He gave a curt nod, attempting not to show her the full force of his relief.
“I’ll have to get changed, obviously.” A spark of something shined in her eyes, mischief or joy, he didn’t know, but Rafael tried not to think about how much it thrilled him to see that spark.
“You could wear your hamster pajamas. I wouldn’t judge you.”
Grace shook her head. “I know you, and I think you would.”
Rafael grasped his chest with a dramatic flair. “What must you think of me, Graciela? I love hamster pajamas.”
“Oh really? Even for fancy dinners with travel writers?”
He grinned at her. “You’d still look beautiful.”
Grace’s smile faltered, and Rafael wanted to kick himself.Shit.Why would he say that? He was going to freak her out. She was going to run for the hills.
“I’ll be right back,” she said, and she rushed for the door to her bedroom, leaving him alone to scold himself. She was beautiful, but that didn’t mean he should say it out loud. It was too dangerous. He needed to get ahold of himself.
She wasn’t making it easy for him, though. When she emerged from her room just a short time later, Rafael glanced up to find her in a silky blue dress that clung to her curves like plastic wrap. Her cheeks and lips were tinted pink, and everything about her seemed so inviting, it seemed a crime that he couldn’t casually touch her—sweeping loose strands of hair from her face or curling his arm around her waist.
“Rafael?” she asked, and he realized he’d been staring, though he couldn’t be sure how much time had passed. “Ready to go?”
He shook himself and tried to offer her a casual smile. “Yes,” he coughed out. “Vamos.”
The travel writer was already seated at the table with her fiancé when Grace and Rafael arrived. They were pressed up against each other on the same side of the table, and Rafael realized for the first time how awkward the whole situation could be. This happy couple would be sitting there touching each other while he tried not to think about Grace’s lips, about the way she might have leaned toward him the night before, about how she’d run off as fast as she could the moment he’d said the wordbeautiful.
The couple stood up as he and Grace approached and greeted them warmly. “You must be Rafael.” The writer’s smile was wide and bright. “I’m Nora, and this is Julian, my fiancé.”
Rafael held out a hand. “A pleasure to meet you both. This is Grace, my—um?—”
Nora waited, her eyes going back and forth between them.
“It’s complicated,” Grace jumped in. “We kind of live together, and we kind of work together, but not really. And he’s my best friend’s brother.”
Rafael narrowed his eyes. He didn’t know why Grace felt the need to offer that much information to strangers.
“Oh,” Nora said, clearly confused.
Julian was grinning beside her, as if this explanation made perfect sense to him. They all took their seats, and Julian leaned over to Nora. “I remember when I didn’t know how I should introduce you to people,” he mumbled, and Nora’s expression suddenly changed to one of understanding. She looked back to Grace and Rafael with even more interest.
Great, she definitely assumed they were sleeping together.
“You’re American, Grace?” Nora asked. “Where are you from?”
A soft pink blush spread across Grace’s face, as if she was embarrassed by the attention. “I am American,” she said. “I think that’s mostly why I’m here, so that I could meet a fellow countrywoman. I’m from Chicago.”
Nora raised a hand. “New York. Upstate, though. Not the city.”
“Oh, I’ve never been there before.” Grace seemed to relax slightly, warming to the conversation. “I’m more of a city person, but I could be convinced to check it out.”
Nora grinned. “You should definitely visit the area sometime. It’s wonderful.” She nudged the man beside her. “Right, Julian?”
“Of course,” he agreed, leaning in toward his fiancée. “One of my favorite places to visit.”
“And where are you from, Julian?” Rafael asked, jumping into the conversation rather than continuing to gape at the couple’s easy affection. This felt so much like a double date, and Rafael needed a drink. Why had Christian wanted him to bring Grace along? Why had Rafael agreed to it?
“The UK,” he said with a smile. “London, specifically. I’ve lived there my whole life.”
“I’ve never been there either!” Grace chirped. “Always wanted to, though. How did you two meet, then?”
