Bastien's lips curved with amusement as he glanced at his brother. Lucern might have agreed, but he didn't look happy about it. In fact, his brother looked pretty miserable. Bastien's amusement died at Kate's next words, however.
"So, you can stay at the apartment with me and we can have girl time. It'll be fun."
Bastien now understood Terri's expression. This must be what he'd missed; Kate announcing that Terri was to move into her little apartment for the week. He didn't like the idea at all. In fact, panic swamped him at the possibility of Terri sleeping so far away from him. He'd just moved the relationship up to the physical level, and he was damned if he was going to lose it now.
"Lucern looked pretty miserable," Terri commented.
"He did, didn't he?" Kate laughed. She moved back to the couch with a fresh bowl of popcorn arid set it between them. "He wasn't exactly thrilled with the idea when I brought it up in California, but he agreed to please me."
Terri nodded and tossed another tissue-paper flower in the usable box. They had brought the Kleenex and string with them to Kate's place. It was a good project to keep them busy, and it did have to be done. Kate had claimed that she didn't trust the men to finish the job without being there to ride herd.
"Bastien wasn't looking too happy himself at dinner," Kate commented, and Terri glanced at her sharply.
They had headed out for a meal right after Kate's announcement about the new living arrangements. Once seated in the little French bistro Kate had suggested, Bastien had launched into an attempt to argue that Terri should stay at the penthouse. First he'd pointed out that she was all settled in the guest room. Then he'd said the penthouse was larger and more comfortable. He'd tried countless other excuses, too—even suggesting that Kate should move in and leave Lucern in her apartment instead—but none of his arguments had gotten him anywhere.
Terri had finally pointed out that this was the reason she'd flown from England, to stay with Kate and help with the wedding. The moment she'd said that, he'd ceased trying to prevent the unstoppable and had sat quiet and grim through the rest of the meal. Terri had never seen him so silent. She missed his smiles and the talk they usually shared.
"Didn't he?" Kate prodded, drawing Terri from her thoughts.
"Did he?" she countered mildly. "Perhaps he has a touch of food poisoning, too. We all tried that casserole."
"Hmm." Kate's lips twisted with sardonic amusement. "I gather that means you aren't going to tell me how things are going between the two of you."
Terri was silent for a moment. She fanned out the petals of yet another flower, then glanced up. "He's a very nice man."
"Yes, he is," Kate agreed.
"Handsome."
"Definitely handsome. All the Argeneau men are. Of course, Lucern is the cream of the crop, but Bastien is good-looking too."
Terri had a different opinion, but she let it go. "He's so…" She glanced toward the ceiling, searching her mind for the word. "Special. The way he opens doors, and the way he orders for me—and he's so funny, Kate. And smart. He's definitely smart. And charming, and when he kisses me—" She stopped abruptly and blinked. "Well, he's just a lovely man."
"You love him!" Kate crowed. "I knew it! I knew you two would get along like a house on fire. Oh, this is wonderful, Terri! We can be sisters-in-law as well as cousins and best friends and—"
"Slow down," Terri gasped, cutting her off. "Jeez. I only met him a week ago."
"So?" Kate asked staunchly. "I didn't know Lucern very long before I knew he was the one. Of course, we had some things to work out before it all came together, but when you meet the right one, you know it. And you-two are right together, Terri."
"Hmm," she murmured, concentrating on the flower in her hands. She wanted to believe her cousin was right, but was afraid to get her hopes up. Having to pack her things and move to Kate's had been a horrendous blow. Terri had wanted to sit down on the side of the bed and cry at the very thought. She wanted to spend time with her cousin, but she didn't want to lose out on time spent with Bastien too. Or the chance to kiss him, to make love to him, or to be held in his arms. It was as if she'd been offered a taste of heaven then had it snatched away. When she'd worried about pursuing this relationship, Terri had known it would end, but she'd thought she had the full two weeks. She hadn't been prepared for today being the end, and the wrenching of her heart was horrible.
"Really. It's plain for anyone to see that he cares for you. His eyes rarely leave you and he's terribly attentive. I'm positive he's in love with you, Terri."