DISCLAIMER: I do not own twilight, new moon, or the other books that Stephanie Myers has written or sob Jacob Black.

A.N.

Thank you so much to all the reviews. I was pleasantly surprised that someone caught the Gone in 60 Seconds reference. Reviews are love people. I noticed that a lot have people have favorited and not reviewed so here's the deal: if 35 people review I will put up the first smutty chapter that I have ALREADY WRITTEN in the story. It's from Jacob's point of view so it's sure to be steamy. Also give me an idea if you guys like many short chapters or one LONG chapter. Thanks again to everyone that has already reviewed.

Chapter 5: Sexy Landlords are a Bad Thing

It had been a long time since Jacob had been fifteen and humiliated by his father at a clan meeting, but tonight brought it all rushing back. Most of all it brought back the fact that as much as he would like to deny it, feelings for Bella still lay dormant within him: bad feelings, hurt, resentful feelings, but feelings none the less. Feelings he would like to fade to apathy but never did.

"I would never ever hurt you Bella" She should have made make that damn promise to him. He shook his head in an effort to shake out the errant thoughts that flew around his mind, mostly things like how he couldn't believe that Sam would want Bella to move back.

And of course, as much as he hated himself for it, the embers of feelings he had for Bella also came rushing back. She chose him over you. The feelings subsided if only a little bit, leaving Jacob more than a little relieved. His mind was returning to him as he thought about how she told him that, "she just loved Edward more". The sting was the reminder he needed. The reminder that even though he had made that stupid promise all those years ago and that even now he was bound by his word, she had never made any sort of promise to him in return. She had left him the last time like she always left him: empty and angry. And that wasn't going to happen again.

Isabella Swan formally Isabella Swan Cullen surveyed the empty studio. Right above First beach, in a three story refurnished brick building in LaPush, the wide glass windows may have been coated with dust, but Bella could see the potential. I could put my easel here and my bookshelf there my dresser there and-She paused in her inward decorating to gaze out the wide windows. What an amazing view. I wonder why no one has snatched up this place. Sure it needs some fixing up but still. It's cheap and this view!

It was the perfect art studio for a new life. When she had been with Edward she had mostly dabbled in art, taking University classes to keep herself amused. But after her first illustration commission for a children's fairy tale book, she started taking on more jobs. The way Edward ignored her in the last couple years of their dying marriage gave her plenty of time to kill. She liked painting and she was good at it. She even had a M.F.A. Not as prestigious as the M.D. Edward had, but it was something to fall back on now that they weren't together. The thought sent a sting of pain through her. It was final wasn't it?

Bella sighed. LaPush. How long had it been since she'd been back in LaPush or Forks for that matter? A year? Two? The divorce was barely final when she left Alaska. It was winter again and she couldn't endure another Alaskan winter without sunlight not when she couldn't—she stopped her train of thought. Edward was in her past now.

As Bella climbed down the steep stairs, pocketing the key the retailer lent her, she saw an elderly woman struggling with a paper bag full of groceries. Bella smiled as she rushed to the woman's side. "Hey, let me get that." The woman, who's tanned wrinkled face looked like creased leather, folded into a smile. "Thank you. Are you going to be the new tenant in 3a?" Bella smiled as she easily balanced the bag on her hip. "I hope so. The rent is so cheap here for practically beach front property."

The LaPush woman nodded. "I know what you mean. It's all the landlord's doing. He took this old factory warehouse and fixed it up, got contractors in and turned it into housing. He's picky about his renters but if you move in here he's a great man." The old woman winked, "Nice body too."

Bella laughed. "I bet. I heard that the upstairs apartment used to be his which is why no one has lived in it so long." –"Almost two years. He traveled for a while but he came back a few years ago. He owns the garage in town but he fixes up buildings for a hobby." Bella laughed. "You know an awful lot about your landlord." The woman laughed with her. "Oh not just me. Everyone in LaPush knows all about Jacob Black."

--

Chapter seven: Age is just a number

"Jacob Black," Bella echoed in disbelief. "That's right. Billy Black's son. Owns Black Wolf Garage. He turned out really handsome which is why the gossip on him is so hot. He's too young for me but if I was young like you--," the woman gave a cackle as she nudged Bella's side.

She'd assumed that Jake would still be in LaPush, but that he would actually own the building she wanted to rent didn't occur to her. The Jacob that lived in her mind was still sixteen, with that short hairstyle she didn't like.

He wasn't sixteen obviously anymore. In reality he would be…she calculated in her head, holy shit, twenty-four now. "I can't believe I'm twenty-seven. I'm so old," Bella felt like groaning aloud. "You're not old," the woman with the groceries admonished as Bella walked towards her truck. "Besides," The woman called out to her, "Age is just a number."

"Phone for you Jacob," one of Jacob's mechanics, Mike, tossed the phone to him as Jacob examined a woman's truck.

"Black Wolf Garage, Jacob Black speaking,"—"Hey Jacob this is your relator, Simon?

"Hey Simon! What's up?"

"I think I found you a nice tenant for the First Beach property Loft. She knows you're kinda picky so she's offering almost double of what you asked for."

Jacob paused. "Almost double? Where's she's getting that kind of money in LaPush? You checked her background didn't you? She's not a drug dealer?"

The realtor laughed. "No, no, not at all. Apparently she's a children's book illustrator. She's been doing the art for some fairytale books. She said she needed a studio near her house in Forks. 'Said wanted something with a nice view. You want to meet her? She said she'd be here for the rest of the day. If you closed the shop a little early you could catch her before she heads back to Forks."

Jacob sighed. There goes my lunch break. "Sure. She said she'd pay double the asking price, right." He could practically hear Simon calculating his ten percent interest right now.

"Great! I'll give here a call then. We'll meet you over at the property at around…let's say five?" Jacob glanced at his watch. It was three now, giving him an hour to get the shop closed and another hour to get over there. "Will do."

By the time Jacob finished closing, he was already running late, too late to catch the shower he planned on. He probably smelled like a grease monkey right now but that couldn't be helped. Grabbing his keys off the key ring, he wheeled his bike out of the driveway, just in time to watch Mike lower the metal siding.

"Tell my dad that I should be back in an hour," Jacob instructed yanking on the black leather motor-cycle jacket, and pulling back his hair back to re-tie it into a tighter ponytail. "Sure thing," Mike called out but Jacob was already half way down the road.

If he pulled fifty, Jacob reasoned, he could make it to First Beach barely on time. Jacob glanced skyward, eying the ominous gray clouds that hung low over his destination. Hopefully he'd be there before the rain started.

---

He wasn't. About a mile before he reached the building the rain started coming down in sheets. Now I smell like a wet dog, Jacob thought as First Beach came into view. He saw an unfamiliar red pickup in the driveway. Must be the girl Simon was talking about. As he climbed the three flights of stairs he heard the tail end of the conversation,- "I've been bunking with my dad out in Forks since my divorce but I think it's time for me to move out."

"Must be hard. How long were you two married?" There was a definite pause.

"Almost ten years," she sounded wistful.

--"I'm sorry ," He heard Simon close the window as he entered the doorway, taking off his helmet.

Suddenly Jacob was assaulted by jasmine perfume and the smell of familiar shampoo and soap—No. It can't be her.

But it was. Isabella Swan Cullen turned to face Jacob a warm smile lighting up her features, her eyes gleamed a light gold. "Long time no see, Jake."

---

He schooled his face into an expression of something other than the panic that was spreading through him.

There was a very awkward and pregnant pause.

"So you're an artist now," the smell of her was overwhelming him. He briskly walked over to the window Simon had just closed and reopened it. A gust of wind cleared his senses.

She nodded for a moment suddenly engrossed with her shoes.

"I didn't realize you two knew each other! Miss Swan, you didn't tell me!" Bella laughed nervously.

"I didn't know until I was talking to the lady that lives below us."

"I'll just leave you two to catch up then," Simon flashed a quick smile and made his exit.