Page 25 of Emergency Engagement

‘I’ve been naughty and done a little detective work, and, wow! Fabulous CV—and lucky you, living in that super-peaceful part of the world! Crazy that you and Rafael should end up together when he’s just completely the opposite of you! I guess meeting up again after all those years... Memories, yeah? Powerful, amazing, adorable.Your mum lives up there in Yorkshire, doesn’t she? I believe that’s in the blurb I read about you. She must be thrilled that you two are together!’

‘Over the moon. Now, please...’

‘It’s not going to last—you know that, don’t you?’

‘Because whatyouhad with him didn’t?’ Sammy retorted through gritted teeth.

‘Becausenothing lastswith Rafe on the woman front. And face it—look at the women he’s dated! Iftheycouldn’t tame him, ifIcouldn’t, then doyoureally think you can?’

This temporarily rendered Sammy mute because she’d been thinking pretty much the same thing since she’d laid eyes on Victoria. Why would anyone seriously believe that the guy who went for statuesque blondes would ever suddenly be bowled over by a five-foot-three brunette with cropped hair? On the looks front alone, there was a glaring disparity there.

‘So...’ Victoria pouted, stepping back just as the door was pushed open behind them. ‘I’m just being kind because Icare.’

She was smiling as she turned to the kitchen door where Rafael was now standing, his posture mirroring Victoria’s of only minutes before as he lounged against the door frame, his dark eyes cold and watchful.

‘Looking for something, Victoria?’

‘A bottle of water...’

She sashayed across the tiled floor, a picture of impossible physical perfection, and paused next to Rafael just close enough and long enough for Sammy to get the picture thatshewas what a guy like Rafael Moreno would always and inevitably be attracted to.

‘But...’ she laughed huskily and glanced over her shoulder at Sammy ‘...then I remembered that there are bottles in the mini-fridge in the bedroom.’

Rafael watched her march past him, then looked back at Sammy. ‘What was that all about?’ He moved towards her as she was turning away and spun her gently round so that she had no option but to look at him.

‘Nothing.’

‘Sammy, I can see that you’re upset.’

‘I can handle something like that. I can handlesomeonelike that. You try working as a sous chef! You’d soon find out that it pays to be as tough as nails.’

‘Why am I not convinced?’

‘Because...because...’

‘What did she say to you? If she’s put a foot out of place, trust me, I won’t hesitate to remind her of the mistake.’

‘You don’t need to defend me!’ But her voice was a whisper and tears weren’t too far away. Why—because she’d been taken down a peg or two? Made to see just how unsuitable she was for a guy like Rafael?Because she’d been put in her place? Pathetic. She’d surely been through enough not to let someone like Victoria get to her?

‘You’re my better half—at least for a week.’ He pulled her gently towards him and as Sammy rested her head against his chest, she could hear the crooked smile in his voice.

‘That doesn’t count.’

‘Ignore her, Sammy. You’re a million times more of a woman than she could ever be.’

Sammy tilted her head to look at him. She had to crane her neck. ‘That’s not what the mirror’s saying. Rafael, she just pointed out the obvious—why would a guy like you be attracted to someone like me? She just reminded me of how beautiful she was and how ordinary I am in comparison.’ Self-pity clogged her throat.Crazy. Stupid.

‘If you think you’re ordinary, Sammy, then maybe you and the mirror need to get to know one another better. You’re cute and feisty and sexy as hell, and truth is, I don’t think I’ve ever met any woman quite like you.’

Sammy’s mouth fell open.

Their eyes collided and in that split second she knew what Rafael was going to do. He was going to kiss her—arealkiss, with no audience in need of convincing.

Never had she wanted anything more badly in her life.

She gasped as his mouth descended, as his tongue plunged into the moistness of her mouth. She arched up to him, her body contouring his, slight and small against big and muscular.

She moaned in a hitched way as he swept her off her feet, their mouths still devouring one another’s, and rested her on the table. He supported himself, hands flattened against the smooth, cool concrete surface of the table, and she wrapped her arms around his neck and didn’t surface for air until the kiss slowed.

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