The Accidental Vampire(85)

might meet other female immortals who could help her with things that a male

immortal wouldn't even think of addressing. But her eyes slid to the clock on the stove

and she felt disappointment claim her.

"Three hours there, three hours back, and I'd have to shower and change," she shook

her head unhappily. "I don't think—"

"We can do it," Harper interrupted firmly. "I'll have my helicopter collect us. We'll be

there in a trice. You get ready. I shall arrange everything."

"A helicopter? Really?" Elvi asked with amazement. She'd known from their cars that

these men were well off, but a personal helicopter? Holy! The guy must be loaded. Her

gaze slid to Victor then and she frowned when she saw that he was looking less than

pleased at the idea of the outing.

"Yes, really." Harper gave her a gentle push. "Go on. Get ready."

"But what about the pies?" Elvi said reluctantly.

"I'll bake them for you," Mabel announced, catching Elvi's arm and urging her toward

the stairs. "Come on. I'll help you get ready. You can wear that red dress with the slit

up the side."

Elvi allowed herself to be hurried upstairs. It bothered her that Victor didn't seem

pleased with the idea of the outing, but she was too curious to see this club for

immortals to let it stop her. Mabel got out the red dress she'd mentioned while Elvi

showered, then helped with her hair and makeup and accessories before helping her

dress.

Elvi smiled as she peered down at the deep red cocktail dress with its short skirt and

halter top. She'd never expected to get the chance to wear it when she'd bought it. All

she ever wore was black at the restaurant and events, but she hadn't been able to help

herself when she saw it in the store. Now she was glad she hadn't.

Once finished zipping her up, Mabel stepped back and grinned.

"You are so going to turn on Victor in that," she chuckled and urged her to the door.

"Come on. You guys have been working like crazy to get those pies done the last two

days, and I know you haven't got a chance to repeat the garage scene with Victor.

Have fun tonight. You never have fun anymore, and you deserve it. So promise me

you'll try to relax and have fun."

"I promise," Elvi laughed, her anticipation for the night ahead suddenly increasing

exponentially. She and Victor hadn't even kissed the last two days since the arrow

incident. There simply hadn't been an opportunity with all of the men working on the

pies. While Elvi had known that, she'd still felt slightly bereft that he hadn't even tried

to sneak a kiss or something here or there. Or slid into her room at night to rouse her

with kisses and caresses. Without the real thing, Elvi had found herself suffering—or

enjoying, depending on how you looked at it—some pretty erotic dreams. Dreams that

had seemed incredibly real and left her waking panting and dripping with sweat among

other things.

Not that she was complaining, it was better than the nightmares she normally had

about her husband and daughter's death and her own accident in Mexico. Still, the real

thing would have been more reassuring. Elvi was starting to doubt his interest in her

and knew that was silly. He was the one who had claimed she was his lifemate.

"Ah, bella, you are perfection on the legs," Alessandro proclaimed coming up the hall

as Mabel joined her outside her bedroom door.

"Does that mean the rest of me is okay but my legs are ugly?" Elvi asked with

amusement.

"No!" Alessandro looked horrified that she might think so. "No, bella. You have the

beautiful legs; so slender, so shapely, every man's dream."

"Oh, Alessandro, you're such a flirt." Elvi laughed, shaking her head as she led the way

to the stairs.

"This is a bad thing?" Alessandro asked, sounding concerned.

"Not at all," she assured him lightly. "It's just that I suspect you're just as effusive with

every woman you meet, and it makes it difficult to take you seriously."

"That is bad," he said on an unhappy sigh. "The Canadians, they are so sensible, much

like the British. As are the Americans. You have no soul, no romance in you. Not like we

Italians. To us love is everything and beauty is something to be celebrated. Women

should be kissed and told they are bella."

"How long have you been in Canada?" Elvi asked with a sudden curiosity.

"Ten years."

"Why did you come?"

"Why not?" he asked with a shrug. "We try not to stay too long in the one place. Ten

years, maybe. We no age. Stay too long, it brings the questions. So we go. Another

place, then another, and maybe twenty… thirty years we go home as a cousin, the son,