Lucern shook his head. He gave a start of surprise when Chris clapped a hand on his shoulder and steered him toward the bar in the corner. "Let's have a drink while I tell you. You're going to need it."
Lucern fretted as he watched Chris pour the glass of Scotch he requested. He was beginning to believe this conference would be even more of a pain than he'd feared.
"There you are." Chris handed him his drink. The editor then gestured for them to move to the couch, which was set against the walled window.
Lucern moved toward it, suddenly thinking how hungry he was. "Was there a package delivered here for me?"
"Not that I know of. I'm sure they would have mentioned it when I signed in," Chris answered. He settled in the room's one chair, leaving the couch to Lucern. "But then, I don't know that your name is registered for this room."
Lucern stiffened. Was he not to be the man in any of these situations?
The bedroom door Kate had disappeared through suddenly opened, and she rushed out. Lucern automatically got to his feet at her entrance, forgetting about his hoped for blood delivery. He gaped at the woman. She was wearing the tightest pair of hip-hugging jeans he had seen in all his born days. They were complemented by knee-high cowboy boots, a checkered shirt, a fringed suede jacket, and a cowboy hat that looked like it had seen rough use. She looked sexy as hell.
"Katie," Chris called. "Did you put Lucern's name on the room?"
Kate glanced over with surprise. "Of course not. I was afraid someone might connect the names Lucern Argeneau and Lucern Argentus and figure out this was his room. The whole idea of this suite was so that none of his fans could find him. Why?"
"Luc was expecting a delivery. I guess they would have turned it away if they didn't think he was here."
Kate turned an apologetic gaze on Lucern. "Sorry. Just call and have them deliver it to my name. Okay?"
Lucern nodded slowly, his eyes feasting on her. She blushed under his perusal, then said, "I'll try not to be out late. Chris will look after you until I get back. Anything you want, he's the man to go to, okay?"
Lucern nodded again, his tongue stuck on the roof of his mouth.
"Chris." She turned her attention to her coworker. "Make him watch some TV. Maybe he can update the way he speaks by watching it."
The other editor laughed. "Katie, dear, if watching television hasn't changed his speech before now, one night is hardly going to do it."
"He doesn't have a TV," she explained dryly. "At least, I didn't see one." She turned a curious gaze to Lucern. "Do you have one?"
He shook his head. Television, in his opinion, rotted the brain.
"I didn't think so," she said with satisfaction. She instructed her friend "Make him watch it. I'll see you guys later."
Both men were silent until the door closed behind Kate. Lucern sank back onto the couch.
"Why did you stand?" Chris asked curiously.
"A lady had entered the room," Lucern answered absently. His vision was still full of Kate the cowgirl. He usually preferred women in more feminine dress, but there had been nothing masculine about Kate in that outfit.
"You're kidding about the TV, right?" Chris asked. "Do you really not have one?"
"No. Never have."
"Man!" Chris picked up the remote control off the table. Lucern recognized it; he had one for his stereo system at home. This was to the television. The editor clicked it and grinned. "You're in for a treat, Luc. You're gonna love television."
Lucern grimaced. He very much doubted that he would love television. He was more a theater type of guy. Old habits died hard.
Chapter Eight
Lucern loved television. He didn't know why he had allowed prejudice to prevent him from at least trying it before now. TV was a marvelous invention. It was like a mini-stage with little players. And what players! In the last three hours he had watched a movie by some guy named Monty Python… or had that been the character?
Anyway, they'd watched that first. When it ended, Chris had looked through a television guide and cried, "Yeah! A Black Adder marathon!" And they'd been watching that ever since. It was a grand show! Marvelous and amusing. Lucern hadn't laughed so hard in years.
"They have history all mixed up, but it is quite amusing," he announced, reaching for a fresh beer from the six-pack on the coffee table.
Chris burst out laughing, then stopped abruptly, his eyes going wide. "Oh, shoot! Kate's going to kill me!"
Lucern arched his eyebrows. "Why?"