Page 43 of Endlessly Raphael
“Given my track record, yeah.”
Rapha nods, but his serene smile slips. “I can relate.”
Sauntering over to him, I study his face. “Don’t tell me that underneath it all, you’re a hopeless romantic too.”
“No. I’m a jaded one.”
“Same.” Draping my arms around his neck, I sigh as he slides his hands down my sides and rests them on my hips. “I guess it wouldn’t be bad, but it would scare me a little. You know, if I’m being honest. I don’t want to get hurt.”
“No one does, Haven.”
“Right, but some people only focus on the good parts. I guess my family trampled on my heart so much I worry that one wrong step from a lover would break me.”
Rapha gazes up at me with an expression that makes my heart flutter. “I would never want to hurt you.”
“I feel a ‘but’ coming.”
“No.” He smacks my bare ass. “Go, before I drag you back to bed.”
“Ooh no, not that.”
Rapha laughs, and damn. The way his eyes crinkle at the sides, his full lips parting to show off his brilliant smile, the warm sound tumbling from his lips… The man is stunning.
I lean in and steal a quick kiss before turning around and strutting to the bathroom, swishing my hips in an exaggerated way that draws more sweet laughter from the normally serious man. A guy could get addicted to making him happy if that’s the result.
By the time I resurface, I hear female voices coming from the living room. I dig out a pair of jogging pants and a t-shirt, then go out to see what’s going on. I find Rapha sitting at a dining room table that’s far too big for two people. Two women sit across from him, one with fiery-red hair and the other with raven-black. Both women stop speaking abruptly when they see me, the redhead smiling big. Pretty sure they were the two working on the puzzle before.
Rapha turns his head and smiles too. “Come, Haven.”
I walk over, sitting in the chair beside Rapha. He has a plate of raspberry-stuffed French toast, coffee, and orange juice set out for me. Yum! But I don’t want to be rude.
“Hello,” I say to the women.
“Hi,” the redhead says. “I’m Vivienne. I work with the guys.”
“I’m Viper,” the other woman says. “I do too.”
“Nice to meet you both. Haven.”
“Adorable,” Vivienne says. “Your name and you yourself.”
“Thanks.”
“Eat,” Rapha says, rubbing my back.
I dig into my breakfast, so thankful for this gorgeous meal. Raphael really is my savior.
“My sisters here got wind that we’re planning on a quickie wedding,” Rapha explains.
I nod, still scarfing carbs.
“Unacceptable,” Vivienne says with a sweet smile on her lips. “We need to have a little reception, at least.”
After wiping my mouth with a napkin, I take a gulp of coffee. “Whatever Rapha wants.”
“No,” he says. “It’s what we want.” He holds my gaze and for just a second, I forget that this is supposed to be fake.
Time to put my defenses back up before I go and do something stupid like fall in love. Neither of us are up for that. “Seriously. I mean, if we want to make it seem legit in case my family shows up then we can do something.”