Chapter 1

R&B music plays through my 2012 Silver Mitsubishi as I drive down Corven Road heading for the Quileute Tribe. I am on my way to make a house appointment to an elderly who cannot leave his house. I work for Fine Taxes. It's the latest new popular tax service in Forks, Washington. I've been working there for almost 6 months now.

I'm driving down the road when I notice a white truck on the side of the road. God is telling me to keep driving instead of helping. I don't know if that might be a serial killer or rapist. I keep driving till I notice a tribal man wearing a dark blue shirt walking out of the forest toting a tire. Oh, he has a flat. I stop the car near the truck and roll the window down. I knew I should've kept going but I had to stop due to his handsome face.

"Do you need help?" I ask. He sit the tire on the ground next to the flat tire. I pull to the side of the road behind his truck and get out of the car. "Let me help you." I say using my keychain to pop the trunk. I have a jack in my trunk. I'm always prepared in case something happens to my car. I put the top up and reach to grab the jack when a hot hand grabs my left arm. He turns me around to face him.

His brown eyes stare into mine. "Just wan-" He reach pass me and grab out the jack. Alright. He walks back to the truck. "So how have you been?" I ask following behind him. My heels can be clearly heard hitting the road. He bends down and place the jack under the truck. "I've been good. Things have been great. It's been four years."

He continues to work on the tire. I look around the forest. It seems mighty quiet. Well, it is the forest. "Valarie, Paul. We used to work at the library four years ago." I say crossing my arms. He ignores me. I wonder if is still dating his girlfriend Rachel? I smile. He still looks the same besides the extra height. He got taller. I watch as he change the tires.

He is even nice enough to put the jack back in the trunk for me. "Well, I live in Forks now." I say, voice cracking. My heart is racing. I guess he still got that power over me. Power over me? I don't think my crush ever left me. It seems to still be there. He close the trunk down and walk to his truck. "Okay. See you." I say walking around the car. I get in and drive off not even putting on my seatbelt.

I guess he's still that cold person as ever. Paul was always a cold person to me. I remember he used to freely flirt with other females in the library but to me, it was always a different story. Always. I set back on my course to William Black Jr.'s house. The drive is at least fifteen minutes. It's not like he lives across the tribe. He lives a certain distance.

When I arrive, his only son is outside waiting on the front porch. I must admit that he is awfully cute. I collect my briefcase and laptop from the back seat and make my way to his porch. "Hi, I'm Jacob Black." He say meeting me halfway. He holds his hand out. "Hi, I'm Valarie Banks." I say shaking his hand. "Banks. Thanks for helping to my due my father's taxes." He say smiling.

His teeth are pearly white. "No problem. It is our job. How are you today?" I ask. "I am doing good. Come in." He say leading me to his house. I smile following behind him. He gets the front door for me. I walk in to see an older man seated in a wheelchair in front of a coffee table. We both greet each other. I place my items on the table and shake his hand.

"You're a beauty." "Thanks. That is the first compliment that I have ever had in a long time." I say. "Well, have a seat. Jacob, offer her." "Water. Juice. Soda." Jacob say. "Water, please." I say. "Have a seat." I take a seat on the couch.

BXBXBXBXBXBX

Jacob is in the kitchen cooking dinner for himself and his father while I'm in the living room finishing the recent tax forms for William. I understand that he uses another service for his taxes but not the right ones. He should be getting back more than he was given. Keys jiggle from outside of the front door till it comes to a stop and the door opens up.

A slim long haired woman walks in. She looks at me surprised. "Hi, I'm Valerie." "Jacob's girlfriend." She say looking at him. "No." "She's here to help Dad with his taxes. Valarie, this is my sister Rachel. Her husband is behind her." He say disgusted. Oh, wow. I get up from the couch and shake her head. She shakes back. "This is Paul."

He steps into the house. "I met him earlier. He had a flat tire. A white truck." "His boss's truck. He does construction." Jacob say. "Construction is a good job. I heard competition is heating up. An interest of houses is...there. Do you have a business card?" I ask Paul. "No." "Well, I can ask for one. She's coming back tomorrow." He say.

"So how is Dad's taxes?" Rachel ask. I grab my laptop and shows her the issues with his taxes. I show him what he will get back. I show different facts concerning the money. "Well, that's good. He's getting a good check back. Do something to the house." She say. "He might. We'll see. His choice." Jacob responds.

"Yes, it is. A date also." She say walking to him. I take a seat back on the couch. "What you talking about?" "Valarie, are you a single woman?" She ask with a grin. "I'm not looking for a girlfriend." Her brother say. "The same. I should get going." This conversation is getting a little bit too awkward. "You don't have to leave cause of my sister and her husband. Stay."

"Okay. I can stay." I say grabbing my laptop back. Paul closes the door and take a seat on the couch a few feet from me. "Valarie, I'll be back." Jacob say going down the hallway. "Sure." His sister follows behind him. I look at Paul. He looks at me. "I should go." I whisper closing my laptop. "Valarie, I'm sorry." Jacob say walking back out.

"It is okay. I stayed a little bit too long. I will be right back tomorrow morning." I say getting up. I collect my things and head for the front door. "I can walk you to your car." He say getting the door for me. I thank him stepping out. It has gotten so dark outside. I look over at the forest near his house.

"That is kind of creepy." I say walking down the porch. "I grew up around the forest." "So you're a nature guy." I say impressed. "A lot." I nod unlocking my car doors. I put my items in the backseat and opens the driver's door. "Thanks again." I say getting in the car. "You're welcome." He say. I close the door and start the car.

So the next day, I went back to William's house. All was going good. When I went to retrieve one of my folders out of the car, I noticed that my back left tire was flat. Well, Jacob went into mechanic mood. "You really know how to change a flat." I say marveling over his muscled bicep. He pulled his sleeves up and revealed more than what I was expecting.

I bite on my bottom lip, looking around and seeing two men standing in the forest. "Jacob, people are in your forest." I say stunned. "Just my friends. Embry in the red shirt. Quil in the blue." He say looking at them. "Oh! Hello!" I say waving. The two men wave back. I smile. "Do you all share the same haircut?" Jacob laugh tightening the bolts on the tire.

"Just joking." "My hair used to be long." He say. "How long?" I ask crossing my arms. "To my shoulders. I was cut it when I was 16." "Rebel?" "Something like that." He say. Something like that. A warm breeze flows through. "Must be nice to live on a tribe." "It has its ups and downs." He say jacking my car down. I look back to the forest to see his friends are gone. Wow.

"All done." Jacob say getting up and watching around the car to the trunk. I smile checking out his butt in those cargo shorts. Oh, wow. I scratch my hair thanking him. "No problem." He say putting the jack and flat tire in the trunk. He closes it down. Thank God for strong men.