

Emmett's long thick fingers rubbed the corners of his mouth, and he tried to withhold a grin. To my astonishment, I noticed the gleam of amusement in his once hard eyes. "What the hell are you planning, Ed?" His broad form shifted in the chair, and the wood squeaked beneath his weight. "At least give me an idea of what the hell I'm lying about."

Knowing what the ploy was made me shift uneasily on the bed, yet both men were too caught up in the conversation to notice. Edward ran his fingers through his hair, musing the dark brown strands, and he shrugged as he paced away from Emmett's prying eyes. "I haven't worked out the particulars, but the next time we see each other, I just need you to go along with whatever story I concoct–especially with the family."

Emmett threw a thumb in my direction, his method of pointing, I assumed. "Does this have something to do with her?" He squinted at Edward, and I could literally see the wheels turning in his head. "What plans do you have for her?"

Edward shuffled around the room, collecting my bag and his bag full of money. When he dropped mine on the edge of the bed, the jolt of the mattress had my gaze connecting with his, startled by the movement. He stared at me, and he gestured toward the bathroom. "I figured you'd want to take a shower before we start the day."

His statement wasn't a suggestion. Nervously, I glanced between the brothers. Even a room away, the idea of disrobing, made me a tad uneasy. He tapped my bag, drawing my attention to him, his brows lifting as he sought to ease my fears. "No one is going to break the door in. Go take a shower, Bella. By the time you get out of the bathroom, I'll have made arrangements to leave."

Standing under the hot spray of water sounded like pure fucking heaven, and my legs were ahead of my brain, automatically unwinding from the bed. Quickly, I retrieved my knife and kept it close as I rounded the bed. Edward stepped back a foot, leaving adequate room to squeeze past him to retrieve my bag. When I grabbed the strap and would've thrown it over my shoulder a thought occurred to me, and I faltered. "Ah … I forgot to buy shampoo and bodywash. If I wash my hair without conditioner, it will be a matted mess, and impossible to brush out–which I also forgot to grab."

"There should be sample soaps the hotel provides," he explained, his gaze wandering over my hair. "As for a brush, we'll stop somewhere and get everything you will need."

"Okay," I whispered, noting the concern on his face. Skirting around him, I continued on to the bathroom, ducking inside to push the door closed. I waited there on the other side, hoping to overhear the rest of Edward and Emmett's conversation.

To my very real disappointment, I heard Edward say, "I'd prefer to keep the specifics to myself, Em."

Emmett's muffled response promptly followed. "Dude, you know I'm here for you–whatever you're cooking up–I'll go along with whatever you want." There was a pause, and then, he continued, "I need to get back home. I miss Rose, and I hate being gone so long. Call me if you need me."

The sound of heavy footsteps passed the bathroom as Emmett made his way to the door, the hinges squeaking as he pulled it open. "I'm gonna rent a couple of cars. Hopefully, they will be here before the end of the hour."

When the door shut, I backed up into the bathroom, turning my attention to the mirror. I looked like shit. My hair was a tangled mess from sleeping on it, and dark circles marred the skin below my eyes. My skin was paler than usual, and I contributed that to the stress of my entire life. Grunting, I shook my head. I wasn't sure what Edward saw in me, or why he thought I'd make a good wife–even if it was only pretending.

The whole idea was silly. I didn't know the first thing about acting like a wife, or someone in love. Even before my life on the streets, I'd had no interest in dating, and I certainly never had a crush on anyone. Thanks to Uncle John, things that came naturally in a young woman's life had been robbed from me, including my home and family. Feeling a twinge of sadness, I swallowed the lump forming in my throat. There was no point in dwelling on everything I'd lost. I needed to focus on the here and now, just like always.

With that thought in mind, I locked the bathroom door and turned to the shower. In seconds, I'd undressed and slipped beneath the hot spray. Rolling my head on my shoulders, I let the water soak my scalp, amazed at how something so simple could make me feel like a million bucks. I could stand there all day, relishing the warmth seeping through my body, warming the constant chill I carried everywhere.

In the apartment I shared with Alice, the water temperature barely rose to lukewarm, and that's if I beat the other tenants in showering. I found the little bottle of shampoo and squeezed the velvety liquid in my palm before working it through my hair. Unfortunately, my hair was far too thick for the small amount, but I still felt fresher than I had in a long time. Rinsing the suds down the drain, I hurriedly conditioned before scrubbing myself from head to toe with the tiny bar soap the hotel provided. Once I was thoroughly washed, I rinsed and reluctantly turned the water off.

I toweled my hair dry before wrapping it around myself. Gravitating to my bag, I dug through the clothes that'd been thrown inside, cursing under my breath at my choices. There were a pair of ratty shorts, a few pairs of holy jeans, and some random work clothes. What the hell was I gonna do? There was no way in hell I'd walk out of this room dressed for the streets. Considering my options, I grabbed the T-shirt I'd worn yesterday, and a pair of distressed jeans–and not one pre-styled–dressing quickly.

I couldn't explain it, but I couldn't stand to look at myself naked. Usually, as soon as I climbed from a bath or shower, I dried off and donned whatever outfit there was. Once dressed, I plopped down on the toilet and stared at the bathroom door. I knew I couldn't stay here forever, yet I wasn't eager to leave either.

Wife? I was going to be a wife. I was going to marry a strange man. A man who'd promised me a home, food, and safety. After a year, he'd sworn to deliver me wherever I wanted to go. How much could I trust his words?

That was the question of the century. Besides Alice, when was the last time I could trust anyone? Biting my nail, I jumped when a knock rattled the bathroom door. "Are you coming out any time soon? We need to get this day started."

I guess my seclusion was at an end. Taking a deep breath, I grabbed the knife from the counter and tucked it into my waistband. It was time to face my fate, and see what Edward had in store. Once I'd stuffed my worn jeans into my bag, I said, "I'm coming out." Opening the door, I stood there facing him. "Is this how this will be? I can't even stay in the bathroom too long without upsetting you?"

Concern darkened his gaze, and his brow furrowed as he studied me. "Babe, I wasn't upset. I just think we have a lot to get done, and the sooner the better."

"Babe?" The way the word just slipped off his lips took me by surprise. Did he just randomly call women that? If so, I wasn't sure how flattered I was to be put in the same pile as some ordinary woman. "Who is babe?"

A lopsided smile tilted his lips, and a twinkle of humor changed his stormy irises to a lighter shade. "You're babe."

For the first time in months, a genuine laugh escaped my throat. This man had lost his mind. He might be the most handsome man I'd ever met, but he had some screws loose. "The fuck I am. I'm not your babe."

His deep chuckle cut into my contradicting statement. "When you accepted my proposal, you became babe. So suck it up, wife. From here on out, you are babe or baby. Whatever, you choose. You might want to think up some cute pet names for me as well. If we want this to be believable we better start now." He looked me over with the same humor my laugh instigated. "We have a long way to go before anyone will buy we're actually in love."

My arms folded across my chest, intent on maintaining my stance. "I don't want to be lumped up with all the women you've dated or whatever–especially if we want it to be believable."

Edward's thick eyebrows rose in consideration. "First off, I've never dated anyone. And second, I have never called anyone babe or any other pet name of any kind."

"You really expect me to believe you've never been in a relationship of any kind?" I tapped my toe on the carpeted floor. "I find that extremely hard to swallow."

"They weren't exactly relationships. In no terms whatsoever. We usually had a formal agreement about that." He dropped my gaze, pacing around the room, looking around. "We should probably go outside. The guy will be dropping off a car within the next ten minutes."

His implications spoke volumes. Sex. He'd used women for sex. Disappointment was the first emotion to register when I thought about him slipping in and out of women's beds. I wasn't sure what made men so crazy for sex, but apparently, my soon-to-be husband wasn't any different. The knowledge bothered me more than I cared to examine too closely. I whispered, "Figures."

His head immediately whipped around in my direction with that hard glint back. "What do you mean? Figures?"

"Nothing," I snapped, shuffling the bag on my shoulder. I would've turned to the door when his hold on my arm kept me in place.

"Not until you tell me what that meant." His fingers pinched hard into my elbow, and the humor that had started this conversation fled from his expression. "Right now, Bella. What was that sarcastic remark for?"

My teeth gritted as I ripped my arm from his grasp. "It means, I shouldn't have expected anything more from a typical man. Why settle for a relationship when you can get everything without one?"

A muscle jumped in his jaw as his temper rose. He looked ready to explode, and nervously, I took a step back. He didn't let me escape far, following my progress until I backed into the wall. "Babe. The acquaintances I kept were mutual agreements, and nothing more. I have never taken advantage of any innocent woman." He stopped an inch before me, and I could feel his heat seeping into my chest, his breath filtering through my hair. Leaning close, he glared at me, and when I tried to evade his gaze, he snapped, "Look at me, Bella."

When I finally managed to meet his gaze, he said, "I want you to know that, Bella. I would never, ever hurt a woman–especially in that fashion. I would cut the balls off of anyone that attempted to. Understand?"

As forceful as his tone was, and the way he exuded anger from every pore in his body, a weird sense of security filled me. I would never have to worry about this man forcing me to endure anything I didn't want. Gulping down the initial disappointment I'd felt, I nodded, "I understand."

Promptly he turned away from me, and headed toward the exit. Pulling the door open, he indicated for me to follow with a sweep of his arm. Shaking the apprehension from my limbs, I exited the room behind him, staying a few inches away as we navigated the hallway. Once we stepped outside, I inhaled a deep breath of fresh air, forcing the anxiety whirling in my gut away.

We were only standing in the lot for five minutes when a brand new Impala pulled in and parked a few feet from Edward. Staying back, I watched the exchange between the two men, my attention wandering to Edward on several occasions. Perhaps if I wasn't as damaged as I was, I could enjoy the sight of his tall, lean figure. Pushing the thought away, I lifted my head with determination.

I knew this charade would be difficult. While the shadows of the past haunted my days, and more nights than I could count, I wanted what Edward was offering. If he wanted a pretend wife, then he would get one. Sighing, I bit the inside of my cheek as I stepped up beside him, nearly bumping into his arm. "Is this our car, honey?"

The word felt strangled from my throat like an unseeable force reached inside and yanked it out. He looked as surprised by the endearment as I felt for saying it when my arm brushed his. A half smile played across his lips, and he adjusted his footing until he was all but leaning on me. "Sure is, babe. Why don't you put the bags in the trunk, and hop inside? You can put on any music you'd like. I'll just be another second."

After dropping the bags in the trunk, I hurried around the car to the passenger side. The car would be the nicest vehicle I'd ever been in. Slipping onto the leather seat, I breathed in the scent of leather, greedily glancing around the immaculate interior. The black dashboard literally glowed in the sunlight. The wink of light shifted as Edward climbed inside, and started the ignition. Hesitantly, I reached for the dial on the radio, surfing channels until some poppy tune filled the car. Unimpressed by the song, I flipped to the next station, and then, once again.

I don't think it was the song choices that prompted me to change the tune. It was the ability to be in control of something so beautiful. Maybe beautiful wasn't the right word, and really I didn't have one for the emotions building within me. It was almost like being in a dream. I had to resist the urge to pinch myself.

My fiddling with the radio buttons must've entertained Edward because he shot a bemused look my way. "Having fun?"

I shrugged sitting back in my seat, nervously plucking at the string on my pants. "I've never been in a car so new. It probably sounds ridiculous but it's all bright and shiny, and I just want to touch it."

He had an odd light in his eyes as he studied me. Finally, he faced the road with another of those surprising laughs. "Touch it all you want, princess." Holding out his hand, he wiggled his fingers without looking at me again, saying, "Hand."

"Huh?" I watched his fingers as he shook them at me.

"Give me your hand," he stated, the amusement fading away upon his command.

The familiar fear lanced through my gut at the thought. Swallowing nausea swamping my gut, I bit my tongue, my jaw clenching when I forced my arm to cooperate with my brain. "I don't see why we have to hold hands while no one is around."

"Because it will have to appear natural, and it's not going to if you tense up every time, right?" His fingers curled around mine, and an odd zing of sensation jetted up my arm when our palms touched. He gave me that knowing smirk, saying, "See. I'm not going to bite–not unless you want me to."

Bite? That was a strange thing to say. "Why would I want you to bite me?"

Edward wiggled his eyebrows at me, mischief twinging his words when he replied, "When you want me to bite you, there won't be any need for an explanation."

Instead of responding, I concentrated on his fingers laced with mine, and the bizarre heat winding up my arm. It was strange, but not uncomfortable. Still, the oddity made me want to rip my hand from his and stare at my own skin. His fingers were rough, yet soft. His grasp was firm, but not forceful. Instinctively, I knew I could withdraw and he wouldn't grab at me. Perhaps that's why I didn't pull away.

"We should get to know one another better," he said, drawing my attention away from his hand. Vaguely, I became aware of his thumb sliding over the back of mine ."Let's start with your full name, shall we?"

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