“I see,” Wyatt murmured with a nod. “But what about between an immortal and their mortal lover? It’s allowed then as part of . . . love play?” Smiling suddenly, he added, “I like that term. Love play.”
Elspeth just stared at him, her cheeks heating up. Although she wasn’t sure if it was embarrassment causing it, or the images his words suddenly had sliding through her mind. An immortal and her mortal lover. Like them. Except they weren’t lovers, she told herself quickly, but then recalled their shared kiss and the images that had flashed into her mind in the shower.
“Which exit do I take?”
Elspeth glanced around to see they were approaching the entrance ramps leading to the highway and quickly directed him to the right one.
“Did you call Mortimer to see if he expected you in today?” Wyatt asked again once they’d traversed the on-ramp and merged with traffic.
“No,” Elspeth admitted wearily. “I was so busy figuring out a way to get out of the apartment without encountering Mother that I didn’t even think of it. Actually, I didn’t even think to grab my purse and phone before leaving,” she admitted now as she realized that.
“Your cell phone was destroyed when you were run over the other night,” he said solemnly. “Most everything in your purse was. We thought it was probably strewn all over the road at one point, but it turned out Sofia had collected it after we took you inside, and brought it in with her. She gave it to us as we were leaving. Most of the contents were crushed, or in pieces, including your wallet. It was pretty battered, but the contents were fine. Everything else in the purse, though, was a write-off. Actually,” he added suddenly, glancing toward her side of the car, “I think it’s all in that bag at your feet. At least, it looks like the bag Sofia handed over as we left, and I know Rachel brought it along, intending to give it to your mother.”
Leaning forward, Elspeth picked up the white garbage bag. She set it in her lap and opened the top to look inside. She immediately recognized her squashed and torn purse. She pulled it out, she retrieved her wallet, and looked it over. As he’d said, it was pretty battered, the metal clasp bent and twisted, but the money, driver’s license, and credit cards inside were fine.
“I wonder why she didn’t give it to your mother,” he said thoughtfully.
“Perhaps she forgot,” Elspeth said with a shrug, setting the wallet back in the bag and closing it, but keeping the bag on her lap.
“Like I forgot entering Gran’s apartment and going to bed that night?” he asked dryly, and when she glanced at him with surprise, he said, “I remember getting into the passenger seat of this SUV and Rachel getting in behind the wheel, and then I was suddenly very tired. The next thing I recall is waking up midmorning yesterday, on top of the covers of my bed in the guest room at Gran’s.”
“Rachel probably carried you in and put you to bed rather than wake you,” Elspeth said, and didn’t mention that the woman would have had to slip into his mind to make sure he didn’t wake up during the maneuver. She did wonder, though, why Rachel had done that.
Probably to avoid his being a party to whatever her mother might have said when they’d brought her and Wyatt home, Elspeth decided. Martine would have raised a ruckus, she was sure, which made her glad neither of them had been awake for it. She’d have to thank Rachel the next time she saw her for keeping Wyatt from witnessing that. And apologize to her for having to suffer it herself. Although Rachel was married to Elspeth’s cousin, Etienne, and as family she would have known what to expect from Martine. Still, she really needed to apologize to her, Elspeth thought on a sigh. But she would probably get the chance soon. Etienne was one of Marguerite’s sons, and if she knew her aunt Marguerite, the woman would have them all together for a gathering once she knew Mother and the twins were here.
Noting their surroundings, Elspeth said, “The next exit is the one we want.”
“Right.” Wyatt put the blinker on and maneuvered into the outside lane.
They had taken the off-ramp and were driving up the road leading to the street where the Enforcer House was when Wyatt suddenly announced, “Valerian and Tybo were surprised to hear about your getting stabbed.”
“I haven’t seen them since before I was stabbed and hadn’t told them. I guess Mortimer hadn’t either,” Elspeth said absently as she took note of the rural routes they were passing. “You want to take a right onto that next crossroad.”
Wyatt slowed down and put his blinker on.
“So, who tattled?” she asked as he took the turn. “You or G.G.?”
“G.G. told them while Rachel was wrapping his ribs,” Wyatt said quietly.
Elspeth winced, guilt assailing her again at the thought of her hurting the dear man. She’d always liked G.G. and wouldn’t purposely have hurt him for the world.
“I don’t think he meant to tattle. Neither of us realized it was supposed to be a secret.”
“It wasn’t,” she said at once, and then added, “I just wish I’d been able to tell them myself so they didn’t get the wrong idea. It’s not a big deal and nothing they need worry about.” Gesturing to the gated driveway ahead on their left, she added, “That’s where we’re going. Just pull up to the gate and roll down your window. One of the guys will come out.”
Wyatt slowed again, and then said, “I think you’re probably the only one who doesn’t think it was a big deal. At least, Tybo and Valerian seemed concerned about you.”
“Of course they did,” she muttered as he put on the turn signal.
“I don’t blame them. I’m worried too,” he added solemnly.
Eyebrows rising, Elspeth glanced to him with surprise as he turned into the driveway. “Why?”
“Why?” he asked with disbelief. “Are you kidding?”
“Roll down your window,” she reminded him as he drew the truck to a halt. “And no, I’m not kidding. There’s nothing to worry about.”
“Of course there’s something to worry about,” he countered impatiently as he hit the button to roll down the window. “You were stabbed in the morning two days ago, and pushed under a car that same evening. I’d say that’s reason to worry.”
“Sounds worrisome to me too.”
Elspeth had been staring at Wyatt with stunned disbelief at the news that she’d been pushed into traffic that night, but now glanced past him to the man who had come out to greet them. With dark hair, and deep brown eyes with bronze flecks in them, the man was peering through the truck window, his gaze sliding from her to Wyatt with displeasure.
“Hi, Uncle Francis,” she greeted him with a forced smile. “How are you?”
“Worried about you, now,” he said dryly and then raised his eyebrows and asked, “Who is it you pissed off?”
Elspeth rolled her eyes, and then a wry smile caught her lips and she said, “The only person who comes to mind is my mother.”
“Ohhh.” Wincing, he wrinkled his nose. “She’s a scary woman, but she’s more likely to smother you to death than stab you.”
“Tell me about it,” Elspeth said on a sigh.
Francis smiled and then glanced to Wyatt with interest. “So, is this the life mate Tybo and Valerian were talking about?”
Elspeth’s eyes widened with dismay. “He—I—”
“Yes,” Wyatt said over her stammering, and when she turned on him with shock, he shrugged. “G.G. said you couldn’t read or control me. Apparently, that means we’re life mates.”
“Damn,” Elspeth breathed, suddenly feeling a little less guilty about hurting the giant while she was insensate. How could G.G. tell Wyatt that he was her life mate when he knew she wasn’t even sure she wanted one?
“Trust me, Elspeth. It is something you want. A life mate is a gift from God, and finding them is a blessing.”
Elspeth stared at Francis. He’d been sending her his thoughts. She’d heard the words, but his lips hadn’t moved. Aloud he added, “Besides, Wyatt here has some hot little thoughts about you floating around in that head of his. They’re delicious. If I were you I’d take him right up to one of the bedrooms and let him show you the benefits of having a life mate.”