Сумерки

           Obviously,therewouldbenofurtherdiscussion.Iwalkedpasthimintotherestaurantwitharesignedsigh.

           Therestaurantwasn’tcrowded-itwastheoff-seasoninPortAngeles.Thehostwasfemale,andIunderstoodthelookinhereyesassheassessedEdward.Shewelcomedhimalittlemorewarmlythannecessary.Iwassurprisedbyhowmuchthatbotheredme.ShewasseveralinchestallerthanIwas,andunnaturallyblond.

           "Atablefortwo?"Hisvoicewasalluring,whetherhewasaimingforthatornot.Isawhereyesflickertomeandthenaway,satisfiedbymyobviousordinariness,andbythecautious,no-contactspaceEdwardkeptbetweenus.Sheledustoatablebigenoughforfourinthecenterofthemostcrowdedareaofthediningfloor.

           Iwasabouttosit,butEdwardshookhisheadatme.

           "Perhapssomethingmoreprivate?"heinsistedquietlytothehost.Iwasn’tsure,butitlookedlikehesmoothlyhandedheratip.I’dneverseenanyonerefuseatableexceptinoldmovies.

           "Sure."ShesoundedassurprisedasIwas.Sheturnedandledusaroundapartitiontoasmallringofbooths-allofthemempty."How’sthis?"

           "Perfect."Heflashedhisgleamingsmile,dazinghermomentarily.

           "Um"-sheshookherhead,blinking-"yourserverwillberightout."Shewalkedawayunsteadily.

           "Youreallyshouldn’tdothattopeople,"Icriticized."It’shardlyfair."

           "Dowhat?"

           "Dazzlethemlikethat-she’sprobablyhyperventilatinginthekitchenrightnow."

           Heseemedconfused.

           "Oh,comeon,"Isaiddubiously."Youhavetoknowtheeffectyouhaveonpeople."