The Accidental Vampire(73)

with amazement, and then turned an impressed gaze Mabel's way. "Damn, you're

good Mabel. Care to find me a woman?"

"This isn't funny, Teddy," Elvi snapped.

"Do you see me laughing?" he asked.

Turning away from him, she said, "So you're saying that all four of them could be my

lifemate? What am I supposed to do?"

"Choose one," Mabel said reasonably. "I'd guess since you've slept with Victor, he'd be

the wisest choice."

"How do you know that?" Elvi squawked with amazement as her face flushed with

embarrassment.

"Elvi, your lips are swollen, your hairs a mess, you aren't wearing a bra and you look

like a woman who's been well satisfied," Mabel said dryly.

"And we were at the house," DJ added. "Mabel forgot the work schedules for the week

and we'd come back for them. When we started into the garage to head back, you and

Victor were using the car. We decided to wait until you were finished."

"DJ!" Mabel snapped.

"Well, it's true," he said defensively.

"Oh God," Elvi mumbled, lowering her face into her hands. The car. Why hadn't it

occurred to her that the car was there? They did it right there on the damned thing.

"Look, honey," Mabel rubbed a hand up and down her arm. "There's nothing to be

embarrassed about. We're all adults here."

When Teddy snorted at the comment, Mabel turned a glare his way.

"Don't get mad at me," he said raising his hands. "I'm not the one acting like an idiot

teenager."

Elvi lifted her head. "Are you saying I am?"

"Well, if the shoe fits, Ellen."

Her eyes widened at the use of her real name. Teddy hadn't called her that since the

turning. No one had. She often bemoaned the fact, but now it sounded like an insult.

"Teddy," Mabel said in warning.

"Well, it's true," Teddy said in the same defensive tone DJ had used moments ago.

Crossing his arms, he glared at Elvi. "You like the guy. He likes you. You have great sex

in the garage and rather than pull some love 'em and leave 'em stunt, he wants a

future with you. And what do you do?" he asked. "You run hell for leather up the

street to the restaurant all in a panic asking what you should do."

"What does that expression mean exactly, hell for leather?" DJ asked in the silence

that followed Brunswick's words. "And where does it come from?"

Teddy blinked at the immortal, and then said with exasperation, "How the hell should I

know. People just use it all the damned time."

"I always thought it meant crazy fast," Mabel commented. "Though, I don't know why.

It doesn't make sense when you think about it."

"Not now, but it's an old expression and we used to wear leather shoes rather than

rubber soled," DJ murmured thoughtfully. "Maybe that's where it comes from, going

fast or hard and being hell on the leather shoes."

"Oh, I never thought of that," Mabel said with surprise, then beamed. "You're so

smart, love."

Shaking his head with disgust as the pair began to kiss, Teddy caught Elvi's arm and

urged her toward the door. "Come on. You won't get any sense out of those two now.

They'll be locking the office door in about three minutes."

Elvi allowed him to lead her out of the restaurant, but tried to pull free as they neared

his car. "I can walk."

"Yes, but then I couldn't talk to you and I have some wisdom I'd like to impart," he

snapped. Opening the passenger door, he ushered her in, slammed it, and then walked

around to his side.

Elvi was silent as Teddy started the car, and left him to get to the point in his own time.

It didn't take long.

"Mabel and I arranged this week to find you a mate," he started as he steered out of

the parking lot. "We don't like the idea of leaving you here on your own."

"Yes, I know. She told me."

Teddy nodded. "Well, it seems we did good. Out of all the vampires in the world, she

picked the four who would be suitable lifemates." He paused, and concentrated on

driving for a minute before saying, "Elvi, if you love this guy, don't let fear keep you

from him. You'll regret it. Trust me, I know," he added solemnly, and then said, "You're

home. Get out."

Elvi glanced around with surprise to see that they were indeed in her driveway, and

then turned an incredulous gaze back to Teddy.

"That's it?" she asked with disbelief. "Don't let fear stop me. We're home, now get

out? That's your wisdom?"

"The best advice is often the simplest," he said with a shrug, then softened slightly and

added, "Elvi, you're scared. I understand that. I've been there. I let it stop me once