closed over one breast, squeezing it gently as he lowered his mouth further still to
close it over the tip and breathe hot air on it through the cloth covering it.
Unintelligible sounds of pleading slipping from her lips, Elvi arched in the passenger
seat, pressing her breasts upward and wishing her clothes weren't in the way, that she
could feel his warm mouth without obstruction.
Apparently, it was what Victor wanted too because in the next moment he was tugging
impatiently at the blouse and drawing it down to reveal the thin white strapless silk
bra beneath. It was a front‐fastening bra and took only a quick snap of his finger and
thumb to release it.
Elvi gasped and shuddered as the cloth fell away, allowing her breasts to pop up, then
cried out as his mouth finally covered one excited nipple. Clutching her fingers in his
hair, she held on for dear life as he suckled, her hips gyrating upward as she felt his
hand slide under her skirt and move up her thigh. That was when a tap on the window
made them both stiffen, then jerk apart.
Elvi quickly pulled her blouse up to cover herself and glanced around, groaning with
embarrassment when she recognized Teddy Brunswick's grim face peering in through
the driver's window. They'd just been caught parking by the local police. Elvi hadn't
even had that happen as a teenager.
"'Put on your bra," Victor said calmly, shifting to block Teddy's view.
Elvi tried, but her hands were shaking so badly, she kept fumbling it until Victor
brushed her hands aside and did it for her. He also tugged the blouse back into place
before getting out of the car to face Brunswick.
Taking a deep breath, Elvi slid out of the passenger side.
"I got a call that someone was upsetting you at Wal‐Mart," Teddy announced abruptly
as soon as she paused at Victor's side.
"Louise," Elvi said with despair. She'd known the woman would spread the story, but
should have realized the first call she made would be to Teddy.
"Yes." His gaze narrowed, taking in her disheveled clothes and swollen lips. "Are you all
right?"
"Yes, I'm fine," Elvi said quickly. "Louise misunderstood everything. I was crying
because Victor had just told me that I could have babies now, and I…" She shrugged
helplessly.
Teddy nodded slowly, then said, "So you thought you'd come back here and start right
away."
Elvi stiffened in surprise, her face flushing with a combination of shame and anger.
Teddy had never before talked to her with such distaste or so coldly and what he said
hurt, but when she sensed Victor tensing beside her, she reached to the side and
caught his hand.
"That was uncalled for," Victor said quietly, his grip on her hand firm. "I'd like to call
you on it, but since I know it's just jealousy talking I won't… This time. Don't mistake
this for a free pass to hurt Elvi again, though."
"Jealousy?" Elvi echoed, peering at Brunswick with confusion. "Teddy?"
The police captain was silent, his mouth set and expression empty. Without a word, he
turned and walked to the patrol car parked behind Victor's BMW and got in.
Victor turned back to the car and lifted the mirror out as she watched Teddy drive
away.
"You didn't know he loved you?" Victor asked when she realized he was holding the
mirror and hurried to lead the way to the side door of the garage.
"No," Elvi murmured, still not really believing it. She paused at the side door to the
garage. Reaching in her purse for her keys, she added, "I still don't know that. We've
been friends for years."
"He's loved you for years." Victor stepped inside, and then paused to wait in the
narrow space between the wall and Mabel's car as she locked the door behind them.
"That's why he never married. No other woman could compete with you. When your
husband died, he hoped…" Victor shrugged those useless hopes away. "But you were
turned."
"And he didn't want me anymore," Elvi guessed wryly as she turned to face him.
"Oh, he wanted you, all right," Victor assured her. "But he thought you wouldn't want
an old guy like him, so he set his mind to helping Mabel find you someone else. He
loves you that much."
"You read his mind?" She realized.
Victor nodded.
"Can you read mine?" she asked, suddenly horrified at the possibility. The idea of his
knowing exactly how he made her feel and just what she wanted to do to him and
what she wanted him to do to her was somewhat humiliating.
Victor was silent so long, she began to think he wouldn't answer the question, and
then he admitted, "I don't know. I've never tried."
Her eyebrows rose in surprise. "Why not?"