“You haven’t eaten all day,” he kissed thetop of her head.

She nodded and opened the largest of theboxes to find pasta primavera. “It was a lovely thought, Mr. Black.Thank you.”

He skimmed a finger over the top of her hand.“It’s Victor.”

She shrugged. It was the same fuckingdifference as far as she was concerned.

Victor found her silverware and brought her afork. She poked at the food and forced herself to eat a few bites.Seated across from her, he pushed a plain white box across thetable.

She eyed it cautiously. “I don’t want aconsolation prize.”

He sighed heavily and his eyes darkened withsome unidentifiable emotion. He opened the box himself and pulledout a dainty, rhinestone encrusted headband. It was beautiful butlooked like something she might have worn when she was ateenager.

“I thought it would look nice on you tomorrownight.”

Elsa drew her brows together.

“I made dinner reservations for you and yourmother at Juniper’s downtown. It offers a wonderful atmosphere,” hegave her a crooked, boyish smile. “It would be good for your mom tosee the best of what Richmond has to offer.” He dipped a fingerinto her food and pulled out a long noodle and slurped it into hismouth. Elsa couldn’t help but give him a smile when he was leftwith pasta sauce on his chin. She reached across the table andswiped it away with her finger.

The animation left her face. “You reallyshouldn’t have.”

He lifted his shoulders in a half-assedshrug. “It was the least I could do.”

Yes, the very least consideringeverything he had put her through.

“I can’t stay even though I’d like to. I havework matters to deal with. I hope you enjoy your day with yourmother,” he stood to leave. When he opened the door, he turned toface her, “Elsa…” and shook his head regretfully. “I hope we canmove forward after what’s happened.”

A suffocating sensation tightened her throat.There might just be hope after all.

*

The remainder of Monday was a blur. Elsanever found the nerve to read the journal she was so eager to gether hands on. Instead, she sulked all night thinking about havingbeen put in jail and about Mr. Black having been ready to send hisnotes to a serial killer.

What the hell was up with that anyway? Wasshe such a wreck in Victor’s eyes that she needed to be analyzedand pored over? He admitted that he found her beautiful, unique andstrong. Not to mention intelligent. Why then couldn’t he answer thedamned question? What exactly did he want her to be – weak? So hecould break her down and make her do his will? Holy hell, she wasalready doing everything he wanted.

Elsa tried to put it all out of her head. Hermother would be there the following day and she just wanted toenjoy the time with her.

Tuesday’s work day was actually productivefor a change. She half-expected to show up and be called into herdirector’s office to be let go from her position or put onprobation, but nothing happened. No one called other than the usualcouriers to deliver more medical equipment for her to work on. Shekept her mind busy with her multitude of tasks and it helped totake away the haunting memories of Mr. Black’s ruthless eyes.

When she received the call that her motherwas at the airport, she almost sobbed with joy. She left work earlyand when she arrived and saw her mother’s serene face and softbrown eyes, she fell into her arms and finally broke down.

Her mother looked distressed as she held hertight. “El, what is it, honey?”

All Elsa could do was to shake her head.There were no words to explain.

*

Dressed and ready for dinner, Elsa looked upthe address for the upscale restaurant Victor had made reservationsat. Thankfully, her mother hadn’t probed her for any informationabout her break down. Her mother was only staying for the day andhad to return to Massachusetts the following morning for work, sotheir time was precious but little and Elsa didn’t want to spendone second of it ruminating over Mr. Black and worrying hermom.

When they arrived at Juniper’s, Elsa mentallythanked Victor for the recommendation and reservation. He wascorrect in that it was a wonderful place. It was set against theriver and the view was outstanding. Her mother was thoroughlyimpressed and chatty, and Elsa’s mood brightened instantly when shesaw the smile on her mom’s face.

Just as their wine was being delivered, sheheard Victor’s deep voice above her.

“Wine on a weekday?” he winked when shelooked up. “You must be feeling brave.”

Elsa measured him for a moment. He wasdressed to the nine’s in a tailored, black slim business suit thataccentuated his slim hips and broad shoulders. His hair was aperfect mess and he smelled, oh, so clean and edible. Thedarkest-gray silk tie he was wearing reminded her of the tie he hadworn the night he tickled her and she quickly averted her eyes forfear he would see right through her shame.

“May I join you?” he asked.

Elsa’s mom looked bewildered and even alittle flustered. It must be his cologne. Her mom had a thing for anice smelling man, too.

Elsa hesitated and sputtered, not reallywanting Victor to join them. If he did, then she would have toexplain to her mother who he was. When she didn’t answer, hescooted in next to her, pressing his body against her and wrappingan arm around her shoulders.

“I’m Victor Laurenzo,” he reached a handacross the table to her mother.

“Oh, well… nice to meet you. I’m Elise,” Hermother took his hand and shot Elsa a nasty look for not introducingthem.

“I know Elsa was really looking forward toseeing you. She even stated that she missed you,” Victorcommented.

Elsa sat dumbstruck. This polite and sociableman was not the same one she knew from only a day ago.

Her mother took a drink of her wine andlooked him over closely. “I wish I had something nice to say inreturn, however, Elsa hasn’t mentioned you at all. Are you twodating?”

Elsa followed suit and took a big gulp ofwine. This would be interesting considering her mother was notknown for being one who held back her feelings.

“Actually,” Victor began, but Elsa swiftlycut him off.

“No, we’re not. Mr. Black is a businessassociate,” she sipped on her wine some more, wishing she hadstated that he was actually a ‘physical association.’

Her mother looked thoroughly puzzled. “Ithought you said your name was Victor Laurenzo?”

Victor lifted an eyebrow and glared down atElsa, but quickly recovered and flashed his pearly-white teeth, “Itis. The Mr. Black thing is an inside joke.”

Elsa nearly choked on a mouthful ofchardonnay. Joke? There was nothing funny about Mr. Black.He patted her on the back and smiled down at her. The silencelengthened between the three of them, making Elsa unbearablyuncomfortable. She didn’t know what to say and suddenly herconversational skills were nonexistent. Her stomach growled loudlyand Victor chuckled.

“I think someone needs to eat.”

She tittered nervously and looked to hermother, mentally pleading for her to speak up.

As if her mother read her mind, she asked,“So tell me, Mr. Laurenzo, what kind of work do you do exactly? Doyou work with my daughter?”

His jaw tensed and Elsa spoke up for himagain. “He doesn’t answer personal questions. It’s a rule ofhis.”

Victor’s head jerked to the side and he shother a discomfited look. She almost laughed at the stunned look onhis face, but she knew better. What the hell was he soself-conscious about? If he didn’t want to be called out about hisunreasonable behaviors, then perhaps he shouldn’t be engaging inthem.

“Really?” her mother asked incredulously.“That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard,” she waved herhand in his direction.

“Agreed,” Elsa dared to whisper.

He cleared his throat and casually slid hisfingers across her shoulder blades. Resting his hand on neck, hegently squeezed, reminding her of her place.