Page 54 of Rafael

Which translated to the bride had changed her mind and had run off in the limousine with the maid of honor.

For the first time since that day, Rafael didn’t feel the hurt and anger of betrayal. At the time, he’d thought he was heartbroken. Now, he recognized the primary hurt he’d experienced was to his pride. He was lucky. He’d dodged a bullet that day. If he ever ran into his ex-fiancée, he’d thank her and wish her happiness with her wife.

So, in answer to Gisele’s question, had he ever married...

“No,” he said, without the usual anger that had cast a cloud over every relationship since his wedding. “I was stood up at the altar.”

Gisele winced. “Ouch. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. It was for the best. I was moreembarrassed than brokenhearted. I must not have really loved her. I was more in love with the idea of Love and marriage.”

Gisele’s eyes narrowed as she studied him. “Have you ever been really in love?” she asked so quietly he almost didn’t make out her words.

The first thought that sprang to his mind and almost to his lips wasnot until now.

He clamped his lips tight. What was he thinking? In love?

He couldn’t look away from the woman across from him. Her doe-brown eyes and shiny black hair, the smile that lit the room. Her patience with customers, her loyalty to her friends and family and her fierce independence all added up to a pretty amazing package.

Did he love her?

His pulse kicked up, and his palms grew clammy. She was still waiting for an answer to his question.

He could tell her to mind her own business or that he’d rather not say. When he opened his mouth, he simply said, “No.”

No sooner had it left his lips than he knew it was a lie.

He’d watched Gisele for a while—before he’d pissed her off at the festival when she’d accused him of toying with her cousin’s heart. He knew how the community loved her. It was part of the reason he had been intrigued by her.

He'd pursued her because she was always on his mind, unlike any other female he’d initially found attractive. He thought he could take her out a few times, get her out of his system, thoughts and mind and move on.

Boy, had he been wrong.

Gisele pushed back from the table, collected the plates and cutlery and carried them into the kitchenette.

Rafael followed. “I’ll wash these,” he said.

She responded with, “Then I’ll dry.”

They worked in silence for the next few minutes as they hand-washed the dishes, dried themand put them away. Working at her side felt as natural as breathing. All too soon, the task was done, and she went in search of her shoes.

Once she had them on, she looped her purse over her shoulder and headed for the door. “I hope you have a nice day,” she said rather formally.

“Thank you,” he responded, equally formally, as if they hadn’t made love the night before or slept in each other’s arms.

Gisele walked out of his apartment and down the stairs.

Rafael followed.

She stopped and faced him, her eyebrows dipping low on her forehead. “Where are you going?

“With you,” he stated.

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “It’s daylight, I’mgoing to my shop. Neither attack happened during the daylight hours.”

“Both attacks were on your building,” he reminded her. “They weren’t crimes of opportunity. You were targeted.”

“Still, no one will attack while others are around. I’ll have a lot of people around me today. You don’t need to be one of them.”

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