Page 20 of The Dark Obsession

The houses have grown scarce when Rafael finally answers. “Not really.” He pulls in front of a small restaurant just outside of town. Lights and vines travel up the building, making it a deep shade of green.

The bitter wind hits my shoulders, slithering a gentle shiver down my spine.

The valet opens my door, and Rafael’s already outside the car, holding out his hand. “Watch your head, Rosalie,” he says monotonously with an unmistakable smirk.

I slide as carefully as possible out the car, my focus on the manoeuvre in these heels and this dress.The Rivierais lit in bright white writing across the top of the petit building. The glass doors emit a bright white glow onto the dark floor below.

He gestures for me to enter first as he pulls the door open.

“Table for two?” the waitress asks, her eyes on Rafael.

Several white-clothe tables for two comprise the little Spanish-inspired restaurant. Yellow and red flags, little statues of bulls, and various sunsets on golden beaches hang neatly on the pale grey walls. The sound of a beautifully romantic Spanish guitar tickles my ears as the waitress guides us to a table in the corner alongside a large window looking onto a fast-flowing and deep river. The setting sun is nowhere to be seen through the thunderous clouds forming overhead.

“Red please,” I hear Rafael say to the waitress.

Rafael holds a chair out for me. “Sit,”

“I never knew this restaurant existed,” I mention, still taking in my surroundings.

“Yes, not many people do. People, they only see what is right in front of them, instead of looking into the distance.” His deep, slow voice calls my attention.

He hangs his suit jacket on his chairback. I watch his work-worn hands loosen his black tie and unbutton the top four buttons on his light-purple shirt. My eyes narrow in on a bright white scar stretched across his chest, which is only revealed for seconds as his hand brushes across his collar. I refocus on his face, the high cheekbones, and the bouncy curls.

“I hope you like red wine.” His eyes lock onto mine.

“Well, who doesn’t?” I giggle and ramble on. “I couldn’t imagine a world without wine, or whisky for that matter.”

His grin disappears as my phone rings. He gestures for me to take the call.

“Dale?” I answer.

“Rosalie, why are you in a restaurant with another man?” His voice echoes down the phone.

Rafael scans the darkness outside the window.

“It’s my boss, Dale. How the hell do you know, anyway?”

I keep my eyes on Rafael. He bends down to mess with his shoelace, but I know he’s listening.

“I came to surprise you at your house and watched you get into his Lexus.” His voice gets quieter. “Well, I’ll see you later, Rosa.”

My heart pulsates out of its cavity as the phone goes silent. I drop it on the table. “Sorry.” I raise a glass of wine to my lips and drink the lot.

“I thought you weren’t that serious with him yet.”

“I’m not. I have no idea why he’d follow me here. Maybe he’s got the wrong idea of me and him,” I say, more to myself than to Rafael.

He refills my glass and slides it to me. My phone beeps, and Rafael turns his face, his eyebrow raised.

“BTW, you look sexy in that dress. Can’t wait to rip it off you. Dale.”

I read the text, my cheeks filling with heat.

Rafael turns back, his face tense, his hand that was resting on the table now balled into a fist. “Okay, Rosalie, let’s just drink. I’ll drop you off at Dale’s soon.”

“I didn’t mean for this, Ra—”

“Don’t. We can arrange another one, sort this out first.” He waves his hand over my phone, then signals for the check.

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