http:/www.youtube.com/watch?v=xS5oCLXrQLs&feature=related
http:/www.youtube.com/watch?v=4P0hG3sD0-E&feature=related
Couples danced across the floor, brightly colored skirts flying, shiny boots tapping in time to the music. The hall was packed with handsome soldiers and no shortage of ladies to dance with. Swing was king and champagne flowed like water. In a world where no one knew if they would survive the coming week, this small club was a lively oasis of self-indulgence and preservation amid the worldwide preoccupation of war.
Bella wasn't oblivious to the stares she received when she walked in with her arms linked between two handsome soldiers or to the glares of other women when the third pulled out a chair for her. Just as the three boys were well aware of the eyes on the pretty woman they called family.
Each had been amazed at the change of the small creature who sat with them. Three years ago they had left behind a shy tomboy in pigtails, sporting patched knees and budding breasts. In her place was a woman whose beauty was only eclipsed by the goodness of her soul.
They might not have recognized her at all, except for one thing. It was the song that lived in their hearts, the one that she sang so many times before with the old wooden radio they carted everywhere. Standing on that stage, she startled them from the thoughts of strategy and warfare that were a constant in their minds, transporting each of them back in time. The sweetness of her voice lingered on their air, reminding them of home, a thousand memories of summer sun and chasing fireflies in the dusky Washington twilight.
Jacob couldn't help but glare when Paul seated himself next to Bella, casually tossing an arm over her tiny shoulders, squeezing her whenever he felt like it. Then with a wink of his eye, Paul leaned closer to her, kissing her swiftly on the cheek. Even if Bella thought nothing of it, that he was only showing her brotherly affection, Jacob knew better. Paul was a good man, and one hell of a pilot. More than that, Jacob trusted him with his life. Trusting him with Bella was a whole 'nother matter.
Jacob shifted in his seat, a hard look settling over his face. What he really wanted to do was leap across the table, clock him one and wipe that cocky smirk off his face.
Embry noticed the change in Jacob's demeanor. He too was protective of the young woman. Hell, she's family, he thought to himself. But the bond that Jacob and Bella shared ran deeper than the ocean. Embry shook his head, irritated with Paul. Ass should know better than to pull that shit. She's not the flavor of the week like the other women he's been known to pick up everywhere we go.
Resolved to diffuse the situation before it could get out of control, he turned all of his attention on her. "Bella, honey," Embry leaned over the table, taking one of her small hands in his. "It's so good to see you, babygirl. But, you haven't told us what you're doing here yet."
Her laugh bubbled up like a fountain, realizing that he was right. They'd been so consumed in news of home on the short walk over she hadn't actually said how she'd ended up in this little outpost of England. "I'm a volunteer nurse for the Red Cross here on rotation." She raised an eyebrow at the three good-looking men. "Seems a few of the permanent staff have fallen head over heels for some of you flyboys and ran off to get married."
Paul leaned back in his chair, laughing heartily. It was a common tale in every corner of the world. "Well, no dame can resist a man in uniform, Bells."
She smacked him playfully on the chest, shaking her head in mock annoyance. Paul had always liked to joke, and he'd always been a ladies man. Even as a little kid. It didn't help his case that he was good-looking to boot. Too much so for his own, and the general female populations good.
He rubbed his chest where her tiny blow had landed. "Ow! What was that for, girl?"
"She just knows you, Paul." Jacob grinned crookedly, trying to hide his satisfaction. He knew for a fact that there was a trail of broken hearts from here to Timbuktu thanks to Paul Lahote. He was right in a way though. Glancing out on the dance floor, women were shamelessly draping themselves all over their partners. One thing the war had done was make for good romance.
"Hey, it's not my fault the ladies love me!" Paul tossed a peanut across the table at his buddy, who caught it in his palm, then winked at Bella.
Embry smiled wickedly. "Yeah, you're the original drugstore cowboy, Paul," he said, certain it would do nothing to bruise his buddy's ego.
"So, how 'bout a stroll on dance floor, sweetheart? I promise not to bruise those cute little tootsies of yours." Embry stood from his seat, offering his hand to Bella who took it and quickly linked her arm in his, unable to resist the handsome, tender-hearted man in front of her.
"Why, I'd just love to, Officer Call," she replied, allowing him to lead her into the throng of couples swaying on the floor.
Jacob watched the two of them through narrowed eyes while Paul watched him with some confusion. "What's with you tonight, man? I thought you'd be glad to see Bella."
He shrugged his wide shoulders and took a swig of his beer. "I don't know what you mean, Paul. I am glad to see her."
Paul crossed his arms over his chest, muscles tightening, eyeballing Jacob. "Then why are you looking at her and Embry like they're a damn Nazi target?"
Jacob rolled his eyes and looked at Paul pointedly. "Just making sure you two fools don't get handsy with our girl."
Paul wisely said nothing more. It was obvious to almost anyone who could see it. Jake didn't know what to make of the new Bella. He looked at her possessively, and if Paul were placing bets, he'd put his money on one more flyboy being taken off the market by morning. There was only one way this story was going to end. With a ring on someone's finger before the week was out. He wondered how long it would take Jake to figure it out.
"She's changed," remarked Jacob, never once taking his eyes off of Bella.
"She's beautiful," replied Paul, choosing his words carefully to avoid a punch to the jaw later. "You didn't really expect her to stay the same kid we left behind in Washington, did you?"
Jacob didn't reply. In fact, he didn't say another word. Instead he continued to watch Bella, flushed and happy in Embry's arms. It didn't seem possible that she was the same girl they'd grown up with. Gone was the awkward youth. In her place was a graceful woman who had captured the hearts of a thousand soldiers tonight with the sound of her voice.
Jacob couldn't take his eyes off of her.
Long brown locks flowed over milk white shoulders spilling over a silky blue dress that swirled with the music. Soft lights shone from above, setting off the creaminess of her skin. Her cheeks were stained pink in excitement and her eyes twinkled with unabashed merriment.
The melody shifted, changing into slower, gentler notes. Jacob watched as Embry pulledl Bella closer to his chest, one strong arm wrapping tightly around her waist, slowly swaying in time with the music.
Jealousy sliced through his heart like a hot knife.
"I need a drink." Jacob stood up abruptly, knocking his rickety chair over in the process.
"That's not all you need," Paul muttered under his breath. Jacob looked positively mutinous. If he didn't throw his arms around that sweet thing soon, he'd be a pain in the ass to live with. I need another drink if I'm going to put up with his sorry behind, he thought, then called at Jacob's retreating back. "Hey, get me a shot of whiskey!"
Jacob Black lounged against the curving bar, downing his bourbon, then throwing back Paul's too, all the while wrestling with his feelings of jealousy and shame. He'd known Bella since childhood. Their fathers had been best friends for as far back as he could remember. She was like his sister, but the second she stepped foot on that stage tonight, before he'd even known it was her... he'd been a goner.
Closing his eyes, he saw her again, a demure expression on her face, lost in the music. She looked like the madonna bathed in the warm golden glow of the spotlight. In that second, he knew she was everything he'd ever wanted, everything he'd ever dreamed or hoped for and he wanted to be the only man for her.
This god-forsaken war placed them an ocean apart. He wanted her, no doubt about it, but he was a pilot. Each time he went up in the air, there was a chance he'd never come home. Could he do that to her?
"Another whiskey, soldier?" The bartender startled him from his thoughts.
Jacob ignored him, instead keeping his eyes glued on his best friend and Bella, wondering what Embry was whispering in her ear to make her giggle. Suddenly, he couldn't take it anymore. Jacob pushed off the bar, weaving his way between the dancing couples.
Tapping Embry on the shoulder, he spoke low and quiet. "Can I cut in?" Embry shrugged his wide shoulders and smiled, twirling Bella into Jacob's waiting arms.
He could scarcely breathe, the feeling of her so close to him was intoxicating. The scent of lavender clung to her hair. Pulling her more tightly to his chest, Jacob cradled her hand close to his heart. As if by doing so she would take it to keep for her very own.
Smiling, he looked into her eyes with unabashed joy. "I don't think I knew how much I missed you, Bells, until I saw you on that stage tonight."
Mentally cringing with the embarrassment of actually having been on stage and the center of attention, she exclaimed, "I was so scared! I don't think I'll be doing that again anytime soon."
She blushed so prettily that he wanted to kiss her cheeks and wondered what else he could say or do to keep that look on her face. "You should, you know," he told her, his usually light-hearted voice full of unchecked emotion. Jacob's heart beat rapidly, watching her long, dark lashes flutter nervously under his gaze, unsure of what to say or do in his arms.
"You always were a little canary," he teased, thinking she looked more like a snowy dove against an evening sky. It was then that she relaxed, the easy rhythm of their friendship rising to the surface.
"When did you get stationed here?" she asked. "The last I heard from your dad you were in New Zealand."
"About a month ago. I wrote him a couple weeks back. Letter is probably just getting there." Jacob frowned at the slow pace it took the news to reach home, then asked the question that had been on his mind since the moment he laid eyes on her. "How long are you here for, Bells?"
"Two weeks. Then it's back to Washington and the hospital there." Noticing the hint of sadness that crept over her face, he wondered just what it had been like for her, seeing the men who had been shipped back home, bodies mangled, no more than a shell of what they had been before the war.
Two weeks, he thought, then pulled her closer to him. Both became quiet, trying desperately not to think about the wounded or of the possibility that he too could end up in one of those hospitals... or worse.
They danced in silence, letting the music wash over their bodies like a warm wave. Something was stirring between them, a longing between two souls whose lives had intertwined for as long as they could remember. Catching her eyes, Jacob could see the words of the song reflected back at him. A lifetime of memories not yet lived.
Imagine me on our first anniversary
With someone like you in the nursery
Oh, it doesn't sound bad
And if it can be had
I'll buy that dream
He itched to kiss her, to press her pink lips to his. To whisper words of adoration in her ear. His heart beat wildly with a thousand promises. If only...
Then the music ended, the magic of the moment suddenly lost to the thundering applause that surrounded them. Bella broke from his arms, clapping along with the rest of the dancers, leaving him feeling bereft and aching to touch her again. Reaching for her hand, Jacob smiled wanly, reluctantly leading her back to their table.
The night wore on with the clinking of glasses and laughter between old friends. Embry and Paul found willing girls to dance with, abandoning the other two for more flirtatious pursuits. If Bella was disappointed by their desertion, she never showed it. Jacob kept her talking about home, their families, long ago days of fishing alongside their fathers and skipping stones across still mountain lakes.
Bella felt giddy with happiness, her senses intoxicated by the nearness of her best friend after so many years. She glowed outwardly, the adrenaline of performing earlier in the night had fueled her vitality, accentuating her natural beauty.
To everyone who saw them, they appeared to be friends, old acquaintances who were perhaps only catching up on each others lives and then would go their separate ways at evening's end. Yet, glancing at the two, Embry and Paul saw what others did not. A lifelong commitment years in the making.
More than once a cocky flyboy in uniform tried to approach their table, hopelessly caught up in the charm of her bright smile. Each one shot with a look of such fury that it was quickly made known, the young lady was strictly hands off. It wasn't only because Jacob was already falling in love with her. It was the same reaction he would have had at home had he been there. Bella was family. He protected his own. A rule that had served him well since he enlisted.
Finally the excitement of the day began to catch up with her. Bella found herself trying desperately to stifle a yawn. She didn't want the evening to end. Not now, not ever.
Jacob noticed. "Tired?" he questioned.
She laughed lightly. "I suppose I am. It's been a really long day. I should get back."
He stood and held out his hand to her. "I'll walk you."
Bella gladly took his hand, then linked her arm in his. Waving goodbye to their friends, they hastened out the door and into the dark night.
A thousand stars lit the sky, the moonlight illuminating their path homeward. Feeling a little high flown from the champagne, she shivered at the sensation of the cool night air and the eerie calm surrounding them. There was no sign of life anywhere.
Jacob paused, then took off his jacket, placing it gently around her shoulders. "It takes some getting used to." His warm hands rubbed at her arms. "Blackout regulations. Don't want to give the enemy a chance to see their target." He smiled reassuringly, unable to resist brushing one pink cheek with his hand. "You'll get used to it."
The tenderness of his touch comforted her, calming her heart and mind. Suddenly, the darkness enveloping them didn't seem so frightening. Instead, it was as if it was an old friend, cradling her safely in its arms.
They strolled leisurely, soaking in the moonlit night, until all too soon the still figures of planes loomed ominously in the distance. Glancing out at the airfield, she was suddenly curious. "Is yours out there?"
"It is."
"Can I see it sometime?" she asked hesitantly, unsure of why or what she was really asking of him.
Jacob faltered for a second, startled that she would want to. "Sure," he replied, keeping his tone even and smooth.
They continued on in silence, a natural pattern of their lives together. They had known each other since they were children. There was never a moment of discomfort in the quiet. Instead it was a sign of old friends who didn't need words to express the happiness or comfort they felt just by being near each other. Their gestures, the way she sleepily leaned against his body, the arm he placed so tenderly around her shoulders, spoke volumes when words could not.
He kissed her on the cheek that night when he bade her goodbye, each reaching out for the others arms, wrapping themselves in a hug so tight, it was as if they feared the night had only been naught but a dream. That in the morning they'd wake to find their lives separate once more.
Finally letting her go, Jacob watched her retreat inside, his heart skipping a beat when she glanced over her shoulder, a sleepy demure smile on her face. "See you tomorrow."
It wasn't a question. Wherever she would be, he would follow.