“The gingerbread houses are back at Araceli’s apartment,” he said. “There’s nothing wrong with them. This ruse was her idea.”
“But…why? I don’t understand.”
“Because I fucked up. I shouldn’t have let you go.”
As the tears welled up in her eyes, she made no move to wipe them away. One trailed down her cheek until she could taste the salty wetness on her tongue. “You had every right to. I behaved terribly.”
“But you apologized and got us our jobs back.” He took her hands and enfolded them in his. “You professed your love for me in front of my whole family. Which is something they’renevergoing to let me forget.”
Even though his tone was teasing rather than accusatory, a warm flush crept up her cheeks. “Sorry. I was trying for a grand gesture, but it was a stupid idea.”
“It wasn’t stupid. It was gutsy as hell.”
“But now your family thinks I’m an idiot.”
He laughed. “The only idiot in that room was me. Believe me, they called me on it. The minute you left, I realized how wrong I was. I ran after you, but you’d already driven away.”
“A girl can only take so much humiliation.” His words filled her with a swell of hope, but they didn’t explain the past twelve hours of silence. “Why didn’t you call me? Or send a text?”
“I was going to, but…” He gave her a disarming smile. “Certain family members reminded me we didn’t need any distractions. Then Araceli suggested my apology might be more meaningful in person. She’s the one who came up with the gingerbread house idea. If I asked you to meet me outright, I was afraid you’d turn me down, which I fully deserved. I could have waited until after the wedding, but I wanted to see you now.”
Her heart started racing.Please let him feel the way I do.
She could barely control the waver in her voice. “Why now?”
He squeezed her hands. “Because when you’re in love with someone, you don’t want to wait another second to tell them how you feel.”
“You’re in love with me?” Try as she might, the tears just kept coming, until she had to free her hands and brush them away.
He leaned in closer and kissed her forehead. “Yes. And I want to be with you. But not in secret. I want everyone to know about us.”
A giggle bubbled out of her. “Umm…after that scene at the restaurant, it seems like they already do. But I agree. No more secrets.”
“Even though your father might not approve?”
“I don’t care what he thinks. This is my life, not his. That’s one of the reasons I moved out. I’m done letting him control me.” Saying the words lifted a huge weight off her chest. Now that she was free, she could truly be with Rafael.
“You really left?” he asked.
More than ever, she was proud of the stance she’d taken. “I did. I’m staying with Connor, but once the holidays are over, I’ll get a place of my own. Then you can sleep over anytime you like.”
He gave her a wicked smile. “And vice versa. Except you’ll have to be quiet when you’re at my place. I don’t want Ernesto and Dario to get an earful.”
She laughed, relieved at being back on familiar ground. “Have you forgotten who won the Quiet Game?”
“Not at all. But I think we need a rematch.”
He leaned down to kiss her, softly teasing her lips with his. She tasted chilies and cinnamon on his tongue, sweet and spicy, as he deepened the kiss. Smoothing her hair from her face, he placed soft kisses on her eyelids, her cheeks, the curve of her jaw. As he trailed his lips down the hollow of her throat, she moaned and threaded her fingers through his hair. A blaze of longing shot through her, and it was all she could do not to grind up against him.
When they broke apart for air, her heart pounded wildly. She wanted more than kisses. She wanted to be naked in his arms, and she didn’t want to wait until after the wedding. “Come home with me,” she said. “Well, notmyhome. Connor’s place. I’m staying in his guest room.”
Rafael adjusted his jeans, which now bore a telltale bulge. “You sure he won’t mind?”
“Nope. He’s not even home tonight, so we’ll have the place to ourselves. Fair warning, I’m sleeping on the pull-out futon, and it’s not that comfy. But we can be as loud as we want.”
He stroked her cheek. “That’s a very tempting offer, but I’ll have to get up early. And I need a shower.”
At the thought of showering with him, a rush of desire flooded over her. “I could use a shower as well. Would you care to join me?”
