Page 26 of Rafael

YaYa frowned. “I still think you need that security system. I’d have one installed here, but I don’t have anything to steal but yoga pants, matts and refreshing drinks. And I don’t live above my shop. So, if someone breaks into my shop I’m not at risk. They can take whatever they want. That’s what insurance is for.” She grinned. “But now that Mr. Hot and Dangerous lives above the studio, I think I’m set. I’m sure no burglar in his right mind would tempt the beast.” She winked at Rafael.

Rafael gave his landlord a serious nod. “I’ll sleep with one eye open.”

“The good thing is that the window in the studio apartment overlooks your shop and apartment.” YaYa pointed to a window on the second floor.

Gisele had never paid attention to the apartment over the yoga studio. No one had occupied the apartmentin the three years since she’d lived there. YaYa had a cottage on the bayou and preferred to keep business and home life separate.

The window in the neighboring apartment hadn’t been an issue. Gisele studied it now. It was directly across from the window to her bedroom. If she left her blinds up, he could look right into her bedroom.

“Isn’t that convenient?” YaYa smiled. “Until you get that security system installed, Rafael can keep an eye on your place as well as mine.”

Gisele swallowed hard, refusing to look at Rafael’s grinning countenance.

What fresh hell had she landed in?

CHAPTER 6

Rafael almost laughedat the play of emotions on Gisele’s face when YaYa pointed out the window in his apartment that faced the window in hers. The window in his new digs was in his bedroom. Having been through her place now twice, he knew exactly which window faced his.

Also, her bedroom.

His groin tightened. Not that she’d leave the blinds open while she undressed or anything. But knowing she was close enough he could throw a rock and easily hit her building stirred his blood more than he cared to admit, especially to her.

He recognized panic as the final emotion that flitted across her face before she schooled it into a mask a professional poker player would be proud of.

As far as he was concerned, her panic was good.

For him.

She’d practically thrown him out of her shop that morning after he’d teased her with the promise of a kiss and brushed his thumb across her lip instead. That move must have made an impression on her.

His jubilance sobered slightly.

Unless she viewed his attention as sexual harassment and was afraid he’d push his advances on her even more aggressively now that he was living across from her.

The last thing he wanted was to make Gisele afraid of him or uncomfortable in his presence. He wanted her to come to him willingly with the passion he sensed burning barely beneath her surface.

Or was he projecting what he felt on the woman? He struggled to contain his passion whenever she was around.

It had taken over a year to rebuild his confidence and any trust in his ability to attract a woman. He chalked that up to the fallout of his fiancée leaving him for the maid of honor.

Yeah, women readily responded to his appearance, but he didn’t trust any of them or his own judgment. He’d failed colossally once. He’d be damned if it happened again.

Rafael hadn’t spent much time with any one woman since, as disinclined as he was to let one get close.

There were plenty who were still willing when hewas upfront that he didn’t come with strings and that he had no intention of committing to a relationship.

If a woman didn’t want his attentions—which was never the case—he would simply move on.

Then why couldn’t he let go of this one?

When he’d kissed her the night before, she’d been surprised, but she’d leaned into him as if she’d wanted more. When he’d tempted her with the near-kiss that morning, he could swear she’d swayed toward him. Though he hadn’t actually kissed her, her lips had puckered ever so slightly when his thumb had brushed across them.

Still, she’d shown him the door and told him she didn’t need him anymore.

Would that make him a stalker if he didn’t take the hint? Should he back down and leave her alone?

Gisele held out a padded envelope to YaYa. “I actually came over to give you this package. The delivery driver dropped it one building short.” Gisele gave YaYa a tight smile, threw a quick glance his way without actually meeting his eyes and turned toward her shop. “I’d better get back to work. Congrats on the added clients.”

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