Page 27 of Rafael

Without saying goodbye, so long or you’re an ass to Rafael, Gisele walked away.

If he was reading her right, she’d just wordlessly told him to fuck off.

Challenge accepted.

He didn’t delve into his need to bring her aroundto him. Maybe it was pride that wouldn’t let him give up.

Rafael shook his head. No. It was her dark hair, darker eyes, light brown skin and mostly her feisty attitude that kept him in the game.

She intrigued him.

“If you want her, you have to make an effort,” YaYa’s voice broke through his intense focus on Gisele’s disappearing figure.

He frowned and dragged his attention back to the woman standing at his side. “Excuse me?”

“If you want her, you have to earn her trust and show her that you’re not like most men.”

“What are most men like to her?” he asked, intensely eager to know the answer.

“To Gisele, most men stay in a relationship until it no longer benefits them, or they grow bored.”

“Is she divorced?” Rafael asked.

“No, thank goodness. She had the good sense to end a toxic relationship after her boyfriend threw her under the bus for a promotion when they worked at the same company in New York City.”

Rafael couldn’t picture her in a business suit. Though she’d be sexy as hell in one. “Gisele worked in New York City?”

YaYa nodded. “On Wall Street. She never fit in. Our girl has morals. She left here, ready to take on the world. She came back with huge trust issues when it comes to men. She hasn’t been on a datesince she bought the shop. That was three years ago.”

“Her boyfriend threw her under the bus?” Rafael shook his head. “How?”

“I don’t know the whole story. Just that she refused to do something unethical. Her boyfriend stepped up to the plate. Not only did he perform the unethical deed, but he also claimed Gisele was incompetent and not a team player. He told their boss that he was willing to do whatever it took, no questions asked.”

That would explain a lot about why Gisele was so standoffish with him. She didn’t have any reason to trust him. Or any man. Why should she? The one she’d thought cared about her had shown his true colors, tainting all men with his betrayal.

The fact that they both had trust issues wasn’t lost on Rafael. He should be a decent human and walk away from the petite yet sultry gift shop owner. She didn’t want or need someone like him to make her life any more miserable than that NYC asshat had already managed.

She had her little shop. She seemed happy enough without a man in her life. Why screw it up?

However, there was the matter of the burglar.

Rafael could stick around only to make sure she was safe.

He should ignore the fact that she ticked every box on his list of what he wanted in a woman.

His failed attempt at marriage and his vow to avoid the institution at all costs made him a poor match for Gisele.

She deserved a really nice guy who would worship the ground she walked on and do everything in his power to love, honor and protect her, even if it meant sacrificing his life for hers.

“You really like her, don’t you?” YaYa asked.

He’d been so deep in his thoughts he’d forgotten where he was and who was watching him. He forced a shrug. “I worry that she isn’t taking the burglary seriously enough.”

“She needs a security system with surveillance cameras and alarms.” YaYa studied him. “Think you can use all that masculine charm and charisma to talk her into such a thing?”

His lips twisted. “I’m not sure my so-called charm works with her.”

YaYa laughed. “Honey, she practically ran back to her shop.”

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