20

I try to talk to Alice while Angela gives Bella a full tour of the house, but it's a lost cause.

"You need to apologize for speaking to her like that."

"Not happening." She sniffs.

By the end of the night, there are packets of animal blood residing next to my beer in the fridge, Alice has lost phone privileges for having an attitude, and Angela ... I haven't seen my daughter this happy in ages.

Bella has taken to calling her Rabbit because of her rapid heartbeat and has to remind her she is human and needs sleep.

"I'll still be here in the morning, Rabbit."

Angela yawns, gives her what's probably the thousandth hug she's received since she got here, and kisses me goodnight before stumbling up the stairs.

"Thanks for the room," Bella says when we're finally alone. "I've heard horror stories about V.A.M.P. employees getting stuck in the basement or the attic."

"Really?"

She nods. "Yup. Not all mortals have gotten over the vampire stigma. If they participate in V.A.M.P, it's solely for their personal advantage, and they're employees suffer. Jane told me she's gotten complaints about vampires being greeted with coffins and bedroom doors laced with garlic."

I can't help but chuckle. "Good to know. I'll call and cancel the casket delivery I had scheduled for tomorrow."

She throws her head back and laughs.

"In all seriousness. I want you to be as comfortable as possible. Miss Volturi told me you aren't an employee of V.C."

Bella shakes her head. "Believe it or not, it's quite boring being the First Daughter of the United States for nearly two decades. The excitement has long worn off, and when Jane called, I was intrigued. I've never encountered an empath before, so it should be interesting."

"So you agreed to come work for me and watch my kids, mainly Alice despite her attitude?"

"It's not like I'm getting paid." She points to the sliding glass door. "Technically, I could step into the woods behind your house for dinner, if need be. I think I'm going to have a lot of fun here. It's been a while since I've hung out with teenagers."

"I assure you they are still as angst-filled as they've always been."

"I know Alice is grounded, but I'm hoping to break the ice with her."

"I must warn you she's got expensive taste since Jasper started coming around," I joke.

"Oh, this is something money can't buy."

"What do you have in mind?"

Bella rubs her hands together with a mischievous smile. "It's merely selfishness actually. I was hoping you'd let up on her punishment for a couple hours so I can get my hands, well, my mind on Jasper. I'm itching to see what he can do."