“It’s coming up,” he said. “It was one of the first things we put on the calendar.” Rafael shifted in his seat. He wondered, occasionally, if he should try to plead his case to Alma, if that would make any difference. But Rafael knew it was more than Alma standing in his way. Maybe she’d been influential, but ending things had been Grace’s decision, and she had her reasons. He didn’t want to go behind her back to try to get Alma on his side, and as loyal as Alma might be to him, he knew where her true loyalty lay. He’d probably be a fool to try to sway her, to beg her to convince Grace to give him a chance.
He tried to change the subject. “How’s it going with that study you were working on with the—um—big and little reproductive cells?”
“You have no idea what you’re talking about.” Alma smiled and shook her head.
“But I’m close, right?”
“Close enough for me to have an inkling about what you’re referring to, I guess. But you sound like an imbecile.”
“Well, I’m not a scientist.”
“Clearly.”
“You know I’m always trying to take an interest in your career.”
Alma stifled a laugh. “I guess I can appreciate your effort, but don’t say that kind of shit in front of other people. It’s embarrassing my own brother understands so little about biology.”
“Well, tell me about it, and maybe—” Rafael’s phone started vibrating on the table, and he glanced down.
Alma followed his gaze. “Mr. Billionaire seems to be calling.”
“You mind if I take it?” Rafael asked.
Alma waved a hand, gesturing for him to answer Christian’s call. He turned in his chair and answered the phone, hoping it was something he could deal with quickly, without leaving the table.
“Just a quick question for you, Rafael,” Christian said casually, as if this was barely even a conversation.
Rafael let out a breath. “What can I do for you?”
Then Christian started talking, explaining what he wanted, and Rafael forgot about privacy.
He forgot that Alma was sitting there watching him as his brow furrowed. He forgot she could see how quickly his lips pressed into a hard line. He forgot she was absorbing every word as Rafael responded to Christian, as his voice heated, his tone sharper with every sentence. All of his energy was focused on the phone call, on the fury that speared through him in an instant, on the idiocy of Christian’s request.
He couldn’t even remember everything he said to Christian. It was unusual for him to lose his temper like that, to abandon his careful professionalism. But there was one moment that stood out to him. He could hear his own words echoing in his ears.
“No,” he said, the word a dagger dealing the final blow. “That’s not happening.”
When Rafael hung up the phone, throwing it on the table, he glanced up to find Alma watching him again.
“Sorry,” he said, suddenly aware she probably thought he was nuts.
But a calm grin spread across her face and her eyes sparkled as if she’d just won a prize. Rafael wasn’t familiar with the look, but he felt like maybe he should be afraid.
CHAPTERTWENTY-FIVE
Grace was jottingdown notes for a class lecture in her bedroom even though the new term was yet to begin. It felt so natural, really, almost like she was her old self, even if she was simultaneously an entirely different person. The past six months since she’d lost Gram had changed her in a way she’d never imagined. It had been true agony, the worst time of her life, but she’d found something inside herself as well. Some kind of strength or resiliency. It was possible to rebuild a life, even if that life would never look the same. It was possible to keep going, even if some days felt insurmountable. Because there were also days that felt...okay.
There were also days that she missed Rafael. Yes, fine, she could admit it to herself. She missed him every day. She missed her tiny bedroom and just knowing he was sleeping right next door. She missed pomegranates on the counter and heated looks and the lines around his mouth when he smiled. Perhaps she’d made the right decision, and it was all for the best. Perhaps they could be friends one day without the sexual tension. In fact, Rafael was probably already over the whole incident. But not Grace, not yet. She needed a bit more time.
There was a light knock on her door, and Grace looked up to find Alma peeking through the crack.
“Hey.” Grace grinned up at her best friend.
“Hey,” Alma said, joining Grace on the bed. “You’re going to Sacromonte tonight?”
Grace nodded. “Yes. My students feel so special. I guess Raf and Christian were right about that. Keeping the exhibit as a hidden gem did make it exciting and extra desirable.”
“No kidding.”
