“She and my father…their relationship was a bit of a whirlwind.”
“How did they meet?”
“They met here. In Brazil. My father was—” Rafa stopped himself. “My father was here on business. My mother was helping him on a project, and they fell in love. She got pregnant. And, well, you know the rest.”
“And not even a picture?”
“Nope. Though my father told me once that I remind him of her.”
“I bet she was beautiful.” The statement slipped out, and Miri bit back her tongue.
“Oh yeah? Why’s that? Because you think I’m beautiful?” he asked, like a fox ready to trap its prey.
“No!” she blurted out as her cheeks reddened. “I was just…I mean…I assumed…you know…”
He smiled as she tried to backpedal. “So then youdon’tthink I’m beautiful?”
“I mean, I do, or, no. I mean, you’re handsome. But I…I…I mean, yes. If your dad says you look like her, then she must have been incredibly beautiful. Or your dad, I don’t know. Maybe he’s a hunk—”
“A hunk?” Rafa burst out laughing.
“What?” She looked at him, confused.
“Do people still say that? Call men ‘hunks’?”
She stifled a smile and shoved his arm. “Shut up. Quit messing with me. Hot old men are hunks. It’s an apt word in the right situation.”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” he said. “I couldn’t help myself.”
“Okay, hardy har.” She pursed her lips, trying her damnedest to keep her smile at bay, but there was no disputing that she found the situation just as entertaining as he did. “Well, thank you for sharing that with me. I’m sure it can’t be easy to talk about it.”
“You’re honestly the only person I’ve ever told about it.”
“Really?”
He nodded. “This may come as a surprise to you, Pringles, but this job doesn’t exactly lend itself to lasting lifelong friendships. Aside from my editor, the only person I talk to on a regular basis is my dad. And we don’t talk about my mom.”
“You should tell him how you feel,” she said.
Rafa shook his head. “I can barely talk to him about wanting to write novels.” He let out a half-hearted laugh.
“Do you not get along?”
“No, we get along great. He’s my biggest supporter. He’ll do anything for me. But…” Rafa paused. “There are certain things we just don’t discuss. My mom is top of the list.”
Miri furrowed her brow. “Do anything for you except support you in the career you choose and talk to you about your mother when it’s clearly important to you?”
Rafa stared at her for a moment as if analyzing what she’d just said, and then threw his head back, closing his eyes.
Oh shit. “I’m sorry,” Miri quickly said. “I…I shouldn’t be butting into your family business.” She jumped up and brushed the dirt off her clothes. “We should probably head back to base camp,” she said, rushing to the vine Rafa had used to climb down and giving it a swift tug. If it could hold Rafa’s sturdy body, then it should certainly be able to handle hers. She wrapped one hand around the thick vine then propped her footup high in front of her for leverage. “If we hurry, we should make it back before—” she said as she started to lift herself up.
But Rafa stopped her, placing his hand over hers on the vine. His gaze focused on hers with his eyes narrowed. She’d really done it this time. Put her foot in her mouth one time too many.
“Rafa, I’m—”
“Thank you,” he said, cutting her off.
She blinked. Wait? What?
