Romance: The Bad Boy Affair: A Second Chance Romance

by Veronica Cross

  It doesn’t take long for the cab to pull up in front of the Village entrance for the building the USA is staying in. Chloe sees a few lights on in the rooms up top, but most are out.

  Raul follows Chloe out of the cab and pays their driver the fare. He walks Chloe up to the door to the building and stands there looking at her. Chloe looks down at her feet, unsure of what to do now that the night is ending.

  “So, I can pick you up tomorrow and we can go see some of the sights, if you want.”

  “Sure, I’ll be here,” Chloe admits.

  Raul nods then leans forward. Chloe’s eyes grow wide, worried that Raul is going to try and kiss her on the lips. Instead his kisses her on the cheek.

  “I will leave once you make it inside,” Raul tells Chloe.

  “Okay, goodnight,” Chloe says.

  “Goodnight,” Raul answers.

  Chloe goes inside and feels her chest contract and grow in her chest. She holds her hand over her heart as she walks to the elevator and presses the button. Chloe keeps looking back at the door, knowing that right there she was kissed by Raul, even though it was just on the cheek.

  Reality crashes in on her way up to her room though, thoughts about her actual impression on the guy come flooding back in. She didn’t like him until after everything happened. She thinks about if she will still feel the same way in the morning and doubts it.

  In front of the door to her room, Chloe notices the light flooding out from underneath. Kylie is more than likely already back and worried. Chloe opens the door and heads inside.

  Chapter Five

  Kylie nearly tackles Chloe as she comes into the room. Chloe has to disentangle herself from her friend and cross the room.

  “I thought something had happened to you? Where were you?”

  Kylie moves back to looks Chloe up and down while she deposits her bag onto the bed and slouches down on top of it.

  “Something did happen,” Chloe admits.

  “Do I need to ask or are you going to tell me?”

  “Well, we were robbed on the Metro platform and held at gunpoint. So, no big deal.”

  Kylie kneels down in front of Chloe and pulls her into her arms. Chloe lets herself cry, letting all the stress and fear out from earlier that night. Kylie rubs her hand up and down Chloe’s back.

  “It’s okay, it’s over now,” Kylie shushes.

  “Raul was there and if he wasn’t I would probably be dead,” Chloe makes out.

  “What do you mean?”

  Chloe pulls back from Kylie and wipes away the tears from her face and eyes. She takes a deep, shuddering breath and locks eyes with Kylie.

  “There were three robbers and they forced us to get on the tracks, but I swiped the legs out from one. I managed to get the gun while Raul wrestled it from the other. The third pointed it at me, but Raul pointed his at him because the other two ran.”

  “Slow down and take a breath,” Kylie pleads.

  Chloe does take a breath, followed by about ten more deep ones. Her nerves are fried for the rest of the night and Kylie is being way too nice for Chloe to deal with.

  “Well, the other two got away, and the third runs off too after all guns were pointed at him. Raul called for the police then and we were at the station up until a little bit ago.”

  Chloe stands up and paces around the smallish room. She is shaking out her hands, still rattled from before and especially since Raul is gone now.

  “You’re okay though, right?” Kylie asks.

  “Yeah, I wasn’t hurt. Raul got hit on the head, but he is fine apparently.”

  “Good,” Kylie nods.

  Chloe sits back down on the bed and pulls Kylie up onto it. They both just sit there for a while, letting Chloe calm down and Kylie process everything that was just told to her.

  “How was your night?” Chloe asks.

  Kylie laughs at the sudden change in conversation and lights up her face.

  “Let’s just say that Flavio is definitely not as smooth as he thinks he is. He is a terrible dancer and even worse at actually holding a conversation that has nothing to do with him.”

  Chloe laughs along with Kylie at the thought of a not so suave man trying his best to be suave.

  “So he is what we thought?” Chloe asks between laughs.

  “Basically, but he is nice and does try.”

  “Well, at least he tries.”

  Chloe thinks back to her small talk with Raul on the cab ride over. He was genuine then and Chloe loved it. He seems to be, by far, a better person than Flavio. Yet, Chloe feels nervous at the thought of agreeing to go on an actual date with Raul.

  “I did something bad,” Chloe whispers.

  Kylie looks over at her friend, concern purely on her face and nothing else.

  “What did you do?”

  “I agreed to go on a date with Raul. He was being so nice in the car and he seems like a great guy with everything that happened tonight. Flavio may be everything we thought, but there is more to Raul.”

  “So, this isn’t bad, this is good. You agreed to a date with a good looking great guy. Nothing bad there.”

  “Chloe turns her whole body to face her friend, crossing her legs in front of her. Kylie does the same, curiosity painted across her face now.

  “What if it turns out that I do like him? What if it was all an act?”

  “You still need to go. If it goes bad, it is just one date. No harm, no foul.”

  “What if it goes well?”

  “Then you will get laid for the first time in over a year. I think Raul could be that miracle worker.”

  Chloe hides her face in her hands shakes her head. She cannot believe what her friend just said. She cannot let herself believe that Raul could be anything other than a nice-ish guy she met in Rio at the Olympics. Then again, he is very charming and sweet and nice.

  “You are going, not matter what,” Kylie decides.

  “Fine, I’ll go. If I die though, be sure to tell my parents it was you who decided that this was such a great idea.”

  “You are not going to die, and if you did I would rightfully blame Raul. Why do I need to be an accomplice?”

  “You are a terrible friend.”

  “I am a wonderful friend. Now, when is your date?”

  Kylie slides closer to Chloe and bounces up and down on top of the bed.

  “Tomorrow,” Chloe whispers.

  “As in tomorrow, tomorrow?”

  “What is this? Annie? Yes, tomorrow.”

  “Good, you need fun. I’m going to sleep.”

  Kylie jumps off Chloe’s bed and over to her own. She has her pajamas on already and has most of her stuff ready for bed. Chloe wonders if her friend really was concerned or if she just said that earlier because Chloe looked freaked. Probably because Chloe looked freaked. Kylie was probably hoping that Chloe got a private spot with Raul. Traitor.

  Chloe lets her mind wander to what the date could be like with Raul. He will probably act sweet like tonight, but there is the chance he could turn into a total ass again.

  She tries to shake the idea out of her head, but Chloe can only see Raul as the guy she first met. Daylight brought out a completely different person than the night brought out and it makes Chloe worry.

  Perhaps she will just forgo the date, or postpone it. Yes, she will postpone it until after all the games when she can finally relax and see Raul as the person he really is.

  Chloe gets ready for bed with a smile on her face, happy with her decision to give up on what could happen tomorrow. Maybe she will just go for a training session and work out all the stress from the day.

  Chapter Six

  Chloe is getting her swim gear packed into her duffel with Kylie watching on. She has her own bag packed for her qualifying later that day and is pouting on her bed at the thought she has to take it easy for now.

  “Aren’t you going on a date?” Kylie questions behind a yawn.

  “I doubt it,” Chloe counters.

&nb
sp; “Why? He is good looking and even asked you out. Chances for a date are quite good.”

  “Chances I will actually go are quite small. He is not my type.”

  “How would you know? Are you even going to give him a chance after he rescued your ass from a mugger?”

  “I rescued myself by taking that gun, he was just the catalyst.”

  Chloe zips her bag closed and pulls her hair back into a braid. It takes a little work, but Chloe creates a neat braid that will fold into her swim cap perfectly. She looks to Kylie for approval and she just shoots a thumbs up with a big frown painted on her face.

  A knock sounds at the door and Kylie gets excited and Chloe flops down on the bed. It better not be who Chloe thinks it is, or her whole day will be messed over. Judging from the squeal Kylie let out, Chloe can tell that it is Raul.

  “Kylie,” Raul purrs.

  “Hello, Raul. Chloe needs just a minute and she will be ready to go with you. She is so excited.”

  Chloe perks up and glares at the two in the doorway, neither seeing her do it to them.

  “Wonderful, I will wait out here for her.”

  Kylie closes the door and is immediately pelted in the face with a pillow. Chloe smiles and Kylie tosses it back.

  “You need to get ready. Change into something pretty.”

  “I don’t want to go,” Chloe growls.

  “Well, it is too late for that.”

  Kylie pulls out a pair of jean shorts and a red frilled crop top and throws them at Chloe. Chloe strips out of her workout gear and puts the clothes Kylie picked on. She puts on her Converse and grabs her phone and wallet, ready for the exact thing she did not want to be doing.

  Chloe opens the door to a smiling Raul who is dressed in cargo shorts and a plain blue shirt. He looks beyond amazing and Chloe is beginning to think that date may not be such a bad idea.

  “You look incredible, Chloe,” Raul says astonished.

  “Did you think I wouldn’t?” Chloe rolls her eyes and closes the door.

  “I am just excited to be able to take you around Rio today, let you see my city for the wonderful place it is.”

  Raul reaches for Chloe’s hand and she pulls it away. He is way too enthusiastic for her, but he is very sweet today and it is only melting away her barrier slightly.

  “Let’s get going,” Chloe states.

  Chloe takes off in front of Raul and heads to the elevators where there is a small group of athletes with their bags waiting for it to come up to their floor. Eyes turn toward Chloe and Raul smiling happily behind her. Chloe ignores the questioning looks.

  “So, where are you taking me today?” Chloe asks.

  “I was thinking of taking you up to see Christ the Redeemer.”

  “He was on the list one of my coworkers gave me,” Chloe comments.

  “List?”

  The small group steps onto the elevator, squeezing Chloe to Raul.

  “I work at a middle school as an American History teacher and one of the other teachers emailed me a list when she found out I was coming here of places she thought I would have fun at. Historical places and some I think she just wants to see pictures of.”

  “What else is on that list?”

  The elevator opens on the ground floor and everyone files out. Chloe lets Raul place his hand on the small of her back and lead her to the waiting cab. She gets inside and Raul follows behind. He tells the driver to take them to the statue and they are off.

  “So, what about you?” Chloe questions.

  “I mostly just have sponsors,” Raul admits.

  “Seriously?”

  “I have lucked out, after all my years of swimming I made a living for myself and collected enough sponsors to live off of. I donate most back to charities helping kids in the worse parts of Rio, the areas I grew up in.”

  Chloe feels her heart go out to Raul. He must have had a long way to where he is now. Raul stares out the window as they get on a highway, shabby homes stacked on each other passing them by.

  “I grew up down there,” Raul points. “My brother was in one of the gangs and my father was already dead. Mom was useless. All I had was swimming.”

  “Sounded like that would have been tough too.”

  “Let’s just say, my brother did not let go easily.”

  Chloe sets her hand atop Raul’s and lets herself feel for the man. He hides everything behind that mask of pretentiousness, but when it slips he really is attractive everywhere. Chloe feels her heart soar at the thought of actually seeing Raul as a good looking man throughout.

  Chapter Seven

  Chloe was completely wrong about Raul. He is the best guy she has ever been on a date with. He held her hand throughout the day, careful to be a total gentleman. He asked about her family and more about her job.

  It was seriously the best date Chloe has been on in years, possible ever. Now he is taking her to lunch on the beach at a nice little restaurant. He has read off the menu to her, since it was in Portuguese, and helped her order some shrimp.

  “So, you grew up here in Rio? What was your favorite place to go?” Chloe asks.

  Chloe leans toward Raul after the waiter takes the menus away. Raul fidgets in his seat before taking a deep breath and leaning forward.

  “I would have to say it was the run down pool about a mile from my house,” Raul admits. “I would walk there nearly everyday I could just to swim. With everything going on around me, all the violence, it was a chance for me to relax and feel at home.”

  “Is the pool still there?” Chloe asks.

  “No, they tore it down and turned it into more homes.”

  Raul looks down at his hands and Chloe feels her heart go out to him. Raul looks back up and there is a smile on his face.

  “What made you want to be a marathon swimmer?”

  “Well, I was always a swimmer, but I never felt challenged enough going in circles in a pool. My parents told me about marathon swimming when I was in high school, so I started training. Minnesota doesn’t have a whole lot of opportunities, but there were enough for me to start my career.”

  “So you were bored and decided to make you life hell by swimming in rough water for two hours?” Raul asks, astonished.

  “At least I know I can swim back to shore if a boat capsizes,” Chloe jokes.

  “Because that is what everyone thinks.”

  Chloe and Raul laugh at how absurd her train of thinking went, but Chloe is proud of her ability to swim like she does. It took her years to get to where she is now and she started late in the game for it too.

  “Did you still compete in college?” Raul asks.

  “Only about a race a year in the summer. It is hard to find a pool that will let you train in it year round.”

  “It is still really impressive. I have stamina, but open water is pretty intense, I don’t think I could do it out there.”

  “It takes work and the waves are never your friend and neither are the other competitors. I have been pulled under by my foot a few times when I got out in front.”

  “Please tell me you are joking? That has to be terrifying.”

  “Not so much when you are in a lake, but out in the ocean, part of you forgets about the others when you start having fun and all you think is shark.”

  “You win, your sport is tougher than mine,” Raul holds his hands up.

  “There was a competition in that? Well it was obvious I was going to win from the start.”

  Chloe and Raul both laugh, enjoying the joking going on between them. Chloe is definitely happy that she actually went on this date with Raul, he is really funny and just a great person to be around.

  “Is that Chloe Hyatt?”

  Chloe turns around and sees Natalie Oscars walking over, her biggest competition in the marathon.

  “It is Chloe, excuse me for a moment,” Natalie tells her small group.

  Raul throws a questioning brow at Chloe who just waves it all away. She knew she would have to deal with the an
tics of the Englishwoman sooner or later. She would have preferred later.

  “Chloe, how are you? I heard about your accident last night,” Natalie mocks.

  “I am perfectly fine. How are you?” Chloe grits out.

  “Just perfect. I got in just in time for the opening ceremonies, but I didn’t see you there. Sad that you missed it.”

  “I was there, but with over five hundred Americans I can see how you missed me.”

  “Pity,” Natalie says.

  Chloe tries her best not to roll her eyes or do anything else that would give Natalie the upper hand in this situation. She has always looked down on Chloe and she is not going to for much longer.

  “Who is that handsome man siting with you?”

  Natalie waves at Raul who holds his hand up in response. He shoots a few looks toward Chloe who tries to ignore the idea she has to introduce her date to her enemy.

  “This is Raul Correa, a medalled swimmer from Brazil,” Chloe announces.

  An unpredictable pride radiates from Chloe and it surprises her. She never thought that she could feel like this toward a guy, let alone while at the Olympics.

  “Oh, how cute. Is this a date? Shouldn’t you be practicing, after all, you really don’t want to come in last at the Olympics. Talk about embarrassing, huh Raul?”

  Chloe fights the urge to punch Natalie in the face. This woman has truly lost her mind, maybe because of too much bleach on her hair or maybe she swallowed too much saltwater over the years.

  “I’ll be fine. You need to be careful not to wear yourself out too, otherwise the same results could find their way to your placing.”

  Raul lets a chuckle out from under his breath, obviously amused that Chloe is not going to take any crap from the woman in front of her.

  “I better get going, my friends are waiting. See you soon Chloe.”

  “See you soon too, Natalie,” Chloe says with a fake smile.

  Chloe watches Natalie walk back to her group. She points at Chloe and her and her group laugh at her. Chloe really hates Natalie and cannot wait to beat her at the coming race.