"It would be mutually beneficial," Gia interrupted persuasively. "He's smart and funny and good company... well, perhaps not funny," she muttered with a frown. "Actually, he's a little serious, but I'm sure that's just because he's always worrying about others finding out and the family turning from him. He is good company though, and could be your escort and companion while your friend, Beth, is ill."
"I don't know...," Carolyn murmured, but was growing tempted to say yes. She really hated the idea of anyone suffering like Brent had. And it would be nice to have company while Beth was ill.
"And you would be doing me a great favor," Gia said solemnly. "I worry about him. He has been so morose over it all, I fear he will do something to hurt himself. But if you were to act as his beard and get the pressure off of him, I wouldn't have to worry so much."
Carolyn's eyes widened. "It's that bad?"
"Our family is very much into machismo," she said solemnly.
Carolyn bit her lip. It really was very tempting. In fact, the only thing now holding her back was the realization that if she agreed, she would probably have to be around the band at least occasionally, which meant being around Christian, and with her ridiculous attraction to him, that didn't seem like a good-"
And I know Christian would be grateful," Gia said suddenly and Carolyn stilled, and then raised wide eyes to the blonde.
"Christian?"
The name came out a squeak. Dear God, she thought when the girl nodded. She'd been lusting after the poor guy and he was gay. How sad was that? And where the hell was her gaydar? She'd always thought her twenty-plus-year friendship with Brent had sharpened it to a fine point. Apparently not.
"God," she muttered.
"So? Will you do it?" Gia asked, and then eyes twinkling, added, "You can take lots of pictures of you and Christian together and e-mail them to your ex-husband so that he thinks you are having a grand time with a buff young stallion."
Carolyn burst out laughing at the thought, and then glanced to her with surprise. "How did you know I have an ex-husband?"
"Your finger." She nodded toward her hand and Carolyn glanced down, sighing when she saw the mark her wedding ring had left. It was like a brand of sorts, she thought with disgust. It might actually be gone now had she taken her wedding ring off back when she'd left Robert, but she'd worn it so long she hadn't even thought about it until Bethany had insisted she remove it when they left on this trip. "You're single. Advertise it," she'd said.
"He's not actually my ex-husband yet," Carolyn admitted unhappily. "The divorce isn't final. The lawyer says another three months and it should be done, but right now it's still in the process."
"Hmm." Well, then you should definitely take pictures of you and Christian and send them to him."
Carolyn chuckled at the thought, but knew she wouldn't do it. She had no interest in any kind of contact with Robert, except to sign the final divorce decree.
"So? Can I tell Christian you'll do it?" Gia asked.
Carolyn hesitated. She'd like to help him out, and the idea of company while Beth was ill was definitely a tempting one, and she was pretty sure now that she knew he was g*y her attraction for Christian would die a natural death. The only real issue was what others would think.
They'd all think she was some kind of cougar, playing with someone twenty years her junior. That thought bothered her and she said, "I'd like to help, Gia. But I'm kind of uncomfortable with the idea of everyone thinking I'm having a fling with someone so much younger than me."
"Well, neither Marguerite nor Julius, nor certainly anyone in the band will think anything of it," she reasoned patiently. "As I said, they all think Christian prefers older women. But aside from that, women in Europe take younger lovers all the time, at least among our people.
No one thinks anything of it," she said with a shrug. "And you can always tell Genie and Bethany the truth so long as they don't tell anyone. As for everyone else, who cares about them? You're not likely to meet anyone from here again, that's the beauty of a vacation... Come on," she cajoled. "It would be fun having you hang with the band."
Carolyn hesitated, but then blew her breath out. "What the hell. Yes, I'll do it."
"That a girl!" Gia said with a grin. "I promise you won't regret it."
"Let's hope you're right," Carolyn muttered, already having second thoughts.
"That's my cue." Gia slid off the counter as the sound of a guitar tuning up reached them. "Back to work for me. You should return to the table and enjoy the rest of the show."
"Yes, I suppose so." Carolyn slid off the counter as well.
There seemed little reason to avoid Christian anymore.
She'd obviously been imagining the sparks that had seemed to fly between them as he'd stared at her. He'd probably been wondering if he could persuade her to be his beard.
Now that she knew the lay of the land, Carolyn was almost embarrassed by the wild thoughts that had run through her head. Shaking her head, she followed Gia to the door.
"Caro, dear, will you order Julius and me another drink if the waitress comes around again, please?" Marguerite asked as she stood up. "We're just going to go see if Gia and the boys are up to joining us or not."