A little sigh slid from Inez’s lips as she wondered if she and Thomas would work as well together.
“I’m sure you will,” Terri said as she carried the spoons to the table.
Inez stiffened as she realized the woman had read her mind, and then her eyebrows rose as she realized that both of them must have read her mind earlier to know she’d thought the words twit and idiot. They were poking in her head, she thought with dismay and not a little anger.#p#分页标题#e#
“We aren’t poking,” Bastien assured her as he set the cream and sugar on the table. “I’m afraid you’re broadcasting your thoughts.”
“He’s right,” Terri agreed as she returned to the counter to wait for the water to boil. “I haven’t quite got the hang of reading thoughts yet unless they are broadcast like yours. It’s because you’re upset,” she informed her kindly. “You’re uncomfortable and flustered because you aren’t sure how to act around Bastien now that you’re involved with Thomas, and embarrassed by the whole drying-his-lap thing, so—in your upset—you’re broadcasting your thoughts.”
“Oh.” Inez sat back in her seat with a sigh. She wasn’t sure what broadcasting was, but believed she probably was doing it anyway.
“And just for the record,” Terri added, picking up the jug as it began to boil and automatically shut off. “I liked you too when we met in New York, and still do, even if you aren’t wearing a cool T-shirt.”
Inez blinked at this easy announcement and then glanced to her boss as he chuckled softly.
“Isn’t she wonderful?” Bastien asked when he noticed her looking his way.
Inez nodded at once, her eyes wide. She’d never seen this side of him before. At work, he was always cool and efficient as far as she knew. But the man obviously adored his fiancée…and was adored right back, she decided when Terri brought the three teas to the table and then kissed him. It started out a tender, affectionate brush of lips, but then started to heat up and Inez bit her lip and glanced away, wondering if she should leave the room. Also wondering if she and Thomas were this bad.
“I’m sure you and Thomas are just as bad,” Bastien said wryly as he and Terri broke apart and took seats at the table. “And there’s no need to leave the room. In fact, I wanted to talk to you.”
“Oh.” Inez sat up a little straighter in her seat, trying to present a businesslike front. Oddly enough, it was difficult. She hadn’t even thought of work since Thomas had arrived in England and felt out of practice.
“It’s not business,” Bastien said solemnly.
“Okay.” Inez relaxed a little, but then frowned and said. “I didn’t realize the two of you were here last night too. I thought it was just Etienne and Rachel.”
“It was.” Terri raised her teacup to blow on the hot liquid lightly, before adding, “We arrived just before midday.”
Inez nodded, but was surprised they had traveled during daylight. Thomas had gone through scads of blood the day they’d toured Amsterdam before leaving.
“We stocked up on blood,” Bastien assured her, reading her thoughts again. “I brought enough on the plane with us to manage the journey and see to your turning too.”
“Etienne got up and let us in,” Terri added.
“Yes, and then we stayed up a while and talked before going to sleep.”
“Where did you sleep?” Inez asked with a frown. There were only two bedrooms and both were occupied.
“Both couches in the living room pull out,” Bastien explained.
“Which is a good thing,” Terri announced dryly and then explained, “We finally got a hold of Lucern and Kate and they’re on their way here to help look for Marguerite. They should arrive sometime tonight.”
“Lucern and Kate?” Inez asked uncertainly.
“Lucern is Bastien and Etienne’s older brother,” Terri said helpfully. “Kate is his lifemate. He writes romances and she does too now, though she used to be his editor. She’s also my cousin.”
“Oh. I think Wyatt has mentioned them,” Inez said, but was thinking the townhouse was about to become very crowded.
“I hear someone moving around upstairs,” Terri said quietly.
Bastien stiffened and looked almost alarmed as he glanced toward the ceiling. He sat stiff and still, listening for a moment, and then suddenly relaxed, saying, “It’s Etienne. Thomas was always a late sleeper.”
Inez felt trepidation creep down her neck at those words. They seemed to suggest that his tension was because it might have been Thomas. Why would it upset him if Thomas got up?