暮色-第62部分

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Charlie　dropped　his　fork。　

〃Dr。　Cullen's　place？〃　he　asked　in　astonishment。　

I　pretended　not　to　notice　his　reaction。　〃Yeah。〃　

〃What　were　you　doing　there？〃　He　hadn't　picked　his　fork　back　up。　

〃Well；　I　sort　of　have　a　date　with　Edward　Cullen　tonight；　and　he　wanted　to　
introduce　me　to　his　parents…　Dad？〃　

It　appeared　that　Charlie　was　having　an　aneurysm。　

〃Dad；　are　you　all　right？〃　

〃You　are　going　out　with　Edward　Cullen？〃　he　thundered。　

Uhoh。　〃I　thought　you　liked　the　Cullens。〃　

〃He's　too　old　for　you；〃　he　ranted。　

〃We're　both　juniors；〃　I　corrected；　though　he　was　more　right　than　he　
dreamed。　

〃Wait…〃　He　paused。　〃Which　one　is　Edwin？〃　

〃Edward　is　the　youngest；　the　one　with　the　reddish　brown　hair。〃　The　
beautiful　one；　the　godlike　one…　

〃Oh；　well；　that's〃　—　he　struggled　—　〃better；　I　guess。　I　don't　like　the　
look　of　that　big　one。　I'm　sure　he's　a　nice　boy　and　all；　but　he　looks　too…　
mature　for　you。　Is　this　Edwin　your　boyfriend？〃　

〃It's　Edward；　Dad。〃　

〃Is　he？〃　

〃Sort　of；　I　guess。〃　

〃You　said　last　night　that　you　weren't　interested　in　any　of　the　boys　in　
town。〃　But　he　picked　up　his　fork　again；　so　I　could　see　the　worst　was　over。　

〃Well；　Edward　doesn't　live　in　town；　Dad。〃　

He　gave　me　a　disparaging　look　as　he　chewed。　

〃And；　anyways；〃　I　continued；　〃it's　kind　of　at　an　early　stage；　you　know。　
Don't　embarrass　me　with　all　the　boyfriend　talk；　okay？〃　

〃When　is　he　ing　over？〃　

〃He'll　be　here　in　a　few　minutes。〃　

〃Where　is　he　taking　you？〃　

I　groaned　loudly。　〃I　hope　you're　getting　the　Spanish　Inquisition　out　of　
your　system　now。　We're　going　to　play　baseball　with　his　family。〃　

His　face　puckered；　and　then　he　finally　chuckled。　〃You're　playing　
baseball？〃　

〃Well；　I'll　probably　watch　most　of　the　time。〃　

〃You　must　really　like　this　guy；〃　he　observed　suspiciously。　

I　sighed　and　rolled　my　eyes　for　his　benefit。　

I　heard　the　roar　of　an　engine　pull　up　in　front　of　the　house。　I　jumped　up　
and　started　cleaning　my　dishes。　

〃Leave　the　dishes；　I　can　do　them　tonight。　You　baby　me　too　much。〃　

The　doorbell　rang；　and　Charlie　stalked　off　to　answer　it。　I　was　half　a　
step　behind　him。　

I　hadn't　realized　how　hard　it　was　pouring　outside。　Edward　stood　in　the　
halo　of　the　porch　light；　looking　like　a　male　model　in　an　advertisement　
for　raincoats。　

〃e　on　in；　Edward。〃　

I　breathed　a　sigh　of　relief　when　Charlie　got　his　name　right。　

〃Thanks；　Chief　Swan；〃　Edward　said　in　a　respectful　voice。　

〃Go　ahead　and　call　me　Charlie。　Here；　I'll　take　your　jacket。〃　

〃Thanks；　sir。〃　

〃Have　a　seat　there；　Edward。〃　

I　grimaced。　

Edward　sat　down　fluidly　in　the　only　chair；　forcing　me　to　sit　next　to　
Chief　Swan　on　the　sofa。　I　quickly　shot　him　a　dirty　look。　He　winked　behind　
Charlie's　back。　

〃So　I　hear　you're　getting　my　girl　to　watch　baseball。〃　Only　in　Washington　
would　the　fact　that　it　was　raining　buckets　have　no　bearing　at　all　on　the　
playing　of　outdoor　sports。　

〃Yes；　sir；　that's　the　plan。〃　He　didn't　look　surprised　that　I'd　told　my　
father　the　truth。　He　might　have　been　listening；　though。　

〃Well；　more　power　to　you；　I　guess。〃　

Charlie　laughed；　and　Edward　joined　in。　

〃Okay。〃　I　stood　up。　〃Enough　humor　at　my　expense。　Let's　go。〃　I　walked　back　
to　the　hall　and　pulled　on　my　jacket。　They　followed。　

〃Not　too　late；　Bell。〃　

〃Don't　worry；　Charlie；　I'll　have　her　home　early；〃　Edward　promised。　

〃You　take　care　of　my　girl；　all　right？〃　

I　groaned；　but　they　ignored　me。　

〃She'll　be　safe　with　me；　I　promise；　sir。〃　

Charlie　couldn't　doubt　Edward's　sincerity；　it　rang　in　every　word。　

I　stalked　out。　They　both　laughed；　and　Edward　followed　me。　

I　stopped　dead　on　the　porch。　There；　behind　my　truck；　was　a　monster　Jeep。　
Its　tires　were　higher　than　my　waist。　There　were　metal　guards　over　the　
headlights　and　taillights；　and　four　large　spotlights　attached　to　the　
crash　bar。　The　hardtop　was　shiny　red。　

Charlie　let　out　a　low　whistle。　

〃Wear　your　seat　belts；〃　he　choked　out。　

Edward　followed　me　around　to　my　side　and　opened　the　door。　I　gauged　the　
distance　to　the　seat　and　prepared　to　jump　for　it。　He　sighed；　and　then　
lifted　me　in　with　one　hand。　I　hoped　Charlie　didn't　notice。　

As　he　went　around　to　the　driver's　side；　at　a　normal；　human　pace；　I　tried　
to　put　on　my　seat　belt。　But　there　were　too　many　buckles。　

〃What's　all　this？〃　I　asked　when　he　opened　the　door。　

〃It's　an　offroading　harness。〃　

〃Uhoh。〃　

I　tried　to　find　the　right　places　for　all　the　buckles　to　fit；　but　it　
wasn't　going　too　quickly。　He　sighed　again　and　reached　over　to　help　me。　I　
was　glad　that　the　rain　was　too　heavy　to　see　Charlie　clearly　on　the　porch。　
That　meant　he　couldn't　see　how　Edward's　hands　lingered　at　my　neck；　
brushed　along　my　collarbones。　I　gave　up　trying　to　help　him　and　focused　on　
not　hyperventilating。　

Edward　turned　the　key　and　the　engine　roared　to　life。　We　pulled　away　from　
the　house。　

〃This　is　a…　um…　big　Jeep　you　have。〃　

〃It's　Emmett's。　I　didn't　think　you'd　want　to　run　the　whole　way。〃　

〃Where　do　you　keep　this　thing？〃　

〃We　remodeled　one　of　the　outbuildings　into　a　garage。〃　

〃Aren't　you　going　to　put　on　your　seat　belt？〃　

He　threw　me　a　disbelieving　look。　

Then　something　sunk　in。　

〃Run　the　whole　way？　As　in；　we're　still　going　to　run　part　of　the　way？〃　My　
voice　edged　up　a　few　octaves。　

He　grinned　tightly。　〃You're　not　going　to　run。〃　

〃I'm　going　to　be　sick。〃　

〃Keep　your　eyes　closed；　you'll　be　fine。〃　

I　bit　my　lip；　fighting　the　panic。　

He　leaned　over　to　kiss　the　top　of　my　head；　and　then　groaned。　I　looked　at　
him；　puzzled。　

〃You　smell　so　good　in　the　rain；〃　he　explained。　

〃In　a　good　way；　or　in　a　bad　way？〃　I　asked　cautiously。　

He　sighed。　〃Both；　always　both。〃　

I　don't　know　how　he　found　his　way　in　the　gloom　and　downpour；　but　he　
somehow　found　a　side　road　that　was　less　of　a　road　and　more　of　a　mountain　

path。　For　a　long　while　conversation　was　impossible；　because　I　was　
bouncing　up　and　down　on　the　seat　like　a　jackhammer。　He　seemed　to　enjoy　
the　ride；　though；　smiling　hugely　the　whole　way。　

And　then　we　came　to　the　end　of　the　road；　the　trees　formed　green　walls　on　
three　sides　of　the　Jeep。　The　rain　was　a　mere　drizzle；　slowing　every　
second；　the　sky　brighter　through　the　clouds。　

〃Sorry；　Bella；　we　have　to　go　on　foot　from　here。〃　

〃You　know　what？　I'll　just　wait　here。〃　

〃What　happened　to　all　your　courage？　You　were　extraordinary　this　morning。〃　

〃I　haven't　forgotten　the　last　time　yet。〃　Could　it　have　been　only　
yesterday？　

He　was　around　to　my　side　of　the　car　in　a　blur。　He　started　unbuckling　me。　

〃I'll　get　those；　you　go　on　ahead；〃　I　protested。　

〃Hmmm…〃　he　mused　as　he　quickly　finished。　〃It　seems　I'm　going　to　have　to　
tamper　with　your　memory。〃　

Before　I　could　react；　he　pulled　me　from　the　Jeep　and　set　my　feet　on　the　
ground。　It　was　barely　misting　now；　Alice　was　going　to　be　right。　

〃Tamper　with　my　memory？〃　I　asked　nervously。　

〃Something　like　that。〃　He　was　watching　me　intently；　carefully；　but　there　
was　humor　deep　in　his　eyes。　He　placed　his　hands　against　the　Jeep　on　
either　side　of　my　head　and　leaned　forward；　forcing　me　to　press　back　
against　the　door。　He　leaned　in　even　closer；　his　face　inches　from　mine。　I　
had　no　room　to　escape。　

〃Now；〃　he　breathed；　and　just　his　smell　disturbed　my　thought　processes；　
〃what　exactly　are　you　worrying　about？〃　

〃Well；　um；　hitting　a　tree　—〃　I　gulped　〃—　and　dying。　And　then　getting　
sick。〃　

He　fought　back　a　smile。　Then　he　bent　his　head　down　and　touched　his　cold　
lips　softly　to　the　hollow　at　the　base　of　my　throat。　

〃Are　you　still　worried　now？〃　he　murmured　against　my　skin。　

〃Yes。〃　I　struggled　to　concentrate。　〃About　hitting　trees　and　getting　sick。〃　

His　nose　drew　a　line　up　the　skin　of　my　throat　to　the　point　of　my　chin。　
His　cold　breath　tickled　my　skin。　

〃And　now？〃　His　lips　whispered　against　my　jaw。　

〃Trees；〃　I　gasped。　〃Motion　sickness。〃　

He　lifted　his　face　to　kiss　my　eyelids。　〃Bella；　you　don't　really　think　I　
would　hit　a　tree；　do　you？〃　

〃No；　but　I　might。〃　There　was　no　confidence　in　my　voice。　He　smelled　an　
easy　victory。　

He　kissed　slowly　down　my　cheek；　stopping　just　at　the　corner　of　my　mouth。　

〃Would　I　let　a　tree　hurt　you？〃　His　lips　barely