Chapter 2 - New Coat Of Paint

Fishin' for a good time

starts with throwin' in your line.

T. Waits

BPOV

I tried not to run straight into the house even though I was completely mortified. The minute the door was shut though I darted for my phone to send a text to my girl.

Paybacks a bitch!

I knew she would call me the minute she got it. I considered telling her I couldn't talk because I had Jasper on the other line, just to hear the pause of panic in her voice. Although she would know better than to fall for it completely, she could be sure I would find some way to embarrass her.

It was just my luck that a slice of beefcake would move in next door. Looking at him just made my biological clock sound off like Poe's telltale heart. Well at least it still works I thought to myself. My libido was suffering from a serious case of neglect now that Jake spent more and more time away from home. And with Mr. Sex-On-A-Stick moving in next door, it was an even bigger reminder that things were amiss in my life. However, it was somewhat refreshing to have actual proof for Alice that ' I wasn't dead yet' as I claimed earlier. My phone began to ring and without looking at it I answered. "Hey Alice."

"So should I be concerned about retribution?" She asked me.

"No, of course not. I'm just thinking I should buy Jay some new boxers and starch for his birthday."

We both laughed at the little joke. "So how are the new neighbors?"

"They came over and asked if you would be peeling out like that every time you came over."

"What, really?"

"No, not really. They stared at me like I'd just sprouted wings and flew about the lawn. Except for him. He stood there, hands on hips, grinning at me like he was Peter Pan."

"Oh my God, you think he's cute don't you?"

"What? No!"

"Bella, this is Alice remember?"

"Oh okay, he's hot! You did see him right?"

"I still say he's gay. Can we talk about that suit? Crap, Jasper's calling in I gotta go. Stay outta trouble Isabella Swan-Black."

She hung up on me before I had a chance to give her any response: Alice didn't mess around when Jasper called. She would drop anything for him, and he did the same for her. 10 years later and I was still amazed by their devotion to each other. More grumbling from me. It had been a few weeks since I had seen my husband, about a week since I last spoke to him, and more than a few months since we had any intimate moments (despite my best efforts). I derided myself for not having the courage to confront Jacob, but at the same time I never had any concrete reasons to distrust him.

Jacob's slow removal from our house started rather innocently. First he would go to La Push once a week, then twice and so on. Eventually traveling so often during the week, that he proposed just to stay out there with his dad, Billy, instead of making the long drive back and forth. He would come home on the weekend, call me every day, and every thing was fine. Then he decided to rent some office space in Forks to open a branch of his law firm. Now he was spending weeks at a time there, and when weekends would roll around he would frequently come up with reasons to stay in La Push. At the time it was okay because we still managed to get together, and he called me every night. But those soon dwindled down too. I felt dumb for putting up with it. Alice continued to tell me that she "just knew he was not doing right by me" but she never had any proof. As I've said I had no reason not trust him. But my days of playing innocent were taking their toll on me. I mean it was easy to wonder how many people in that tiny town were in need of legal help. I sat down in front of the TV looking for any distraction since I knew thoughts about Jacob would not end well. For whatever reason though, today my mind could not be dissuaded from that very subject.

I had been standing in the parking lot at Forks High waiting for the school to open up for the morning. Alice and Jasper were in the early stages of flirting with each other and it was sickening to watch. I had my nose buried in my book, when the roar from a motorcycle brought my attention elsewhere. (It turned out to be a Harley Davidson Sportster which had belonged to his dad, Billy.) I saw him ride up, leather jacket, white t-shirt, ripped blue jeans, black boots... He was sitting so erect and confident on that seat with his long black hair flowing in the wind and that flawless bronze skin.

From that moment, I was so into Jake that I endured months of sub-par treatment just to get him to look me in the eye and say hi. When he finally spoke to me I noticed that his eyes looked empty. They were almost black. It made me sad, and I wondered what he was missing that made them so despairing. When I made him smile though, they melted into the darkest chocolate and became warm and inviting. Those were the eyes I wanted, and I vowed then I would never look into them again and see anything but melted chocolate.

The first time he threw me on the back of the bike I was crazy scared. "You're not scared are you, babe?" He asked me. "No!" I lied. He hit the gas and as we approached the first curve I clutched myself to him tightly giving my fear away. He threw his head back laughing when I buried my face in his strong back. That was also the first night he kissed me.

We'd pulled off the road onto a little scenic pullout. I was shivering in the cool air, admiring the view as the sun set on the beach. He approached me and threw his jacket around my shoulders and then, standing behind me, pulled me tightly to his warm body. He was solid and muscular all over, powerful and graceful; like a mountain lion. Without warning he released me and took a running leap over the wall in front of us, easily clearing it. I ran to the edge clutching my chest just as he popped up laughing, and quite ably jumped back up over the ledge. "Jacob Black you scared me!" I said playfully swatting at him. He grabbed my arms and pulled me close. His arms crossed over each other as they circled my waist and pulled me tight to his chest. His strength enveloped me, my heart pounded and I trembled all over. Unexpectedly his lips came crashing down on mine hard, rough and desperate at first. I tried to keep up as he pulled me closer; his kisses became softer and softer and his body relaxed into mine. It was all so perfect that I hardly jumped when he ran his tongue across my lips, politely asking for entry in my mouth. His tongue was warm as it darted in quickly and I moaned into his mouth and relaxed into his strong grip. His kissing was gentle and playful and his tongue stayed just at the tip of mine. When he pulled away I was sweating from the body heat and my legs were liquid. He stroked the hair out of my face, and it felt like he sat me back down on the ground as he gazed deep into my eyes. "Are you still scared?"

A loud crash from outside brought me back down to reality. I darted to the front window to see what the hell was happening, but all I could see were movers standing around the remnants of what appeared to be a box of dishes. Peter Pan was standing half way between his house and the sidewalk. My heart sank as I watched him and tried to work out what had just happened. From the green look on his face it was clear the dishes were valuable. The stunning blond came running out of the house past him. As she approached the scene, she began screaming and waving her hands at the ground and then back up at the movers. She was a battle-ax for sure and wasted no time destroying the egos of the men around her. It wasn't long before she had them all staring at the ground like scolded little boys. All except Peter Pan; he apparently had some immunity to her, and came trotting down to the scene like some kind of superhero.

His little half-jog down the lawn gave me time to notice he had changed out of his suit and into a pair of cargo shorts and an old concert t-shirt that was too small for him. Although, not complaining as it hugged his pecs nicely. I could clearly see now that he took very good care of himself. He had a runner's legs, and his arms were toned without being overdone; they complimented his frame well. The way he moved allowed me to catch a hint of some very well toned abs and I knew there was a washboard under there. Staring at his physique made me wonder what he did to stay in shape. I bet Yoga was involved, running and some kind of weight training for sure. He looked like the poster boy for fitness. I gazed over his body again as he stood tense over the argument in the yard. I was staring unabashedly when I noticed those tight pecs were now dancing rhythmically. I looked up to see Peter Pan staring right at my face and completely ignoring the argument around him. For a brief second, only the two of us existed. I noticed the corners of his mouth were upturned slightly, in a devil-may-care grin. I almost smiled back at him, but instead stepped back from the window and shut the blinds in embarrassment. How humiliating to be busted daydreaming about the neighbor.

EPOV

I was truly impressed that Rose had found me the perfect home. My tastes are very particular and I would never have agreed to buy the home had Rose not campaigned aggressively. She had insisted from day one that a more perfect home could not exist, and I hated to admit that she might have been right. If I told her in so many words, her head would never get out of the clouds, but I couldn't see a way to avoid it this time.

"Damn Rose, not bad at all. You even remembered that I love wine cellars."

"Thanks little bro. I knew you would love it." She said to me.

"Well it does have a front driveway. You know I hate that." I teased her just to see her pout. I adored my sister and I loved making her squirm, as all good baby brothers should.

"Just kidding with you, it's actually really impressive." I hugged her. I never knew anyone, aside from my own mother, that got me as well as Rose did. I always doubted her and yet she always came through for me.

"Awww that's sweet, give Emmett some love too." He said, just before tackling us in a hug and sending us all crashing to the floor.

Emmett was in the kitchen cracking a beer, his early contribution to moving day, when the movers showed up. I've never been one to sit idle so I offered to help them where I could while Rose and Emmett inventoried the boxes as they came in. I was on my way back outside to grab another box when I was stopped by the worst sound anyone could hear on moving day. I was stunned for a moment while a sick feeling began to develop in the pit of my stomach. "Please, not the dishes," I thought to myself. My eyes squinted shut upon hearing the crash, and I slowly opened them to the sight of my Great-Great Grandmother's Limoge dishes, in tiny fragmented pieces, spilling from the crushed box and packing paper. She had purchased them new in France and they had been in the family over 115 years!

"Fuck!" I said and loudly I might add. I was headed to speak with the driver when Rose mounted her broomstick and flew out of the house past me. She descended on the poor bastard like some kind of rabid wolverine. I was pissed, don't get me wrong, but I sort of felt sorry for the driver. Rose was a straight up bitch and I was glad she was on my side.

Surveying the damage I quickly realized that it was only one of the boxes and although bad that it was dropped, it would not be the end of the world. I could get some antique dealers to search out replacements for me, and then I wouldn't have to see my mother cry! God I hated to see a woman in tears, it was my weakness. First order of business though, I had to diffuse Rose before she ate another man for lunch.

I was trying my best to stop the tirade and explain that it wasn't the whole set when I caught a flash of movement from the neighbor's window. She must have heard the crash in the house. I waved at her but she didn't move, she just stood there, staring! Oblivious to me and my gesturing, I started to tense my muscles just a little. I was having fun trying to be subtle and still act like I was paying attention to Rose balling out the driver.

And why shouldn't I show it off a little? I wasn't conceited or anything like that, but I spent six days a week in a gym for two hours a day, plus every other day in a Yoga class, followed by Pilates. She was holding her position in the window, still staring at me. "Oh so you like what you see, little Miss Sweeney." I thought as I made my pecs dance for her. A little trick I picked up in college that always seemed to make the girls giggle, then run their hands over my chest. She was leaning close to the glass panes completely unaware that anyone could see her.

I wish I could read her mind; I would love to know what the naughty little housewife was thinking right now. And then suddenly she snapped up and for a moment we had an eye contact that aroused Eddie Jr.'s suspicion. And before I could waggle my eyebrows at her she stepped away and shut the blinds. I laughed out loud and Rose shot me an evil glare.

"Edward, are you even paying attention here! They need to pay for this shit!" She barked at me.

"Yeah Rose, listen they have insurance we'll work it out. Let them man off the hook so he can finish the job!" I said back to her.

She looked pissed, "whatever Eddie." She said and stormed off. I patted the driver on the shoulder. "Why don't you guys take five for now and then get back to it. We'll work out the details when we're all done here." He looked relieved and I was confident I could get us reimbursed for the cost of the collection they broke. All it was really gonna cost me was a little grief from Rose. Nothing I hadn't encountered before.

I was sweeping up the mess when a solid black BMW M-5 pulled out of the driveway next door. It was a sleek ride even without the babe behind the wheel. The sunroof was open and the music was blaring as she shot down the road.

"So little Miss Housewife likes it loud."

Once again all characters from Twilight belong to Stephenie Meyer. And the charming Tom Waits owns the lyrics to New Coat of Paint. Thanks to Babs and Chels for reviewing. Edward calls Bella Miss Sweeney, that's a slight nod to Weezer. Read and review please, feedback only helps me improve! Just be tactful! =) Again my story rated M for language for now.