B-POV

Tuesday morning could not come quickly enough.

Waiting for me in the dead center of our shared Lit class was truly an incredible sight to behold. No longer because of the glorious face or perfectly tousled hair—though, both of those things were incredible in their own regard. What truly made Edward extraordinary to the point of impossibility lay behind his face.

Edward could read minds.

It now seemed so odd to see him sitting causally in class, even though that had been the only context I'd ever seen him in before. He was a real-life superhero. He should be off fighting crime in a brightly-color spandex suit, not crammed into a student desk under harsh fluorescent lighting.

"Good morning," he smiled at me as I sat beside him.

Out of habit, I immediately avoided his eyes, lest I lose the small amount of control I had over my mouth. A worn, black case sitting on the corner of his desk caught my attention.

"What's this?" I hovered my finger over the object, afraid to touch it.

Edward opened the case with a delicate flick of his fingers to reveal a burnished silver rectangle.

"A harmonica," I marveled as he handed it over to me for my curious examination.

I twisted it in my hands, studying the intricate details of some old master's handiwork, even though I never had an interest in this musical instrument before. "It looks very old." Whoever owned it before Edward took good care of it.

"1908," he answered, simply.

Out of all Charlie's hobbies, antiquing had been my favorite. Charlie might have moved on, but the old objects continued to fascinate me. With a longing sigh, I brushed my thumb over the delicate hand carvings. I answered Edward's unspoken question before he could quirk his eyebrow. "There's an antique fair this weekend. I assumed Charlie was going to take me, but he's convinced himself he's going to DIY furniture now. We'll see how that goes."

"Well, couldn't you attend if you wanted to?"

Now wasn't the time to explain the complicated relationship I had with my father to Edward. Instead of bothering with a butchered, abridged version, I swung the subject back in his direction. "Why do you have it?"

"My sister has her first practice session for a duet today. Her on piano, her partner on harmonica. She wanted a practice session for her practice session, so she requested my assistance."

"You play the harmonica?" I giggled. It seemed so… silly. It made sense for Edward to be a musician—his poise, his long, graceful fingers. But harmonica? All my associations with the shrill reed instrument were grizzled old men with cowboy hats sitting on stumps.

"Mock me if you must, but the harmonica is a classic instrument." He held out his hand. I placed the harmonica carefully in the center of his palm. "Also known as a French harp or mouth organ," he paused for the giggle he knew the phrase would elicit from me, "it is used worldwide in a variety of genres."

He adjusted his hands over the instrument, so they were just so and brought it up to his lips. I had to look away from his mouth before my thoughts could stray to forbidden places. He played a little tune, quick and sharp and utterly impressive. The other students grouped in the opposite corner of the room looked up, their expressions as dazzled by Edward as I always seemed to be.

He was a disease. Infected everyone he encountered with starry gazes and muddled minds.

He laughed at my expression, "Shall I finish the song?"

I hadn't realized my mouth hung open until I snapped it shut, clicking my teeth.

"You know what they say, if music be the food of love…" I flicked my wrist in front of me, leaving the quote hanging for him to finish.

Edward lowered his harmonica. "I would stop playing," he said very seriously. The humor in his eyes darkened into a smolder. I had seen the look in his eyes before. An undeniable yearning that I never understood. There was no reason for him to ever regard me in such a way.

I swallowed. Surely, Edward knew the quote. He knew Orsino in Twelfth Night joked that if he could keep listening to music, it would satisfy his great appetite for love, as food would satisfy hunger. If Edward wanted to stop the music…

"So, you do know Shakespeare," he grinned, rescuing me from my own train of thought before it ran off the rails.

"I never said I didn't," I said, pleased with how nonchalant I could make my voice while my insides caught flame. "I've always been a fan of the classics."

"Another addition to our list."

I leaned in, my heart already flutterING in anticipation to hear his laugh. Oddly enough, Edward enjoyed humor at his expense most of all. "We're sitting in a classic lit course. We're all fans of the classics in here."

Only, he didn't laugh like I expected him to. His smile grew wistful. The golden swirls in his eyes churned with desire. "Right," he muttered.

I was relieved when Professor Barnett called our attention to the front of the class and more so when our warm-up for the day was independent. I didn't know how to respond. I had no idea what I was going to do with myself if Edward continued to look at me like that. That expression had come out randomly in the past, but never like that. It was as if his dazzling was unintentional before, but now he put his full force behind it, rendering me completely powerless against his charm.

Edward's peculiar behavior continued after class as he patiently waited for me to pack, a silent request for us to walk together. I accepted by matching my stride to his. He held every door open for me and even offered to carry my bag—which I declined, of course. If I didn't know any better, I would suspect he was trying to flirt with me.

The morning drizzle had picked up but was not yet a downpour. Our umbrellas forced Edward and me apart as we walked in the direction of the music building. They continuously bumped into one another as one of us unconsciously leaned in toward the other. As we walked, he asked about my music preferences. My taste in music was my father's taste in music, so it was usually embarrassing to share my favorite songs with my peers. I was pleased to hear that Edward also had a taste for Brenda Lee and Dusty Springfield.

"How do you have an encyclopedic knowledge of the harmonica?" I asked with a laugh after he hummed the harmonica parts in almost all my favorite songs.

Before he could answer, Jessica called my name. From under her transparent, neon-pink umbrella, she waved eagerly in my direction. I smiled and waved back, surprised to run into my friends, but pleased, nonetheless. I supposed I was off my usual beaten trail. My smile faded when I realized it was Lauren under the panda bear umbrella, not Angela. Angela must have lent it to her.

Or she stole it.

For the hundredth time since learning about Edward's ability, I grimaced at the casual cruelty in my own thoughts. No wonder Edward kept to himself.

"Hi, Bella!" Jessica grinned. "Hi, Edward. I didn't get a chance to thank you for Friday."

I wanted to groan. I told her not to do this. No. I begged her not to do this. I spent most of lunch yesterday trying to explain to Jessica that Edward would much prefer to let their date become water under the bridge than be lied to again. However, she insisted that she needed a cover story to salvage her reputation.

"Thank me for what?" Edward asked. I grimaced. He will never want to hang out with my friends after this.

"Pretending to go on a date… To make Mike jealous…" She spoke like she was attempting to jog Edward's memory. When he shook his head, unable to recall something he had never been told, Jessica flicked her wrist. "Well, whatever. It worked. Mike was practically frothing with jealousy. He asked me out right away. We had our first date on Saturday."

Edward tucked his lips into his mouth. Second-hand embarrassment colored my cheeks. "I wasn't aware that was the goal."

"Oh?" Jessica quirked her head to the side. She was a good actress; I would give her that. Unfortunately for her, the best acting in the world wouldn't fool Edward. "Bella didn't tell you that part of the plan?"

"I'm afraid not," Edward smiled back. He was a skilled actor as well. "Regardless, I'm glad it worked in your favor."

"Thank you." Jessica twirled her umbrella behind her. "I'm very happy."

"Congratulations."

Jessica offered Edward one final charming smile before she turned back to me. "Well, Bella. Lauren has Tyler. Angela has Ben. And now I have Mike. We'll have to find you a man next. Think of the group date possibilities!"

My red cheeks burned. I wanted nothing more than a meteor to fall from the sky and strike Jessica, until Lauren opened her mouth.

"Fat chance."

She didn't speak the words, merely mouthed them in my direction. But the words stung as if she had shouted them in the middle of the quad. Jessica didn't even notice—she was too busy describing her group date ideas in absurd detail.

Pleased with my stunned reaction, Lauren's gaze dropped down to my body, searching for another dig. She would find plenty of ammunition. While trench coats hung loosely on other girls' thin frames, mine hugged my curves. Charlie loved the effect—I hated it. Before she could find anything, something caught her attention. Her eyes flickered in Edward's direction. The color drained from her face and her cruel smirk dropped.

I whirled in Edward's direction a second too late. His jaw was clenched, eyes squeezed tight, and cast down at the sidewalk. I could almost hear him chastising himself for reacting to Lauren's rude thoughts. The thought reminded me that Edward would have heard the comment she made—that and many more, I was sure—and shame flared in my cheeks anew.

"And we'll finish with ice cream on the peer!" Jessica concluded, oblivious to the fact that there was another silent conversation happening around her.

"Yeah, that sounds great, Jess."

She smiled with genuine pride.

Lauren's eyes narrowed as I bid them both goodbye. Edward's remained downcast. After a few steps, I again apologized on my friend's behalf.

"It's no trouble. I just hope your friend is in Pre-law."

"Elementary Ed."

"Just as well. The kids will appreciate her ability to weave a decent tale."

I snickered.

"She's actually really nice," I said once guilt had a moment to settle in my heart. "And clever. And driven."

"Mike will be a happy man." Edward stopped in front of the music building. Safely under the awning, he pulled down his umbrella and shook off the rain. I kept mine up, knowing I would be back in the rain in the direction of the campus coffee shop until my next class.

"I'm also sorry for... um," I wasn't sure how to end that apology. "Did Lauren figure out your gift?"

The unexpected question brought his eyebrows to his hairline. "No, not even close. She is nowhere near as astute as you are."

My shoulders drooped with relief. If I had been the reason Edward had been found out, I would have never forgiven myself.

"…speaking in inadequacies, you're quite possibly the only person to look ravishing in a beige raincoat. If no one has let you in on that fact, allow me to be the first. And if there is someone out there telling you how absolutely delectable you are…" he paused, looked over my head, and licked his lips. When his gaze met mine once again, my mind melted into a puddle of goo. He was already through the door when I realized he concluded his statement with the request, "…let me know."

I was glad I had nowhere to be for the next forty-five minutes because I was unsure if I would be able to move.

Ravishing. Delectable.

He had tossed around the word lovely before but never paired with the heat of his stare. I could have brushed off the compliments under the assumption that he only said such nice things to counteract Lauren's cruelty. However, there were plenty of things to say that would spare my feelings—and none of them were nearly as suggestive as those. The hunger in his voice matched the hunger in his eyes this morning as he lowered his harmonica and implied he would rather continue to feel the harsh burn of love than play music.

Jessica might have been wrong. I half expected the ground to quake or a pig to fly overhead as I came to the insane conclusion that I might have already found my man.

oOo

E-POV

Through the minds of students outside, I watched Bella's reaction to my parting words, worried I had been too lewd or heavy-handed. She hadn't moved a muscle from where I left her. Her pretty lips hung open, her chocolate eyes glued to the door, and her umbrella rested on her shoulder. The thoughts buzzing around her were all concerned for her well-being.

I was forced to leave that concern behind as I ascended the steps to the third floor and the eyes on Bella left my range. I followed a set of perfect warm-up scales to the farthest practice room in the building, where Rosalie sat at the piano.

The door opened with a high-pitched squeak. Rosalie did not turn to greet me until her scales were complete. When she did, she said, "Did you remember?"

I held back a bitingly sarcastic remark. Photographic memory aside, do you genuinely think I would be standing here now if I had forgotten the harmonica?

Instead, I simply nodded my head. The longer I kept my mouth shut, the longer we could stand to be in the same room. I pulled the harmonica out of my pocket, then out of its case.

"Thanks," she said with a sigh, as if gratefulness was a burden. "I don't want to get distracted by my mouth-breather partner. I don't why they let the idiot out of the drum pit and into the limelight. I just know he's going to fuck something up and I refuse to make a mistake in front of the instructor. Some of us have standards."

"You know, you're allowed to make mistakes during practice. In fact, it's expected."

She regarded me like I had spoken a cursed tongue.

"Never mind, then," I muttered.

"I am going to play through the entire thing first. Then, you'll join. We'll play through as many times as needed until it's right."

Again, I nodded my head.

Rosalie started to play. After a few measures, I joined in. Part of the appeal of helping Rosalie was the fact that the harmonica had no written part—the player was meant to riff. It was equally fun for me as it was annoying for Rosalie. We played through the entire thing six times in total—each time I played a different melody to try and trip her up. When my tricks stopped working, she dropped her hands from the keys down to her lap with a satisfied sigh.

"Notes?"

I raised my eyebrows, surprised.

"Don't give me that stupid look. You've been playing longer than me. Do you have any notes?"

"Um," I swallowed. It was completely unexpected for Rosalie to come to me for advice on anything, no matter how extensive my expertise. "Just remember to scale back at times. That way the measures that are meant to stand out will. Boogie isn't going to give you a decrescendo cue. You have to feel it in the music. Plus, you need to give your partner a chance to have their moment."

Rosalie scowled as she scribbled what I said in the notes section, "it's not like anyone wants to hear any of it." She snorted daintily. "I'm not sure if I should dress to play a concert or to hunt frogs on the bayou."

I cracked a smile, amused.

Rosalie cocked a brow. We never smiled in the other's presence.

"Bella had a similar opinion this morning," I explained.

"Ah," Rosalie closed the sheet music and leaned back. "Your human. Have you figured out what you want to do with her?"

I watched my fingers as I fiddled with the harmonica. "I've been making my intentions clear. That's really all I can do at the moment. Alice swears up and down that I'll be able to tell if Bella wants me to pursue her, but I don't want to be wrong. The last thing I want to do is scare her off…"

A life with Bella as a friend was far better than a life without her at all. I wasn't sure of how to interpret her loss of breath or quickening pulse while we were together. Though both those things could mean attraction, they could also be her instincts telling her to be frightened of the monster in her presence.

"I don't know why you're letting yourself get all worked up. There's no chance she's actually going to reject you." The image Alice drew of Bella and me sitting on a bench appeared in Rosalie's mind.

"She's not in a position to reject anybody," she thought, her eyes lingering on Bella's soft curves.

I blinked, floored by Rosalie's cruelty, though I should have expected it. Worst of all, Rosalie's remark was intended to be kind. I pocketed my harmonica, aware that my anger directed at my sister could easily turn my prized possession into dust. I was already forced to listen to the catty thoughts Jessica's friend aimed in Bella's direction—something I was quickly learning I had an extremely low tolerance for.

"Which is it, Rose?" I snapped. "Am I too much of a freak for her, or is she too large for me?"

Rosalie's nostrils flared. She flipped through an entire arsenal of insults in her head, but decided against them. Instead, she spun on the piano bench back towards her sheet music and hovered a pencil over a section for notes. "Any other notes?"

Seething, I clenched my jaws. My words were low and curt. "There's a part at measure eighteen where you need to punch those quarter notes, they're getting lost with the rest of the music and they should stand out. And would it kill you to smile? Bobble your head? Look like you're having any fun at all? You're playing Boogie, not Chopin."

Without another word, she scribbled down the notes. Then, pulled out another set of sheet music out of her bag, placed it on the stand, and began to play.

A silent dismissal.

I stalked out of the practice room and left my sister to her sonata.

Despite Rosalie's kind assurance that Bella was too large to reject anyone, including a freak like me, I spent the rest of the week calculating my next moves. The sun kept me out of school on Thursday with a doctor's note from Carlisle excusing me from any attendance penalties, so I had the whole weekend to imagine conversations between us. Unfortunately, Rose had gotten into my head and every one of the scenarios ended badly for me. By the end of the weekend, I had nearly talked myself out of pursuing Bella completely.

When Tuesday morning arrived, my resolve to capture Bella's attention returned with full force as I saw her. In her soft, warm presence, it was easy to remember that I would do absolutely anything to be with her, and that included embarrassing myself for a few minutes.

She hurried into class, like she couldn't bear for the two of us to be apart any longer than we had. I had half a mind to swing her into my arms.

"Where were you on Thursday?" The longing in her voice matched the longing that tugged at my heart.

"I'm sorry, I had an appointment."

"Oh." She reached up to fiddle with a stand of her hair, but her dark, mahogany tresses were pulled back into a bun. Finding nothing, she lowered her hand. "I missed you."

The sincerity in her eyes sparked life into my long-dormant heart. "I missed you, too." I swallowed. "I've noticed lately that more and more of my time is spent missing you."

At my confession, we both turned our attention elsewhere. Hers to her books; mine to the ceiling. If I had a pulse, it would be racing as quickly as hers was. I took a deep breath, in utter disbelief at what I was about to do. After nearly one hundred years alone, I never expected myself to spend any time in a university classroom struggling to stutter an invitation to a beautiful girl. "Luckily, there's an easy fix. I was hoping—,"

"Charlie found a new hobby this weekend," she blurted out. I whirled to see her gaze back on me, her lips tucked between her teeth.

"Oh?" I choked out, unable to hide my disappointment with the abrupt change in conversation.

Bella spoke slowly, taking the time to choose each word with care. "At first, I really hated it. But, when Charlie forced me to push through, I started to think of you."

Despite myself, I laughed at her unintentional insult. "Lovely."

She joined in when she realized how I could have interpreted her words. "I'm going to go again this weekend, and I want you to come with me."

I looked back down at my hands to hide my surprise. Suddenly, the switch in the subject wasn't so bad. When Alice told me I would know that Bella would want to be pursued, I didn't expect it to be quite so obvious. I especially didn't expect Bella herself to make the first move. Back in the day, it would have been appalling for a lady to coerce a gentleman in such a fashion. It was a good thing I didn't meet Bella in 1918 because I found her tenacity extremely attractive.

"To participate in the activity you did with your father?"

"It's much cooler than it sounds. Charlie's way more fun and interesting than I am."

"The man who took you to a ham curing class?" I teased, only because her cheeks were pink, and giving her a hard time would deepen them to the attractive shade of red that I enjoyed so much.

It worked. She flushed as she laughed once more. "Yes, the very same. So, will you come with me? This weekend."

"What will we be doing?"

She shook her head so adamantly, a strand of her dark hair fell out of the messy bun and curled at her collarbone. "It's a surprise."

"Would this be another group outing?"

"Nope. Just you and me." Her confidence wavered for a moment. "Unless you want me to invite the group…"

"No, no. 'You and me' sounds perfect."

oOo

Bella refused to tell me any details of our plans. My only hint was her request for me to wear athletic clothing. The coordinates she gave me brought me to the start of a hiking trail, so I had a decent guess as to what she had in mind. The only question that still lingered was how a hike made her think of me.

The morning of, I checked the weather a dozen times. Alice and the local weatherman both assured me that the sun would stay hidden behind a cover of low clouds, despite the unseasonably warm day. Just in case the sun pierced the protective barrier, I wore a hoodie and carried a baseball cap and gloves in my pocket.

It was early when I pulled into the small, gravel parking lot at the mouth of the trail. Early enough that Bella asked me almost a dozen times whether it was too early. I assured her with a lie that I was up at this time normally to go for a run with my brothers. She didn't need to know that no time was too early for those who never sleep. There were a few other cars. Other hikers who wished to start their day with a sunrise and a vista. I pulled the Jeep I borrowed from Emmett next to one of the same make and model, though Emmett's was much older and in much better shape.

I heard Bella's old red Chevy before I saw it. I stepped out of the Jeep in time to watch her pull into the gravel lot, smiling as she bobbed up and down from the uneven terrain. She parked as far away from the other cars as she could. I smiled at her caution and walked in her direction. She was so short compared to the height of her truck, she had to jump out of it. She stumbled, and I flashed the final distance between us to catch her by the elbow before she could fall to the ground.

"Thank you," she mumbled.

"My pleasure."

When she straightened and brushed herself off, I had to bite back an audible gasp. The ensemble she wore would have killed a man back in 1918.

It certainly would have been the death of me.

The black fabric was nothing more than a second skin. It stretched her lower half, highlighting every sensual curve. The small, green top she wore was just as formfitting. It left a salacious strip of skin just above her belly button exposed, begging to be caressed and squeezed. She wore a jacket over top. I was crude enough to hope whatever exercise we were about to partake in together would make her warm enough to take it off. I wanted to see that strip of skin from every glorious angle of her.

As I reluctantly tore my eyes from her body, Bella smiled up at me. As always, her face was my sun on this cloudy day.

"You ready?" she asked, pulling a bag onto her shoulder.

I wasn't sure I would be able to speak, so I nodded my head.

"Perfect."

I followed her onto the trail, happy to have her lead the way. The low clouds were immediately replaced by a thick canopy of trees. The colored leaves rustled overhead as well as crushed at our feet. A few steps in, Bella veered away from the main path. She stepped over a fern and ducked under a few branches. Perplexed, I followed. Steppingstones appeared among the bramble, creating a new path to a secret place. Bella looked back at me with a cheeky grin, as if she heard the wheels spinning in my head.

My prospects for the day skyrocketed to a new level. A day with Bella was great. A day with Bella dressed in that was wondrous. A day with Bella dressed in that spent in a hidden nook in the autumn woods was straight out of a fantasy. If I could dream at all, it would be of this.

Then, thoughts of strangers slipped in through the cracks until my mind was swimming in them. I wondered if we were headed in the wrong direction. Surely, Bella's plans didn't involve a group of people if she thought of me. As Bella strode ahead confidently, I rationalized the growing voices with theories like campsites and hiking groups hidden from Bella. It wouldn't be her fault if her secret spot put me in range of a crowd.

I dutifully kept pace with her until she stepped around a large tree, running her fingers through the soft pine needles. She turned in time to see my expression as I followed her into a meadow. It was small and perfectly round, covered with freshly fallen leaves. The low fog hung right above the ground like a second blanket. A break in the wall of trees revealed a magnificent view of Mount Olympia towering powerfully in the distance.

It was a lovely, romantic spot.

And crowded with women.

I paused beside the hemlock tree. "Um…"

Bella stepped closer and whispered. "I know it doesn't look promising, but I really think you're going to enjoy yourself."

I frowned over her head at the crowd, already eyeing the newcomers. I saw my contrite expression from several angles and tried to smooth it to no avail. At least I wouldn't break any Cullen Family rules that morning. No member of my family would be pleased to know I had left with the morning sun to meet with a human girl in the middle of the woods. I should be thankful for the crowd of women. Their presence would ensure Bella's safety. However, I couldn't help but feel disappointed. For the second time in as many weeks, my alone time with Bella had been taken out from under me. A quick scan of the surface thoughts around me told me none of these women thought they would be my date.

There was my only silver lining.

The silver lining grew when I realized how many women looked in our direction out of amusement, thinking that I had been dragged out there by my girlfriend.

The thought of being mistaken as Bella's boyfriend placated me enough to follow Bella's confident stride toward the crowd. I pulled my gloves out of my pocket with the thought to slip them on and try to hold Bella's hand. I looked back up only to see Bella's hands were suddenly full, thus unavailable to hold. Before I could pull on the second glove, she pushed one of the two large cylinders into my arms.

"Yoga?" I asked, recognizing the foam mat curled around itself. I looked around and noticed the other woman unfurling their mats and beginning their stretches.

Bella smiled up in a way that made it impossible not to smile back. "Sunrise yoga."

Unsure of what to make of the activity, I followed her to the back corner of the class where we rolled out our mats next to each other. She crawled onto my mat so she could whisper.

"I know it doesn't seem like it, but this will be good for you."

I didn't understand how a workout class in a crowd would be good for me, but I nodded anyway, not wanting to be the killjoy I usually was.

"When Charlie and I first took this class, I was super self-conscious. But, once we got into it, the whole class synched up, moving as one. My thoughts just melted away with each posture, until it was just my breath and my movement."

I nodded, finally understanding why she brought me here.

"You won't be overwhelmed, a burden, or alone in a yoga class."

Touched, I looked down at her. Bella had only recently learned of my gift. Already, she altered her world to see things from my point of view and sought out places where I would be comfortable.

"Thank you," I whispered.

With a smile, Bella shrugged as if her kindness was no big deal and scooted back over to her mat.

My own smile grew. I could sense Bella's kind heart from the moment I met her. I saw it in action as she tried to help and then defend her friend. To be on the receiving end of her kindness was… indescribable. The warmth that seeped into every cell of my body was like nothing I had ever felt before.

An instructor stood before the class. She introduced herself and thanked people for returning and supporting her new business, offering a smile to Bella and the other women she recognized from the weekend prior. We rose in unison and began sun salutations with the rising sun.

The class wasn't how Bella envisioned, I was sure. From her experience, she assumed everyone's thoughts would synch up with their movements, creating a peaceful experience for mind readers alike. It wasn't like that. The instructor had a continuous train of thought to remember the flow. Participants counted down, or adjusted their positioning, or silently cursed the instructor when she kept them in a pose too long for their liking. While we lay in our final resting pose, the thoughts around slowed and quieted, just as Bella anticipated. There was a soft moment of peace that I hadn't experienced in the company of others for nearly a century. The class was dismissed with one, final deep breath.

"How'd you do?" Bella asked as we returned our mats. "You looked like a natural."

"We do most of those positions to warm up or cool down after a workout." Bella already had it in her head that my siblings and I woke up at five in the morning to exercise for two hours before school.

She rolled her eyes. "Figures. I shouldn't have doubted your ability to hold a three-minute plank." She poked my bicep, playfully.

"Don't worry," I grinned. "No one saw when you fell out of yours. Or when you fell out of downward dog. Or warriors one, two, and three."

She snickered and tried to elbow me in the side. I swiftly dodged her attack. I walked her up to her truck, where we stopped and turned to look at each other.

"I'm glad you enjoyed it."

"I imagine you and I could spend a morning wading through sludge and I would enjoy it."

She bit her lip in a painfully attractive way before lowering her gaze to the ground.

"I would love to return the favor," I said, slowly. I offered up the idea Alice had given me the night before. "Would you like to accompany me to that antique fair?"

"Right now?"

"Right now."

She immediately brightened—the effect was stunning. She was stunning. "That would be amazing! We're already in the right direction for it! It's only about forty-five—oh." Her excited chattering came to an abrupt halt.

My smile fell in tandem with hers. "What?"

She gestured down at her outfit, then tugged at the tight fabric. "I don't know if I'm dressed appropriately…" She pulled down her shirt to cover the delicious slit of exposed skin.

"Trust me, you look…" I swallowed, unsure of a respectful way to conclude my sentiment. "…appropriate."

Though I was certain I butchered that moment, Bella smiled up at me like she had received an actual compliment and not a fool's pathetic rambling.

"Okay," she agreed. "Let's go."

Neither of us could hide our giddy smiles as I led her over to my car, claiming I had a full tank and better mileage. I backed into the Jeep, fumbled with the handle, and forgot to unlock the damn door entirely before I managed to open the passenger door for Bella. She held my gaze with hers as she slipped inside.

After I shut the door behind her, allowed myself one goofy fist pump in the air to celebrate.