TALL DARK AND HUNGRY Page 0,19

this room wasn't any of her business either. She was being snoopy.

Terri pulled the door closed and hesitated, torn be¬tween stopping and leaving or continuing her snoop¬ing. The fact that there was only one door left to look behind decided it: She'd gone this far, she might as well just peek through the last door before going back to her own room.

A gasp of amazement slid from her lips as she did. Beyond lay a bathroom bigger even than the bed¬room she'd been given. "Luxurious" did not describe it; even "opulent" was a poor description. Toilet, bidet, sinks, shower, and Jacuzzi--all were done in white, with gold accessories. And the gold looked real to Terri. The floor was a rich black marble with gold and white shot through, and mirrors were every¬where. The room was positively decadent. And it raised possibilities in her mind that were even more wicked.

Terri pulled the door closed and made a beeline back into her own bathroom. It was only once she had that door safely closed behind her that she won¬dered why, since the master suite had its own bath¬room, there was a connecting door to hers. It didn't bother her that the rooms were connected; she wasn't going to lock the door or anything. Her cousin would hardly leave her where she wasn't safe. She was just curious as to the reason for the connecting door.

Shrugging the question aside, Terri moved to the vanity and opened her case to begin unpacking.

"I don't know what the big deal is."

"You cannot feed on my guests. Period," Bastien said firmly. He'd been lecturing his cousin since the elevator doors had closed.

"You're so squeamish, Bastien." Vincent laughed. "I'd like to see you have to hunt your food the old-fashioned way like I do. It gets a bit tiring, you know. Constantly prowling around, looking for dinner."

"Yes. I know. I did have to do it myself, if you'll recall," Bastien said. "And I know it can be a bother, but still--no feeding on my guests. Now, be a good cousin and go find a snack to tide you over for the night. Not the people in my apartment."

"Oh, fine," Vincent agreed. He arched an eye¬brow. "But first maybe I should help you order some takeout."

"I can manage on my own, thank you," Bastien replied. In his more than four hundred years of life, no one had ever before suggested that there was something he couldn't do. He'd been competent practically from birth.

"No?" Vincent asked lightly. "I bet you've never ordered takeout before. I doubt you've ever even had to deal with it. The closest you've probably ever got¬ten is asking your secretary to arrange catering for a business meeting."

Vincent was right on the money, but Bastien kept his mouth shut, refusing to acknowledge it.

"Will you do McDonald's, Chinese, pizza, or subs?"

"What are subs?" Bastien was surprised into asking.

"Oh ho! You don't even know," Vinny crowed.

"Oh, all right. I've never done takeout before," Bastien admitted. He was more the wine and caviar type when it came to dating. Of course, they hadn't had takeout the last time he'd dated. "Now, what are subs?"

"Submarine sandwiches. They're large buns, like French bread, sort of, with meat, cheese, lettuce, and things inside."

Bastien made a face. "They sound absolutely dis¬gusting."

"They do rather, don't they?" Vincent agreed. "I don't suppose you asked Terri and Chris what they'd like?"

"No," he admitted, and was irritated with himself for not doing so, but he rarely asked anyone what they wanted. He was the decision-making guy; he usually decided what was in the best interests of everyone else and did it, or else arranged to have it done. He would do the same now, he decided. "Which is the healthiest choice?"

Vincent considered. "Probably submarines. At least, if the commercials are true. They have all the nutrition a growing human needs... and you can lose a hundred pounds eating them."

"What?" Bastien asked.

"Seriously," Vincent said with a laugh. "Some guy ate them every day for every meal and lost a ton of weight." He paused and pursed his lips thoughtfully. "Mind you, he also apparently walked to the sub shop to get them, so maybe that's why he really lost the weight."

"Vincent," Bastien said with exasperation, "which takeout foods are healthiest?"

"Subs," Vincent insisted. "It's got your four basic food groups. Or is it five?" Raising a hand, he began to count off fingers. "Dairy, bread, meat, vegeta¬bles... I think there are four for humans."

"Whatever. I'll get subs."

"I'll come along and