by Olivia Gates
Rafael frowned, but silently bent to reach for his jacket. Producing his phone, he handed it to her.
She shook her head. “I’d have to explain why I’m calling from someone else’s phone, whose it is—and I assume you don’t want me to tell him it’s yours?”
“I don’t mind.”
She rolled her eyes. “I do. You have no idea the interrogation your name would instigate. And I don’t want to invent a story. I’ll just go reassure him in person.”
She turned away and he buttoned up his shirt, tucked it in, shrugged on his jacket and fell in step with her, taking her around the waist. “I’m not letting you out of my sight.”
She kissed his chest. “I’ll only be ten minutes.”
“Not one minute. Not without me.”
She leaned her head against his shoulder, loving his unyielding...everything. There was no point in arguing. This man got what he wanted. Period. And she was what he wanted now. Who was she to stand in the way of his desires?
Sighing her pleasure, she still had to point out the obvious. “Though I never found photos of you, I can’t say I looked very hard. What if someone out there did and recognizes you? Your plan to keep stirring the marketing scene into butter with your elusiveness will come to an abrupt end.”
“I’ll be worth not letting you out of my sight.”
Delight heightening, she teased, “But if people recognize you, you’ll be swamped. This might postpone our...plans.”
“If I suspect it will, I’ll go on a rampage and chase everybody out.” He pressed an openmouthed kiss on her lips. “Now quit stalling.”
Laughing, tucked into his side, she walked out of the study where her life had changed forever, feeling she was stepping out into a new universe filled with endless possibility. A universe with him at its center.
For however long she had with him.
* * *
Walking back to the ballroom with Eliana, Rafael realized how far away his study was. When he’d been carrying her there, it had only felt ten paces away.
“This place is amazing.”
He looked down at the magnificent human flower nestled into his side. He felt as if her flesh was an extension of his, her smile and voice and eyes the fuel of his heartbeats. The past hours had been the most incredible, ecstatic stretch of life he’d ever had.
She was looking around as she strode by his side, as if it was the first time she’d seen the place. It was. She’d had eyes only for him on her first passage through it.
He nuzzled her cheek, truly unable to stop touching her. “It was a mansion that was converted into a boutique hotel. I was driving down the coast when I saw it and decided to spend the night. The next day, I bought it. I refurbished it but preserved most of what I liked about it in the first place.”
Her eyes poured that all-out appreciation over him, not attempting to temper it or to hide how much she loved being with him. “It must have tremendous tourist appeal, especially in its current lavish condition.”
“I didn’t buy it for commercial purposes.”
Her eyes widened. “You plan to live here?”
In the space of a heartbeat, he saw a whole lifetime in which he did—with her. But something stopped him from sharing the vision when so far he’d been telling her everything as it occurred to him. Probably out of fear he’d alarm her, as he had when he’d made those business offers. It had been only then that she’d resisted him. He wouldn’t risk another premature move.
“I haven’t thought about it.” He’d only had revenge on his mind since he’d come to Brazil. Until he’d seen her. Now anything but her felt inconsequential. “I always acquire whatever my gut tells me to, then decide what to do with my acquisitions later. This place presented the best setting for this ball. But though I’m used to living in spacious, isolated places, this mansion might be too much for only me.”
“You have no one to share the place with...?” She stopped, mortification suddenly flooding her gaze, stiffening her body. “It didn’t even occur to me to ask if you have a—a family.”
Thanks to Ferreira, he no longer did.
But that wasn’t the family she was asking about. She was belatedly horrified at almost sleeping with a man who might turn out to be married.
Before entering the ballroom, he took her by the shoulders. “Do I transmit sleazy cheater vibes to you?”
That delightful flush flamed across her cheekbones as her eyes escaped his rebuking ones. “You know what vibes you transmit to me. The kind that short-circuit my mind.”
He raised her face to his, felt a pang at the uncertain vulnerability in her eyes. Hugging her fiercely, he knew he’d do anything to never see that look in her eyes again.
“Even short-circuiting, you pegged me right in every way. I have no one, minha beleza. I’m totally free to worship you. As I will. From now on.”
Her eyes cleared at once. And she didn’t question his “from now on” statement the way she had when he’d proposed nightly meetings before. He was grateful because he no longer considered those enough. He now realized what it meant to want someone constantly in his life. It was how he wanted her.
He realized something else: What he saw in those enchanting eyes shouldn’t be there, according to logic and the too-limited time they’d had together. But it had been there from the start, was now a blaze that fired his blood, eradicated the cold in the recesses of his heart. Trust. Not limited to her belief in her safety with him, and not the kind he’d seen in his brothers’ eyes. This was unique. All hers. And all-out. In him.
Unable to wait to tell her how proud he felt to have it, he took her into the ballroom so they’d conclude this business with her boss and he could have her all to himself again.
A few feet in, it was as if he’d hit a force field head on. And...of course...what but that living storm he had for a partner would cause such a disruption?
Richard was striding toward them. He couldn’t wait to brag how right he’d been about Eliana. Not that he expected anything but castigation and scorn. With his brothers seemingly heartless, just like he’d thought he was before finding Eliana, Richard was the one who was truly merciless. As his friend zoomed closer, Rafael saw he wasn’t attempting to hide the demon believed to share his body. Not wanting Eliana to see him the first time with it manifested, he shot Richard a warning glance before turning to Eliana with a smile.
“Eliana, please meet my partner, Richard Graves.”
Temporarily distracted from searching for her boss, she graciously extended her hand toward Richard. “Pleased to meet you, Mr. Graves.”
Richard didn’t take her hand, didn’t even look at her as he stepped toward Rafael and hissed, “I need a word—now.”
“Oh, please, go.” Eliana spooled away from him, flashing him an exquisite smile even when it was clear Richard’s incivility had rattled her. “I’ll go finish my own mission.”
Before he could stop her or tell Richard what he could do with his word, an erratic movement caught his eye. Ferreira. He was on a collision course with them.
Before any of them could move, Ferreira was pulling Eliana into his arms.
Aggression erupted, almost burst Rafael’s head.
He was her boss. And he was on hugging terms with her?
Then the words Ferreira kept saying as he clutched Eliana sank into his mind. Then exploded like depth charges.
“Ellie, a minha menina, você está bem.”
Ellie, my baby girl, you’re okay.
Rafael stared at the woman he’d lost his mind over, in the arms of the man he was here to destroy.
And everything crashed in place.
Eliana was Ferreira’s daughter.
Four
Ellie wished it were true the ground split and swallowed people up. She
could have used a vanishing act right now.
First, Rafael’s partner ignored her—after a split-second glance that had made her feel that if he ever got her alone, no one would ever find her again.
Then, just as she was trying to pretend to Rafael that his partner’s barely leashed aggression hadn’t knocked the breath out of her, her father pounced on her out of nowhere.
He was now squeezing her breath out. And swamping her in “baby girls,” something they’d agreed he’d never call her in public.
She’d taken the job with his agency over other positions only when he’d promised he’d never give her preferential treatment. But lately she’d been feeling she’d soon be forced to leave, even if she loved her job and was perfect for it. The moment they discovered her boss was her father, no one took her seriously. It was why she hadn’t told Rafael. She’d feared he’d reach the same conclusion everyone invariably did. She’d thought this particular bit of info could wait until he got to know her better.
Too late now. She’d been outed in the most embarrassing way. That taught her to get major stuff out of the way first. Not that she considered that major. Nothing about her was. It was Rafael who had the market cornered on humongous stuff.
Needing to see his reaction, she struggled to turn her head, but she was inescapably mashed into her father’s shoulder. All she could see in her compromised position was Richard Graves. He was striding out of the ballroom, without having that “word” he’d almost dragged Rafael away to have.
At least that reduced the awkwardness. He was one scary dude. She wouldn’t wish to meet him in a dark alley, with fewer than the three hundred people around. And Rafael at her side.
Then another thought hit her, pushing her dismay to the maximum.
What could Rafael possibly be thinking about what was happening right now?
“Daddy, oxygen alert.”
Her father lurched away at her choking protest, still holding her by the shoulders, his feverish eyes roving over her.
“Where have you been? I drove back to your apartment when I kept getting your voice mail, hoping you’d just fallen asleep. I went out of my mind with worry, banging on the door, knowing how lightly you sleep, thinking you’d fallen and injured yourself...until I remembered you gave me a key. I rushed in to find the place empty and your phone dead and hurried back here hoping you arrived but...”
“I’m so sorry you got so worried.” She raised her voice over the cacophony of the ball and his frantic reproach, feeling terrible. He’d done over four hours worth of driving. The whole time she’d been with Rafael. “I just got...uh...lost...”
Which was sort of true. She had for a while on the way, initially. Then she had, totally, in Rafael’s arms.
Before her father launched into another tirade, she turned him toward Rafael, who was looking at him as if he was some revolting life-form. Probably because he didn’t realize who he was. Or found his over-the-top agitation off-putting. Or both.
Wincing at the whole mess, she touched Rafael’s arm, feeling a pang at how absolutely vital he’d become to her, how even this simple touch, in this situation, sent her heart scattering its beats at his feet.
“Rafael, this is my father, Teobaldo Ferreira.”
Rafael’s gaze panned to her and her heart clapped so hard her breath snagged in her throat. There was something in his eyes, something...weird. As if he’d forgotten who she was. Which she had to be imagining. This must be how he looked as his formidable mind processed new situations and variables.
Seeming to gather his wits at last, and even clearly unsure who Rafael was, or unable to believe he was the same man he was desperate to do business with, her father extended his hand to him.
Rafael stared down at her father’s hand.
She winced. She knew he hadn’t wanted to make any contact with his candidates tonight, and her father was one. But right now, this wasn’t about business, but about a simple salute between her overprotective father, and Rafael—the man who’d just demolished the foundations of her existence.
She rose on tiptoe so her words were for his ears only. “Just say hi and leave. I’ll catch up with you.”
She tried to capture his gaze, to exchange the delight of anticipation of the night to come. Her heart fluttered at the heavy-lidded look in his eyes then stumbled in confusion, as without a word or another look, ignoring her father’s hand as his partner had ignored hers, he turned and walked away.
“What was this all about? Who’s that man?”
Tearing her stunned gaze away from Rafael’s receding back, she looked dazedly at her father, her mind racing.
She didn’t want to validate his suspicion about Rafael’s identity. If her father realized she was suddenly on such personal terms with the man whose favor he was so fervently hoping to court, he’d subject her to endless interrogation, or ask to be introduced properly—or both. This didn’t only mean lost time, but more important a premature crop of those complications she’d predicted. And she didn’t want the real world to intervene now, didn’t want them to stop being the man and woman who’d found this pure passion for each other, and become the tycoon and the daughter of a hopeful business partner.
But...how could Rafael just leave like that? If he chose not to shake her father’s hand because he didn’t want any contact with business people tonight, she could understand. It was a bit excessive, stung a little, but she would never bring any issues with her father between them. But the way he’d looked at her, then walked away, even after she’d explained her father’s identity...
Stop. Her mind must be playing tricks on her after all the upheavals of the past hours. She must be beyond exhausted now, operating on pure adrenaline...and other hormones. And those weren’t conducive to rational observations.
Someone must have caught his eye, someone important he couldn’t postpone greeting. Then he’d be back.
“What’s going on with you tonight? Talk to me, querida.”
Blinking, she realized she’d been staring at her father vacantly as her mind churned.
Forcing herself out of her fugue, she gave him a hug, his beloved presence grounding her as it always did. “I’m really so sorry I caused you such worry.” Heat rushed to her face with memories of why she had. “I came as soon as I could to reassure you I’m fine. But I have to go now.”
“You called that man Rafael. Is he who I think he is?”
Her hungry gaze sought out Rafael, found him standing at the entrance of the ballroom. So he wasn’t coming back. He was waiting for her to join him. To begin their first night together.
She turned to her father, urgency coursing in her blood. “Please, Daddy—don’t ask me anything now, okay?” She kissed his lean cheek. “I’ll tell you everything later.”
Looking almost pained with curiosity and anxiety, he stared down at her. “As long as you are fine?”
At his worried question, she nodded as her gaze dragged back to Rafael—and her breath caught.
A woman was approaching Rafael—statuesque, flaming red tresses cascading down to her buttocks, dangerous curves in a strapless black dress. She looked as if she was in a trance. Ellie knew that she must have looked exactly the same as she’d gravitated toward him hours earlier.
Making a conscious effort to breathe again, Ellie absently answered her father’s further demands for assurance, no longer anxious to leave him. She’d better stay put until Rafael sent his admirer on her way.
The woman reached him. Rafael brooded down at her as she talked then he raised his eyes and looked straight at her.
After her heart zoomed at the touch of his gaze, it slowed down to a wary rhythm at the emptiness she saw there. Hoping to reestablish the connection meeting his partner and her father had interrupted, she forced a smile only he would understand on her lips.
I
t faltered when he continued to cast that blank gaze at her. It froze along with her blood as the beautiful redhead put her arm around him and they turned and walked out of the ballroom.
Tremors invading her every muscle, her mind tripped over rationalizations. He must be trying to get rid of that woman without making a scene. When he did, he’d come back. Or not. He expected she’d follow him out. That must have been what he’d been telling her with that vacant stare.
She turned to her father. “See you tomorrow, okay?”
Before he could say anything, she rushed away.
Once outside the ballroom, she felt as if a thundercloud had descended. Then she saw the source of the darkness.
Richard Graves was leaning a formidable shoulder against the gold-paneled wall, watching people like a bored predator deciding which one he’d pick off first, nursing what looked like a straight whiskey. At the sight of her, he lazily unfolded to his full height, making her feel as if the world had shrunk.
Collecting herself, she nodded. “Mr. Graves.”
“Looking for Rafael?”
Acutely uncomfortable under his laser gaze, but feeling trapped since she didn’t know where to look, she said, “I’ll wait until he comes back.”
“You’ll wait till morning, then. That’s the soonest I see him being done with that redheaded ballistic missile.”
Her heart boomed painfully. It wasn’t what he’d said, she told herself. It was Graves himself. She didn’t get intimidated easily, but this man—she bet he scared monsters. And for some reason, he’d decided he didn’t think much of her.
Not that she cared. She only cared about Rafael’s opinion.
“You’re mistaken, Mr. Graves. Rafael is...” She couldn’t go on. Her throat closed under his pitiless stare and the growing uncertainty and confusion. What was Rafael doing?
“Rafael is with—or rather in—that redhead now.” He had the look of someone taking intense pleasure from pouring acid in an infected wound. “Seems he promised you an intensive exercise in his bed, but had a change of plans. Not to mention a huge upgrade in exercise-mat quality. Me, alas, I don’t have anything better to do for the night. I might be persuaded to accommodate you in his stead.”