t And I d rather be alone with Bella as long as she was willing to be alone with me。 Do you mind if I drive Bella home tonight？ I said to Jessica before Bella could respond。 That way you won t have to wait while she eats。 Uh； no problem； I guess Jessica stared intently at Bella； looking for some sign that this was what she wanted。 I want to stay but she probably wants him to herself。 thought。 At the same time； she watched Bella wink。 Bella winked？ Okay； Angela said quickly； in a hurry to be out of the way if that was what Bella wanted。 And it seemed that she did want that。 See you tomorrow； Bella Edward。 She struggled to say my name in a casual tone。 Then she grabbed Jessica s hand and began towing her away。 I would have to find some way to thank Angela for this。 Jessica s car was close by and in a bright circle of light cast by a streetlamp。 Bella watched them carefully； a little crease of concern between her eyes； until they were in the car； so she must be fully aware of the danger she d been in。 Jessica waved as she drove away； and Bella waved back。 It wasn t until the car disappeared that she took a deep breath and turned to look up at me。 Honestly； I m not hungry； she said。 Why had she waited for them to be gone before speaking？ Did she truly want to be alone with me even now； after witnessing my homicidal rage？ Whether that was the case or not； she was going to eat something。 Humor me； I said。 I held the restaurant door open for her and waited。 She sighed； and walked through。 I walked beside her to the podium where the hostess waited。 Bella still seemed entirely selfpossessed。 I wanted to touch her hand； her forehead； to check her temperature。 But my cold hand would repulse her； as it had before。 Oh； my； the hostess s rather loud mental voice intruded into my consciousness。 My； oh my。 It seemed to be my night to turn heads。 Or was I only noticing it more because I wished so much that Bella would see me this way？ We were always attractive to our prey。 I d never thought so much about it before。 Usually unless； as with people like Shelly Cope and Jessica Stanley； there was constant repetition to dull the horror the fear kicked in fairly quickly after the initial attraction Who wouldn t？ Jess
A table for two？ I prompted when the hostess didn t speak。 Oh； er； yes。 Wele to La Bella Italia。 Mmm！ me。 Her thoughts were preoccupied calculating。 What a voice！ Please follow Maybe she s his cousin。 She couldn t be his sister； they don t look anything alike。 But family； definitely。 He can t be with her。 Human eyes were clouded； they saw nothing clearly。 How could this smallminded woman find my physical lures snares for prey so attractive； and yet be unable to see the soft perfection of the girl beside me？ Well； no need to help her out； just in case； the hostess thought as she led us to a familysized table in the middle of the most crowded part of the restaurant。 Can I give him my number while she s there ？ she mused。 I pulled a bill from my back pocket。 money was involved。 People were invariably cooperative when Bella was already taking the seat the hostess indicated without objection。 I shook my head at her； and she hesitated； cocking her head to one side with curiosity。 Yes； she would be very curious tonight。 A crowd was not the ideal place for this conversation。 Perhaps something more private？ I requested of the hostess； handing her the money。 Her eyes widened in surprise； and then narrowed while her hand curled around the tip。 Sure。 She peeked at the bill while she led us around a dividing wall。 Fifty dollars for a better table？ Rich； too。 That makes sense I bet his jacket cost more than my last paycheck。 Damn。 Why does he want privacy with her？ She offered us a booth in a quiet corner of the restaurant where no one would be able to see us to see Bella s reactions to whatever I would tell her。 I had no clue as to what she would want from me tonight。 Or what I would give her。 How much had she guessed？ herself？ What explanation of tonight s events had she told How s this？ the hostess asked。 Perfect； I told her and； feeling slightly annoyed by her resentful attitude toward Bella； I smiled widely at her； baring my teeth。 Let her see me clearly。 Whoa。 Um your server will be right out。 He can t be real。 I must be asleep。 Maybe she ll disappear maybe I ll write my number on his plate with ketchup She wandered away； listing slightly to the side。 Odd。 She still wasn t frightened。 I suddenly remembered Emmett teasing me in the cafeteria； so many weeks ago。 I ll bet I could have scared her better than that。 Was I losing my edge？ You really shouldn t do that to people； Bella interrupted my thoughts in a
disapproving tone。 It s hardly fair。 I hadn t frightened the I stared at her critical expression。 What did she mean？ hostess at all； despite my intentions。 Do what？ Dazzle them like that she s probably hyperventilating in the kitchen right now。 Hmm。 Bella was very nearly right。 The hostess was only semicoherent at the moment； describing her incorrect assessment of me to her friend on the wait staff。 Oh； e on； Bella chided me when I didn t answer immediately。 know the effect you have on people。 I dazzle people？ That was an interesting way of phrasing it。 for tonight。 I wondered why the difference You haven t noticed？ she asked； still critical。 their way so easily？ You have to Accurate enough Do you think everybody gets Do I dazzle you？ I voiced my curiosity impulsively； and then the words were out； and it was too late to recall them。 But before I had time to too deeply regret speaking the words aloud she answered； Frequently。 And her cheeks took on a faint pink glow。 I dazzled her。 My silent heart swelled with a hope more intense than I could ever remember having felt before。 Hello； someone said； the waitress； introducing herself。 Her thoughts were loud； and more explicit than the hostess s； but I tuned her out。 I stared at Bella s face instead of listening； watching the blood spreading under her skin； noticing not how that made my throat flame； but rather how it brightened her fair face； how it set off the cream of her skin The waitress was waiting for something from me。 Ah； she d asked for our drink order。 I continued to stare at Bella； and the waitress grudgingly turned to look at her； too。 I ll have a coke？ Bella said； as if asking for approval。 Two cokes； I amended。 Thirst normal； human thirst was a sign of shock。 make sure she had the extra sugar from the soda in her system。 She looked healthy； though。 More than healthy。 She looked radiant。 I was vaguely aware I would What？ she demanded wondering why I was staring； I guessed。 that the waitress had left。 How are you feeling？ I asked。 She blinked； surprised by the question。 You don t feel dizzy； sick； cold？ She was even more confused now。 Should I？ I m fine。
Well； I actually I m waiting for you to go into shock。 her denial。 She would not want to be taken care of。 I halfsmiled； expecting She looked It took her a minute to answer me。 Her eyes were slightly unfocused。 that way sometimes； when I smiled at her。 Was she dazzled？ I would love to believe that。 I don t think that will happen。 I ve always been very good at repressing unpleasant things； she answered； a little breathless。 Did she have a lot of practice with unpleasant things； then？ this hazardous？ Just the same； I told her。 in you。 Was her life always I ll feel better when you have some sugar and food The waitress returned with the cokes and a basket of bread。 She put them in front of me； and asked for my order； trying to catch my eye in the process。 I indicated that she should attend to Bella； and then went back to tuning her out。 She had a vulgar mind。 Um Bella glanced quickly at the menu。 I ll have the mushroom ravioli。 The waitress turned back to me eagerly。 Nothing for me。 Bella made a slight face。 Hmm。 She must have noticed that I never ate food。 noticed everything。 And I always forgot to be careful around her。 I waited till we were alone again。 Drink； I insisted。 I was surprised when she plied immediately and without objection。 She drank until the glass was entirely empty； so I pushed the second coke toward her； frowning a little。 Thirst； or shock？ She drank a little more； and then shuddered once。 Are you cold？ It s just the coke； she said； but she shivered again； her lips trembling slightly as if her teeth were about to chatter。 The pretty blouse she wore looked too thin to protect her adequately； it clung to her like a second skin； almost as fragile as the first。 She was so frail； so mortal。 Don t you have a jacket？ Yes。 car。 She looked around herself； a little perplexed。 Oh I left it in Jessica s She And you？ I pulled off my jacket； wishing that the gesture was not marred by my body temperature。 It would have been nice to have been able to offer her a warm coat。 She stared at me； her cheeks warming again。 What was she thinking now？ I handed her the jacket across the table； and she put it on at once； and then shuddered again。
Yes； it would be very nice to be warm。 Thanks； she said。 She took a deep breath； and then pushed the toolong sleeves back to free her hands。 She took another deep breath。 Was the evening finally settling in？ Her color was still good； her skin was cream and roses against the deep blue of her shirt。 Tha