Christian rolled his eyes at the effort to cover the slip, and glanced at Carolyn to see her peering from him to his supposed brother with confusion.
"Come on Caro," Gia said suddenly, standing up.
"They're playing fast music again. Let's go dance."
Carolyn peered uncertainly at Christian.
"Will you be all right? Is everything okay?"
Obviously the sniping between him and Julius had her worried that things weren't as fine as he'd claimed. He forced a smile. "Yes. Go ahead. Have fun."
"Aren't you going to dance?" she asked, still hesitating.
"I don't do fast dancing," he said at once.
A surprised laugh slipped from Carolyn's lips and she shook her head. "You are so lame for a gayyyy..." she drew the word out, her eyes widening with horror as she realized what she was saying and then quickly tacked on... "mer."
"Gamer?" Julius chuckled as if not noticing the slip.
"Has Christian been telling you about his love for that vampire game of his brother, Etienne's? What is it? Blood something?" he asked Christian.
"Wouldn't he be your brother too, Julius?" Carolyn asked.
Christian sighed as everyone went still, and said calmly, "Julius and I have different mothers." At least that was true. "And Etienne and the others and I share the same mother and different fathers."
Carolyn frowned. "So you and Julius have the same father and different mothers, and you and this Etienne and the others have the same mother and different fathers."
"It's very complicated," his mother intervened. "Why don't we dance now?"
"Wait a minute. Etienne? With a game called Blood something?" Carolyn asked with amazement. "Not Etienne Argeneau of Blood Lust?"
"Oh, you've heard of him?" Marguerite asked and Christian had to hide his grin as his mother preened with pride. She was proud of all her children.
"Of course," Carolyn said at once. "My advertising agency is pitching ideas for the ad campaign for his latest version of the game."
"My, what a delightfully small world," Marguerite said beaming, and Christian narrowed his eyes on his mother, but she ignored him. "I'm sure you'll win him over and get the contract, Caro dear. We'll put in a good word for you."
"Oh, no, don't be silly," Carolyn said at once. "If he likes the ideas that's one thing, but-"
"Nonsense, men do it all the time with their old boy's club business. We can start a girl's club," Marguerite said, slipping her arm through Carolyn's to draw her away toward the dance floor with Gia and Genie following.
Christian watched until they were swallowed up by the crowd, then settled back in his seat, waiting for them to reappear on the slightly upraised dance floor so he could watch Carolyn dance again.
"Take Gia's seat, Christian," Julius said suddenly.
He glanced around with surprise. "Why?"
"Because I don't want to have to take you back to the bathroom for a second round with the taps before we head to the resort," Julius said dryly.
Christian scowled, but switched seats so that his back was to the dance floor. He wasn't happy though, and was suddenly positive it was going to be a very long night for him.
"We'll leave as soon as Zanipolo returns with the flower," Julius said quietly.
Christian nodded silently.
"Thank you for my flower. I mean, I know it was just to cover for-"
Christian caught her arm and drew her to a halt as they reached the door to her villa. She'd been chattering nervously since he'd helped her out of the van. It was a notable difference from the relaxed woman he'd spent the day and dinner with. She'd grown a bit tense when the others had joined them for dinner, but as the evening had progressed without his kissing or putting his arm around her, she'd relaxed again. Now, however, just the thought of his kissing her had her all atwitter and it made him sad to see her like this. He couldn't wait for the day when she was relaxed with him all the time, well, except for when she was excited, he thought wryly and then sighed as he noted the way she was peering up at him.