Nadia experienced her first hot flash. Her reaction to Luc didn’t count. She’d been a mess since first meeting him. But right then, her body overheated something terrible, and she gave real thought to a cold plunge. She’d have to measure and determine if she had room on her balcony for a small tub of ice water.
“May I help you?” she managed to ask.
“You certainly may.” The suggestion coating his words couldn’t be mistaken for anything but seduction.
Behind him, Laura’s eyes practically bulged from their sockets, and her mouth formed the perfect O.
Nadia bit her lip to keep from laughing.
Good to know she wasn’t the only one affected.
“What are you looking for?” she asked, weirdly centered. “Perhaps we should start there.”
“Ah, darling, that is a loaded question.” He rested his elbows on the counter between them and leaned in, giving Laura a bird’s eye view of his shapely, jean-clad ass. And if her lustful expression was any way to judge, the woman was a goner.
The man’s eyes took on a soft glow, and again, Nadia was reminded of Luc. The urge to leave struck her harder than a blow, and sweat broke out on her lower back. Once again, she couldn’t erase the feeling of ill intent. As if his flirting was practiced and not sincere.
She needed to escape.
Never would she strand another woman alone with a threat, but whatever this guy was selling, he directed it at her alone. Or at least she hoped so.
“I’ll tell you what, since I am now officially off work, I’ll introduce you to Laura.” Nadia waved her coworker over. “She can take care of all your needs.”
Laura choked, and the guy casually glanced over his shoulder before returning his intense gaze to Nadia.
“I believe your friend is having a rough go of it. Are you sure you can’t stay longer?” he asked silkily.
“Sorry, no,” she said, scrunching her nose. “Rules are rules when you work for the library system.”
He shifted, standing at his full height, giving the impression he didn’t intend to let her go so easily.
“How about I buy you a drink?” he asked with a smile.
Why was he pushing so hard?
“Perhaps another time. I really need to get going.” She waved to Laura. “Could you help Mr…?” She trailed off, waiting for him to fill in the blank.
“Raphael.”
“Mr. Raphael.”
“Nope, just Raphael.”
Nadia’s eyes swept his tall frame.
He stood only a few inches shy of Luc’s incredible height. But while Luc was slightly thinner, Raphael had a stockier build. Their coloring couldn’t be further apart, yet he possessed a dangerous quality reminiscent of Luc.
And his smell!
Damn, she loved banana bread. Not as much as apple pie, but still.
The thought brought her up short. Just yesterday, she had thought Sal stunk of stale beer. Why was she smelling food in association with men? She should check her medical insurance policy and see if they covered brain tumors. An MRI should be added to her to-do list ASAP.
Laura and Raphael were staring with concern, and their expressions said she’d missed something vital with her mental meandering. A rush of heat started down around her knee caps, sweeping up her whole body. Feeling flushed, she pressed the back of her hand to her forehead.
“Sorry, I think I’m coming down with something.” She stood and gathered her things in a rush. “Gotta run!”
Raphael’s amusement could almost be felt, but she’d be damned if she cared. She needed distance between them right away.
