51.
Luckily for Seth, Bella walks into the garage at that moment. She's wearing a simple t-shirt and jeans, but oh damn, she wears it well.
She tosses me a smile and wink, making her way to the couch. It's still where I had dragged it last night, right in the middle of the work area. A thrill shoots through me, knowing I can watch her sneakily, just like last night. Unfortunately, so can Seth.
I shake my stupidity off and get back to work on her car. At first glance, it doesn't seem to be anything more serious than damp air filters. I'm going to give it a thorough once-over while I have it here, though. While she was telling me her story last night, there was a part of me that was on tenterhooks, hoping she hadn't landed up in the middle of nowhere with car trouble while making her great escape… considering her luck over the past year, I wouldn't have been surprised.
I sneak a look, and she's laughing at something Seth just said. The way her lips curve, the way her eyes sparkle when she throws her head back and laughs… She's the most beautiful flash of lightning to have ever struck my unsuspecting existence, and I can't help but be glad.
I have to smile when I hear the ridiculous conversation she's having with Seth. She's got him talking about his yard sale collections, and while it is admittedly easy to get him to talk, the depth of interest and the intelligent questions she's asking… he's hooked and he doesn't even know the half of it.
"You planning on staying here in Forks long, Miss Bella?" he asks with a blindingly bright smile and blatantly obvious intent. His fucking 'salesman' face is on.
She responds with a shrug. "I'm not sure. It all depends."
Heh. Fucker was a lousy salesman, after all.
"Really? What does it depend on, if you don't mind me asking?"
He's being so transparent, I'm surprised I can't see the next car through him at this point.
Bella, however, smiles like she doesn't see what he's about. "Well, for one, it depends on work. They've given me a week off, and I'm not sure they'd extend it. Besides, I'm here to check on my dad's house. He passed away about a year ago, so I'm not sure what shape it's in."
Seth practically bounces where he's standing. "Charlie Swan's place? Yeah, I know where that is. Hey, you aren't planning to go stay in a house that's been lying shut for a year, are you? That probably isn't a great idea. Want me to go check it out for you? At least I could make sure the roof and floorboards and things are alright. And with the storm last night… yeah, you never know what you're going to walk into."
To give him credit, he sounds genuinely concerned. He's a good guy, beneath all the annoying flirting.
I catch Bella side-eyeing me, before she grins up at him.
"Could you? That would be such a help! I don't even know when I'll be able to get there, what with the car and all, and to go to a leaky mess of a house in this storm…"
He's flung away his tools and scampered to the door almost before she's done talking.
She's wrapped around my body, her lips hot and demanding against mine, almost before he's out of the door.
