Tall, Dark & Hungry

by Lynsay Sands

  Terri considered his words: You are more than welcome. I enjoy your company. Both were in the present tense, not the past tense as if whatever they had were over. She wasn’t sure what to make of it, or how Bastien was feeling. And all of it made her really wish they’d had the chance to talk. The uncertainty was killing her. Terri had no patience for games, no wish to waste time guessing at what people thought or felt. She had always preferred to have the cards on the table. It was better that way and, while it could be painful at times, at least it prevented misunderstandings. Terri decided this case was no exception; she wanted to know where she stood. Last night she’d thought waiting to see what he did would be the smart move, but now that he was being so polite and she still didn’t have a clue, Terri decided she was damned well going to find out.

  Taking a deep breath, she turned to him and blurted, “I like you. I don’t know how you feel about me, or what what we’ve done means to you, but I like you. If it was just good fun, and you don’t want Kate and Lucern to know about it, or if it—”

  Terri’s opening gambit came to an abrupt halt as Bastien suddenly took her face in his hands and pulled her forward to cover her mouth with his. She sighed into his mouth with relief as he kissed her, uncaring that they were standing in the middle of the church. He snogged her senseless, actually, she decided a moment later as her arms slipped around his waist. The man wasn’t just giving her a hello kiss.

  “Okay, you two, cut it out. The minister’s getting nervous.”

  Bastien ended the kiss at Lucern’s words, but not quickly. He eased the kiss, then turned to nibbling Terri’s lip. Once, then twice, then he straightened with a grin.

  “Hi,” he said with the sexiest grin Terri had ever seen.

  She smiled and covered the hands still cupping her face. “Hi, back,” she whispered.

  “So, when’s the wedding? And am I invited?” Chris Keyes asked.

  Terri blushed scarlet and turned to make a face at the editor. He had been released today, just in time for the wedding rehearsal. Lucern had chosen the man as his third groomsman, to make up the numbers needed to match Kate’s bridesmaids. Etienne and Thomas were the other two. Bastien was, of course, the best man, and Terri was maid of honor. And Kate’s two sisters and her friend and coworker Leah made up the bridesmaids. Leah, Terri, Chris, and Bastien were the only members of the wedding party in town for the rehearsal, though. The others wouldn’t show up till the end of the week.

  “If you two are done, maybe we can go to the restaurant now,” Lucern said, preventing any further embarrassment from the editor.

  “Okay,” Bastien agreed. “Lucern, you’re riding with Kate. Terri’s with me.” He paused and eyed Chris and Leah with what might have been dread. “How did you two get here?”

  “I had a car pick them up, just like with us and the girls,” Lucern announced. He added, “The driver will take them to the restaurant too, then drive each of them home afterward.”

  Terri glanced at C.K. with surprise. “Are you back in your own apartment then?”

  “Yes.” C.K. grinned. “They finished the painting, which was the last of the repairs, last night. Tonight will be my first night home.”

  “Oh, good!” Terri exclaimed. “I’m sure it will be a relief for you to be back in your own bed.”

  “I’m looking forward to it,” the editor admitted.

  “Well, let’s get this party moving,” Kate said, gesturing toward the church doors.

  “Good thinking.” Bastien was much more relaxed now that he knew that he wouldn’t have company in the car. “Come on, baby.”

  Terri blushed at the affectionate endearment as he steered her toward the exit. He’d called her baby! Right there in front of everyone! He wasn’t trying to hide their relationship at all. Man, she was going to get so hurt if this went wrong.

  Grimacing at her thoughts, Terri slid her arm around Bastien’s waist and concentrated on matching her step to his. “I missed you last night,” he said, quietly pulling her into his arms as soon as they were in the backseat of the chauffeured car. Then he added, “When I wasn’t worrying.”

  “Worrying?” Terri pulled back in surprise as he tried to kiss her. “Why were you worrying?”

  He hesitated. “Well, you seemed to change once Kate and Lucern arrived. I was…” He shrugged. “Just worried that maybe you didn’t want them to know about us, or something.”

  “Oh,” she said softly, then smiled. “I was worried you might feel that way.”

  “I’m glad we were both wrong,” Bastien said. He kissed her as the driver began to back the car out of its parking spot.

  Terri sighed and leaned into him. A moment later, she caught his hand with a choked laugh. It had gone wandering down her upper leg, then tried to wander back up under the skirt of her baby-blue dress.

  “Be good,” she muttered against his mouth, trying to sound firm.

  “I’d rather be bad,” he whispered, trailing his lips to her neck.

  Very aware of the driver, Terri caught back the moan that threatened to slip from her lips. Excitement raced through her, brought on both by Bastien’s words and what he was doing. Bastien had already managed—with just a kiss—to make desire unfurl inside her. She was so glad that she had spoken up. Silence might be golden, but good communication was priceless.

  Terri was really wishing they could skip the rehearsal dinner and go back to the penthouse for a quick refresher course on Bastien and Terri 101. Or a long refresher course. Possibly a really long one. Several days would have been good. But, of course, that wasn’t possible. Bastien wasn’t the only one sighing with regret when they arrived at the restaurant and had to untangle from each other’s arms.

  “I know we aren’t going to get any time alone tonight,” he said as he slid out of the car. He took her hand to help her out. “But it’s occurred to me that we really have to get together tomorrow for a meeting.”

  “A meeting, huh?” Terri asked with amusement. She straightened on the pavement beside him.

  “Yes. To discuss the stag and doe.”

  Terri blinked. Bastien had a wicked grin that told her he wanted to do more than just discuss something. But his mention of “stag and doe” made her realize that she had forgotten all about her intention of arranging a bridal shower for Kate. Terri had intended on setting to work on that the moment she arrived, and holding it whenever was possible. She’d known it would be last-minute, but being from England made it difficult to arrange, and she’d hoped Kate’s friends would understand. However, the chaos that had ensued after she arrived had driven the thought from her mind. Now she was reminded. A stag and doe party would eliminate the need for a bridal shower, which was great. It would be more fun. The guys could be there. Bastien could be there.

  “Yes. We’ll have to get together. I could come to your office and meet you for lunch,” she suggested.

  “Perfect.” Bastien kissed her again, then they walked into the restaurant.

  “Hi.” Terri paused before the desk in the outer office and smiled widely. “Meredith? I’m Terri.”

  “Oh.” The woman was on her feet at once and taking the hand Terri held out. “Miss Simpson, what a pleasure to meet you in person.”

  “Terri,” she repeated firmly. “And it’s a pleasure to meet you, too. Thanks so much for all the help you gave us with the florists and caterers. Really, you were wonderful.”

  “Oh.” Meredith flushed and waved a hand in dismissal. She started around the desk. “It was nothing. Just doing my job.”

  The secretary gestured for Terri to follow as she moved toward the door to Bastien’s office. “Mr. Argeneau said you were coming. The caterers haven’t arrived yet, but they should be here soon. As should he,” she added. Meredith opened the door and stepped to the side to allow Terri to enter. “He had a meeting with lab guys from Clinical Testing on the third floor, but said he’d be back by noon. He should be along shortly. In the meantime, you’re welcome to wait in his office.”


  “I’m a little early,” Terri apologized as she stepped into the office. In truth, she was fifteen minutes early. Not that she was eager or anything, Terri thought dryly. She’d actually got out of the cab in front of the building more than half an hour ago, but, knowing it was way too early, she’d window-shopped a bit and popped into a Starbucks for one of their iced drinks before making her way back to the office building.

  “Sit wherever you’d like,” Meredith said. “There are magazines on the table. Books on the shelf. There’s even a television and stereo in that console there if you’d like. Can I get you a drink while you wait?” the secretary offered. Then, when she got no response, she said, “Terri? Can I get you a drink?”

  “Oh.” Terri closed her gaping mouth. She turned to blink at the woman. “No, thank you.”

  “Okay.” Meredith grinned. “Well, if you change your mind, there’s a fridge full of them behind that bar. Of course, there’s alcohol as well. Help yourself. And if you need anything else, just let me know. I’ll be out here until Mr. Argeneau returns.”

  “Thank you,” Terri called as the woman stepped out of the room and closed the door. Then she turned back to gape at the office again. Dear God, she’d never seen anything like it! Bastien’s office was bigger than the whole of her little cottage in Huddersfield. Eyes wide, she peered around as she moved farther inside. A huge desk the size of a double bed sat in front of a wall of windows with an awesome view of the city. There was the bar Meredith had pointed out in the corner, a black leather overstuffed couch, two matching chairs…

  Cripes! Half the office was a bachelor’s living room, with an entertainment console and a bar, and the other half was business-related with a desk, computer, fax machine, filing cabinets, and a large table for meetings.

  “Jeez,” Terri murmured, then gave her head a shake. She really shouldn’t be impressed. After all, the penthouse was rather impressive too. Still, to work in an office like this? Man, she wished her own was half as nice. Or even a quarter. Her office at the university wasn’t much larger than a closet. There was barely room for her desk and a chair for visitors.

  Terri moved to the chair in front of Bastien’s desk and sat down, setting her purse on the floor as she did. After sitting there, staring for a moment, she shifted restlessly, stood, and walked to the bookshelf Meredith had pointed out. Terri scanned the book titles with interest, noting that—as in most things—Bastien’s taste didn’t vary much from hers. But starting a book that she was only going to have fifteen minutes to read seemed a bit silly. Turning away, she crossed the room to the coffee table in front of the couch to go through the magazines lying there. There was quite a selection: women’s magazines, men’s magazines, business, fashion, celebrity gossip.

  Terri picked up one of the women’s magazines and sank onto the couch, then recalled her purse. She carried the magazine with her to collect it, then carried her purse back to the couch, set it out of the way by her feet, and started to leaf through the magazine again. Terri had only turned a couple of pages when she became aware that she was thirsty. It must have been all that walking. Lifting her head, she glanced toward the bar and hesitated. Meredith had said to help herself.

  Setting the magazine down on the coffee table, Terri stood and moved behind the bar. There were countless bottles of liquor on a triple set of shelves with a mirror backing on the wall. It almost looked like a professional bar. But she wasn’t interested in alcohol. Turning, she surveyed the area behind the bar, noting that there were two refrigerators. One was small, and one large. Terri tried the small one first and found it locked. She tried the larger one and it opened at once. This fridge was packed with liquid refreshments of every variety. Juices, pops, even milk made up its contents. But there were also two small vials of a clear liquid.

  Terri picked up the small containers curiously. She recognized the vials. She’d seen enough of them—first, when her mother had been ill, then when Ian had been dying. They were medical vials, and both had the same long incomprehensible term and medical symbol on them.

  Terri set them back, confusion reigning in her. Why would Bastien have medical vials in his refrigerator? It only took her a moment to come up with the answer. Medical laboratories were one of his company’s interests. Blood banks, medical research, and medical labs were specialties of Argeneau Enterprises. In fact, Meredith had said Bastien was at a meeting right now with lab guys. This was probably something to do with that.

  Satisfied, Terri set the vials back in the refrigerator and surveyed the beverages. She settled on a Diet Coke, grabbed a glass from the collection under the bar and poured her drink, then carried it back to the couch. Of course, Terri forgot all about her purse, which she’d set on the floor out of the way. But not out of the way enough. She tripped over the darn thing, and stumbled forward.

  She managed to save herself from falling any farther than to her knees by catching herself on the couch, but she had to let go of the pop to do it.

  “Darn,” she breathed, staring at the puddle of liquid on the carpet. She followed that with a stronger curse and leapt into action. Pushing herself to her feet, she whirled back the way she’d come and hurried behind the bar in search of a towel or rag. But, of course, there was nothing. Terri turned back to the room, her gaze shooting around until it landed on a door on the opposite wall.

  “Please be a bathroom,” Terri prayed as she hurried in that direction. She could have cried with relief when she saw that it was. And there were towels. Expensive, fluffy white ones. She’d replace them if she had to. It seemed better to ruin the towels than the carpet.

  “Are the caterers here with lunch yet, Meredith?” Bastien asked as he walked into the outer office, loosening his tie. He hated wearing the bloody things, and he took them off every chance he got. He’d undo it now and not put it back on until necessary.

  “No, sir, but Terr—I mean, Miss Simpson arrived a bit early. She’s in your office, sir.”

  “Is she?” Bastien smiled at the news, then added, “If she’s told you to call her Terri, then you’re welcome to do so, Meredith. There’s no need to call her Miss Simpson on my account.”

  “Yes, sir.” His secretary smiled. “I’ll be heading to lunch in a minute. Shall I switch the lines over to the receptionist’s desk so that she can take messages?”

  “Yes, please,” he said. “Have a good lunch.”

  “You too, sir.”

  Bastien nodded as he walked to his office door, but waited there for Meredith to collect her purse and leave the office before he opened it and stepped inside. The sight that met his gaze made him pause in the doorway and stare. Terri was on her hands and knees, her behind barely covered by a dark blue skirt, wagging from side to side as she scrubbed a towel over the carpet. His entrance didn’t faze her. She hadn’t heard the door open, because she was muttering.

  Bastien was so distracted by the view, it took a moment for her words to register. She was mumbling something about what an idiot she was. That was enough to make him tear his eyes away from her behind, close the door quietly, and move forward.

  “Terri? What happened?”

  She stiffened, her body stilling, then she glanced sharply over her shoulder at him and groaned. “Oh, Bastien, I’m sorry. I’m such a clutz. I tripped over my purse and fell and spilled my Coke all over your lovely carpet. I—”

  “Shh, shh, shh. It’s all right,” he interrupted. Moving forward, he took her arm and urged her to her feet.

  “No, it’s not all right. Just look at it. I’ve—”

  “It will clean,” Bastien assured her, taking her towel away and dropping it on the stain without even really a glance. “You didn’t hurt yourself when you fell, did you?”

  “No. But I—I don’t know if Coke stains, but if it does, I think I’ve ruined your rug.”

  “Terri, it’s just a carpet. A thing. Things are replaceable. As long as you’re okay, that’s all that matters.”

  “But—”

>   When her gaze dropped to the stain again, he took her arm and urged her away from the couch. He moved her toward his desk to keep her from looking.

  “Don’t worry about it,” Bastien said again, but he knew his telling her wasn’t going to accomplish the task. Terri would worry; she couldn’t seem to help herself. It was as much her nature to be responsible for her own actions and worry about things as it was his. If he gave her half a chance, she’d be insisting on paying for cleaning or replacing the carpet. He wasn’t going to give her the chance. A distraction was needed, and Bastien decided that, if he had to sacrifice himself to the cause, he was more than willing to do so.

  “Why are you grinning?” Terri asked.

  “I was just thinking a distraction is the only thing that will keep you from worrying about spilling that pop.”

  “A distraction?” She seemed perplexed.

  “Mmmm. And I decided that I would just have to sacrifice myself to the cause.”

  Terri blinked at that announcement, and at the cheeky way he said it; then her lips twitched with the beginnings of amusement. “You’re ‘willing to sacrifice yourself to the cause,’ are you?”

  Bastien congratulated himself. His distraction was already working. Easing closer, he raised his hands to either side of her waist. “Yeah. I’m willing to go all the way, if necessary, to accomplish the task.”

  “All the way?” Terri was definitely distracted now, and amused.

  “All the way,” he assured her, leaning in to kiss her cheek by her ear.

  “That’s pretty selfless of you,” she breathed. He moved to kiss her other cheek.

  “Mmmm,” Bastien murmured. “I’m a selfless kind of guy.” Then he kissed her properly, covering her mouth with his. Terri opened to him, a little sigh slipping out and rolling lightly across his lips. He loved it when she did that. Bastien loved it when she sighed, and when she moaned. He loved it when she shifted, or arched, or writhed against him. He loved how he affected her, and he loved the effect she never failed to have on him. Heck, he just plain loved her.