‘Here? Now?’ she teased in an attempt to distract him.
‘At any time,’ Raffa said, emphatically. ‘I’m not so busy that you’ll have to come to bed to talk to me.’
‘If that’s what it takes,’ she murmured, resting her cheek against his warm, hard chest.
‘I love that you stop at nothing,’ Raffa admitted on a smile. ‘But if there’s something you want to say, I’m listening.’
Like Rose’s fear that her father’s condition might worsen suddenly? Loyalty to her family prevented her from saying more. ‘Nope. I think you’ve covered it.’
‘I’d rather cover you,’ Raffa growled as he tumbled Rose on to her back.
Resting on her elbow, Rose watched Raffa sleep. She marvelled at how close they’d become. That was a precious memory to keep safe when their very different worlds split them apart.
A ping on her phone distracted her. Reality had come calling in the form of a text from her brother Declan.
Reading it, she frowned.
Go home now, Rose. You’re needed in Ireland.
Rose typed furiously.
Where r u, Dec?
Rome. But Dad needs help right now—before I can get there.
Everything inside Rose tensed. Whatever had happened must be bad.
What’s happened?
It’s serious, Rose. Only you can drop everything and go right away.
Whether she agreed with that last statement or not, there was no point wishing things were different. She had to leave now. A few more exchanges with her brother proved even more alarming. It turned out that their father was currently cooling his heels in a police cell after rampaging out of control.
Pressing her lips together until they hurt stopped the tears. Everything she had to lose was right here in this room. Tonight was nothing more than stolen time, an indulgence she couldn’t afford. Rose’s father couldn’t look after himself, and both she and Raffa could. That didn’t mean that the affection, the laughter, the trust and the care they’d shared meant nothing. She’d never forget it.
Never.
But there was no time for tears—no time for anything but booking a ticket to Ireland.
Don’t worry, Dec. I’m on my way.
CHAPTER SEVEN
WITHTHEFAIRYTALEwell and truly over, Rose slipped out of bed, grateful that Raffa slept on while she debated what to do. Should she wake him and tell him the news? Didn’t he have enough on his plate? Leaving a note was better, she decided, but how to explain in a few dry words what last night had meant to her? There weren’t enough words—or enough time, she realised with a glance at her watch.
Hunting around, she found pen and paper in the nightstand, and wrote a quick note.
Please forgive me. I didn’t want to disturb you. A text from my brother says there’s trouble at home. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. In touch as soon as possible. R
A member of the crew, accustomed to ferrying strangers of one ilk or another, took her to shore in one of the small, fast boats stored in the hull of the superyacht. From there it would be a cab ride to the airport, and a swift journey home. Fretting as she stared back at the sleek, shadowy form of thePegasus, Rose wished she’d said thank you on the note to Raffa for the opportunities he’d given her...for everything.
She should have known the roller-coaster ride she’d seen her parents take was pretty much the same for everyone. Tightening her hands around the frigid steel rail, she determined to find her way back to the upside of that ride. Wallowing in self-pity was a complete and utter waste of time. What she needed now was resolve and the strength to turn things around.
If you’ll have me back once I’ve found a solution for my father, I’ll see you in Spain.
She cast this thought into the wind whipping her hair about, which was about as effective as trying to stem the tears pouring down her face. Action was what was needed now.
A curse of regret, of frustration, of determination, flew out of her mouth. Knuckling her eyes, she stemmed the tears. No way would she stop searching, until she found the answer for her father’s addiction, and a way forward for herself.
