1 twilight暮色-第24章

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heard　the　door　open　and　turned　to　see　him　getting　out。　

〃What　are　you　doing？〃　I　asked。　

〃I'm　taking　you　to　dinner。〃　He　smiled　slightly；　but　his　eyes　were　hard。　
He　stepped　out　of　the　car　and　slammed　the　door。　I　fumbled　with　my　seat　
belt；　and　then　hurried　to　get　out　of　the　car　as　well。　He　was　waiting　for　
me　on　the　sidewalk。　

He　spoke　before　I　could。　〃Go　stop　Jessica　and　Angela　before　I　have　to　
track　them　down；　too。　I　don't　think　I　could　restrain　myself　if　I　ran　into　
your　other　friends　again。〃　

I　shivered　at　the　threat　in　his　voice。　

〃Jess！　Angela！〃　I　yelled　after　them；　waving　when　they　turned。　They　rushed　
back　to　me；　the　pronounced　relief　on　both　their　faces　simultaneously　
changing　to　surprise　as　they　saw　who　I　was　standing　next　to。　They　
hesitated　a　few　feet　from　us。　

〃Where　have　you　been？〃　Jessica's　voice　was　suspicious。　

〃I　got　lost；〃　I　admitted　sheepishly。　〃And　then　I　ran　into　Edward。〃　I　
gestured　toward　him。　

〃Would　it　be　all　right　if　I　joined　you？〃　he　asked　in　his　silken；　
irresistible　voice。　I　could　see　from　their　staggered　expressions　that　he　
had　never　unleashed　his　talents　on　them　before。　

〃Er…　sure；〃　Jessica　breathed。　

〃Um；　actually；　Bella；　we　already　ate　while　we　were　waiting　—　sorry；〃　
Angela　confessed。　

〃That's　fine　—　I'm　not　hungry。〃　I　shrugged。　

〃I　think　you　should　eat　something。〃　Edward's　voice　was　low；　but　full　of　
authority。　He　looked　up　at　Jessica　and　spoke　slightly　louder。　〃Do　you　
mind　if　I　drive　Bella　home　tonight？　That　way　you　won't　have　to　wait　while　
she　eats。〃　

〃Uh；　no　problem；　I　guess…〃　She　bit　her　lip；　trying　to　figure　out　from　my　
expression　whether　that　was　what　I　wanted。　I　winked　at　her。　I　wanted　

nothing　more　than　to　be　alone　with　my　perpetual　savior。　There　were　so　
many　questions　that　I　couldn't　bombard　him　with　till　we　were　by　ourselves。　

〃Okay。〃　Angela　was　quicker　than　Jessica。　〃See　you　tomorrow；　Bella…　
Edward。〃　She　grabbed　Jessica's　hand　and　pulled　her　toward　the　car；　which　
I　could　see　a　little　ways　away；　parked　across　First　Street。　As　they　got　
in；　Jess　turned　and　waved；　her　face　eager　with　curiosity。　I　waved　back；　
waiting　for　them　to　drive　away　before　I　turned　to　face　him。　

〃Honestly；　I'm　not　hungry；〃　I　insisted；　looking　up　to　scrutinize　his　
face。　His　expression　was　unreadable。　

〃Humor　me。〃　

He　walked　to　the　door　of　the　restaurant　and　held　it　open　with　an　
obstinate　expression。　Obviously；　there　would　be　no　further　discussion。　I　
walked　past　him　into　the　restaurant　with　a　resigned　sigh。　

The　restaurant　wasn't　crowded　—　it　was　the　offseason　in　Port　Angeles。　
The　host　was　female；　and　I　understood　the　look　in　her　eyes　as　she　
assessed　Edward。　She　weled　him　a　little　more　warmly　than　necessary。　I　
was　surprised　by　how　much　that　bothered　me。　She　was　several　inches　taller　
than　I　was；　and　unnaturally　blond。　

〃A　table　for　two？〃　His　voice　was　alluring；　whether　he　was　aiming　for　that　
or　not。　I　saw　her　eyes　flicker　to　me　and　then　away；　satisfied　by　my　
obvious　ordinariness；　and　by　the　cautious；　nocontact　space　Edward　kept　
between　us。　She　led　us　to　a　table　big　enough　for　four　in　the　center　of　
the　most　crowded　area　of　the　dining　floor。　

I　was　about　to　sit；　but　Edward　shook　his　head　at　me。　

〃Perhaps　something　more　private？〃　he　insisted　quietly　to　the　host。　I　
wasn't　sure；　but　it　looked　like　he　smoothly　handed　her　a　tip。　I'd　never　
seen　anyone　refuse　a　table　except　in　old　movies。　

〃Sure。〃　She　sounded　as　surprised　as　I　was。　She　turned　and　led　us　around　a　
partition　to　a　small　ring　of　booths　—　all　of　them　empty。　〃How's　this？〃　

〃Perfect。〃　He　flashed　his　gleaming　smile；　dazing　her　momentarily。　

〃Um〃　—　she　shook　her　head；　blinking　—　〃your　server　will　be　right　out。〃　
She　walked　away　unsteadily。　

〃You　really　shouldn't　do　that　to　people；〃　I　criticized。　〃It's　hardly　
fair。〃　

〃Do　what？〃　

〃Dazzle　them　like　that　—　she's　probably　hyperventilating　in　the　kitchen　
right　now。〃　

He　seemed　confused。　

〃Oh；　e　on；〃　I　said　dubiously。　〃You　have　to　know　the　effect　you　have　on　
people。〃　

He　tilted　his　head　to　one　side；　and　his　eyes　were　curious。　〃I　dazzle　
people？〃　

〃You　haven't　noticed？　Do　you　think　everybody　gets　their　way　so　easily？〃　

He　ignored　my　questions。　〃Do　I　dazzle　you？〃　

〃Frequently；〃　I　admitted。　

And　then　our　server　arrived；　her　face　expectant。　The　hostess　had　
definitely　dished　behind　the　scenes；　and　this　new　girl　didn't　look　
disappointed。　She　flipped　a　strand　of　short　black　hair　behind　one　ear　and　
smiled　with　unnecessary　warmth。　

〃Hello。　My　name　is　Amber；　and　I'll　be　your　server　tonight。　What　can　I　get　

you　to　drink？〃　I　didn't　miss　that　she　was　speaking　only　to　him。　

He　looked　at　me。　

〃I'll　have　a　Coke。〃　It　sounded　like　a　question。　

〃Two　Cokes；〃　he　said。　

〃I'll　be　right　back　with　that；〃　she　assured　him　with　another　unnecessary　
smile。　But　he　didn't　see　it。　He　was　watching　me。　

〃What？〃　I　asked　when　she　left。　

His　eyes　stayed　fixed　on　my　face。　〃How　are　you　feeling？〃　

〃I'm　fine；〃　I　replied；　surprised　by　his　intensity。　

〃You　don't　feel　dizzy；　sick；　cold…　？〃　

〃Should　I？〃　

He　chuckled　at　my　puzzled　tone。　

〃Well；　I'm　actually　waiting　for　you　to　go　into　shock。〃　His　face　twisted　
up　into　that　perfect　crooked　smile。　

〃I　don't　think　that　will　happen；〃　I　said　after　I　could　breathe　again。　
〃I've　always　been　very　good　at　repressing　unpleasant　things。〃　

〃Just　the　same；　I'll　feel　better　when　you　have　some　sugar　and　food　in　
you。〃　

Right　on　cue；　the　waitress　appeared　with　our　drinks　and　a　basket　of　
breadsticks。　She　stood　with　her　back　to　me　as　she　placed　them　on　the　
table。　

〃Are　you　ready　to　order？〃　she　asked　Edward。　

〃Bella？〃　he　asked。　She　turned　unwillingly　toward　me。　

I　picked　the　first　thing　I　saw　on　the　menu。　〃Um…　I'll　have　the　mushroom　
ravioli。〃　

〃And　you？〃　She　turned　back　to　him　with　a　smile。　

〃Nothing　for　me；〃　he　said。　Of　course　not。　

〃Let　me　know　if　you　change　your　mind。〃　The　coy　smile　was　still　in　place；　
but　he　wasn't　looking　at　her；　and　she　left　dissatisfied。　

〃Drink；〃　he　ordered。　

I　sipped　at　my　soda　obediently；　and　then　drank　more　deeply；　surprised　by　
how　thirsty　I　was。　I　realized　I　had　finished　the　whole　thing　when　he　
pushed　his　glass　toward　me。　

〃Thanks；〃　I　muttered；　still　thirsty。　The　cold　from　the　icy　soda　was　
radiating　through　my　chest；　and　I　shivered。　

〃Are　you　cold？〃　

〃It's　just　the　Coke；〃　I　explained；　shivering　again。　

〃Don't　you　have　a　jacket？〃　His　voice　was　disapproving。　

〃Yes。〃　I　looked　at　the　empty　bench　next　to　me。　〃Oh　—　I　left　it　in　
Jessica's　car；〃　I　realized。　

Edward　was　shrugging　out　of　his　jacket。　I　suddenly　realized　that　I　had　
never　once　noticed　what　he　was　wearing　—　not　just　tonight；　but　ever。　I　
just　couldn't　seem　to　look　away　from　his　face。　I　made　myself　look　now；　
focusing。　He　was　removing　a　light　beige　leather　jacket　now；　underneath　he　

wore　an　ivory　turtleneck　sweater。　It　fit　him　snugly；　emphasizing　how　
muscular　his　chest　was。　

He　handed　me　the　jacket；　interrupting　my　ogling。　

〃Thanks；〃　I　said　again；　sliding　my　arms　into　his　jacket。　It　was　cold　—　
the　way　my　jacket　felt　when　I　first　picked　it　up　in　the　morning；　hanging　
in　the　drafty　hallway。　I　shivered　again。　It　smelled　amazing。　I　inhaled；　
trying　to　identify　the　delicious　scent。　It　didn't　smell　like　cologne。　The　
sleeves　were　much　too　long；　I　shoved　them　back　so　I　could　free　my　hands。　

〃That　color　blue　looks　lovely　with　your　skin；〃　he　said；　watching　me。　I　
was　surprised；　I　looked　down；　flushing；　of　course。　

He　pushed　the　bread　basket　toward　me。　

〃Really；　I'm　not　going　into　shock；〃　I　protested。　

〃You　should　be　—　a　normal　person　would　be。　You　don't　even　look　shaken。〃　
He　seemed　unsettled。　He　stared　into　my　eyes；　and　I　saw　how　light　his　eyes　
were；　lighter　than　I'd　ever　seen　them；　golden　butterscotch。　

〃I　feel　very　safe　with　you；〃　I　confessed；　mesmerized　into　telling　the　
truth　again。　

That　displeased　him；　his　alabaster　brow　furrowed。　He　shook　his　head；　
frowning。　

〃This　is　more　plicated　than　I'd　planned；〃　he　murmured　to　himself。　

I　picked　up　a　breadstick　and　began　nibbling　on　the　end；　measuring　his　
expression。　I　wondered　when　it　would　be　okay　to　start　questioning　him。　

〃Usually　you're　in　a　better　mood　when　your　eyes　are　so　light；〃　I　
mented；　trying　to　distract　him　from　whatever　thought　had　left　him　
frowning　and　somber。　

He　stared　at　me；　stunned。　〃What？〃　

〃You're　always　crabbier　when　your　eyes　are　black　—　I　expect　it　then；〃　I　
went　on。　〃I　have　a　theory　about　that。〃　

His　eyes　narrowed。　〃More　theories？〃　

〃Mmhm。〃　I　chewed　on　a　small　bite　of　the　bread；　trying　to　look　
indifferent。　

〃I　hope　you　were　more　creative　this　time…　or　are　you　still　stealing　from　
ic　books？〃　His　faint　smile　was　mocking；　his　eyes　were　still　tight。　

〃Well；　no；　I　didn't　get　it　from　a　ic　book；　but　I　didn't　e　up　with　
it　on　my　own；　either；〃　I　confessed。　

〃And？〃　he　prompted。　

But　then　the　waitress　strode　around　the　partition　with　my　food。　I　
realized　we'd　been　unconsciously　leaning　toward　each　other　across　the　
table；　because　we　both　straightened　up　as　she　approached。　She　set　the　
dish　in　front　of　me　—　it　looked　pretty　good　—　and　turned　quickly　to　
Edward。　

〃Did　you　change　your　mind？〃　she　asked。　〃Isn't　there　anything　I　can　get　
you？〃　I　may　have　been　imagining　the　double　meaning　in　her　words。　

〃No；　thank　you；　but　some　more　soda　would　be　nice。〃　He　gestured　with　a　
long　white　hand　to　the　empty　cups　in　front　of　me。　

〃Sure。〃　She　removed　the　empty　glasses　and　walked　away。　

〃You　were　saying？〃　he　asked。　

〃I'll　tell　you　about　it　in　the　car。　If…〃　I　paused。　

〃There　are　conditions？〃　He　raised　one　eyebrow；　his　voice　ominous。　

〃I　do　have　a　few　questions；　of　course。〃　

〃Of　course。〃　

The　waitress　was　back　with　two　more　Cokes。　She　sat　them　down　without　a　
word　this　time；　and　left　again。　

I　took　a　sip。　

〃Well；　go　ahead；〃　he　pushed；　his　voice　still　hard。　

I　started　with　the　most　undemanding。　Or　so　I　thought。　〃Why　are　you　in　
Port　Angeles？〃　

He　looked　down；　folding　his　large　hands　together　slowly　on　the　table。　His　
eyes　flickered　up　at　me　from　under　his　lashes；　the　hint　of　a　smirk　on　his　
face。