Page 58 of Rafael

“It’s getting late,” Gisele said. “I need to get to the festival before she leaves.”And before I do something really stupid like fall for this guy.

“Later, Johnny,” Rafael said to the bird.

Johnny flapped and called out after them,Cheeky bastard.

“I think he likes you,” Gisele said as she locked the front door.

“Because he doesn’t bite me?” Rafael asked.

“That, and he keeps calling you cheeky bastard,” Gisele smiled.

“Doesn’t he call everyone that?”

“Not as often as he does with you. I think it’s his love language.”

He grinned and slipped an arm around her waist. “Like yours is chocolate éclairs?”

She smiled and leaned into him. “Every time.” When Rafael was like this, all playful and sweet, shecould forget that he’d warned her he wasn’t into commitment and that, one day soon, he’d move on.

Well, hell. What was the saying?

It was better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

As long as she knew what she was letting herself get into, what would it hurt?

Her heart.

Her NYC douchebag ex-boyfriend had hurt her pride and pissed her off. Losing him hadn’t touched her heart.

How would she feel if she let herself love Rafael and he walked away?

As if someone had kicked her in the gut, ripped her heart out and left her broken and bleeding in a ditch.

She really needed advice.

Her friends had warned her not to get involved.

Maybe her grand-mère would have something better to say…like,go with your heart, even if you know it’ll break.

Rafael led her to his truck parked behind his apartment and handed her up into the passenger seat.

She settled in and buckled her seatbelt.

Rafael climbed into the driver’s seat and drove the short distance to the edge of town where the festival was taking place. He entered the field roped off for parking and followed the ground guides to wherethey wanted him to stop. He parked, got out and hurried around to help Gisele down.

Though she loved her independence, she also loved that he cared enough to make sure she was safe. It might be his job as a Brotherhood Protector, but he did it with the utmost respect and grace.

Once she was on the ground, he reached for her hand and held it as they entered the festival grounds.

“Where will we find the infamous Madam Gautier?” he asked, craning his neck as she searched the array of tents.

“About that…” Gisele squeezed his hand. “She really knows her Voodoo, natural remedies and magic and helps people every way she can. But during the Zydeco Festival, she reads palms and donates the money to the women’s shelter.”

Gisele brought Rafael to a halt in front of a tent made of dark purple velvet with a fanciful sign proclaiming Madam Gautier—Palm Reader and Fortune Teller.

Rafael grinned. “I love it. And it’s for a good cause.”

Gisele sighed. “I want you to meet the woman who raised me. My grand-mère.” She leaned close to the tent door and called out softly. “Are you in there and alone?”

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