“Missy called me a cold fish. Or rather, she said that’s what Ben called me.”
He reached across the bar and placed his hand over hers. “Then he’s an idiot. You’re a sexy, passionate woman.”
“You think so? You’re not just saying that because…”
“Because of this morning? No. I’ve felt that way about you since I first met you.” He set down the glass. “Although…”
Her anxiety spiked at his response. “Although what?”
“You don’t show that side to everyone. There’s poised, professional Victoria and wild, free-spirited Victoria. I count myself lucky to have spent more time enjoying your wilder side.”
“There’s a reason I prefer to operate in professional mode. I want people to respect me.”
“I get it. And I respect that side of you immensely. But the wild side?” He grinned. “That’s the side I dream about. That’s the woman who bested me in the Quiet Game.”
She matched his grin with one of her own. “I did, didn’t I?”
“You did, indeed. We might need a rematch soon. Though not tonight.” He gave her a look that was so thick with lust she felt like she might self-combust. “Tonight, I want to hear you beg. And cry out my name. And make so many sexy, adorable noises that your voice goes hoarse.”
Whew.She fanned herself as her fantasies took free rein.
“Next up, a mistletoe kiss. Cranberry vodka, pineapple juice, and coconut cream. I’m dreading it already.” He mixed up the drink with a finesse she enjoyed watching.
She needed to move past the Ben issue, but she couldn’t stop the words from spilling out. “I realize I’m being irrational about Ben. I shouldn’t care what he thinks. I never should have taken him back after he cheated on me the first time.”
Rafael set down the shaker. “That’s the one thing I don’t understand.Whydid you take him back? He’d obviously shown he couldn’t be trusted.”
She frowned. “I know, but I still wanted to make things work. If I married him, I’d be back in good with my father. He would have erased my debt.”
He divided the drink into two martini glasses and passed one to her. “I realize that. But I think there’s more than you’re letting on.”
The first sip made her shudder, and not in a good way. “Too sweet. And too much coconut. Blech.” She pushed it aside. “No offense.”
“None taken. Coconut should be reserved for tropical drinks. And consumed in tropical locations.”
He was still regarding her intently, like he was waiting for an answer. In Baja, she’d kept things from him. But now, she wasn’t trying to hide who she was. She wanted to be honest.
“When I took Ben back, it wasn’t just about the money. I was still desperate for my father’s approval. I not only cost him thousands of dollars, I completely lost his respect. When he told me he wanted to build his ties with Senator Macalister, I was willing to do whatever it took, even if it meant marrying someone who might not be faithful. I wanted my father to trust me again.”
But she’d disappointed him a second time by losing Ben. Even now, she worried he’d never respect her the way he once had.
“What could you have possibly done to make him think so little of you?” Rafael held up his hand. “Sorry. Not my business. You told me before that you couldn’t talk about it.”
“Because the pain was still so fresh. But that was five years ago.” Now, the memory didn’t hurt as much, although the betrayal still stung, like a cut that had never healed completely.
He collected the martini glasses and dumped the remainder of the mistletoe kiss into the sink. “How bad could it be? It’s not like you posed nude or anything.”
She swallowed, stunned by the accuracy of his guess. “That’s exactly what I did.”
Chapter 21
Rafael stared at her in shock. “I was joking.”
“I wasn’t.” She looked away, drawing her nails along the ridge of the bar.
Guilt stabbed at him. He’d only been trying to lighten the mood, never realizing how closely his words would hit their mark. “You don’t have to talk about it.”
“It might be nice to get it out there. If you’re willing to listen?”
