Grace glanced back at the dance floor, how the couples were twisting around, spinning and then pressing their bodies together, intertwining their fingers. Dancing required a lot of touching. She wanted to, and she also didn’t. “Sure,” she said, before she’d even decided to say it. It was as if her mouth had made up her mind without consulting her brain.
Rafael raised an eyebrow as if he didn’t quite believe her. “We don’t have to.”
She looked down at her hands and tried to collect her thoughts. It was just a dance. At a work dinner. “No, we should. I like the music.”
He took her hand, and she trailed after him until they joined the other couples. Nora gave her a little nod and another knowing glance, and Grace shrugged as if to sayhe’s too hot to resist.She knew Alma would have disapproved of the whole thing—the dinner and the dancing, the moment when Rafael had placed a hand on her thigh, but Grace forgot all about her promise to heed Alma’s warning when Raf’s palm warmed her hip, when he clutched her fingers and spun her in a circle, when he pressed her back against his front and swayed to the beat.
Was Rafael simply so good at seducing women that you didn’t even realize it was happening until it was too late? Or was he just being polite, asking her to dance because everyone else was doing it, and he was a well-bred gentleman?
He spun her around again and clasped both of her hands in his. Their eyes met, and Grace swallowed, hoping her face wasn’t giving her away. If he tried to kiss her right now, she couldn’t resist. If he tried to kiss her ever again… Well, she probably didn’t need to worry about that anyway. This was all completely platonic, and Raf could have any woman he wanted. Why would he ever get involved in a messy situation with his sister’s mopey best friend?
The song ended too soon, but Rafael didn’t let go of her. He smelled like white wine and lemon. His fingers intertwined with hers. His thumbs pressed against the back of her hands. They continued to look into each other’s eyes, still swaying slightly, while he drew her even closer, inch by inch. He wet his lips, and Grace could hear his ragged breath, could feel his heartbeat. She couldn’t help but wonder if it meant something after all—the way he gripped her hands, the way he stared. The way they lingered like that far longer than was appropriate for “colleagues,” until Nora and Julian approached, both of them smiling widely. Rafael finally released her and turned to face them, but it was too late for her. Something had changed, even if she didn’t know what. Something had shifted, the world tilting further on its axis, the moon tugging harder at the tides.
“That was a fantastic band,” Nora said. Her cheeks were glowing slightly, and there was a gleam of sweat on her forehead. Grace couldn’t help wondering if she was flushed herself from the dancing like Nora or if her face was hot from something else. Either way, she couldn’t imagine sweating as beautifully as Nora.
“I’m glad you enjoyed it.” Rafael shook himself, as if trying to reclaim his businesslike persona. “A hint of the magic of Granada.”
“More than a hint,” Julian added, and he kissed Nora’s hand before they went to gather their things.
“It was so nice meeting you both,” Nora said as they stood outside the restaurant. “And I want to see you again, Grace. I feel so adrift sometimes when I’m traveling, especially when Julian’s back in London. It would be nice to have a friend.”
“Definitely,” Grace replied, trying to sound nonchalant, like there wasn’t a storm of wanting thrashing around inside of her. Julian laced his fingers with Nora’s. It seemed like they were politely including Grace and Raf in conversation, even though they simultaneously had their own little world. She’d never had that with Derek—that level of connection. She’d never even known she was missing it.
“Ready to go?” Rafael asked as they waved a final goodbye to the happy couple.
Grace pursed her lips and tried to curve them into a smile. Rafael set his hand on her lower back to guide her, and she wanted to lean into it—to lean against him.
Instead, Grace reminded herself of his faults. How could he just cater to Christian’s whims without even considering their impact? How could he forget to include the people who were from the area as part of their project? How could he jerk away from her when she’d leaned toward him in her bedroom? How could his gentle hand on her back, touching her through layers of clothing, make her feel like her whole body was about to burst into flames?
He was maddening, and she didn’t know how to handle it any longer. Obviously, he wasn’t perfect, but she was all too familiar with her own imperfections. How could she judge him so harshly when she knew she could be selfish and shortsighted and oblivious? But she wanted to be a thoughtful person and a good friend. She wastrying.And she could tell Rafael was trying too.
“That was surprisingly enjoyable,” he said.
“Yeah.” She worked so hard to sound normal. “I liked them.”
“Thanks for coming with me. It just felt more natural to have you there, like it was a casual dinner among friends rather than some uncomfortable work thing. I think you prevented them from interrogating me about the exhibition.”
Grace nodded absently. “You—uh—you were great.”
They walked in silence for a while, Grace chewing on her lower lip, desperate to return home and run to her room and close the door. Tomorrow, in the light of day, everything would be clear again. She’d be able to look at him without feeling it in her knees.
When they got to the front door of the apartment, Raf finally broke their silent spell. “Is everything good? I know it may have been weird to go to dinner and pretend like nothing was wrong?—”
“Wrong?” Grace’s gaze shot in his direction.
“From our argument earlier. We can talk more about it. I just hope that didn’t ruin your evening.”
“No.” She tried to reply casually, but it came out like a breathless whisper. Why wasn’t he unlocking the door so she could make a run for it? Why were they lingering in the hallway, too close…
“Graciela?” Raf leaned in and she could feel his breath.
Open the door. Open the door.
“Hmm?”
He was so close to her, and aside from turning and bolting down the hall, Grace wasn’t sure what she could possibly do. Maybe he wanted to kiss her after all? A flash of the night at the club in Barcelona filled her mind. He had the same look on his face now, the same liquid eyes.
Who was she kidding, there was no way she was going to stop him if he tried to kiss her again. She was dying for it, every hair on her body standing on end.
