Page 25 of Hidden Raphael
He nodded and studied the book in her hand. "So tell me how badly you ruined your life."
She shrugged and placed the book on the seat again. "I thought I met the love of my life the day after I graduated high school. Mom insisted I go to college in the fall, but I couldn't." She swallowed and shook her head. "Peter, that was the boy's name, bought a ticket to China and begged me to come with him."
"China?" He blinked then sipped his wine. "Some parts are nice. Others are not."
"I cashed in what was supposed to be my college fund and joined him." She closed her eyes to avoid his stare, savoring the crisp, dry white wine. "Three months later, we were in Thailand, and he wanted more than just me."
A warm, calloused hand covered hers. "What?"
She inhaled the smell of cedar and pine then stared into his intense, deep gaze. "He wanted a threesome with some prostitute. I was appalled. I felt betrayed, and I left."
"You did what you thought was right and walked away."
"He dumped me in the middle of the street when I said no, and went back inside to get what he paid for."
"Do you need me to kill him?"
Her hands went into circles and she shook her head. "Water under the bridge at this point, but thanks."
“Do you often do that meditation stuff?”
“Of course. It helped me figure myself out.”
"If you figured yourself out, why didn't you go home?"
"It was a huge fight when I left, emptying my joint bank account with Mom." She tilted her head. "Mom worked hard all her life to ensure I had it better."
"She'd have forgiven you." He massaged the palm of her hand. "You're a good person."
She swallowed and gazed at him. She was a work in progress at best. "So are you."
He tugged his hand back and shook his head. "Let's drink."
"Don't change the subject. What happened to you?"
He shook his head. "The less you know about me, the safer you'll feel."
"There is a killer outside the castle." She tried to smile, but it faltered. "I can't go anywhere, and I am a good listener."
He took a deep breath and silence clung in the air. She stared at his dark-stubbled cheeks and chin and avoided his gaze to not threaten him. Then he exhaled, breaking the quiet. She glanced up and he nodded. "I almost caused the death of my brother."
"What?" She leaned back, setting down her glass of wine. "How? You can't just say stuff like that then not say the rest."
"You don't want to know."
"I do."
"His wife was in love with me." He briefly closed his eyes. "It wasn't love. That's the wrong word. Obsessed is better."
"His wife was obsessed with you?" The blonde in the picture? The size zero? Kimberly read the anxiety on Raphael's face. "Please tell me."
He shook his head and his cheeks were red. "She framed him for murder, and I was why."
Her entire body stilled. Murder. That word swam around her for days. "Raphael, what else?"
"Can we forget this conversation?"
"No." Her heart beat in her chest. "I won't judge you. It's the distant past."
