Edward's POV:
The entire morning has been a bust.
I clearly didn't think this through or realize how difficult it would be to find the house. Which was located within the thick woodland part of town just as luck would have it.
"Fuck, what do I do now?" I muttered, smacking the steering wheel with my palm again.
The GPS had me heading towards the more deserted part of the town, but only because the houses were distanced farther away from each other.
When I finally do reach the house, I note that it's far bigger than I expect. Two floors, ranch-style house. It has a large porch with a porch swing in it, and a white picket fence.
My mind briefly wonders to an image, an impossible desire that can never happen.
The one longing to find someone to settle down with and start a family, move to a place like this and retire.
It's an impossibility, especially for someone who works in my type of field.
When I snap out of my daze, I note that she probably isn't at home.
Without giving it a second thought I turned the engine off and got out, slowly assessing the surroundings and the neighborhood itself, before I slowly approached the porch, keeping an eye on all my surroundings.
I was so focused on the information I had read earlier that I missed the large yellow 1960 Volkswagen Transporter bus pulling into the drive next to the black truck.
I watched silently as a small, dark-haired woman hops out of the bus, "Isabella Swan?" I ask, carefully, watching her closely for a reaction.
I watch as her eyes widen in recognition.
"Fuck! How the hell did he find me?" She muttered, none too quiet, as she stared back at me, seeming to recognize me for a second, before she pushed past me and walked over to the end of the driveway towards the mailbox.
I almost smirked at her reaction, thinking about how long it had taken me to find her, even though we were both within the same state.
It was almost comical. Catching lowlifes, and interrogating them? Sure, no problem. Finding a girl in the same state? It was more problematic than any case I've had so far.
"Yes. Who might you be?" She asks, politely.
Her eyes give her away automatically.
I can see the anger brewing within her silver and bluish-green eyes. I wouldn't be surprised if she shut the door in my face.
Still, I can't help but look into her eyes. They're so deep that they mesmerize me, stunning me momentarily, causing my mind to go blank for a moment.
Her eyes are a unique color, the middle is a combination of blue, green, and silver while having a light golden halo on the outer rim.
I've never seen anyone with such a color. It's memozining. Though her gaze suddenly flickers away, breaking the connection I felt.
Causing my mind to slam, as if my head had suddenly smacked into reality.
"I'm Agent Edward Cullen, I called you the other day?" I respond, raising an eyebrow at her, and clearing my throat.
If looks could kill, I'd be six feet under, judging by the scalding look she threw my way.
"Yes, I— I remember." She replied, through stiff lips, pushing past me.
Damn, I must have annoyed her a lot the other day. Fuck, Cullen think! How can I make this right?
"Awesome…" She muttered as she bent down, trying to pick it up, giving me an unintentional full view of her curvy derriere.
I watched her try to lift it up more than once before she tried again. I silently watched amused as I tried a few more times before clearing my throat, stepping forward to help.
"No, no...I can— *grunt*— lift it— hm— up—mm— by myself." She gritted, trying to lift it up again and again only to fail, and stand upright to kick it angrily.
"Do you need some help?" I asked, amused.
I could almost see her stomp her foot in annoyance. Oh, she's got a bit of a temper on her.
"Maybe…" She muttered, chagrined.
I nodded silently, bending down and picking up the package, and tilting my head silently asking her to lead the way.
She silently led me back to the house, swiftly unlocking the door and leading me towards the kitchen where I set the box onto the breakfast counter in the middle of the kitchen.
I stared at her, watching as she moved around the kitchen silently looking for something.
My guess was that she found it.
Once she did, she silently turned back towards the box and stabbed through the clear yellow tape with a steak knife.
I could see her tense as she dropped the knife to the ground as her eyes landed on the contents of the box.
Her jaw dropped in surprise and all the color drained from her face.
Shit!! What was it? A bomb? A threat?
Oh fuck, why did I let her open the fucking box herself, why didn't I offer my assistance?
I don't hesitate as I pull my Glock out, clicking the safety off before calmly speaking towards her. "Isabella, please step back from the box." I instructed, calmly.
She backed up as I cautiously walked towards it.
I moved to quickly open the box and scoffed before turning towards her annoyed.
Seriously? Did she react like that over a box full of lunch meats and cheeses?
"What is all of this?" I asked, irritatedly.
Seriously. Calm down, Cullen, you're scaring her.
"This woman went into labor last week, in a restaurant bathroom. I was there picking up lunch and ended up helping her deliver the baby. Her husband is a butcher. He must have brought this, though my guess, is personally since there isn't any sort of postal stamp." She explained, shrugging indifferently.
As she walks towards the box and pulls out the small envelope that sits on top of it.
"Oh Jeez." I hear her mutter, looking down at the contents of the box, rolling her eyes.
"Do they always do this?" I asked, eyeing everything in surprise.
"Not all of them. Some usually send the clinic some lunch for the staff. Others have sent me fruit baskets, chocolate products… there's a lot of things. I usually just end up giving some of the things to Mrs.Cope and her family or my friends." She answers, shrugging again.
Was she always like this?
"...and you just accept them? What if they are trying to poison you?" I asked, astonished.
Did she just roll her eyes at me?
"This is a small town. Everyone knows one another here. All the adults? I grew up with them. Why would anyone try to hurt me?" She scoffs, offended.
How can she trust those people? She does realize not everyone has good intentions, right?
"Believe it or not. There are people out there that do in fact do that just for shits and giggles. Don't be so trusting." I commented, eyeing the contents of the box again.
Shit! Did her eyes just twitch?
"Were you here for a specific reason or are you here just to annoy me to death?" She asked, scowling at me.
'Shit, I think I just insulted her…' I think, wanting to laugh at her scowl as she briefly reminds me of a kitten thinking it's a larger cat ready to pounce.
I bit my lip in response. "I'm here to speak to you...about something but you keep sidetracking me," I reply, highly amused.
"Well, get on with it. I had an early day and want to get some rest before I have to visit the hospital this afternoon." She says, annoyed.
I nod in response, before looking up at her.
Where do I start? I guess the beginning is a good place.
"Well?" She asks as I watch her as she slowly begins to pull out all the lunch meats and cheeses before taking them to the fridge.
I note that she is content as she hums to herself as she puts everything away in the refrigerator.
"This must have cost them a lot of money." She noted as she placed the wines, which I hadn't noticed were there until this moment, on the rack.
"I need your help." I finally say.
"I got that bit from the call the other day…" she replies, dryly.
Setting all amusement aside, I try to explain to her what is happening.
"No, look. My friend and his partner were working on a case, they were traveling to Brazil to speak to one of the contacts when they both disappeared. Their last known location was Rio Preto da Eva, that's somewhere on the land of the Archugan tribe...we have already tried to negotiate with them, ask for help but their customs forbid it." I explained, stoically.
I watch as she tenses for a moment before she looks up at me.
"Well, I can see your problem, but I still can't help you." She says, pulling out two glasses and serving lemonade into them.
"What? Why not?" I ask dumbfounded, as she offers me some lemonade.
My stomach rumbles in hunger as I take the glass and sip the sweet drink slowly.
"The customs in the tribe forbid it." She says quietly, as she begins pulling out some things from the refrigerator. "How long have you been waiting for me?" She asked, suddenly.
I look down at my watch to see it's almost noon.
Fuck! I had to get a move on.
"Since nine in the morning," I state, calmly.
"It's almost lunch, would you like something to eat?" She asks, already pulling out two plates.
Food sounded good right now. Especially a home-cooked meal.
"Sure," I say, as I sit down on one of the stools.
She nodded, quickly placing two large slices of lasagna onto a plate before she turned to place it in the microwave to heat it up.
I watched as she moved comfortably in silence, grabbing a few of the other things for us to eat. Pulling out some salad and a few slices of garlic bread too.
"To answer your question, it's because I am not married…" She whispers, looking at me for a second before dropping her gaze again.
Until now I hadn't noticed how naturally beautiful she is.
Her face wasn't bearing any makeup like the ladies I saw back home. It was freshing to see.
"So, you're telling me that you can't help me because of your marital status?" I asked, amused by this bit of info.
'If only she knew…' I think.
Shit. I have a feeling she's not going to like this, causing me to sober up.
"The tribe is a simple people. They are very old fashioned and protective of their females." She explains, placing a plate before me, and handing me a fork afterward.
I inhale the enticing smell of melted cheese, and other things, as I look down. My stomach grumbles hungrily as I fight the urge to dive in.
"I see," I respond, before taking an apprehensive, cautious bite.
It's delicious...
"I'm not going to poison you." She whispered as she slowly set another plate across from mine.
I look up surprised to find her staring at me offended. Shit, I've offended her, when all I wanted to do was be polite.
Fix it, Cullen. Fix it, now!
"Oh, I know. It's not a lack of trust. I just haven't eaten real food in four days and don't want to look like a swine." I replied highly amused.
"Right..." She muttered, rolling her eyes at me before taking a bite of her food.
She lets out a moan as she chews her food, licking her lips. The small noise causes muscles in my abdomen to tighten, and something to stir within me.
Now, why was that sound so enticing? How could the simple act of her licking her lips be so seductive to me?
I decide to push those perverse thoughts away and focus on the task at hand.
"So, there is no way you can help?" I finally asked her.
"There is...but I don't think there is much time especially if there is a danger like you stated. Time is against us." She states, clasping her small dainty hands together.
"If there is any way to help, let's do it," I state, anxiously.
"Your friend. Just how important is he to you?" She asks me.
"He is like a brother to me." I utter automatically.
I could feel her scrutiny as she stared at me. It felt as if she could see everything about me, even what no one else knew.
Finally, I see her nod once.
"Does he have a family?" She asked me, swallowing thickly while playing with the delicate gold chain that hung around her neck.
I watched her for a second trying to figure out why she was asking. "He does. His wife, Serenity, and his two kids, Harry and Gwen." I state, thinking about them fondly.
I watched her flinch back as if I hurt her.
"How opposed are you to do this in an unorthodox manner?" She asked, eyeing me.
"I'm not opposed at all," I said, looking at her unblinkingly.
It's true. If there is something that I could do to get Seth and Logan home, then I would do it.
She nodded in approval."Good, because this may be the only way to save your friend." She replies, gathering the dishes into her hands before taking them to the sink.
"...and what, may I ask, is that Miss. Swan?" I ask her, amused, walking up to the sink to stand next to her.
She turned and looked up at me, smirking. "Just how opposed are you to faking a marriage?" She asked.
I swallowed nervously, as I stared at her. Oh boy, she really isn't going to like this part. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if she reached up and punched me in the face."Miss. Swan, there's no need for you to do that…" I begin, looking away from her confused stare.
"Why not? I thought you wanted to help your friend? You've already tried negotiating with the tribe. You need me. So, this is the last resort...you want to lead my help, this is my way of helping." She stated, confused.
I try to smile at her reassuringly, but she looks back at me with confusion. "No, you misunderstood me…" I attempt again.
"How so?" She asks me, as her brows furrowed in confusion.
Fuck, this is going to be harder than I thought. Fucking Aro. Why didn't he at least warn me of this?
"There is no need to fake anything…" I replied, trailing off.
"Why not? I mean, I get that you're uncomfortable. But why not do this to help your friend?" She asked, frowning.
"No, you are misunderstanding me, Miss. Swan. What I meant is, that there's no need for us to fake anything ...because we're already married." I stated, plainly.
She stares at me, confused for a moment. I can see the wheels in her head-turning.
When what I said finally sinks in, I watch her move hastily across the room back to me, and—
Slap*
Did she slap me or punch me in the face?
Damn, that woman packs quite a wallop.