TALL DARK AND HUNGRY Page 0,15

and had just walked out, leaving everything she owned behind. Bastien could hardly believe it. Dear God, he had to catch up to her and repair this somehow--not just clear it from her memory, but make reparation. Where would she go, for heaven's sake?

He turned back to the others, mouth opening to excuse himself from the room, but paused. Terri was eyeing him sympathetically, apparently thinking he was upset at losing a maid. Vincent was grinning un¬abashed, not at all concerned that he had just thrown Bastien's life into turmoil. And Chris Keyes was shift¬ing uncomfortably on the couch, apparently having recovered from the momentary daze Vincent had in¬duced while feeding off him.

"Er..."

Bastien glanced toward the editor, and the fellow grimaced. "Would it be too much trouble to ask for a glass of water? They gave me painkillers at the hospital, but those are wearing off and I could really use more."

"Water? Yes," Bastien said, relieved to find that Vincent had at least managed to veil the editor's mind while feeding. He glanced to Terri. He had to see her fed, too. But he'd promised Mrs Houlihan would make the meal. And Vincent--he had to deal with Vincent.

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 com¬bination 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 any¬one 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 every¬one 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 remem¬bered 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 men¬tions 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 Vin¬cent 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 apologet¬ically.

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 to¬ward the editor. "He hasn't eaten yet. And do you know, I didn't notice Kate carrying any kind of lug¬gage or overnight bag for him when