And then Rafi’s face returned.He looked at her and it was obvious that he was walking out of the room.“There.You’ve seen who I’m with and that there are no naked women with me.Just a bunch of contracts that we’re trying to get out of.”He paused and closed the door, and then dropped his voice a little.“Now, tell me what you’re wearing.”
Carys’s heart ached.“You’re not with someone else?”she whispered, her tone too hopeful.
“No, honey.I’m not.”He paused, his eyes lighting up.“But I like that you’re jealous.”He chuckled softly, shaking his head.“You’re such a mystery.I never know what you’re thinking.You’ve been so hesitant to define exactly what’s going on between us.”
“I just…!”she began, then thought better of it and clamped her mouth shut.
His sexy smile made her heart flutter wildly.“You missed me.And are worried because we haven’t defined our relationship.”
Well.That wasn’t what she’d thought he’d say!“You’re not going to break up with me because I’m jealous?”she asked, her voice cracking.
His gaze softened.“Honey, is that what you were expecting?”
Carys didn’t know what she was trying to ask.Even through the haze of wine, she knew that she was being irrational.“I’m sorry!Just…let’s just pretend that I didn’t answer this call and…well, I have to get ready for work tomorrow.”
He chuckled.“Back to the careful Carys again, eh?”he teased.“Fine.But when I get back to Philly, we’re going to have a long conversation.”
“No!”she gasped, shaking her head.But the wine wasn’t helping her balance and she had to stop.“No need for a conversation.Everything is fine.I’m just…weird.”
He didn’t acknowledge that statement.He looked at her through the cell phone’s camera, his eyes stern.“I’m flying back tonight, Carys.We’ll get things sorted out right after, okay?”
Rafi didn’t wait for a response.He ended the call.For a long moment, Carys continued to stare into the black screen, wondering what she’d just revealed to Rafi.
“No!”she whispered, carefully setting the wine back on her coffee table, which took extra effort since her fingers were trembling so badly.“This is bad!”
Chapter 13
Carys walked into the office the following morning, not sure what to expect.Her head ached from the wine last night and it occurred to her that the wine she shared with Rafi never left her with a hangover.She’d have to ask him about that – if she ever decided to face him again.Going on a jealous rampage was so unlike her.However, falling for a guy as hard as she’d fallen for Rafi also wasn’t anything like her.She kept her dates at a distance.She never became emotionally involved with the men in her life.She enjoyed their company, but then left them with a kiss and a wave goodbye.
What was it about Rafi that was so…different?Other than how he was shockingly handsome and dynamic, so powerful and fascinating!
An unexpected noise made her jump, but it was just a co-worker coming in to start the work day.Darn it, she wasn’t concentrating.
Suddenly, a meeting request popped up on her screen.She stared at it, her stomach tightening when she realized that it was sent by Rafi’s assistant.Apparently, he wanted an update on the progress with the new marketing campaign.And he wanted it in less than ten minutes!
Thankfully, over the past few weeks, Carys had been diligent in formatting the story boards and the scripts, so she was ready to present her ideas to him.Tanya and Dave stopped by her cubicle.“Did you get the meeting request?”Tanya asked snidely.
“Yep,” Carys replied, piling all of her materials into her arms.“Where is this meeting?”
Tanya reached out.“I’ll help you carry everything to the conference room.Looks like you’re weighed down with all of that stuff.”
Carys knew Tanya’s tactics all too well and half turned away.“That’s okay.I’ve got it.”When her boss frowned at her, Carys explained, “Everything is sort of tied together.”She nodded toward the stack.“It’s like a Jenga pile.Pull one thing out and everything will topple.”Or more accurately, the assistant director would take credit for Carys’s work.
“Whatever,” the irritated woman snapped, then turned, heading for the conference room.
Carys noticed that Tanya fluffed her hair and pressed her lips together as she walked, as if she were trying to refresh her lipstick.Had the woman popped open another button on her blouse?
“Are you ready?”Dave demanded in a low hiss.
Tanya sniffed.“That pile of stuff is what she’s been working on, apparently.”Then she walked through the door, her hips swaying a bit more than usual.
With a disgusted shake of her head, Carys followed her bosses into the conference room.
Rafi walked in right after them, carrying a cup of coffee and a leather notebook.His assistant followed with his tablet.Did the guy ever have anything other than that electronic device?She doubted it.But the man didn’t talk much, just took prolific notes, so Carys wasn’t going to be bothered by him.
Then something occurred to her.The rumors about layoffs had died down slightly, but there were still whispers.Was Rafi’s assistant evaluating each employee’s value to the company?Was he taking notes on that tablet, making lists of possible people to be laid off?
Banishing the thought, she sorted through her story boards and scripts, trying not to look at Rafi.But the need to see him, to look him in the eyes and find out if he was disgusted by last night’s jealous tirade, was too much.When she finally looked up at him, Carys’s cheeks burned since Rafi was staring right at her with a look in his eyes that she recognized.It was the same look he gave her whenever he was about to tear her clothes off.
