"Where's band boy?" Jack asked.
"He's back there somewhere," she said vaguely as he led her toward the helm, leaving his crew to help the others aboard.
"Ah. You were so eager to see me you ran ahead," he said with a grin.
Carolyn just chuckled and shook her head as he urged her onto the seat beside his again.
"Your flowers, wench," he announced, grabbing the necklace of blooms off the wheel and placing it around her neck. He didn't step away then, but caught her face in his hands and lifted it for inspection. After a moment, he nodded with satisfaction. "Your color's good and your eyes are clear. Let me see your hands."
Carolyn wrinkled her nose and held out her hands.
"Steady as a rock. I had the second chocolate bar at Sulphur Springs, but haven't had a problem since. And I had second helpings of the meal at the plantation. I'm good.
No more worries," she assured him.
"Good. But do me a favor and have some blood tests when you get back home," he said seriously.
Carolyn nodded. Today's experience had scared her enough that she already intended on getting a full physical when she got home. It was only after eating at the plantation that she'd really started to feel like herself again. It was also when she'd begun to realize just how weak and disoriented she'd been before that. She was blaming that for the whole episode on the bus. She just wasn't the sort to run around attacking men.
The whole horrible scene had replayed through her head repeatedly that afternoon. The kiss, somehow winding up on his lap-she wasn't too sure how that had happened. It was all kind of a fuzzy whirl of want and need and suddenly she'd been in his lap and his hands had been on her br**sts and-That part had kind of left her confused too. At least until she'd recalled that Christian hadn't been at all well either by then. He'd been pale, with sweat beading his forehead, and for all she knew had been feverish and hallucinating that she was George Michael.
He'd certainly come to his senses quickly enough.
The horror on his face as he'd dumped her on the seat and fled had haunted her ever since.
Carolyn had been worried that he'd approach her as soon as they arrived at the plantation and either demand an explanation or explain politely that he was gay. And what could she say, So sorry. I've been having these wet dreams about you and for a minute there I think I just confused them with reality?
She snorted at the very idea.
Christian had kept his distance. He'd also watched her with a wariness that made her wonder if he was afraid she'd jump him again.
Well, he was safe. She was feeling more herself and had every intention of letting him know that he was safe.
Carolyn didn't have the balls to walk over and simply say, You're safe, sonny. I won't attack you again though, so she was going to have to show him. Somehow.
"Here you are."
Carolyn glanced to Jack as he appeared before her with a full glass.
"Firewater?" she asked, accepting it.
"Nothing less for the mascot," he said with a grin.
Smiling faintly, she took a sip, and then raised her eyebrows when he held out a chocolate bar. Swallowing, she shook her head. "I told you, I'm good."
"This is precautionary," he said, and then grinned.
"Besides, I promised you flowers, drinks, and chocolate on your return."
"Hmm," Carolyn accepted the bar and teased, "I'm not sure if I'm ready to go steady yet."
"I'm willing to go slow," he assured her. This time there was no teasing in either his voice or face.
Carolyn's eyes widened. It was the first time she hadn't been sure his flirting was just for fun, and suddenly she began to wonder if he was interested. If so, he might be the answer to all her problems. She liked and felt comfortable with him. He could be her first fling! Which she obviously needed if only to protect those around her. Her body seemed to be crying out for sex. Giving it some might fix everything. Of course, there was the small matter of Christian liking Jack, she thought and sighed.
However, if the man was straight, Christian didn't have a chance anyway, and she really needed to take care of this problem of hers before she did something even worse than today's little episode.
Carolyn stiffened as the back of her neck began to prickle. She peered over her shoulder, not terribly surprised to see Christian stepping aboard, eyes on her and expression grim. She'd felt that same prickling several times today and each time had glanced around to find Christian staring.