"Ah." He grinned. "Ad agency."
"Yes."
"Gideon must really be into you to go from meeting you once or twice to dragging you out on a date like this."
I cursed inwardly. I'd known assumptions would be made, but I wanted more than ever to avoid further humiliation. "Gideon's acquainted with my mother and she'd already arranged for me to come, so it's just a matter of two people going to the same event in one car rather than two."
"So you're available?"
I took a deep breath, feeling uncomfortable despite how fluidly we moved together. "Well, I'm not taken."
Christopher flashed his charismatic boyish grin. "My night just took a turn for the better."
He filled the rest of the dance with amusing anecdotes about the music industry that made me laugh and took my mind off Gideon.
When the dance ended, Cary was there to take the next one. We danced very well as a couple because we'd taken lessons together. I relaxed into his hold, grateful to have him as moral support.
"Are you enjoying yourself?" I asked him.
"I pinched myself during dinner when I realized I was sitting next to the top coordinator for Fashion Week. And she flirted with me!" He smiled, but his eyes were haunted. "Whenever I find myself in places like this...dressed like this...I can't believe it. You saved my life, Eva. Then you changed it completely."
"You save my sanity all the time. Trust me, we're even."
His hand tightened on mine, his gaze hardening. "You look miserable. How'd he f**k up?"
"I think I did that. We'll talk about it later."
"You're afraid I'll kick his ass here in front of everyone."
I sighed. "I'd rather you didn't, for my mom's sake."
Cary pressed his lips briefly to my forehead. "I warned him earlier. He knows it's coming."
"Oh, Cary." Love for him tightened my throat even as reluctant amusement curved my lips. I should've known Cary would give Gideon a big brother threat of some sort. That was just so like him.
Gideon appeared beside us. "I'm cutting in."
It wasn't a request.
Cary stopped and looked at me. I nodded. He backed away with a bow, his gaze hot and fierce on Gideon's face.
Gideon pulled me close and took over the dance the way he took over everything - with dominant confidence. It was an entirely different experience dancing with him than with my two previous partners. Gideon had both the expertise of his brother and Cary's familiarity with the way my body moved, but Gideon had a bold, aggressive style that was inherently sexual.
It didn't help that being so close to a man I'd so recently been intimate with seduced my senses despite my unhappiness. He smelled scrumptious, with undertones of sex, and the way he led me through the bold sweeping steps made me feel the soreness deep inside me, reminding me that he'd been there not long ago.
"You keep running off," he muttered, scowling down at me.
"Seemed like Magdalene picked up the slack quick enough."
His brow arched and he drew me closer. "Jealous?"
"Seriously?" I looked away.
He made a frustrated noise. "Stay away from my brother, Eva."
"Why?"
"Because I said so."