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“Blair.” He hissed. “Dammit it all to hell.”
Grinding his teeth, he considered marching after her and hauling her in a private room to have it out. But he could not afford to give the press fodder for more gossips and speculations. Changing directions, he headed straight for the bar, his expression causing everyone to give him a wide berth.
He wasn’t in a festive mood. And he was especially not in the mood to have a discussion with his mother.
Hissing out a breath, he put the glass down and turned to greet her. The look in her eyes had him sighing.
“I am fine.”
Tucking her hand through his arm, she led him away from the bar and some very curious eyes.
“Are you?” She asked, smiling at the couple who were passing by and giving them curious stares. “Your wife is over there making quite a spectacle of herself. You are drinking and Claudine is holding court. Not to mention, people saw you and Blair arguing as soon as you entered the ballroom.”
She expertly plucked a glass of champagne from the passing waiter and turned to face him, the glass acting as a prop. “You know better than to air your dirty laundry in a room filled with society’s gossips. It is clear you and your wife are having problems.”
“That’s nobody’s business.”
She nodded. “It should not be, but we are who we are and what we do makes news.” She squeezed his arm gently. “Darling, what’s going on?”
“Nothing.” He shook his head firmly, eyes sizzling. “I am not discussing my wife with you or anyone else.”
“Cayden…!”
“Drop it – What the hell does he think he’s doing?” The furious look on his face had her turning to see what was happening and stifled a sigh.
“They are just dancing.”
“My brother is going to feel the strength of my wrath if he doesn’t let her go.”
“And if you march over there, you are going to cause a scene.”
“Do I look like I bloody care?”
Her hand pressing on his arm managed to anchor him. Taking a deep breath, he tore his gaze from the couple on the dance floor and stared at his mother. “She’s doing this deliberately because of some foolish notion that I am involved with Claudine.”
“Are you?” She asked him gently.
“Really mother? You too? I am sick and tired of being accused of something I have not done. Granted, I did not tell Blair that Claudine was on the plane with me back from Italy, but that was because I was trying to avoid a bloody argument.”
“And you don’t think her finding out after, would make her wonder if you had something to hide?” She persisted.
“I have nothing to hide.” He jerked his head up and almost exploded at the sight of his brother with his hand riding low on her back. Her bloody bare skin. The dress was almosttransparent, what there was of it and it dipped low enough to make him realize that she was not wearing anything underneath.
Damn her! Damn her for making him so crazy, he wanted to kill his own blood.
“Excuse me.”
“Cayden…”
“We’re leaving.” His face was hard and taut with fury. “If you don’t allow me to depart now, I am going to end up doing something to give this entire room a bloody show.” Taking her hand from his arm, he walked away. He went first to the attendant to retrieve their coats and avoided conversations with people who wandered into his path.
Waiting until the song had ended, he barely managed a civil expression as Clive brought her over.
“We’re going to talk brother.” He said tightly.
“Undoubtedly.” He handed Blair over with a flourish and to further aggravate Cayden, he lifted her hand and kissed the knuckles lightly. “Thanks for the dance.”
“We’re leaving.”