She wouldn’t swear in a court of law, but she was ninety-nine percent positive he whispered, “See you soon, hybrid.”
11
As Nadia recounted the incident to Katie over a second glass of wine, Raphael sailed through the bar’s entrance, stopping her mid-sentence. His laser-like gaze scanned the interior with intent until it landed on her. Delight lit up those stunning blue orbs as he crossed to their table.
“Ah, my little librarian. Fancy meeting you here,” he said with a self-satisfied smile.
He’d followed her!
He had to have. Fitzgerald’s was too out of the way for anyone not familiar with its location.
She squinted her ire.
“Dear God! You weren’t kidding!” Katie exclaimed.
Raphael barely spared her a glance before he dismissed her, ruffling both Nadia’s and Katie’s feathers in the process. Her friend was five-foot-three of heart-stopping beauty. Her cherry-red hair and laughing green eyes were a combo to fell any man, and that didn’t take into account her hourglass figure with her twenty-four-inch waist. This guy was an idiot if he wasn’t bowled over by her.
“I made an impression?” he asked smugly.
“Not a pleasant one,” Nadia retorted.
Blatantly ignoring the clear “get lost, loser” vibe, Raphael spun a chair and straddled it, resting his overly developed arms along the top. The muscles bulged and strained the seams of his expensive, sky-blue t-shirt.
“Tom Ford, Armani, or Prada?” she asked with disdain.
He ignored the dig.
“You like to play hard to get. I will win you over.” He stated it as if his words were a foregone conclusion.
“Look, buddy, I don’t know if this strong-armed tactic works with other women, but I’m not into the whole arrogant-fucker thing. Now, if you’ll excuse me, my friend and I were enjoying a drink before you so rudely interrupted.”
Katie touched her forearm. “Don’t be hasty, Tart.”
Nadia whipped around in patent disbelief.
Usually the first to give a guy the brush off, Katie didn’t tolerate men’s shit. Nadia, normally the one plagued by manners, was shocked senseless. When had their roles reversed?
With a frown, she faced Raphael, whose countenance now sported a smug, face-splitting grin.
Katie leaned in and sniffed.
If Nadia didn’t know any better, she’d swear her friend had fallen at first sight. Katie confirmed her suspicion when she rested her chin in her palm and sighed.
“Carrot cake,” she said.
“Huh?”
“His scent. Fresh-baked carrot cake.”
With a frown and a not-so-subtle sniff, Nadia said, “Really? I was thinking banana bread.”
“Do you like banana bread?” Raphael asked, flashing a teasing smile.
As if that would tempt her!
“No. I prefer my men to smell like apple pie.”
His irritation flared before he contained it. “Who do you know that smells like apple pie?”
