Her eyes were positively eating up the passing scenery through the huge sunglasses she'd donned, her long blond hair offering her some protection as well.
Behind them sat Santo. The drummer had been the first to get in and had immediately laid claim to the back bench seat, sprawling out and rubbing his ringed fingers wearily over his shaved head as the others had settled in.
He was getting sun from all three sides, and with no hair to protect his head from it, but then that was probably why he'd claimed the backseat, Christian thought grimly.
Santo would always take the worst, most uncomfortable position, and leave the better spots for the others. It was his way... and never failed to annoy Christian.
"Well?" Raffaele asked, drawing Christian's gaze to the man who sat on the first bench seat, beside him.
The last member of the band, Raffaele was dark haired like the other two men, or like both of the other two men would be if Santo didn't shave his head, but his hair was cut short. He also had the Notte black eyes with flecks of silver that all of them had.
"Don't ask me," he said, settling back in his seat and returning his gaze to the passing seascape. "She said the scheduled band had to cancel and we would be perfect to replace them."
"Uh-huh," Zanipolo said with a laugh. "Because every couple wants their son and niece and nephews hanging around on their honeymoon."
"It's possible," Raffaele said thoughtfully. "Marguerite hasn't let Christian far from her side since finding him and Julius again."
Before Christian could comment, Giacinta said, "She's found him a lifemate."
The words were spoken with a certainty that brooked no argument and Christian had to resist the urge to glance back and ask if she really thought so. He'd suspected it himself when he'd gotten off the phone with his parents.
His father had been the one who had called. Julius Notte had simply said, "Your mother wants you here. Gather the band together and fly to St. Lucia at once."
Christian had just stiffened up over the autocratic order when Marguerite took the phone and began to babble excitedly about the resort's scheduled band canceling, and the resort needing a replacement band, and she was so proud of him she'd played the video she had of them on her iPhone for the entertainment coordinator, and the woman had thought they were brilliant too. Everyone would love them she'd assured him. Besides, she was missing her handsome son, and...
Well, really, by the time she'd finished gushing in his ear, Christian had found it hard to refuse his mother.
Mother. He smiled at the word. Christian had lived more than five hundred years without one, dreaming of having both a mother and a father like his cousins had, imagining what she would be like. What his life would be like. And now he was finding out. It was even better than he'd imagined.
Marguerite Argeneau-Notte was the most nonjudgmental, loving woman he'd ever met. She showered those she cared for with a love and warmth that slid around them like a soft, warm blanket, a cushion from the rest of the world.
"Well?" Raffaele said, nudging him when Christian remained silent.
"Well what?" he asked, pulling himself from his thoughts.
"Do you think she's found you a lifemate?"
"I don't know," he said and pondered the possibility.
Since his parents had found each other again, Christian had spent a good deal of his time in Canada, getting to know his mother and other siblings. Each of those siblings was newly mated. While he'd enjoyed getting to know them, he'd also found it almost painful to be around such happiness and joy while he was still single. The thought of joining their ranks was... well-He shook his head.
A lifemate. He had been alone so long now it was hard even to grasp the idea of having a mate of his own.
"It's a lifemate," Giacinta announced firmly. "There is no doubt."
This time Christian did glance back and ask, "Why are you so sure?"
"Because that is the only reason in the world that your father would allow her to send for you on their honeymoon," she said with a shrug.
"Yeah," Zanipolo agreed. "She's right... you lucky bastard."
"Don't get his hopes up," Santo growled from the back.
"What if you're wrong, Gia."
"Well, I guess we'll find out soon enough. We're here," Raffaele announced, drawing their attention to their surroundings as the van slowed at a large sign with the resort name and logo on it. They turned down a curving lane and Christian glanced around. There wasn't much to see at first and then the way ahead opened up and he noted the buildings and villas climbing the mountainside on their left.
On the right it was flat and littered with what appeared to be stores and shops. A large main building lay ahead, and there was a walkway between it and the shops on the right.