Tall Dark and Hungry(52)
"Don't be. You were right.»
Sandi shrugged. "I could have said it more diplomatically.»
Terri grinned, and hugged her. "I love you.»
"You're going to him,"Sandi said. There was a sadness in her eyes as they parted. "You should be able to find a teaching position over there in one of the universities. I know you'll be happy. But we'll miss you.»
Terri felt a thickness at the back of her throat. She'd depended on this couple as her only nearby family for a long time. She forced a smile. "Well, don't jump the gun. He might not want me.»
Sandi snorted. "Yeah, right.»
"And if he did, he might not now because I ran out on him.»
"He'll forgive you,"Sandi predicted. "You'll just have to grovel and admit you've been an idiot.»
Terri chuckled, then glanced to the doorway as Dave came jogging back down the stairs. "Right! I'm ready. I'll be back shortly, flower,"He gave Sandi a quick kiss, grabbed Terri's suitcase handle, then paused and turned back for another kiss before leading the way out of the cottage.
"Drive carefully,"Sandi called from the doorstep.
"I will, flower. Now go back to bed-you were up late working.»
"Nag,"she muttered affectionately.
"I heard that.»
"Of course you did,"she said with a grin, then waved at Terri and went back inside.
Terri shook her head with amusement as she got into the passenger seat of the Jaguar. "You two were made for each other.»
"Yes, we were,"Dave agreed. He grinned as he started the car, then sent it racing down the street.
Bastien was dozing in the front seat of his rental car when the car roared up behind him. Blinking his eyes open, he saw a black Jaguar pull to a stop with two passengers inside. It took a moment for his sleep-fogged mind to recognize Terri in the passenger seat, then he spotted the man with her and he woke right up. It was seven o'clock in the morning. She hadn't been in last night when he'd arrived, and he'd sat in the car outside her little cottage waiting, until he'd dozed off. He'd slept fitfully in the car, worried sick, wondering if she'd missed a connection, or run into trouble or what. But here she was returning now… and with another man? Bastien thought he might pop the bastard.
Opening the door, he slid out of his car. Propping his hands on his hips, he watched the couple get out of the car behind his.
"Bastien!"Terri sounded more shocked than happy to see him, he decided; and that was irritating to his sleep-deprived mind too. And blood-deprived, he reminded himself. He wasn't sure how long it had been since he fed, but he knew it was too long. Maybe he'd bite the guy with Terri rather than pop him.
"Dave, this is Bastien,"she said to the tall, silver-haired man who tugged Terri's suitcase out of the trunk of the black car. Prematurely silver-haired, Bastien realized as the fellow closed the trunk and moved toward him, dragging the suitcase on its wheels. He took a step forward.
"Bastien, this is David Simpson, my brother-in-law,"she introduced. "Dave and his wife, Sandi, picked me up from the airport yesterday. I fell asleep on their couch last night.»
Bastien felt all the hot air flow out of him. Brother-in-law. With a wife. "Oh,"he said, then held out his hand in greeting. "Pleased to meet you.»
"Pleased to meet you too,"Dave said with a grin. He placed the handle of Terri's suitcase in Bastien's hand rather than shaking it.
Bastien stared down at the suitcase as Dave turned and hugged Terri. "I have to go. Sandi will worry. Call and let us know what happens.»
Bastien lifted his head to watch the man roar off in his Jaguar. "Nice car.»
"It's Dave's pride and joy,"Terri said. "Would you like to come in?»
Bastien nodded, then followed her up the sidewalk, only then noticing that she was carrying a grocery bag. Obviously, her brother-in-law had taken her shopping before bringing her home, he realized. He followed Terri into her small cottage, his eyes moving curiously around the place as he closed the door. It was small but cozy and tastefully decorated, he noted; then Terri whirled to face him.
"I'm sorry,"she blurted. "I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have run off like that.»
"Terri-"
"No, wait. Let me speak,"Terri insisted. "I made a mistake. A stupid mistake because I was scared. I… I love you, Bastien. I do. And the idea of your being ill and watching you go through what Ian and my mother went through scares the heck out of me, but I'm willing to do it if I can spend however much good time you have left with you. I'll take the bad with the good. I'll-"
"I'm not sick,"Bastien interrupted.
Terri paused and stared, uncomprehending. "What?»
"I'm not sick,"he repeated firmly.
"But the vials in your fridge.»
"The vials?"he asked. Then understanding slowly dawned. "Vincent's serum?»
"Vincent's serum?"Terri echoed.
"Yes. You know about his digestive trouble. The lab sent those up for him to try. It's a new serum we hope will help,"he answered, couching his words carefully so that he was telling the truth, but not revealing everything. Yet.
Terri sank onto the sofa with a plop. "The serum is Vincent's.»
"Yes.»
"But what about the blood and the IV stand?»
"The IV stand? In the closet of the master suite?"he asked with surprise.
She nodded.
"That's been there a long time. Lissianna needed it at one time, and we've just never gotten rid of it.»
"Lissianna?"Terri's voice was a squeak.
"Yes. Lissianna.»
"And the blood?"she asked hopefully.
Bastien hesitated. This was where it got tricky.
Terri went on, "And Kate said you had something to tell me that we would have to work out if we were going to work out.»
"That's true,"he admitted, glad to avoid the blood for the time being. "There is something that I'll need to discuss with you if you agree to marry me, but it isn't that I'm terminally ill. I'm not ill at all.»
"You want to marry me?"Terri asked with pleasure.
Bastien rolled his eyes. "Terri, honey. I just flew two thousand three hundred miles chasing after you. It wasn't to ask you on a date.»
"Oh, Bastien!"She launched herself off the couch. Bastien caught her with an, "oomph,"then found his face peppered with little butterfly kisses.
"Terri, honey, hang on. We do have to talk.»
"Later,"she murmured. "I've been so miserable since hearing Lissianna and Kate in the bathroom, I-" She paused and peered at him with question. "What were they talking about-that I should understand, because of Ian? I thought they were saying that you were ill, and I should be able to understand and deal with it because of my experiences with Ian.»
"We have to talk,"Bastien repeated with a sigh.
"Just tell me,"she said.
"It's not something you just blurt out, Terri.»
"Now you're making me nervous again.»
"I'm sorry, but it's…"Taking her hands, he drew her back to the sofa and settled beside her. "It's not bad,"he started, hoping she would agree.
"It isn't?»
"No."He glanced around the living room of her cottage, absently noting the comfortable charm as he tried to think of the best way to tell her. "Well,"he said finally, "have you ever seen the movie An American Werewolf in London?»
She gave a perplexed laugh. "Yes. Hasn't everyone?»
He nodded. "Well, I'm not American, or a werewolf, and we aren't in London.»
She blinked several times at his comment. Then she said slowly, "No, this is Huddersfield.»
"And I'm Canadian and a vampire,"he finished brightly.
"Uh… huh,"she said slowly. "Bastien, are you feeling well?»
"Terri-"
"Is this your idea of a joke?»
She was getting annoyed, he thought with alarm. How the heck had Etienne and Lucern told Rachel and Kate that they were vampires? "Terri, honey,"he began. "It's not a joke. I really am a vampire.»
"Oh. I see."She was getting snippy. That was interesting. He'd never seen her snippy before. Well, perhaps with the cashier at Victoria's Secret. No, Bastien decided, Terri had put the clerk in her place, but she had not got snippy with the girl.
"You're a vampire."Her voice was disbelieving, and she was nodding her head up and down in a way that didn't look promising. "Fine. Bite me.»
Terri held her arm out in challenge, and Bastien frowned. "Terri, I don't want to bite you,"he said. Then he paused and said more honestly, "Well, actually, I am a pit peckish right at the moment, but I'd rather not-"
"Uh-huh. Bite me!"she snapped. "If you're a vampire, bite me.»
Bastien peered at her arm for a minute, then took it in hand, lifted it up, and bit her.
"Ouch!"Terri leapt off the couch, retrieving her arm as she went. Bastien had to snap his teeth back double quick to keep from ripping her vein and flesh. "You bit me! You've got fangs!»
"Now do you believe me?»
Clutching her arm to her chest, she began to back away.
"Please don't be afraid of me, Terri. I love you,"he said softly, taking a step after her and holding out his hand in pleading. He was relieved when she hesitated. "Honey, this is a good thing. Really. You'll never have to worry about my dying a horrible, lingering death,"he offered. "I won't die like your mother and Ian. I can't.»