I knew my luck would run out because it seemed the universe conspired against me lately, but I could and would deal with it if things worked out today with Marcia Sheehan. If not, well then, I’d probably end up serving coffee or flipping burgers. I made it to the elevator before anyone could stop me. Unfortunately, it took forever to get to my floor.
“Harper.”
Dammit. I turned slowly at the sound of Rafa’s voice but I still wasn’t prepared to hear it. “Yes?”
“Can we talk?”
I knew we needed to talk. To clear the air or whatever. But I just couldn’t. “Not now. I have an appointment I need to get to.”
“Harper.” His voice had that quality that told people he wasn’t a man to be argued with and I had no intention of arguing.
“Look Rafael I have someplace I need to be, and it’s very important. As soon as my grandmother is discharged I will be back, unless of course I don’t have time off for things like this?”
“Of course you do. Have I stated otherwise?” Hurt flashed in his eyes but his entire body went rigid because a man like him never showed weakness.
“You’re here.”
“Because Sophia refused to eat anything until I brought her to see for herself that Edie would be alright.” He spoke through clenched teeth, evidence of the anger he held back from the public. “You really think I’d show up with your grandmother in the hospital to bother you about work?”
The elevator finally arrived and I stepped back so the doctors could wheel a large bed out. I sought refuge in the elevator car when they were clear of it. “How should I know Rafael. It’s clear we don’t know each other all that well.” I held up a hand to stop whatever tirade came next. “I don’t want to argue with you and even if I did, I don’t have time. Is there an emergency or some other reason you or Eleanor can’t handle Sophia another day?” If so I would pick her up and keep her with me tomorrow, but he didn’t need to know that.
“No,” he said on a sigh, stepping inside the elevator with me. “But that’s not really what I wanted to talk about and you know it.”
I pressed the button that would take me to the parking garage. “What is it then?”
“I’m sorry.”
While I appreciated the effort, I knew Rafael rarely apologized, and not due to arrogance but because he so rarely needed to. “Sorry for what, exactly?”
“That night. When you said those words to me…I,” Whatever else he intended to say had been cut off by nearly a dozen senior citizens with a variety of canes and walkers. They squeezed in tight, forcing me into the small space at his side.
God, he smelled so good. That scent had to be the most intoxicating, alluring scent that had ever existed, and I hated it. Trying my best to maneuver away from him, I also found myself in a losing battle against tears. I thought he would apologize for jumping to the wrong conclusion about his sleazy cousin. But no, he’s apologizing for not loving me back . That hurt a hell of a lot more than I thought it would. The doors open and I flew out now that the seniors had all exited. I turned to Rafael.
“Don’t apologize for how you feel Rafael. Or how you don’t feel. I’m a big girl, I can handle it.”
A dark scowl marred his face as the doors closed, leaving us on opposite sides of sliding metal. Since there was very little chance that Rafael was going to declare his love for me, the doors closing on his words had been the best possible outcome.
Besides showing up for my meeting with tears in my eyes didn’t exactly scream trustworthy professional. Moments later, I sat behind the wheel of my car with my air conditioning on full blast, hoping the damn thing wouldn’t die on me before I made it to the shop on Robertson.
Where my future awaited.
I hoped.
“You could have woken me up. The nurses sure as hell have no problem interrupting my sleep. Or my stories,” Edie added a little louder than was strictly necessary as I wheeled her over to the elevator. She’d been discharged, and was determined to tell the nursing staff just how inconvenient they’d made her stay.
She looked so peaceful sleeping when I returned from my meeting with Marcia for evening visiting hours; I didn’t have the heart to wake her. I also knew Edie would hate hearing that.
“You looked so peaceful and I figured a woman your age needed her beauty rest.” It took every ounce of willpower I could muster to keep from laughing at the look she shot me over her shoulder.
“Keep up that talk and I’ll show you an old lady. I’m sure there’s a stray cane around here or maybe a nice worn in leather belt.” The glee in her eyes would have been scary if this wasn’t the same woman who cried the handful of times she’d taken a belt to my backside.
“I don’t know Grandma, I’m younger and faster maybe I’ll take the belt to you,” I whispered in her ear, wearing a smile in case anyone mistook our playful banter as threats. “Then again based on your interests lately you just might like it.”
Edie laughed and smacked my hand playfully. “I admit those books have piqued my interest but the men my age are terrified to try it. That’s why I need me a young buck like yours.”
“I have no bucks, young or otherwise.”
“Don’t keep me waiting girl, tell me about the meeting.”
That topic brought a smile to my face and I knelt in front of her. “Marcia loved my pieces Grandma, she even bought the jade and aragonite choker outright for herself.” The woman had squealed and then cooed over it, to my great pleasure and embarrassment. “She said I needed more earrings in my collection because her customers are likely to buy them at the register.”
“So?” She rolled her wrist in a get on with it motion and I did.
“So she gave me a fifty percent advance on twenty pairs plus fifty percent of retail cost for a dozen statement pieces.” I whispered the ridiculous amount in her ear, drawing a shocked gasp from her mouth.
“Lord girl, I didn’t think that was possible. Good for you,” she grinned and patted my cheek. “Alright now child, get me out of here before they find a reason to keep me.”
I pushed her through the lobby and out into the clear blue afternoon. “As ornery as you are, I’m sure they’re celebrating seeing the back of you.”
“Hush your mouth,” she leaned her head back, soaking up the warm rays on her pale skin. “It’s good to be free.”
“Just tell me you remembered where the money is buried and I won’t take you back,” I deadpanned drawing a full-bodied laugh from her.
I had just turned out of the parking lot when Edie spoke. “So, you’re not going to ask about my visit with Sophia and Rafael?”
I didn’t really want to because I knew Edie hadn’t given up on the idea of me and Rafael. “Do I need to?”
“I would be polite, then again you were raised by wolves,” she patted her head of fresh curls.
I barked out a laugh. “Yeah a horny old wolf.” A beat of silence followed my words before we both erupted in laughter.
“I’m not horny child, I prefer the term sensual,” she emphasized in a breathy voice that one’s granddaughter definitely never needed to hear. Ever.
“Call it what you want, means the same thing.” I needed to get us onto another topic before I tossed the power bar I’d eaten as breakfast that morning. “I have something for you, open the glove box.” I wore a small smile, watching as Edie took out the X-rated wrapping paper I’d found at a local adult shop just because I knew she’d get a kick out of it.
“I like it already,” she chuckled and gave me a salacious eyebrow wiggle. The gasp of surprise she released upon opening the box sent a rush of satisfaction through me. I’d made her a chunky art deco style necklace with blue agate and blue azurite. The piece looked stunning and the tears swimming in her eyes said more than any words could have. “It’s gorgeous Harper. You sure you don’t want to sell this?”
“I made it for you Grandma.”
She held it up at eye level. “I have just the outfit for this!”
“We’ve got refreshments in the rec room,” he told her with a flirty smile before leaning in. “I spiked the punch and made sure they made lemon chiffon cake just for you.”
I rolled my eyes at the slickster, but Edie blushed and placed an arm on his arm. “You’re so thoughtful Charlie. I might have to reward you later.”
I held in my urge to puke and hung back a little more to avoid overhearing anymore geriatric dirty talk. “Harper dear, take me to freshen up. I need to look good for my own party.”
“You look magnificent,” Charlie told her, affection shining in his mossy green eyes.
“Just wait until I come back,” she shot back with a wink, giggling like a school girl as I led her to her first-floor apartment.
“What in the hell is this?” Edie’s room had been emptied of all personal belongings.
“Oh no!” Alice, one of the administrators stood in the door wearing a confused frown. “You haven’t been informed, I take it?”
My anger could have been contained if I’d had a decent night’s sleep in the past few days. But I hadn’t. And it couldn’t. “Informed that you’ve evicted my grandmother with no notice? That someone has stolen all of her belongings while she was in the hospital and no one said one fucking word to me about it? No I haven’t.”
“Harper,” Edie chided.
“No grandma this is ridiculous. What’s going on Alice?”
Alice’s pink lips opened and shut giving her the appearance of a guppy fish, not unaided by the shock of orange hair in too tight curls. “Edie has been put into a new apartment. Two bedrooms with an ocean view. Follow me.”
I did, but I still had questions. “Why?”
Alice handed Edie a key card and explained. “This will get you into your apartment and if you use it in the elevator it will always take you to your floor.” The elevator doors opened and we followed the woman to a corner apartment where she pushed open the door. “I really thought you’d been informed Harper. Sorry.”
Now I felt like a jerk. “None necessary Alice. Sorry for flipping out, it’s been a long few days.”
With a sympathetic smile, she nodded. “I imagine so. We’re all happy Edie is back to her trouble-making ways.” Then she quietly disappeared down the hall.
Apparently, the surprises weren’t over because inside the apartment, staring out at the ocean below stood Rafael and Sophia. “I thought you guys would never get here.”
“What are you doing here?” Then another thought occurred to me. “You did this? Got Edie an upgrade I’ll never be able to afford?”
His large hands went up, palms facing me to stop the impending barrage. “I paid, so you don’t have to worry. As long as Edie needs to be here she will be taken care of.”
“I can’t let you do that Rafael, and I don’t know why you would.” But that wasn’t true, I knew exactly why. “You’ve already paid me way too much.”
“This has nothing to do with payment Harper.” His voice, his face were both inscrutable.
“Then what does it have to do with Rafael because I am at a loss.”
He huffed out a sardonic laugh. “I think it should be obvious.”
Tired of his games, I crossed my arms and I stared back, equally inscrutable. “Well pretend it isn’t.”
Edie piped up as the tension in the room rose. “Come on Soph, help Grandma pick out lipstick and a dress for her party.” She led the excited little girl to what I assumed was the master bedroom.
Rafael’s posture straightened and he blew out a long breath, for stress relief or strength, I didn’t know. “I am so deeply sorry Harper. I let old jealousies and insecurities get in the way of what I knew to be true.” With an embarrassed flush he told me all about his suspicions that Antonio and Angelica had been having an affair. “They both said different and self-serving things so I never knew but I do know you Harper. You gave me a special gift that I will always cherish, and I knew even as I said those awful words, that you wouldn’t so easily share it with someone else. Particularly that vile Antonio.” He took a step closer but just a step and raked a hand through his disheveled locks. “I never wanted to hurt you Harper. You deserve better than that, especially from me.”
As happy as I felt at hearing his apology, my heart still ached. “Yeah well, you did hurt me Rafael.”
“I know,” he took another step closer so I could smell his cologne and body wash. Him. “And I don’t know how to make it up to you but I am damned determined to try. No matter how long it takes.”
Suddenly it all made sense to me, and I held up a hand to stop his progress towards me. “You don’t need to make up anything to me Rafael. I’m in this until custody of Sophia has been settled, I told you that.” No matter what, I would not let our problems impact Sophia.
He flashed me that boyish grin that had been solely responsible for the early stages of my crush on the handsome prince, and like it always had, my body heated, tightened in response. “About that,” he took another step closer so less than three feet separated us. “It has been settled Harper. Thanks to you, Sophia gets to stay with us.”
I ignored the way my heart beat faster and hope soared at his use of the word ‘us’ because it had to be a slip of the tongue. “That is really great Rafael. I’m truly happy for you.” I would have liked to shout for joy and leap into his arms but the joy wasn’t mine to express, and he wasn’t mine to leap on.
Rafa paused mid-step as the door opened and Edie stepped out wearing her new necklace with an obscenely low cut floral maxi dress. Beside her Sophia wore a black top hat and what appeared to be nearly all of Edie’s costume jewelry. Both of their lips a bright shade of fuchsia. “Good news kids. Since I now have a bigger apartment, thanks by the way handsome,” she winked in Rafael’s direction, “I get to have my first non-male overnight guest. Isn’t that right Soph?” The little girl gave an exaggerated nod, hand clutched in Edie’s and smiling up at her like she’d hung the moon.
“Yeah! Can I Daddy?”
“Grandma you just got out of the hospital!”
“I’ll be fine. Both of us will, with all the medical staff we have here. Besides I suspect you two need some private time to talk?” Eyes glittering with amusement, I didn’t know whether to shake her or kiss her.
Rafael however, knew exactly what to do. He smiled, leaning down to drop a kiss on both Edie and Sophia’s cheeks before grabbing my hand and pulling me towards the door. “That we do. Thank you Edie. Have a good time tonight girls,” he tossed over his shoulder and pulled me out of the apartment and down the staircase without stopping.
“Rafa, stop.”
He froze and turned, pulling me closer. “Sorry.”
I opened my mouth to say something, but he pushed me up against the wall and pressed his hard body against mine, slanting his mouth across mine in a scorching kiss that short-circuited my brain as his touch, his taste always did. The kiss was hard and hot, hungry and insistent and I clung to him, gripped him tight like I never wanted the kiss to end.
I realized I didn’t.
Dammit.
Rafael
The drive to the beach house seemed to take forever. Maybe it was the tense silence between us, or the sexual tension generated from that explosive kiss in the stairwell. I didn’t know the cause of it but I knew we needed to talk and settle things between us. Once and for all.
It had taken me some time to figure it all out, but eventually I did. It had all been so clear—in hindsight. Harper was…everything.
And I needed to let her know. Thanks to Edie, I now had all night.
“Thank you.” A quick glance and those violet eyes pulled me in, made me want to forget all about the traf
fic on the PCH, all about the surfers and beach goers dressing and undressing on the side of the road. But we were so close to our destination.
“For?”
“Upgrading Edie’s apartment. She needs the larger space but I just couldn’t afford it.”
“I’m happy to do it. Sophia thinks of her as family and considering what we’ve been through the past few months, she’s more of a grandmother to her than Crystal.”
“Eventually I will take over the payments again, Rafael.”
My hands gripped the steering wheel tighter than necessary at her words. I longed for the days she called me Rafa, moaned my name as I gave her infinite pleasure.
“That isn’t necessary Harper. I want to do it.” If I had my way, by the time we picked up Sophia tomorrow she would understand why. She would be mine.
“Yes it is,” she began, however I’d already turned into the garage and hopped out of the car before she could finish. When I pulled open the passenger door she frowned up at me. “She’s my grandmother.”
“And my friend,” I told her and helped her from the car.
“This isn’t up for discussion,” she said in her sexy nanny voice.
I simply smiled, clasped her hand in mine and lead her into the main room where I made my way to the bar. “I got us a celebratory bottle of tequila to celebrate the outcome of the custody battle.” I hoped we would use it to celebrate something just as permanent.
Harper perched on the edge of the sofa, looking prim and proper in a rose-colored dress with those slinky spaghetti straps. “I will definitely drink to that,” she flashed a grin, those eyes morphing into a deep dark blue.
I poured a healthy amount into two tumblers and handed her one before taking a seat close enough to her that our legs brushed together. “So,” I began.
Harper stepped into the empty silence with ease. “I’m sorry Rafael. I never meant to put you on the spot the last night we slept together. I thought those words would be a gift to you, not a burden.”
It's Only Pretend: A Single Dad Boxset Page 8
