The Accidental Vampire(20)

"Well, I like her restaurant, and I read Brunswick's mind," DJ announced. "He thinks

she's a 'damned fine woman' always there to help others, and a pillar of the

community all her life. She apparently volunteered at everything before she was

turned and still does. She's a good woman, Victor. The very fact that her friends would

go to all this trouble for her says as much."

"Hmm." He frowned. "Then we'd best find out all we can so that the council can make

a fair judgment. Otherwise, I fear she could lose her head."

Mouth tight, DJ nodded and led the way out of the bathroom.

"Are you ready now?" Brunswick asked when they reached the table.

When both men nodded, he heaved out a little breath, and stood. When the other

men stood as well, he said, "Now, just remember to keep your traps shut about this ad

business and restrict yourself to only saying hello until Mabel has a chance to explain."

"Why not wait to introduce us until after Mabel's explained?" Edward asked dryly.

"Surely that makes more sense."

"Not if you know Elvi," Brunswick assured him. "Once she knows what we've done

she'll be mad as hell, but she'll also be terribly embarrassed and if she hasn't met you

already, she'll no doubt refuse to do so." He shook his head. "No, this is the best way.

Now, come on."

As had been the case throughout, the man didn't wait for protests or agreement, but

simply gestured for them to follow and turned to head back the way he'd come.

"Well?" Harper asked, glancing to Victor for guidance.

Shrugging, he turned to trail Brunswick, aware that the rest of the men followed suit.

They nearly reached the booth this time. Victor was just walking past the shelf with the

statue of the iguana family on it when he noted movement out of the corner of his





eye. Then part of the statue separated from the rest and launched itself at him.

And all hell broke loose.



Chapter Five





"I told you I saw it move," DJ muttered.

Victor didn't pay him any attention. All his focus was on the petite woman presently

fussing over him and pressing a napkin to his ear and neck. Victor's roar when the

iguana landed on his neck and shoulder and latched onto his ear had managed to get

everyone's attention, but the whole place had erupted in shouts and screams when

he'd begun to claw at his neck and spin on the spot.

Shouting for someone named Pedro, Elvi had abandoned the birthday boy and hurried

to Victor's side. She'd removed the iguana, passed it off to a little Mexican man who'd

come running from the back of the restaurant, and then had snatched up napkins from

the nearest table, cooing as she fussed over him.

"I'm so sorry. He's never done anything like this in the five years we've had the

restaurant," she repeated, tugging at his arm to force him to bend over so she didn't

have to continue to stand on her tiptoes to see his wound.

Victor grunted and bent obligingly forward, blinking as he found himself peering down

the low neckline of her dress at her considerable cleavage.

"Oh dear. We'd best clean this up and put a bandage on it." Her voice sounded shaky

as she stepped away from him, removing her bountiful breasts from his view. "You

better come with me."

Victor straightened and waited as she excused herself to the birthday boy and his

family. He then followed her gyrating hips in the tight skirt as she led the way through

the beaded arch and turned into a small office with a desk, two chairs, a small

refrigerator, a filing cabinet, and a tall metal cabinet with double doors.

"Have a seat." Elvi gestured to the two chairs in front of the desk. She moved to the

metal cabinet and opened one of the doors to reveal shelves stacked neatly with

paperwork and various other items including a first‐aid kit. Retrieving the small white

kit, she set it on the desk and opened it. After a pause, she removed a swatch of

cotton, then opened a dark brown bottle and poured some of its contents on the

cotton before moving to him.

"This will sting," she warned and set to work cleaning his ear and neck.

Victor sat completely still, hardly noticing the sharp stinging she caused as he inhaled

her scent. She smelled of vanilla and spices from the kitchen, a delectable combination

that made his mouth water. Tightening his lips, he tried to ignore the smell, but found

his nose working to inhale more of it.

"Hmm," Elvi murmured at his side, her breath teasing his ear. "It isn't as bad as I first

feared. More blood than damage, thank goodness."

Victor didn't comment. The wound had been quite deep; however his body had started

to repair itself at once. This answered one of their questions, however. She couldn't