"When did you last check?" Marguerite asked, moving to the dining room window to peer down at the villa below.
"Four o'clock," he answered, retrieving a second bag of blood and pushing the door closed. "Then I fell asleep for a couple of hours."
"Two hours ago," Marguerite murmured. "She must have returned between then and now."
Christian stiffened. "She's there?"
"She's leaving," Marguerite said, and as he hurried to her side, added, "With that captain person."
"That lecherous bastard?" Julius barked with outrage, following on Christian's heels.
"He isn't a lech," Marguerite said quietly as Christian watched the couple getting into a resort van on the road below.
"Ha! If you think that, you weren't reading his thoughts last night every time he looked at Carolyn," Julius muttered, scowling.
"His thoughts were a lot less X-rated than our son's," Marguerite pointed out.
"Yes, but he's supposed to have thoughts like that," Julius argued at once, and then scowled. "Why the hell aren't you more upset? Our son's lifemate is stepping out with another man."
"He's an honorable man and won't force himself on her," Marguerite said with a shrug, and then added, "And after last night with Christian... Carolyn won't find any of his advances... stirring. This may be a good thing."
"A good thing?" Julius asked doubtfully.
"Captain Jack's kisses will be like water next to the finest champagne in comparison to Christian's.
It will be good for her to find that out."
Christian stiffened, his fingers tightening around the blood bag at the very thought of Captain Jack kissing Carolyn.
"Water slakes a thirst," Julius growled.
"Then we shall have to hope she isn't thirsty after last night," Marguerite said firmly and glanced around with concern when the bag in Christian's hand burst under pressure, splashing blood everywhere.
"Was it my imagination or did your friend seem... er..."
"Angry?" Carolyn suggested wryly when Jack hesitated.
She wasn't surprised by the question, just that he'd waited so long to ask it. They'd chatted idly about his day cruise and her shopping trip on the drive here to the quaint little restaurant he'd chosen, and then through drinks and the first part of dinner before he'd finally asked the question about Bethany.
"Yes, angry," he admitted with a smile. "I'm not used to women hating me on sight."
"It wasn't you. She was mad at me for not telling her about you sooner," Carolyn assured him, and thought that was something of an understatement. Bethany had been furious that she hadn't told her about Jack's flirting and their date. Seeing the way Jack's eyebrows had risen, Carolyn muttered, "I was a bit tipsy when I got back from the boat."
"A bit," he agreed. "But it was my fault. I was a little pushy with the punch. In my defense," he added quickly, "I had no intention of taking advantage, I just wanted you to relax and enjoy yourself."
"You weren't forcing them on me," Carolyn said, absolving him of guilt and then continued, "Anyway, when she saw the shape I was in, she immediately insisted I lie down, so I didn't get to tell her then."
"And after you had lain down?" Jack asked.
Carolyn forced a smile. She hadn't actually lain down, but she was fine with his assuming that, so simply said, "Then I was out with Christian and his family. And you," she added wryly, recalling her discomfort when he'd shown up at the table.
"And then?" Jack asked.
Carolyn just shrugged helplessly, feeling her face flush as she recalled what she'd been doing with Christian after leaving the lounge last night. Ducking her head, she picked up her water glass to avoid meeting his gaze.
"So when did you tell her about me?" he asked after a moment.
Carolyn sighed and admitted, "About an hour before you arrived."