He drew himself up. “Will you stop worrying about my finances?”
“I can’t stop worrying about your finances. I’m the problem with your finances.”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “You have nothing to do with my finances.”
“See?” She pointed at him. “See that right there? That’s the problem.”
He cocked his head and stared at her for a moment. “Did that make sense inside your head?”
“Don’t play dumb.”
“I’m not playing anything.”
“Rafe, you flipped out the other night when I tried to pay—”
“Is this going to be a long conversation?” he asked.
“I don’t know. I didn’t think it all the way through.”
He stepped back and gestured her inside.
She decided that was a good idea, since the alternative was standing out here on the front porch. She was a long, long way from being a celebrity, but there were people in Royal who would recognize her, and she’d rather not get questions about why she’d been arguing with Rafe on his front porch.
She walked inside, and he closed the door behind her.
“Carry on,” he said, making a sweeping gesture with one arm.
It took her a split second to remember what she’d been saying. “When I tried to pay for dinner the other night, you flipped out.”
“Because I own the restaurant, and it was unnecessary.”
She peered into his eyes. “You’re lying. For some reason, you don’t want my money. Then today...” It was her turn to make a sweeping arm gesture. “Today, you turned down tens of thousands of dollars! You can’t afford to do that.”
“You have absolutely no idea what I can and can’t afford.”
“Why, Rafe? Am I so tainted?”
“Don’t be dramatic. Everything’s not all about you, Princess.”
“You’re picking a fight.” She couldn’t help but interpret that as a defense mechanism.
“I don’t need to pick a fight. You’re having one all by yourself,” he pointed out.
“Take the money, Rafe.”
“I don’t need the money, Gina.”
“I know you took out a second mortgage,” she told him. “Everyone knows that.”
“Well, that’s none of everyone’s business.”
“Are you that proud?” The jut of his chin told her he was. “It’s not my money, Rafe. It’s raised money, and you helped raise it.”
“You and your brothers kicked in.”
“Because the Edmonds brought Billy to town. That makes it partly our responsibility.”
“Maybe.” He shrugged. “But I chose to invest in Soiree on the Bay. I took a risk, and that part is my responsibility.”
She dropped her purse on a side table. “Forget pride, that’s just plain stubbornness.” Then she found herself looking around.
He had a wonderful house, spacious and tastefully decorated but not ostentatious. It was lighter than she’d expected, with open beam ceilings in the living room and high peaked windows showing a view of the valley. She saw four modern taupe leather chairs around a glass coffee table. Knowing Rafe’s background, she would have expected dark armchairs and heavy wood side tables. In the corners, he had large, leafy, free-standing plants.
She took an unconscious step forward, curious to see more. “This is really nice.”
“I’m not stubborn,” he said.
“You’re impossible,” she retorted, but she walked past him into the living room and took in the pot lighting and a pale mosaic glass-fronted fireplace. “You live here?”
“Is that a serious question?”
She took a few more steps and found a formal dining room that seated eight. “It doesn’t look like you.”
He had followed her along. “Maybe you don’t know me very well.”
She had to admit, she really didn’t.
“Ask me,” he said.
“Ask you what?”
“Ask me why I don’t need the money.”
There was an archway leading from the side of the dining room, and she couldn’t resist walking through it to the kitchen. His counters were gray marble, the cupboards white, and a small dining nook had a table set with—
She paused. “Are you having a party?”
The kitchen table was covered in the most delicious-looking baked goods. Her nose perked up at the tantalizing smells—banana, brown sugar, coconut and peanut butter.
“I’m not having a party. Ask me why I don’t need the money.” He’d come up close behind her, closer than was comfortable but still too far away.
She wanted to lean back against him, wanted his arms to come around her, wanted to turn in his arms and kiss his sexy mouth and—
“Want to help?” he asked.
The question threw her. She craned her neck to look back at him.
He nodded to the table. “JJ’s mom made those.”
“Did you decide on a bake sale?”
“No, we’re not having a bake sale. Those are for me.”
“To eat? No offense, Rafe, I mean you’re trim now, but that won’t last long if you dig into all this.”
He chuckled. “I’m not going to eat all of them. They’re for taste-testing. You could give me your opinion.”
The invitation was beyond tempting.
“Come on,” he said, gesturing to the bright little nook.
Who could say no to an offer like that?
They sat down opposite each other at the kitchen table, bathed in the long rays of the western sunlight. Rafe handed her a fork, a spoon and a little knife along with a dessert plate.
“Sarabeth and I did this earlier in the week with wedding cake,” she said as he set a slice of banana raspberry cake on her plate and then his.
“So you’re experienced.”
“I’m half a pound heavier.”
He grinned. “Did you find one?”
“We did. Vanilla cake with lemon curd filling and white chocolate frosting. And the design is gorgeous—classic white, pale yellow flowers with a little mint green.”
He took a bite of the banana cake. “And how does this stack up?”
“Not quite as elaborate,” Gina said before taking a taste. The flavors all but exploded in her mouth. The sweet banana was balanced by the tangy raspberries, and there was a light honey glaze that lingered delightfully on her tongue. “Oh, it’s unique.”
“Isn’t it?”
She tried another bite.
“Pace yourself,” Rafe warned with a little wave of his fork.
She grinned self-consciously. “I can’t resist.”
He took another bite himself, despite his advice to her. “How about something savory instead of sweet?”
She gazed around the table at the various dishes, spotting something that looked like an herb puff. “What about that one?”
He held out the bowl. “Help yourself.”
She did, and so did he.
The puffs were light and airy with threads of tangy cheese, garden herbs, dried peppers and tomatoes. They moved on to a cheese tart, a rolled pastry layered with pistachio and lemon chutney. Everything was fresh, unique and wonderful.
As Gina used her fingertips to take a final nibble of the pastry layer, Rafe sat back, his voice going low and sultry. “Ask me.”
The atmosphere suddenly shifted, and her attention moved from the baking to Rafe. Her chest tightened and her pulse sped up as her brain considered the possibilities. “Ask you what?”
“Why I don’t need the money.”
She ordered her fantasies back from the brink. They were still talking about money, nothing more, nothing else. She sucked the tiny crumbs from her fingers. “Why don’t you need the money?”
He nodded to
the table. “We’re going to sell these.”
“You’re extending the menu?” She was puzzled. She’d liked everything, loved everything, really, even if some of the exotic flavors seemed slightly out of step with the traditional steakhouse. But she didn’t see it changing the company’s cash flow in any meaningful way.
He shook his head. “JJ’s mom. She’s going to use the kitchen in the off hours and start a whole new line of business.”
Gina sat back in her chair. “That’s...”
“Smart?”
“Innovative, really innovative. Smart, too.”
“It was JJ’s idea. He came at it from the perspective of unused capacity.”
“You’re not a storefront.” Gina couldn’t help considering the marketing possibilities.
“No.” He looked like he already had an idea.
She considered what that idea might be. “You’ll need contracts with local retailers and grocery stores.”
“That’s the general plan.” He glanced down at the table. “It’s stage two. Stage one was testing the products.”
“They so passed.” Gina felt a shimmer of excitement. “Can I help out?”
Rafe looked surprised by the offer.
“I could talk to Lila, get a chamber directory, start making some calls.”
* * *
Quenching their thirst with sparkling water, Rafe and Gina stepped out on the deck where the evening breeze was beginning to cool the concrete. He wondered if she’d stay long enough to have some wine. He’d love to sit back on the outdoor love seat and watch the sunset with her by his side.
Rafe watched her walk to the rail and gaze out at the trees, the lush valley, all the way to the mountains where the sun would set in another hour. Her hair was loose over her bare shoulders, her dress pressing gently against her thighs. While her legs, her long, sexy legs, took him back to that explosive night in his office...
He opened his mouth to ask her to stay, but her phone jangled from the kitchen.
She turned from the rail and smiled at him as she passed.
His stomach sank in disappointment.
It was probably something important, someone important. Her family, her social circle and her business network were chock-full of important people.
He polished off his water and followed her back inside, feeling like he was leaving a fantasy behind him on the deck.
“Wait,” she was saying. “Slow down.” She looked at Rafe with amazement in her eyes.
She had his attention.
“I don’t know if I can do that,” she said. Then she covered the mouthpiece and whispered, “It’s Matias.”
“What?” Rafe whispered back, worried.
“How—” She stopped talking for a minute. “That would be unethical.”
“What?” Rafe repeated, moving closer, ready to take the phone from her hand and ask his brother what the heck was going on.
Gina held up her hand to stop him. Then she made a one-minute sign with her index finger. “Seriously, you...seriously?” She put her hand to her forehead in a gesture of disbelief. “Okay. Yes.”
“What on earth?” Rafe didn’t even bother whispering this time. He couldn’t for the life of him figure out what his brother would want with Gina, but it didn’t sound good.
Gina gave him the wait-one-minute hand signal again, and Rafe sucked in a frustrated breath. “I said yes. I will.” She paused. “As soon as I can.” Another pause. “Okay, go!” She laughed then and ended the call.
“What was that?” Rafe demanded.
“It was Matias.” She chuckled again, gazing at her phone.
“And what, exactly, did my brother want from you?” Rafe had never spoken to Matias about his attraction to Gina. He’d never spoken to anyone about it. But he couldn’t bring himself to believe Gina would make love with Rafe and then...he didn’t know what to call it...chat with Matias.
“He’s with Anastasia.”
“Who?”
Gina gave Rafe a baffled look. “His cowboy experience person.”
“Oh. Is that today?”
“Yes.”
“Is something wrong?” Rafe wondered if Matias had rudely asked the woman from Boston her age. Rafe had put his money on sixty-seven, while his brother Diego was the next closest at fifty-nine. Rafe still figured he had a good shot at taking the pot.
“No. Quite the opposite.” Gina typed something into her phone.
“What are you doing?”
“It’s a little embarrassing.”
Rafe’s guard went up again. “Embarrassing how?”
“He wants me to change her ticket. Reservations, please,” Gina said into the phone.
It took Rafe a minute to process the sentence.
“Hi. I’d like to change a ticket if that’s possible.”
“Her plane ticket?” Rafe asked, earning himself the wait signal yet again.
“It’s for tomorrow,” Gina continued. “The name on the ticket is Anastasia Kovell, but the booking was made by the Edmond Organization.” Gina looked to Rafe and moved the phone under her chin.
“How old is this woman?”
Looking puzzled by his question, Gina went back to the call. “Sure. Thursday will work. It’s a direct flight?” She listened. “Yes, that’s right. By text is fine. Thanks very much.” She ended the call.
Rafe stared at her in silence for a moment as the questions piled up inside his head.
“It seems your brother is having a good time,” she said.
“With Anastasia?” Rafe couldn’t erase the original gray-haired image of the woman from his mind.
“They’re at RCW right now, probably ordering cocktails before the appetizers. It sounds like your brother wants dinner to last as long as possible.”
Rafe pointed to Gina’s phone. “Did you just—”
“Put my ethics on hold to buy your brother some extra time with Anastasia? Yes. I’m not proud of it, but he assured me she had the rest of the week free.”
“Well, well, well.” Rafe took out his own phone and texted Matias, demanding a photo.
“Rafe, wait—”
Rafe hit Send and looked up at Gina.
“Now he knows we’re together.”
Rafe didn’t see the problem. “So?”
“He might think we’re together, together.”
Rafe wasn’t crazy about the implications of her concern. Did he embarrass her? “He won’t. And even if he does, we have a perfect cover story.”
She lifted her palms in a gesture of incomprehension.
“It’s business. You’re helping me with the new bakery line.”
Her phone pinged, distracting her. “It’s the new ticket.”
While she keyed something in on her screen, Rafe’s phone pinged, too.
Matias had sent a photo, no questions asked, of a beautiful blonde woman with wide blue eyes and a dazzling smile.
“Ahhh,” Rafe said aloud.
“What?” Gina moved to his side, leaning her shoulder into his arm for a better view. “Oh. Ahhh. Well, that explains it.” She tipped her head to Rafe, her eyes alight with humor. “I just texted her that her flight was rescheduled. I feel like your partner in crime.”
Her bare shoulder was warm against his skin, her gaze riveting, her lips pink and slightly parted.
His voice turned husky as he spoke. “Let’s crime away.” He set his phone deliberately down on the table. Then he slipped hers from her hand and set it aside. He smoothed her thick hair back, cradled her face and slowly lowered his lips to hers.
As they finally kissed, his entire being sighed in pleasure and relief.
She turned, and he wrapped his arms around her, molding her slender body to his. “This,” he whispered on a rasp of emotion, kissing her again. “This is what
I need.”
As she opened to his kisses, one thought crowded his brain. His bed. He needed her in his bed, naked against him, her limbs wrapped around him.
He lifted her into his arms. His hormones surging, she felt light as a feather. His bedroom was down a hallway. He knew the way blindfolded, so he kept kissing her as they passed through the family room, around the corner, down to the end and through a set of double doors.
The screened windows were open, a fresh breeze wafting through. The setting sun cast long shadows, softening the light as he set her on her feet next to his king-size bed.
Her fingers raked his short hair, and he let his hands roam the curve of her waist, the flare of her hips, the sides of her silken thighs.
“I’ve thought of you in here,” he confessed.
“Nice room,” she said, her gaze staying fixed on his.
“It’s not exactly a palace.” He almost said, “Princess.”
She gave a little smile. “Who cares?”
He stripped off his shirt.
She leaned forward and kissed his chest. Her hands moved over him, exploring the contours of his shoulders and pecs, sending little shock waves of pleasure darting under his skin.
“Oh, man.” He exhaled.
Her touches moved lower and lower still until he sucked in a breath.
Then she took a step back, reached behind her head, bringing her breasts to prominence against the fabric of her dress. The dress pooled at her feet, revealing a dusty blue bra and panties trimmed with lace.
He took her hands, giving in to an impulse to draw them aside, away from her body, to improve his view. “Oh, Gina.”
For a moment he was too transfixed to move. He wanted to hang on to the moment. But then she freed her hands and reached for his jeans, popping the button, drawing down the zipper, igniting passion stronger than any he’d ever felt.
He shucked the rest of his clothes and drew her down on the bed. He wanted her naked, to feel her skin to skin, but couldn’t give up the sexy lace.
He skimmed the smooth silk of her bra, kissed her mouth and her neck, nudged the pretty strap from her shoulder and kissed her there, too. Then he peeled off her bra and kissed her breasts. Her head tipped and her back arched and she moaned his name.
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