Free Under a Vampire Moon by Lynsay Sands Page B

voice came out huskier than usual. Maybe she was getting Bethany’s bug, Carolyn lied to herself desperately.
    “What’s your favorite song?” Christian asked, drawing her gaze again. His eyes were sleepy as he added, “I’ll play it just for you tomorrow night.”
    Carolyn’s eyes widened, but all she managed to get out was a weak, “Er.”
    “Christian can play anything from the sixteenth century on,” Gia announced, drawing her attention next. “He’s very talented.”
    “The rest of us are no slouches either, but Christian is the family prodigy,” Zanipolo said in an extremely deep voice she didn’t recall from the bus. Perhaps he was getting a cold too, she thought.
    “Do you play an instrument?” Christian asked, drawing her reluctant gaze back to find he’d leaned in closer, his face just inches away.
    Carolyn couldn’t even manage an “Er” this time and simply shook her head.
    “But she loves music. She loves to dance,” Genie announced cheerfully.
    “Christian loves to dance too,” Gia said at once. “We should find a nightclub in town after the show tomorrow night and go dancing.”
    “Oh, that’s a brilliant idea, Gia,” Marguerite said at once. “I’d love to go dancing. You two will come, won’t you, Carolyn? Genie?”
    “Sure we will,” Genie said for both of them.
    “I’ll look forward to it,” Christian murmured in her ear.
    Carolyn swiveled her head to glance at him and nearly kissed the man he was leaning so close. She felt his breath on her lips and swallowed.
    “Oh, good. Here are our drinks,” Genie announced brightly.
    Carolyn turned with relief.
    The waitress had returned with a tray of drinks. As the woman distributed the other drinks, Genie took a margarita off the tray and handed it to Carolyn saying, “Pass it along.”
    Carolyn automatically took it and turned toward Christian, but froze when his hand closed over hers, his fingers caressing hers briefly before they shifted to take the glass.
    “Thank you.”
    “Er,” Carolyn muttered and quickly turned back to take the second margarita Genie was now holding out. Lifting it to her mouth, she took a big gulp. Sharp pain immediately shot through her head.
    “What’s the matter?” Christian asked with concern when she set the glass down and raised her fingers to the bridge of her nose.
    “Brain freeze?” Genie asked. When Carolyn nodded, she said, “Rub your tongue across the top of your mouth and cup your hand over your mouth and nose then blow hot air into it. That always helps me.”
    “Here.” Christian caught her chin and turned her face to his, then cupped his own hands around either side of her mouth and nose and blew his warm breath into the cave he’d made. He had nice breath, she thought vaguely, wide eyes staring into his as he blew again.
    “Don’t forget to rub the top of her mouth with your tongue too, cousin,” Zanipolo laughed.
    Flushing, Carolyn pulled back to turn abruptly to her drink. She nearly took another swig, but caught herself. Slow sips, she told herself firmly. Brain freezes were painful, and her brain was useless enough already. Damn he was good at this. She herself almost believed he was interested. Gay men shouldn’t be this sexy.
    Genie suddenly muttered by her ear, “Damn he’s good at this. I’m almost believing he’s hot for you myself and I know he’s gay.”
    Since she’d just had the very same thought herself, Genie’s words shouldn’t have affected her, but for some reason they depressed the hell out of Carolyn and her shoulders slumped a little as she lifted her drink to her lips for another swallow.
    A sudden reduction in the heat along her side made Carolyn glance around, and she watched Christian lean toward Marguerite as she whispered something in his ear. When he started to straighten, she turned her gaze quickly back to her drink and took another sip. But now she was aware of the heat he was radiating. It seemed to prickle along her side like