He damn well knew I couldn’t prove it. And what was with the humor in his eyes? Was he having fun at my expense?
“Don’t interfere with my drinking.”
I scowled at the club soda the bartender placed before me. He shrugged like he couldn’t help doing what August said, then moved on to another guest.
“Just looking out for your best interest.”
“Because Declan told you to.”
“Nope.”
Damn. He wasn’t falling for it. I grabbed the club soda and hid my smile in taking a drink. Suddenly my mood improved, and I was more in tune with my surroundings—at least to August—but still tipsy.
“To answer your earlier question.” He spoke slowly, and I refused to look at him, although I felt his stare. “I’m moving back to Cincy.”
“You are?”
“Yeah. I never really settled in Columbus. Something was missing.”
“You’re all moving back to Cincinnati?”
“No, just me.”
I did look at him then. “How’s that supposed to work with you here and your twin there?”
“We may look alike, but we’re two different people.” Despite his words, he glanced away, and the area around his mouth tightened which led me to believe it wasn’t as easy as he made it sound.
“Yeah, but you seem pretty close.”
I followed his gaze to where his lookalike danced with another guy. They seemed so different. August was more reserved, whereas Oscar acted more like me. Life of the party. Living in the fast lane and not looking to slow down anytime soon.
“We won’t be that far apart. It might do us some good to live in different cities. Oscar could stand growing up a little.”
“And what can you learn from this situation?”
When his eyes once more arrested mine, I wished I hadn’t spoken. The reception fell away, the music nothing but a backdrop for the moment I was caught up in.
He was different than at the cancer benefit, though I couldn’t exactly put my finger on why. Whatever it was, my curiosity was definitely piqued.
“That I’m more than just my brother’s keeper.”
His words bore such simplicity I found no malice or grudge in them. Just a fact that, judging by the way he cleared his throat, he had no intention of revealing to anyone, let alone me—a supposedly family member but really a stranger.
“I should go,” I said suddenly, getting to my feet. I needed to get away, to clear my head before I did something rash and foolish. I couldn’t succumb to the urge to indulge in a classic Charles moment—getting involved in something I shouldn’t simply because of its potential to make me feel good.
August was giving off mixed signals, and I didn’t want to read them wrong. Sometimes I almost swore he was interested in me. At other times, he seemed only friendly, even aloof.
“Wait, let me walk you out.”
Right now, he was dishing out signals that he was interested. This couldn’t be happening. I wasn’t gay. Maybe bisexual? I still wasn’t certain about that. Was I bi simply because I looked at men? And what did it say about me that at forty-eight years, I couldn’t tell for sure?
Besides basic experimentation in college with a roommate who was now happily married to a woman with kids, I’d never done much with any man.
“I’m merely tipsy. Not so drunk I’ll fall down the stairs and break my neck.” I frowned at the horrific thought. “At least my wife would probably be glad for that.”
“That’s terrible.” He took my arm. “I’m pretty sure that’s not true.”
I snorted. “Remind me next time to introduce you to my darling wife, then tell me what you think.”
We walked toward the elevator, and August dropped my arm. I dug out my phone and, while we waited for the elevator car to arrive, sent off a quick message to my driver to bring the car around to the front of the hotel.
“Then why did you marry her?” August asked.
“It seemed like a good idea at the time.”
The elevator dinged, and I hurried inside, hoping August would be content with leaving me there, but he easily shifted inside before the doors could close.
“Wow, I thought people married for love.”
I laughed at his naïveté. “There’s rarely a love match when you’re wealthy. You just try to find someone suitable who has the same goals or looks good on your arm while you fulfill yours. I have business colleagues who don’t even live with their partners.”
He folded his arms across his chest, leaning against one wall of the car. “Sounds pretty shallow if you ask me.”