Page 57 of Rafael

He performed his sweep and waved her inside.

She headed straight for her bedroom, dropping her purse on the sofa as she passed. “Could you get the remaining half of the mango out of the refrigerator and tear off a leaf from the head of lettuce? I’d like to get a quick shower and change out of the clothes I’ve worn now for two days straight.”

“Go,” he said. “I’ll get Johnny’s beer.”

Gisele peeled off the shirt and skirt as she hurried through the bedroom. She dropped them in the laundry basket along with her bra and panties. Standing naked in her bedroom, heat surged through her, heading south to her core, tempting her to ask Rafael if he wanted to join her in the shower.

After a quick glance at the clock, she ruled that out. Her grand-mère would only stay at the festival until seven o’clock. That didn’t give her much time. She needed the ingredients she’d asked her to bring. Even more, she needed her grand-mère’s advice.

She didn’t wait for the water to warm before she stepped into the shower. The cool spray tamped down the fire burning inside. She quickly washed her hair and body, her hand going to her sex, deliciously sore from making love to Rafael. And just like that, she was on fire again.

She rinsed, stepped out of the shower and driedquickly. After yanking a brush through her hair, she left it down to air-dry. She threw on a sapphire blue peasant blouse that draped off her shoulders. To complement the rich color of the top, she slipped into a long, flowing skirt in a variety of colors that would make a peacock proud.

Gifted with naturally long, thick black eyelashes and light brown skin, she didn’t need much in the way of makeup. A touch of lipstick and a pair of sandals, and she was done in less than ten minutes.

When Gisele emerged from her bedroom, Rafael let out a long, low whistle. “Wow.”

Heat rushed up her neck and into her cheeks. “Thanks. Grand-mère Gautier likes itwhen I represent the family heritage in something...colorful.”

“Should I change into something more formal?” he asked.

Her gaze swept over him from head to toe, drinking in his fine details. The man would look good in a tuxedo or a gunny sack. With his coal-black hair and brown-black eyes, the black polo shirt and black jeans he wore made him look a little dark and dangerous. “No. You look good in what you have on.”

He held up the mango and lettuce as she’d requested. “Then let’s get Johnny his beer, woman.” His eyes twinkled, making Gisele flush with heat and pleasure. She could get used to having him around.

Don’t go there, she warned herself. It would only cause her heartache.

They locked her apartment and returned to the shop to the sound of Johnny calling out,Get me a beer, woman.

Rafael chuckled and headed straight for Johnny’s cage.

Gisele walked to the back of the shop to the storage room where she retrieved a scoop of bird seed. When she came out, she found Rafael with his hand in Johnny’s cage, feeding him the mango. He laid the fruit on the floor.

She shook her head, “Are you sure you don’t have Cajun magic in your blood?”

“Not that I know of.”

“Here, you can put the feed in his dish.” She handed him the scoop and watched as Johnny stood by and let him fill the bowl.

As Rafael pulled his hand out of the cage, Johnny flapped his wings.

Cheeky bastard.

“I really need to work on his vocabulary,” Gisele said.

“I don’t know,” Rafael secured the door and paused to study the parrot. “It’s colorful like him. I kind of like his phrases.”

Johnny spread his wings as if showing off his flamboyant plumage as he squawked,He’s a keeper.

“That’s right.” Rafael glanced at Gisele. “You heard the bird. He tells it like it is.”

Gisele smiled. If only he would allow himself to be a keeper.

Johnny was on a roll.You break it, you buy it, asshole.

This phrase struck closer to home. If she allowed her heart to be broken, she owned it. She’d have no one to blame but herself.

She really needed to talk with her grand-mère. Maybe she could steer her in the right direction in matters of the heart.

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