Page 20 of Rafael

She shook her head slowly. “It happened so fast. I was standing there. He rushed through the door, planted both hands on my chest and shoved hard. I landed flat on my back with the wind knocked out of me.”

“Did you see him running away?”

Gisele tried to see him, but she couldn’t. “No,” she said, opening her eyes. “I was stunned and couldn’t catch my breath. I have no reason to believe he was a man, other than he attacked me fast and hard. I couldn’t imagine it being a woman.” She sighed. “Great. That doesn’t narrow down the potential suspects at all.” She pushed aside the now lukewarm coffee. “It doesn’t matter. I doubt he’ll come back. It was probably an out-of-towner here for the festival who figured everyone would be there. A crime of opportunity. He wasn’t counting on anyone leaving the concert early.”

“And he wasn’t counting on a mouthy bird,” Rafael said with a grin.

His smile and the light twinkling in his eyes made Gisele’s heart flutter. She pushed to her feet, abandoning her coffee and éclair. “I’m sure he won’t be back. Johnny scared him enough to chase him off forgood.” She drew in a breath and took the next step. “No one would be brazen enough to attack in broad daylight. That being the case, you don’t need to stay. My assistant will be here soon. Thanks for staying last night.”

Rafael pushed his feet, his brow furrowed. “He could come back.”

“And risk being seen?” She shook her head. “Too many people. Again, thank you for staying.” She gathered his coffee cup, stuffed the half-eaten donut into a bag and handed both items to the man.

Rafael’s lips twisted. “Trying to get rid of me?”

“I do have a business to run,” she said. “The building is barely big enough for customers to wander through.”

“And I would be in the way,” Rafael finished for her and set the coffee and donut bag back on the table. “I should stay at least until your assistant arrives.”

The front door squeaked open, and a young womanwearing jeans and a graphic T-shirt entered with a backpack slung over one shoulder.

Gisele turned and gave a relieved smile to her twenty-year-old shop assistant. “And there she is.” She turned to Rafael. “This is Lena, my shop assistant. Lena, meet Rafael. He was just leaving.”

Lena’s brow furrowed as she crossed the shop.

Rafael stuck out a hand. “Nice to meet you, Lena.”

The younger woman adjusted the backpack and then gripped Rafael’s hand. “Nice to meet you, sir.”

“Please, call me Rafael,” he said. “Sir, makes me sound old.”

Lena’s cheeks flushed a soft pink. “Nice to meet you, Rafael.”

Something unfamiliar stabbed at Gisele’s chest. If she didn’t know better, she’d suspect jealousy.

Rafael had Lena blushing. The man could charm the panties off any female with just a smile.

Gisele hooked his arm. “Like I was saying, he was just leaving.” Without wasting any more time, Gisele marched him toward the entrance.

He didn’t let her get far before he dug in his heels. “Wait.”

“For what?” she demanded. The sooner he was out, the sooner her life could return to normal.

His lips twitched. “My sleeping bag and gym bag. Unless you want to keep them here for when I come back tonight.”

“Not necessary.” She dove for the sleeping bag he’d rolled and stuck behind the counter.

Rafael bent beside her and hooked the straps of the gym bag.

As they both straightened, Gisele’s breath froze in her lungs. He was standing so close she could feel the heat radiating off his body.

He leaned closer, a light dancing in his eyes. “Did your sleepless night and your desire to push me outthe door have anything to do with the kiss?” he whispered.

Her eyes widened, and heat rose up her chest and neck, filling her cheeks. “Not at all,” she lied. “I’d all but forgotten it.” She shoved the sleeping bag toward him in an attempt to insert distance between them.

It didn’t work.

Because he was so much taller than her, he easily leaned over until his mouth hovered close to hers. He reached around the bag she held like a shield, cupped her cheek and winked. “I couldn’t stop thinking about it either.”

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