"Oh, that one is lovely, too."
Lucern tore his gaze away from the couple in the judges' area again. Glancing to the stage, he nodded grimly in agreement with Jodi as he saw the burgundy costume worn by the woman there. The gown was lovely, a perfect example of late Renaissance wear. Kate would have looked lovely in it. Luc's gaze slid back to her, and he scowled when he saw that she wasn't even looking at the stage but was talking intensely to the model.
Damned man. Didn't he know she was taken? Apparently not. And whose fault was that? Kate. She should have let him know she wasn't available.
And why hadn't she wanted to sleep with him this afternoon? Hadn't he pleasured her over and over that morning? He had certainly enjoyed their lovemaking. And he was just as sure that she had enjoyed it. Hadn't she?
"Katie's having a little trouble with Robert," Jodi observed.
Lucern glanced at her. "Robert?"
Jodi nodded. "He's the most popular male model around. His name is as recognized as most authors'. He wants to trade on his name by writing romances himself and by modeling for the covers. Unfortunately, he can't write. His books are all throbbing and heaving." She gave a laugh, then explained: "That's the stereotypical view of Romances—that all they are is throbbing and heaving."
Lucern grunted. He didn't have a single throb or heave in his books, yet they were considered romances.
"Kate has been trying to convince Robert to use a ghost writer," Jodi went on. "But he's fighting it. He thinks he's a wonderful writer."
Lucern nodded solemnly and turned fresh eyes on Kate. So the model was a writer. His head was close to Kate's again. As Luc watched, Kate burst into laughter. Then she touched the man's shoulder. Luc had seen her do that with the women writers—Kate was a toucher, he had noticed that about her. She often patted his hand or his shoulder or arm while talking to him. He had seen her do it to others as well. It had never bothered him when he saw her doing it with women. But he didn't care for her touching this Robert person that way. He didn't care for it at all.
Irritated by the jealous tendencies he hadn't realized he had, Lucern picked up his drink and downed the rest of it, then glanced around when everyone burst into applause. On stage, the judges had chosen the winning romance model. The show was over.
"Okay," Chris suggested to the rest of the table as he got to his feet. "You guys have a little time before the Roundhouse party. Why don't you go grab something to eat and drink. I have to go help Kate and the others set up. Jodi, will you keep an eye on Luc, make sure he doesn't have any problems?"
"Sure," the writer agreed. When she took in Lucern's scowl, she slipped her arm through his and said, "Chris means well, Luc. You're new to conferences, and everyone's just worried you might be overwhelmed by it all."
Lucern merely grunted. He hadn't been scowling at Chris's assumption that he needed looking after—though that was rather annoying, too—he had been scowling at the fact that Kate was going to be busy setting up the party. He wouldn't get a chance to talk to her. He hadn't talked to her since they had arrived at the Book Fair that morning. He was starting to feel a little abandoned—a new sensation, and one he didn't enjoy at all. He was becoming dependent on the woman, his mood affected by her presence. He didn't like it. His life was becoming a series of highs when she was near, and lows when she wasn't. It seemed to Lucern that the boredom and sameness of his life before Kate was far preferable. Safer. Perhaps he should create some distance between them. After all, the conference would be over the next day; he would fly home to Toronto, and she would return to New York.
And all this passion and laughter would become a memory, he thought sadly. Kate had brought him back to life for a bit. He had enjoyed it, but it was going to be painful to go back to that old empty existence. He had not bothered with friends for a long time, as they always died or had to be left behind when he moved. It had just become easier to not bother with them. He almost wished—
"Come along, Luc." Jodi stood and waited beside his chair. "We're going to the pub here in the hotel for a quick dinner. Then we'll all separate to get ready for the Roundhouse party."
Lucern shook off his melancholy and got to his feet. "And what is the theme for this party?"
"Don't you know?" She seemed surprised.
"Should I?" he asked. Wariness nipped at him.
"Well, it's a vampire ball. You'll be the star attraction!"
Lucern managed not to flinch, but he wasn't a happy vampire. He had enjoyed the rock 'n' roll party the night before, but he really wasn't in the partying mood tonight. And being the star attraction sounded rather alarming.
Chapter Seventeen
"I think we're ready here."