“What was that all about? The guy is clearly into you, Nadia.”
“I’m not interested. How many ways can I make it clear?”
“Give him a chance. He could be the best thing that’s ever happened to you.”
“Katie, do you hear yourself? You’re encouraging me to pick up a stalker.”
With a shrug and a dismissive wave, Katie said. “He’s no stalker. I’d bet my life on it.”
“No, you’d bet my life on it,” Nadia retorted, angry at what felt like betrayal. A long, rolling thunder shook the windows. “You know I’m crazy about Luc. I’m not going to run into a random stranger’s arms the second his back is turned.”
“Luc has had weeks to make a move. He hasn’t. Right when you’re practically dragging him to your bed, he leaves town and doesn’t call.” Kate sighed and gripped Nadia’s hands, giving them a small shake. “You have to face it, Tart. The guy’s not into you, or he’s dangling another woman on the side.”
“You’re wrong.” Although she denied it, Nadia couldn’t help thinking the opposite.
“Nadia… I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
Although her care was genuine, Katie’s comment about Luc stung nonetheless. The possibility of him stringing her along had never occurred to Nadia, and now, faced with the knowledge he might be, she recalled every encounter, agonizing over every word.
Had he friend-zoned her? Was she foolish to hope for more?
After they’d returned to the table, she had difficulty keeping track of the conversation. Discouraged by the whole evening and the prospect that Luc might be a player, she concentrated on draining her wine and shoving aside the self-pity threatening to take hold.
“You’re awfully quiet. Are you all right?” Raphael caught her hand in his. The buzz along her skin was akin to what she’d felt with Luc, and the sensation was pleasant, if a little uncomfortable. “Since you’ve returned from the restroom, you’ve seemed especially upset. Is there anything I can do?”
Nadia withdrew from his touch. “No, thank you. I’m tired. It’s been a long day.”
The penetrating lapis gaze caused her to squirm. Once again, she was reminded of Luc, and her heart contracted. How could she miss someone she barely knew?
“Katie, if you want to stay, you can, but I really need to go,” Nadia said.
“No, I’ll go. I have an early start.”
She exhaled a breathy sigh of relief. Like with Laura, Nadia didn’t want to leave a female alone with a stranger, but the pressing urge to vamoose was choking her.
Raphael stood and offered to escort them home.
She shook her head. “We’ll grab a cab. But thanks.”
“May I call you, Nadia?” he asked softly. “If you want to start slow, we can go for coffee or lunch.”
For the first time, he appeared earnest, losing the libertine routine. And because she was still smarting from Katie’s comment about the absent Luc, she nodded.
Numbers exchanged, she fled.
“I’m in,” Raphael said into the phone.
“Good. What’s she like?”
“Powerful.”
So powerful. The triscelene’s adeptness at conjuring the storm without thought was akin to an archangel’s advanced ability. The instant it happened, Raphael had all the confirmation he needed. Until that exact moment, he’d been hoping they were wrong. Strangely, Nadia reminded him of someone he once cared about, and her sassiness would be a good match for Luc, who appeared lonely most times but did his damnedest to portray himself as unfeeling. Raphael hadn’t seen him this fascinated or animated in years.
His heart contracted.
They’d all been close once. They’d trained, laughed, lived as a unit. True friends, not the enemies they were today.
“Do you believe she can be swayed to our side?” Michael’s question seemed distracted and uncaring, as if he were bored and asking by rote instead of seeking assurance.
