That was when Bastien realized that fate had just turned everything upside down. His orderly life was gone, and at that moment he really wasn't sure if he'd ever get it back. At least not before Lucern and Kate's wedding. How long was that? Oh, yes. Two weeks. Fourteen days of hell before his life might get back to normal.
How had this happened, he wondered with a combination of dismay and confusion. Things like this simply didn't happen to him. He was the details man-he didn't have problems, he solved them for everyone else.
He had a problem now. Three of them, in fact. Terri, Vinny, and the editor. Actually, he had four problems, because he really had to catch up to Mrs. Houlihan and clear her memory before she told anyone about Vinny. He supposed he could wipe her mind clean and convince her to return too, but the chances of the memory wipe sticking weren't good if she stayed in the penthouse: there was a good chance that some situation, something said, or just seeing Vinny prancing around in his cape and teeth would bring the memory back. In effect, he and his kind were able to bury memories, not really eliminate them. Still, he had to bury that memory, and quickly, to avoid future trouble. But first he had to see everyone situated here and give Vincent a good talking-to. Otherwise Terri might soon be sporting her own puncture marks.
Speaking of the editor, Bastien decided to put him in one of the guest rooms. The man would be safer there. That seemed a sound decision. It also gave Bastien a purpose and made him feel more in charge again, despite the chaos reigning around him.
"Right."He clapped his hands together. "Let's get organized. You need a room… er…"He stared at the editor, trying to recall the fellow's name. He'd remembered it earlier. C-something, he thought, but the name just wouldn't come. He didn't bother to try to hide his irritation as he asked, "What's your name again?»
"Chris,"the slender editor answered. "Chris Keyes. Kate probably calls me C.K. when she mentions me, though.»
"Oh, yeah."Bastien didn't really care; he had more important things on his mind at the moment. His glance slid to Vincent. "Which room did you take?»
"Lucern's.»
"Fine. The editor can have Etienne's room,"Bastien decided. It put the blond man between Vincent and Terri. Hopefully, if Vinny got hungry, he would go to the nearest source of nourishment and leave Terri alone. Bastien really didn't want to kick his cousin's ass in front of these two. Well, not in front of Terri at any rate. He didn't much care what the editor thought of him. Christopher, he reminded himself, going naturally for the long version of the name and bypassing nicknames altogether.
"Can you walk?"he asked the editor.
"Not without help,"the fellow admitted apologetically.
Bastien grimaced. It looked like he'd have to cart him around like a baby. Which wasn't a problem, he could lift and carry the man easily enough. It just seemed a bother.
"You aren't going to take him to his room already, are you?"Kate's cousin asked as Bastien moved toward the editor. "He hasn't eaten yet. And do you know, I didn't notice Kate carrying any kind of luggage or overnight bag for him when they came in."She eyed the invalid with concern. "Didn't you two stop at your apartment to collect some clothes from your apartment?»
"There wasn't time,"C.K. admitted, looking not at all pleased. "Kate called the airport from the hospital once she knew that she would be taking my place, then raced here to drop me off. There was only one plane headed for California tonight that had two seats left on it, and that didn't leave much time to spare. She had to collect Luc and get going if she wanted to make it.»
Bastien wasn't at all surprised to hear that Kate had expected that Luc would accompany her to California. The two had been inseparable ever since Luc had turned her.
"He'll need clothes,"Terri pointed out almost apologetically.
"Yes,"Bastien agreed. Another problem for him to attend to.
Terri patted his arm sympathetically. "It doesn't appear to be your day.»
Bastien almost assured her that everything would be fine, that he was used to dealing with crises, but he very much feared that doing so would bring an end to the soothing way Terri was touching him; and he found he quite liked her touch. So, for the first time in his life, Bastien kept his mouth shut, shook his head, and went for the sympathy play. "No, it doesn't.»
"Umm.»
"What?"He cast a scowl down at Chris Keyes, irritated with the editor's interruption of the brief interlude.
"Do you think it would be possible to get me that glass of water?"the editor asked. "Those painkillers from the hospital-I could really use one about now.»
"Get him a drink, Vinny.»
"Vincent,"Bastien's cousin corrected firmly. "And get it yourself, I'm not your housekeeper.»
"No, you're the reason I no longer have a housekeeper,"Bastien growled. "Get the drink.»
"I'll get it."Terri rushed off before Bastien could protest. It wasn't until she was out of the room that he remembered she wouldn't have a clue where the kitchen was. Fortunately, she took the right hallway. She'd find her way, Bastien assured himself, then rubbed one hand wearily across his forehead as he considered the tasks ahead and what order to accomplish them in.
First, he had to deal with Vincent. It would be best to get his cousin out of the apartment and on his way to feeding; that was the only way to keep him from nibbling on the guests. Then Bastien would go after Mrs. Houlihan and wipe her memory, swing by Keyes's apartment to collect him some clothes, pick up some food for Chris and Terri, then stick the editor in a room for the night, leaving himself free to entertain Kate's cousin. He was smiling over this idea when he realized his cousin would be back by then, and no doubt do his level best to charm the pants right off Terri. Literally. His smile died as he acknowledged that his life had become a sort of hell.
"Bastien?»
"Hmm?"His gloomy thoughts vanished as he turned to Terri. She had returned to the room, handed the editor a cup of what presumably was water, and now moved to Bastien's side. He smiled. She was a lovely woman-a lovely, thoughtful woman who had taken a good chunk of her vacation to fly 2,320 miles to help her cousin and best friend out with wedding preparations, only to find herself dumped at his door like some stray puppy while her cousin and Lucern wandered the earth attending romance writer conventions, making love in hotels, and no doubt kissing every two steps of the way, like the brainless lovesick duo they were.
"While I was in the kitchen getting Chris the glass of water, I had a quick look around and I noticed you have no food.»
"Oh?"Bastien asked vaguely, thinking that perhaps describing her as being "dumped on him like a stray puppy"was unkind. There was nothing doglike about this woman. She was more a cat-type-sleek and graceful.
"No food at all,"she added significantly.
"I see."Bastien's eyes dropped down her figure. All those curves weren't really very sleek or catlike, which is why he supposed he hadn't made the association at first. But she had those large green eyes like a cat. Which were rather similar to Kate's, he noticed now. They must be a family trait, he decided, his gaze briefly drifting back up to her eyes before returning to her figure. She really had a gorgeous body, and her University of Leeds T-shirt and tight white jeans showed it to advantage. She definitely wasn't a puppy.
"Or dishes even,"Terri continued. "There was one cup that I presume Mrs Houlihan used for her tea, a teapot, some tea bags, but that was it. In the whole kitchen, that was it. Hello? Bastien? Can you hear me?»
Bastien blinked as the sudden concern and touch of impatience in Terri's tone made it through his distracted state. It took him a minute to grasp what she'd been trying to tell him as he'd ogled her body, but after a moment the key words popped to the fore of his mind. "No food. Or dishes. Right. We'll go shopping tomorrow. In the meantime…"He turned to survey the room, his gaze skating over the still wincing and shifting editor, his amused cousin, and the room at large. It stopped at the bar. "There are glasses in the bar,"he announced, feeling rather triumphant. "And I'll… er…"What was it humans did when they were hungry but didn't want to cook? Oh, yes! They-
"Order in?"Vincent suggested.
"I knew that,"Bastien snapped. Family could be so bloody annoying at times. Sighing, he turned back to Terri and forced a smile, completely ignoring her bewildered expression. "We'll order in tonight and go shopping tomorrow.»
"Uh-huh."She nodded slowly, then tilted her head. "Have you lived here long?»
"About twenty years in this building, but over a hundred in the city,"Bastien answered. Then he blinked and corrected himself: "My family has had the penthouse that long, I mean. None of us really lives here at all. I just use it when I'm in New York conducting business. Other family members drop in from time to time when they're in town,"he added, with a glance at his cousin.
"I see."Terri smiled slightly, then shook her head and dug into her back pocket. She pulled out a wad of American bills. "Well, I can contribute to the takeout. What are we ordering?»
"Whatever you like, but there's no need to contribute. You're my guest.»