~A/N You're all so kind with the reviews and attention towards this story. I'm thrilled. I know I need to update some other stories, but lots is going on right now and this one is coming to me the quickest. Hopefully, I'll do better in the near future.

Copyright disclaimer: Twilight and all recognizable characters belong to Stephenie Meyer.

Chapter 4: The ABC's of a Forbidden Romance

I kept the connection as long as I could. She wasn't shutting her door quickly and neither was I. What did Bella Swan think about me? So far, I only thought things I shouldn't. A. She was too young. B. She was Charlie's daughter and C. Nope, I couldn't really come up with a C, because B was bad enough. I fell face down on my mattress to muffle my frustrated groans.

I listened. I heard her clearly in her room like I imagined I would. She was moving around some, most likely unpacking. That went on for almost an hour. One would think I could find something better to do with a day off than listen to her vital signs through the walls.

Eventually, I heard the sound of the bed. She was on her bed and the very idea sent shockwaves through my veins. It wasn't long before subtle changes occurred in her breathing and heart rate. Bella was taking a nap. I tried my best to do the same because I was determined to find something to do for the evening to keep myself busy. I definitely needed to get away from the house for a while.

An hour passed before the aroma of food pulled me from my restless slumber. I used the restroom and splashed cold water to wake up further. Mom was pulling a stuffed tenderloin out of the oven. She'd made several sides and vegetables and a loaf of french bread.

"Nice to feel appreciated, I don't get this much when it's my birthday." I came behind her and kissed her cheek, telling her how great it all smelled and looked.

"I wasn't sure what her favorites were so I gave her plenty to chose from. I'm sure you and Charlie can take leftovers for a few days to work so it won't go to waste."

She said Charlie was still napping since he'd been up so early. She asked if I could go check on Bella.

"No way, she's asleep."

"Well, you could gently tap on her door and let her know dinner will be all done in about twenty minutes. I doubt she wants to come to the table immediately from bed. Give her some time to wake up. What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing."

"She's a teenage girl, she won't bite."

Damn, I kinda wished she did. I was reluctant but like Mom said, all I had to do was knock and speak through the door. Except, she must have been completely spent from the trip. I knocked softly, then firmly and it didn't rouse her. I went against my better judgment and pushed her door slightly ajar. I was about to call out her name, but the sight of her sleeping stopped me. Bella was under the covers, something I rarely did, especially for a nap. She had them pulled all the way to her neck. I suspected she was easily chilled when she rested. I quickly pushed aside all thoughts about ways I could keep her warm.

Seconds or minutes ticked by as I graduated officially to creeper status. Why was I fucking watching her sleep? Her hair was fanned out all over her pillow and her features were soft and serene. She must feel pretty comfortable already even though it was a new surrounding. Her lips had the slightest pucker to them. I licked mine just thinking about them.

Finally, my voice returned and I softly spoke her name. She made a noise but still wasn't awake.

I stepped all the way into the room, "Hey Bella. Sorry to bother you, but dinner's about done. Mom made a bunch."

That elicited more of a response, she rolled to her side and made some type of humming noise. I swear it felt like she was humming right over my crotch, because that's where I heard it, not in my ears. I was about to have another problem if I didn't get her awake and get myself out of there pronto.

I walked to the bed and shook her, "Bells, wake up."

She jumped awake for real that time. Her alarm was soon replaced with a friendly smile. She sat up with the covers still pulled up high and apologized for oversleeping. I told her it wasn't a big deal, that her father was just getting up as well. She held those blankets so high, it made me wonder what she was wearing under there if she was trying to hide it from me. I definitely needed to leave after considering that.

I turned around, "Fifteen, twenty minutes. I'll see you downstairs."


I went back down the stairs to help Mom set the table since I needed to stop thinking about her possibly undressed when I was in her room. Only a few minutes went by before I heard the shower come on. Jeez, she was going to be all fresh and clean when she came down. She smelt good enough covered in the scents of other travelers and airport aromas. We had a six person table unless Mom made me add the leaf for company. I knew she and Charlie would sit on the same side, so I set my spot opposite of Bella. I didn't need to be taking unnecessary whiffs of her during dinner.

Charlie came in the room about that time and gave my mother his appreciation in the form of a sloppy kiss.

"Ugh, you two... save that stuff for private, 'kay?"

Charlie waved me off with his hand, "Where's my baby girl?"

Mom corrected him, "I doubt she wants to be called 'baby,' Charlie."

"Well, we're making up for lost years, so allow me a little regressing. Bella's not too tired, is she? We can take her dinner upstairs later if she doesn't feel up to it."

"Naw, she just turned off the water." Idiot, that made it sound like I was paying way too close attention.

He looked at me. I couldn't tell if it was suspicion or gratitude.

"That might come in handy, you know. Bella won't get away with normal teenage antics with you around, huh Jake?"

"I'm not spying on your daughter for you, Charlie."

He laughed and patted my shoulder. "No, no, of course not. I was just kidding around. I doubt I have any worries when it comes to Bella. Renee filled me in, complains she's too much of a homebody."

Bella joined us to catch the tail end of that. "Mom and her big mouth. Why am I not surprised?" She looked around and asked if there was anything she could do to help.

"No, sweetie, have a seat."

Bella scooted up to the table and added, "Besides the world needs introverts just as much as extroverts. I get my best work done, hulled up in my room."

She was quiet, but given something she expressed interest in, Bella could talk a blue streak. She and Mom went on and on about art for a good while. I was happy since Rebecca had been all into science and Rachel loved business and math. It seemed like Mom finally had a daughter that shared some of her interests. Sitting at the end of the table hadn't done much to help. I could still smell her and only her despite a tableful of food and two other people. The room was all Bella for me.

The fact that she looked like a damn million bucks wasn't helping either. Mom pointed out her outfit change. She wore cut off denim shorts that had been hemmed with thick lace. Seeing lace so far up on her thighs sent my thoughts straight to panties and that was the last thing I needed to imagine her wearing. She had on a loose tank top in baby blue. The arm opening stretched far down her sides, so she wore an undershirt that was hot pink.

"Bella, I can't get over how adorable your sense of style is. I guess your mother has some influence there?"

"In a way, but Mom and I have very different tastes. I like to be comfortable. I can't tell you how many times, she's dressed me up in something utterly ridiculous that I couldn't move in. I hate itchy, bulky, constricting clothes. I like to think I helped her out at times. Very few people are buying things you see on a runway, but I admit she's one of the few people that can convince me to leave my comfort zone. We balance each other out."

I didn't find the topic of fashion very interesting but Mom was right, I liked the way she looked. Little by little, she revealed more about her personality as she talked. Charlie noticed the guys weren't being represented at the table, so he asked about the garage.

"Jake, I'm really surprised you took the whole day off. You finally trusting them to handle it for once?"

I pulled out my phone. I told Charlie I hadn't heard from them and I wasn't sure if that was good or bad news.

Every once in awhile Bella would cut her eyes towards me but then she'd quickly look down when I made eye contact.

"Oh, Sarah, that reminds me. I really should show you the rest of my clothes. I don't know about the dress code here. My school in Miami was pretty lax."

"Well, Principal Greene is a stickler, so yeah, I'll help you. No short shorts or skirts too high up on the thigh. He will pull out a ruler on you to measure lengths."

I found myself squinting my eyes. Bella shouldn't wear shit like that to school. I knew three quarters of the males there were total pervs, three of them were my guys. Luckily, Charlie did the Dad thing and let her know how it was.

"Short stuff is the last thing you'll be wearing Bells. You've got about three more weeks of this weather if we're lucky. Trust me, you'll be bundled head to toe after our first cold snap in the fall."

Her freaking cheeks blazed after Charlie spoke to her about appropriate clothes. It was cute. Mom couldn't shut up. She'd already talked about her wardrobe, so now she was moving onto her beauty and her figure. I didn't need any reminders. I'd noticed all those things.

"How do you stay so fit? You have a darling figure. Doesn't she Jake?"

Jesus, Mom way to put me on the spot in front of Charlie. I had no idea how to respond to that. "Um..." Bella was still embarrassed, she'd never lost her blush, but this time she was looking at me and she didn't look away. So I had no choice, but say what I thought about her body in front of everyone. Shit. I'd eaten too much food and immediately felt nauseous. "Sure, sure. Yeah, she's a girl."

Lame.

Mom frowned at me and asked her next embarrassing question. "Do you run or something?"

Bella giggled, "No, I'm actually a little uncoordinated but Mom got me into yoga last year. I can do that for some weird reason."

"Yoga?" Charlie asked to confirm.

"Yeah, is there a studio here?"

We all laughed a little.

"No, honey. I'm afraid not, but there is a fitness center, maybe we could ask if they would start a class."

"Oh, well, I can always do some with YouTube videos."

"Yeah, anytime, just push that giant recliner of your dad's out of the way and have at it. I might even join you. It sounds fun."

"It is and relaxing. It tones too and my coordination has improved since starting, maybe not enough for more athletic activities, but I don't trip every second."

Mom had the bright idea if the fitness center didn't have an instructor, maybe Bella could offer to teach a yoga class. "Charlie said you wanted a part-time job. You don't have to work, senior year is time consuming but if you want, that might be a great way to meet people."

My head fell back until my neck was hyperextended. I covered my eyes with my hands. I loved Mom, she was the greatest, and she'd just knocked it out of the park with this welcome meal, but damn she needed to shut up. I didn't know shit about yoga, but I knew what yoga pants were and I couldn't stop imagining Bella in a tight pair bending over in the living room doing all sorts of poses. Hell no, she didn't need to go teach that class to the public. Besides, the fitness center was mostly geriatrics and a handful of lumberjack meatheads. She wouldn't fit in there, but if men figured out she was the teacher, they'd line up to take her class and it wouldn't be about finding their zen or the perfect stretch.

My skin stretched and burned under my clothes. Why was I so damn jealous all of the sudden? I needed to take a run or something. About that time my phone buzzed on the table.

It was Quil. I read that fucker's text and decided I had an out. "Well, looks like we spoke to soon. I need to go help them close up for the day."

"Really Jacob? I made a cake and your meal hasn't even had a chance to settle. Can't they handle it? It's past closing time."

"Sorry Mom, I need to check something with the hydraulics on the lift. We have a few weekend clients and it's acting up." I never lied to my mother, but I had to get the hell out of there. I planned on messing with the lift just to prove myself not to be a boldface liar. Bella had already jumped up and started helping Mom clean up. I liked that about her immediately. She wasn't spoiled or uppity or any of things I imagined a teenage girl might be like. Bella was real and I so had the hots for her.

I shut the front door and read the text once more, my excuse to make my escape.

Burn...asshole, we got shit done today. We broke a record too. Turns out we don't need you breathing down our necks everyday, Boss. Seeya, wouldn't wanna b ya!

~Thanks for reading.

See how nice I am, another fast update. Next chapter is twice as long as the others. I'll give you one spoiler: Bella and Jacob have their first one on one time. Who wants it? Review, review!