“I saved a photo of it. To remind me of who I was.” She passed him her phone.
As much as he was growing to loathe this predatory French douchebag, the painting was exquisite. The woman lying on the bed appeared both innocent and seductive, enticing the viewer in a way that wasn’t remotely pornographic. “It’s beautiful. He really captured you.”
“I thought so, too. Two weeks later, when the semester ended, we said our goodbyes. It wasn’t that hard because I hadn’t fallen in love with him.” She finally met Rafael’s eyes, giving him a glimpse of the pain she’d suffered. “Leaving you in Baja was much harder.”
God, if that didn’t hit him right where it counted, knowing her feelings had equaled his.
If he wasn’t careful, he’d fall for her all over again. Not that he could let himself. No matter how much she shared with him tonight, he didn’t belong in her world, and they both knew it.
He poured the frothy candy-cane-flavored beverage into two martini glasses and passed one her way. Not to his taste, but the mocktail version used cream soda, and Missy seemed like a cream soda type.
She took a sip and stuck out her tongue. “Yuck. Too pepperminty. And creamy. But Missy might love it.”
“That’s what I was thinking.” He took their glasses and dumped them out. By now, the back counter was lined with used glassware. But since he’d only consumed the mojito and half of the old-fashioned, he still felt sober.
Victoria stood and wrapped her arms around herself. Facing away from him, she kept her voice low. “This is the part where everything went south. When my semester in France ended, I moved back home. I planned to spend the summer working at Blackwood Cellars until it was time to go back to UCLA in September. But two weeks later, my father called me into his office. He showed me an envelope full of photos, sent from France. Nude photos.”
Rafael’s stomach plummeted. That sick fuck.
Her voice shook. “I was so humiliated. Especially since my father insisted I tell him everything. That wasn’t even the worst part. Henri wanted my father to wire him a hundred thousand dollars. In return, he’d send us the negatives. If we refused, he’d make copies of the photos and send them to the tabloids. Or post them online. I might not have been a celebrity, but I was still the daughter of a rich, powerful CEO.”
“I’m sorry.” The words seemed inadequate, considering what Victoria had endured. He couldn’t imagine how devastating it must have been.
“I felt so betrayed. Right from the start, I’d told Henri who I was. He even teased me about my family’s company because he had such a low opinion of American wine. But I never thought he’d use it against me.” She hunched her shoulders together, drawing in on herself. “I begged my father not to pay him. Even if there was a scandal, it would blow over eventually. And we had no guarantee that Henri wouldn’t ask for more money later on.”
“He could have easily scanned in the photos before he sent them to you.” Not that Rafael wanted to make Victoria feel worse, but the situation was heavily weighted in Henri’s favor.
“I said as much. But all my father cared about was our family’s reputation and his political connections.”
“He didn’t try calling the cops? Or hiring a private detective to track this guy down?” With all his money, her father could have hired an entire fleet of detectives.
“No. He couldn’t stand the thought of letting anyone else know. So he wired the money to Henri. Two weeks later, the negatives arrived.”
Rafael clenched his hands. Now he definitely needed to visit Paris. Not just for the pastries, but to find Henri and kick his ass. “Did it end there?”
“That was the last we heard from him. But my father still hasn’t forgiven me. Nor has he forgotten I owe him a hundred grand.” She sighed. “That’s why I gave you a fake name when I met you in Baja. I wanted to trust you, but I couldn’t. Not after the way Henri used me.”
“I don’t blame you for hiding the truth.” He came around the bar and enfolded her in his arms. Even if he couldn’t fix the past, he could be here for her now.
She sniffed back tears. “I wish I could take it all back. Except…if I hadn’t been so miserable, I never would have run away to Baja. And if I hadn’t gone there, I wouldn’t have met you.”
“Oh, Victoria.” Cupping her face in his hands, he kissed her gently. Softly. To console her and nothing more.
But she pressed her body against his. “Can we take a break from making cocktails and go to my bedroom?”
More than anything, he wanted to make love to her and banish all her fears. To make her realize she wasn’t a cold fish or a prudish schoolgirl. She was a sexy, magical woman who’d touched him in a way no one else ever had. But he didn’t want to take advantage.
“You sure? I know you’re feeling vulnerable right now.”
“Please? I need this. I needyou.”
How could he resist a plea like that? He swept her up in his arms, intending to carry her off to her bedroom. But before he could whisk her away, he set her down. “Hang on. I brought condoms in my overnight bag, and I should grab them first.”
Her mouth curved up in a sly smile. “Perfect. Because we’re definitely going to need them.”
Chapter 22
Victoria lay in Rafael’s arms, basking in the warmth of his body. Recounting the incident with Henri had left her hollow and vulnerable. With anyone else, she might have regretted baring her soul. But Rafael had not only listened to her, he’d done so without judgment. By trusting him with her most painful memory, she’d crossed another line in their relationship.
