anaged　to　do　this　one…handed　and　keep　both　garments　blood…free。

〃Hurry　up；〃　Jacob　called。

〃Okay；　okay；〃　I　shouted　back。　After　making　sure　I　left　nothing　incriminating

behind　me；　I　headed

downstairs。

〃How　do　I　look？〃　I　asked　him。

〃Better；〃　he　admitted。

〃But　do　I　look　like　I　tripped　in　your　garage　and　hit　my　head　on　a　hammer？〃

〃Sure；　I　guess　so。〃

〃Let's　go　then。〃

Jacob　hurried　me　out　the　door；　and　insisted　on　driving　again。　We　were　halfway

to　the　hospital　when　I

realized　he　was　still　shirtless。

I　frowned　guiltily。　〃We　should　have　grabbed　you　a　jacket。〃

〃That　would　have　given　us　away；〃　he　teased。　〃Besides；　it's　not　cold。〃

〃Are　you　kidding？〃　I　shivered　and　reached　out　to　turn　the　heat　on。

I　watched　Jacob　to　see　if　he　was　just　playing　tough　so　I　wouldn't　worry；　but

he　looked　fortable

enough。　He　had　one　arm　over　the　back　of　my　seat；　though　I　was　huddled　up　to

keep　warm。

Jacob　really　did　look　older　than　sixteen—not　quite　forty；　but　maybe　older

than　me。　Quil　didn't　have　too

much　on　him　in　the　muscle　department；　for　all　that　Jacob　claimed　to　be　a

skeleton。　The　muscles　were　the

long　wiry　kind；　but　they　were　definitely　there　under　the　smooth　skin。　His　skin

was　such　a　pretty　color；　it

made　me　jealous。

Jacob　noticed　my　scrutiny。

〃What？〃　he　asked；　suddenly　self…conscious。

〃Nothing。　I　just　hadn't　realized　before。　Did　you　know；　you're　sort　of

beautiful？〃

Once　the　words　slipped　out；　I　worried　that　he　might　take　my　impulsive

observation　the　wrong　way。

But　Jacob　just　rolled　his　eyes。　〃You　hit　your　head　pretty　hard；　didn't　you？〃

〃I'm　serious。〃

〃Well