Page 16 of Pivot Point

“Of course you aren’t.” I grinned back at him and then struck a modelesque pose. “So what do you think of my full disguise?”

His gaze swept over my face, leaving my skin tingling in its wake. There was analytical precision to it, but also a heat in his eyes that he didn’t attempt to suppress.

I’d been longing to see that kind of desire in him for so long. It was hard to believe he was finally offering it.

“You know how to pull off an extreme look like that,” he said. “You’ll be drawing lots of eyes, but I don’t see how anyone from the old life will recognize you. I think you look best as yourself, but this is a good shield.”

I think you look best as yourself.Had he ever expressed any opinion about my appearance before?

The guys at the clubs had preferred flashy Lou. But Rafael had known me for all the most important parts of my life—and he’d finally decided that he wanted me. No pretenses, just as I was.

He finally recognized the woman I’d become instead of only seeing the girl I’d been.

A flutter passed through my chest, and for a second I lost my words. “Well, I’m glad to have your approval.”

The corner of Rafael’s mouth quirked upward into something more like a full smile. “Lou, you know I’ve nevernotthought you were gorgeous.”

The flutter grew into full-out beating wings. I swallowed thickly and tipped my head toward the bathroom.

“I don’t really need the disguise right now. Just wanted to try it out. Help me get all this crap off so I can go back to being myself?”

I could have washed up by myself, but I wanted to see if he’d agree. And, okay, I also appreciated the excuse to have him with me in the tighter space.

We stood next to the sink, and I poured out some of the remover onto a cloth. Then I offered it to him and tilted up my face with my eyes closed so he could ensure every trace of shadow and liner was wiped away.

Rafael brushed the damp fabric over my skin so gently my heart skipped a beat. My pulse kept thumping faster, every inch of my body aware of his closeness, the heat of his brawny body.

He set his other hand on the side of my neck, his thumb braced carefully against my jaw while he wiped off the other eye. My breath caught, and he paused.

His voice came out rough. “I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?”

“No,” I said, hearing my own voice gone husky. “It’s just… nice, having someone take care of me. You’ve always been good at that.”

“Not that you need all that much taking care of anymore,” he said dryly. “You’re very capable of doing it yourself, as you like to prove on a daily basis.”

I wrinkled my nose at his teasing. “Yes, I absolutelycanlook after myself. But that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy having help.”

“Well, you have it. As long as you want me. I can’t think of a job I’d rather do than protecting you.”

More heat unfurled under my skin. When he lowered the cloth, my eyes slid open.

Rafael met my gaze, both of us unspeaking. I took another cloth to wipe off my mouth and the foundation I’d laid over my forehead, cheeks, and chin. Then I lifted my face again.

“All done?”

“All done.”

I set the cloth on the sink and wet my lips. Rafael’s gaze tracked the movement. Every nerve in my body was screaming at me to throw myself into his arms.

Instead, I set my hand on his chest. Just testing, to see how he’d respond. The last time—the only time—we’d kissed before, my stalker had interrupted us. I wasn’t really sure how to pick up where we’d left off.

His thumb stroked over my cheek, lighting flames in its wake. “Lou…”

“You like me best like this?” I asked, gazing up at him.

There was no mistaking the fire burning in his eyes. “Siempre.”Always.

“Then why don’t you show me just how much you do?”

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