Edward and I talked until the dishes were done and for another ten minutes before Charlie finally told me to hang up again. This time, though, I was in much better spirits. By now, Edward was only a couple of hours away. I hurried upstairs and, as I'd hoped, Tanya, Kate, and Irina were waiting for me. "Where are Carmen and Eleazar?"

Kate grinned at me, picking up a brush and my box of hair accessories. "They promised Edward that they'd patrol outside, so that's what they're doing."

"Mostly," Irina said with a wink.

I didn't even want to think about what she meant by that.

"Come sit down," Kate invited. "I've been itching to get my hands on your lovely locks since I first laid eyes on you."

First Alice, now Kate. I grimaced as I sat on the floor beside my bed. "What is it with vampires and makeovers, anyway?"

"It's not our fault you have beautiful hair." With deft strokes, Kate began to brush it.

Tanya was in her throne of a rocking chair, but Irina lay on her back beside me, one knee bent and the other leg crossed over it. Her foot swayed in the air as though keeping time with music only she could hear. "You know," she said conversationally, "there's something I've been dying to know — "

"Metaphorically, of course," I put in.

She grinned. " — metaphorically, since I first laid eyes on you."

"What's that?"

"Hypothetically... if you were to seduce Edward, how would you go about doing it?"

I turned to stare at her, choking on my embarrassed laugh. Kate tisked as my hair slipped from her hands. "What?!"

"Hold still," Kate chided.

"Consider it a matter of professional interest."

Great. Bella the science experiment again. "I've never really contemplated it," I answered coldly.

"Now I'm curious, too," Kate threw in. "You two are obviously very attracted to each other."

"Look, it's really not an issue. I mean, I know he wants me and — "

"Lovely little Bella," Tanya scolded sweetly, "seduction isn't merely appealing to a man's... baser instincts."

Irina winked. "If he wanted a lap dance, all he'd have to do is come to one of us."

Tanya shook her head when my heart stopped, and Kate shook my shoulder lightly. "Come on, Bella. That's our point."

"He never has," Tanya insisted.

Irina leered. "Even with some rather enticing invitations."

My heart began beating again.

"Seduction is about appealing to heart and mind, as well as body," Tanya continued. "It requires time — and tension."

"So how would you go about it?" Irina persisted.

"I don't know." It wasn't like I'd ever really tried to cross Edward's lines. I knew they were for my own good. "Tell him yes, I suppose."

Tanya raised her eyebrows expectantly, so I added, "He proposed."

Kate squealed in delight and hugged me tightly. Irina was on her knees beside me, her face eager, and Tanya's lips were turned down as she tried to resist a smile. "You've been holding out on us." Her severe tone was ruined by the grin that broke through.

I could feel myself blushing. "I'm not sure that his family even knows yet, so don't go telling everyone."

Kate was suddenly beside me on the floor. "How did he do it? The classic on-one-knee-with-a-ring?"

I laughed, remembering my reaction when he mentioned rings. "Not even close. It was the sole condition to him granting my wish."

"Which is?" Irina demanded.

"Him turning me into a vampire."

"Not Carlisle?" Tanya was surprised.

"Carlisle promised me he'd do it after graduation. Then Edward offered to change me, but only if I married him first." I frowned slightly, suddenly suspicious. I'd have to make sure our wedding vows didn't include the phrase 'til death do you part. Knowing him, he'd try to use that line as an excuse to not change me.

Tanya shook her head in dismay. "He used his proposal as a bargaining chip? How unromantic!"

Kate pouted. "I expected better of him."

"I didn't expect it at all." Irina retorted.

"I didn't either." I grimaced. I really hadn't handled that night gracefully.

Kate resumed her place on the bed, her cool hands combing through my hair. "So you haven't told him yes?"

"Not yet. The idea of a 'missus' in front of my name is terrifying, even if it is Mrs. Cullen."

"All's fair in love and war," Tanya mused. "If he used marriage as a lever, you could do the same."

"A lever?"

"To seduce him, silly," Kate laughed.

We were not having this conversation. "It's just not something I worry about, okay? Besides, didn't you tell me not to go there, Tanya?"

"That was before I knew he proposed. If he's planning on changing you, and soon, then that's different." She winked. "A girl who isn't fantasizing about her honeymoon shouldn't get married, as I should know."

I remembered that her marriage had been arranged.

Irina looked at me with a smirk. "Besides, there are ways and then there are ways."

"You could send him places he's only dreamed about," Kate elaborated, "and without removing a stitch of your own clothing, sweetheart."

I closed my eyes, my ears burning with embarrassment. "We are not talking about this!"

Irina laughed lightly. "Why, she's as chaste as Edward!"

I jerked to my feet in fury and was half-way to the door before Tanya was in front of me, a wry smile on her face. "Lovely little Bella, you misunderstand us." She cupped my cheeks in her hands, as though comforting a sullen child. "Edward was a challenge unlike any other. He proved himself a worthy adversary, and while it was grudging at first, we have grown to have great respect for him and the strength of his convictions."

Irina was at my side. "It was a compliment, not an insult."

"A perfect fit," Kate reminded me with a wink.

I gave her a wary look. "So why are you trying to convince me to seduce him?"

Kate's laugh was sweet and bright. "It's what we do, Bella."

"Besides," Irina said, laying on the floor again. "I was only talking hypothetically."

I pursed my lips in annoyance. "Well, I'm sure anything I came up with wouldn't be creative enough to interest you three. In a thousand years, I'm sure you've tried everything I could ever think of."

Irina smirked at the ceiling. "And several things you couldn't even imagine."

"But how would you go about it?" Kate wheedled.

Sitting on the floor in front of Kate, I looked to Tanya for help. She gave me the wrong kind. "Heart, mind, and body. You can reach him in ways no one else can. Think about it, Bella. How?"

Kate began braiding my hair, and I relaxed under the motion. I liked the idea of me having more influence over Edward than all three of them put together. "Hypothetically?"

Laughter danced in Tanya's eyes. "Of course."

Closing my eyes, I thought for a few minutes. I didn't dare think about... me and Edward doing that here, where I slept in his arms every night. That was provocative enough as it was. Besides, Charlie could come home any second.

Oh well, this was just a fantasy anyway. In real life, there was no way to get out of my house arrest. "I'd have him take me back to the meadow, on a sunny day." We'd never had a time more honest or intimate. I sighed, happily this time. I could live in that memory forever. "And I would touch his hands and arms like I did then."

"He unbuttoned his shirt that day," I continued, "but I only ever touched his hand and arm. This time, I'd let my fingers trail..." I paused, remembering I had an audience. But my train of thought was not about to be derailed. I could almost feel my fingers trailing over all his perfect musculature. His shoulders, his ribs, his chest — sometimes caressing, sometimes teasing. I could almost hear him protesting, and my soft answer of 'shh'.

"And then?" Tanya asked softly.

I smiled, my eyes still closed. This was a fantasy, right? I didn't need to be afraid of pretending to accept his proposal. "Then I'd tell him yes, that I wanted to marry him."

Kate laughed softly behind me, and I opened my eyes. It was disconcerting, sitting in my plain old bedroom after a fantasy like that. "Intimate, innocent, and perfect. He would be undone, Bella."

"Yeah, well, it's not going to happen," I grumbled, and I was surprised at how disappointed I felt. "I'm grounded indefinitely."

Tanya shrugged. "It was all hypothetical anyway."

"And for the record, Bella," Irina said, "I've never received — much less wanted to accept — a marriage proposal. You've thought of a way to seduce him that I've never even considered."

"So there!" Kate giggled.