Page 83 of Keep Her from Them

I followed his instructions, though my focus was entirely scattered by his proximity.

I giggled. “I’m doing a bad job.”

Raphael tutted, joining our hands to show me how to use the spoon. “Can’t drive, can’t cook. What am I going to do with ye?”

I shivered at his low tones meant just for me. “I can think of a few things.”

His grip on my hands tightened, and a thrill passed through me.

“Uh-oh, I was just going to say that Jackson and I will clean up after dinner since you cooked, but I’m going to need to take a picture.” Across the counter, Ariel held up her phone. “Permission, please. Not for sharing. I just want to show you what you look like right now.”

Raphael gazed down at me, and I gave him a nod. He lifted his chin at his sister. “Take the shot.”

She did, then held up the screen to show us. I gazed at our image. Raphael in a short-sleeved black button-up shirt with his dark hair in a tumble over his forehead, bracketing me in the pretty white summer dress I’d worn to impress his family. Both of us were smiling softly under the warm kitchen light. We looked like a couple.

We looked like we were in love.

Ariel grinned. “See? The moment needed capturing. Raph, I’ll send it to you.”

She left us, and Raphael released me with a mutter about getting everyone fed so we could leave. I pressed my lips together and got on with wrangling the ginger into shape.

In thirty minutes, we were eating, the conversation flowing about the extreme sports business that Effie ran and Ariel worked for. Like his brother, Gabe was a pilot so had stories of flying and mountain rescue work that Raphael would eventually sign up to as well. I traded their tales for tidbits of royal life, keeping it to the fun stuff, and with no one pushing for anything salacious, like my mother would’ve done.

Under the table, Raphael held my hand.

This wasnice. Grown-up. I’d gone from boarding school to uni, with Dori my only real constant, and a party animal attitude we hadn’t grown out of.

I’d had my artwork, until I’d quit it like it was a poison. But in this moment, glancing at a happy and relaxed Raphael at my side, laughing at something his brother was saying, I wanted nothing more than to grab a sketchbook and draw him, then commit the moment to canvas.

A groan came from across the table. Effie dropped her fork and clutched her stomach.

Gabe quirked a dark eyebrow. “I’m calling it. It was six minutes ago that ye last did that. It’s time.” His gaze took us all in. “It is, isn’t it?”

Ariel’s eyes rounded. “None of us have kids. How would we know? But yeah, get that girl to the hospital. Pretty sure your baby is on its way.”

As one, everyone shifted to action, gathering up an ashen Effie and retrieving a bag to go with her and Gabe. Outside, Gabe carefully helped his wife into the car.

She paused with one hand to the doorframe. “Raph, it’s going to be okay.”

Raphael schooled his features into a relaxed mask, but I’d seen what was there before, and it surprised me.

Fear.

In the rush to leave, I hadn’t noticed anything other than his quick movements and his help for his sister-in-law, but Raphael was scared.

He faked a smile. “Of course it will be. Go have that bairn, and keep us updated.”

Effie gave him one last look then let Gabe load her into the car, then they disappeared off into the night, the turnaround so fast it almost made my head spin.

I faced Raphael. His stress had returned, played out on his taut features, his jaw locked and his focus on the retreating taillights of the car. Shadows seemed to crowd around him.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

Ariel twisted around and took in her brother. “Oh no. Stop it.”

His gaze flicked to her, but he didn’t answer. The siblings glowered at each other, apparently having a conversation without words.

Jackson glanced between them. “No one’s going to know. The birth isn’t going to be announced or publicised anywhere.”

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