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“Rafael’s been a good friend to my company, but there was never anything between us.”
Would it be too much to ask for the floor to swallow me whole right now?
“He wanted me to bring you something special from my collection.” She holds out a shopping bag. “It’s a one-of-a-kind prototype for a brand-new design that won’t be available in the stores until next year.”
I gaze at the bag, and although I’m tempted, I don’t take it. “That is special.” And totally unethical for me to accept. “It’s very generous. But the magazine’s policy is that we can’t accept gifts from designers we feature. I’d love to peek at it, though.”
“It’s not a gift,” she explains, while I loosen the drawstring from the protective cloth sack inside the shopping bag. “Not from me, anyway. Rafael paid retail price for it.”
I’ve grown up with so many luxuries it’s almost embarrassing. If money can buy it, I can have it. It’s made me jaded about material things, and gifts in particular. The best present for me is one that takes some thought and effort. It doesn’t need to cost a penny. Although this one clearly did.
“It’s stunning,” I gush, sliding my fingertips over the seam where the cork and the fabric meet.
“I think so too,” she says with a small laugh.
I like her. And I can see why Rafael wanted to help develop her business.
“Please, make yourself at home,” I tell Judite, after I admire the purse for far too long. “I’ll grab my laptop and we can get started on the interview. That way I won’t take up too much more of your time.”
I’m swamped with emotion, but I don’t let myself revel in it for too long.
Don’t make too much of this. He probably had his assistant email Judite Furtado under his signature. Maybe Noelia came up with the whole idea. I repeat it to myself several times as I gather my things for the interview. My musings don’t even make sense given what Judite told me, and the grand gesture has Rafael’s signature all over it. But I need to believe it wasn’t him. A woman’s got to do something to protect her heart—especially from a man who’s already been careless with it.
20
RAFAEL
I jerk my chin in greeting when Sabio opens the door to Valentina’s apartment.
“No problems,” he mutters, without being prompted. “Alexis is in the shower.”
I stride past him and into the kitchen before I rearrange his face for saying the words Alexis and shower in the same sentence.
Giana is at the espresso machine when I enter. “Do you want a coffee?” she asks, as I place a bag of takeout on the counter. I promised Lexie dinner, but thanks to dead suspects and a Molotov cocktail, I don’t have all night.
I shake my head. “Ms. Clarke,” I say pointedly for Sabio’s benefit, “and I are going to have dinner. Why don’t you both take a break? I have to be at Sirena in an hour. I’ll text you when I’m ready to go.”
“Do you want one of us to stay in the hall?” Giana asks, downing her espresso like it’s a shot of tequila.
“Not necessary.”
I turn the oven on low and go find Lexie.
The bedroom door is ajar, and I hear water running when I enter. The image of her standing under the spray, naked, her hair in ringlets, the water clinging to every curve, is visceral, and I shove it away before I do something I’ll regret.
I take a breath, my eyes trained on the closed bathroom door. I need to let her know I’m here and we don’t have all night. As I stare at the door, the image of a naked Lexie pops into my mind again, and it’s more difficult to push away this time. What are you, fifteen? Get a fucking grip.
I right myself and knock, but she doesn’t respond. Between the powerful exhaust fan and the running water, she probably can’t hear me.
I don’t have time to wait around for her to take a leisurely shower.
When I crack the door to tell her to move it along, it opens wider than I planned, and the words die in my throat.
My eyes are transfixed on the mirror across from the open shower.
Oh, baby. This is hotter than anything I imagined. Much hotter.
The naughty angel in the glass has my dick rock hard.
