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“Get Billy on it;” I agreed。 I hated that I was putting Charlie within the range of the crosshairs that always
seemed to be centered on me。 “What else?”
“Just rearranging some boundaries; so we can catch anyone who gets too near Forks。 I’m not sure if Sam
will go for it; but until he es around; I’ll keep an eye on things。”
“What do you mean by ‘keep an eye on things’?”
“I mean that if you see a wolf running around your house; don’t shoot at it。”
“Of course not。 You really shouldn’t do anything 。 。 。 risky; though。”
He snorted。 “Don’t be stupid。 I can take care of myself。”
I sighed。
“I also tried to convince him to let you visit。 He’s prejudiced; so don’t let him give you any crap about
safety。 He knows as well as I do that you’d be safe here。”
“I’ll keep that in mind。”
“See you in a few;” Jacob said。
“You’re ing up?”
“Yeah。 I’m going to get the scent of your visitor so we can track him if he es back。”
“Jake; I really don’t like the idea of you tracking —”
“Oh please; Bella;” he interrupted。 Jacob laughed; and then hung up。
10。 SCENT
IT WAS ALL VERY CHILDISH。 WHY ON EARTH SHOULD EDward have to leave for Jacob to e over? Weren’t
we past this kind of immaturity?
“It’s not that I feel any personal antagonism toward him; Bella; it’s just easier for both of us;” Edward told
me at the door。 “I won’t be far away。 You’ll be safe。”
“I’m not worried about that。”
He smiled; and then a sly look came into his eye。 He pulled me close; burying his face in my hair。 I could
feel his cool breath saturate the strands as he exhaled; it raised goose bumps on my neck。
“I’ll be right back;” he said; and then he laughed aloud as if I’d just told a good joke。
“What’s so funny?”
But Edward just grinned and loped off toward the trees without answering。
Grumbling to myself; I went to clean up the kitchen。 Before I even had the sink full of water; the doorbell
rang。 It was hard to get used to how much faster Jacob was without his car。 How everyone seemed to be so
much faster than me。 。 。 。
“e in; Jake!” I shouted。
I was concentrating on piling the dishes into the bubbly water; and I’d forgotten that Jacob moved like a
ghost these days。 So it made me jump when his voice was suddenly there behind me。
“Should you really leave your door unlocked like that? Oh; sorry。”
I’d slopped myself with the dishwater when he’d startled me。
“I’m not worried about anyone who would be deterred by a locked door;” I said while I wiped the front
of my shirt with a dishtowel。
“Good point;” he agreed。
I turned to look at him; eyeing him critically。 “Is it really so impossible to wear clothes; Jacob?” I asked。
Once again; Jacob was barechested; wearing nothing but a pair of old cutoff jeans。 Secretly; I wondered if
he was just so proud of his new muscles that he couldn’t stand to cover them up。 I had to admit; they were
impressive — but I’d never thought of him as vain。 “I mean; I know you don’t get cold anymore; but still。”
He ran a hand through his wet hair; it was falling in his eyes。
“It’s just easier;” he explained。
“What’s easier?”
He smiled condescendingly。 “It’s enough of a pain to carry the shorts around with me; let alone a plete
outfit。 What do I look like; a pack mule?”
I frowned。 “What are you talking about; Jacob?”
His expression was superior; like I was missing something obvious。 “My clothes don’t just pop in and out
of existence when I change — I have to carry them with me while I run。 Pardon me for keeping my burden
light。”
I changed color。 “I guess I didn’t think about that;” I muttered。
He laughed and pointed to a black leather cord; thin as a strand of yarn; that was wound three times
below his left calf like an anklet。 I hadn’t noticed before that his feet were bare; too。 “That’s more than just a
fashion statement — it sucks to carry jeans in your mouth。”
I didn’t know what to say to that。
He grinned。 “Does my being halfnaked bother you?”
“No。”
Jacob laughed again; and I turned my back on him to focus on the dishes。 I hoped he realized my blush
was left over from embarrassment at my own stupidity; and had nothing to do with his question。
“Well; I suppose I should get to work。” He sighed。 “I wouldn’t want to give him an excuse to say I’m
slacking on my side。”
“Jacob; it’s not your job —”
He raised a hand to cut me off。 “I’m working on a volunteer basis here。 Now; where is the intruder’s scent
the worst?”
“My bedroom; I think。”
His eyes narrowed。 He didn’t like that any more than Edward had。
“I’ll just be a minute。”
I methodically scrubbed the plate I was holding。 The only sound was the brush’s plastic bristles scraping
round and round on the ceramic。 I listened for something from above; a creak of the floorboard; the click of a
door。 There was nothing。 I realized I’d been cleaning the same plate far longer than necessary; and I tried to
pay attention to what I was doing。
“Whew!” Jacob said; inches behind me; scaring me again。
“Yeesh; Jake; cut that out!”
“Sorry。 Here —” Jacob took the towel and mopped up my new spill。 “I’ll make it up to you。 You wash;
I’ll rinse and dry。”
“Fine。” I gave him the plate。
“Well; the scent was easy enough to catch。 By the way; your room reeks。”
“I’ll buy some air freshener。”
He laughed。
I washed and he dried in panionable silence for a few minutes。
“Can I ask you something?”
I handed him another plate。 “That depends on what you want to know。”
“I’m not trying to be a jerk or anything — I’m honestly curious;” Jacob assured me。
“Fine。 Go ahead。”
He paused for half a second。 “What’s it like — having a vampire for a boyfriend?”
I rolled my eyes。 “It’s the best。”
“I’m serious。 The idea doesn’t bother you — it never creeps you out?”
“Never。”
He was silent as he reached for the bowl in my hands。 I peeked up at his face — he was frowning; his
lower lip jutting out。
“Anything else?” I asked。
He wrinkled hi