Under a Vampire Moon(16)

When he allowed his confusion to show, she smiled.

"Shared dreams."

"Oh, man." Zanipolo punched Christian in the arm.

"Shared dreams are supposed to be hot."

"Hopefully, with talking to Gia, encouragement from Genie, and the shared dreams she may be more willing to overlook the age difference."

Christian suspected it wouldn't be that easy, but merely asked, "Is she close enough to have shared dreams?"

"She's in the villa below yours," Marguerite said, grinning.

"We arranged it."

"Thank you," he murmured.

"Don't thank us. We haven't won her for you yet," Marguerite said, and then warned, "And I suspect no matter what we do, she'll still run eventually."

When Christian stilled, she shrugged. "All of your brothers' lifemates ran at some point or another," she said quietly. "It's a frightening prospect for a mortal.

They have not only to accept our existence, but to trust in nanos, something they didn't even know about before meeting an immortal."

Christian glanced up as Genie suddenly appeared at the table, smiling widely.

"Oh, you guys are great. Everyone I've talked to loves you," she announced happily, and then asked, "Where's Gia? And Carolyn?" she added as she noted her friend was missing as well.

"They are in the ladies room. I'm sure both will be back soon," Marguerite answered. "Speaking of Carolyn, Christian was just asking about her, but I don't know her as well as you. Perhaps you can answer his questions?"

Genie's eyebrows rose as her gaze shifted to him.

"Sure. What did you want to know?"

Taking his mother's cue, Christian smiled and said, "Everything."

Chapter Three

Carolyn stepped out of the stall and headed for the sinks, her footsteps slowing as she recognized the blonde fluffing her hair in front of the mirror.

"Oh, hi," she greeted self-consciously when Gia met her gaze in the mirror. Suddenly uncomfortable, she gestured to the stall and mumbled, "I was just... er..."

"Using the facilities?" Gia suggested with amusement.

Carolyn nodded and continued to the sink to wash her hands, silently berating herself for an idiot. It was guilt over her attraction to Christian and the way she'd fled that had made her say that, as if she needed a cover for leaving the table.

Gia chuckled, and Carolyn glanced at her uncertainly.

"Sorry, but you should see your expression," Gia said with amusement. "You look as guilty as a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar."

Carolyn looked back to the sink as she washed her hands.

When Carolyn moved to dry her hands, Gia asked, "So the entertainment director, Genie, is a friend of yours?"

Carolyn smiled. "Since university. And so is Beth. She came here with me, but has been under the weather since arriving," she explained. "Which is a shame since this is the first time the three of us have been together since we roomed together at uni."

"The three of you were roommates?" Gia asked curiously.

"On campus?"