Rafe leaned down into the hug, his eyes closing as she stroked his hair. Diana couldn’t hear what he was saying to her, but she could read the love between the two, and it took her off guard. She hadn’t had that. It twisted her up inside watching them. Her father had loved her; she knew that. But being gentle didn’t come naturally to him. He’d wanted her to be smart and independent and not to need anyone. She hadn’t gotten many hugs, though there had been pats on the back for a job well done before her father retreated back to his office. Her brothers weren’t the demonstrative types either. Mainly they ignored her unless they needed something.
She’d figured that was just how most men were. They weren’t as emotional as women. After a while she’d learned not to expect hugs or softness. The way to gain her father’s love was by providing results. Straight As on her report card. Winning a tennis tournament. That was how to get acknowledgment or the rare smile.
But this, this unabashed joy flowing from one to the other, wasn’t something she was familiar with. And the longing she felt watching it took her completely off guard.
“Ba, ba, ba, ba.” The baby in her arms babbled and blew a small spit bubble. Then she looked at Diana and grinned.
When Lucia appeared at her elbow, Diana handed the baby back and mumbled an excuse about needing the bathroom. But truthfully what she needed was a break.
She’d thought she knew everything she needed to know about Rafe from her research and her surveillance. But the man she was slowly getting to know wasn’t anything like the stone-cold killer she’d come here expecting.
So which one was the real Rafe?
chapter six
“You’re sure you’re okay? You’re not hurting too bad?”
“Yes. I told you I’m fine. I’m just a little sore—it’s nothing.”
She’d been off all day. Well, off since pretty much yesterday. He’d been trying to figure it out. She’d seemed fine at the party. But now something wasn’t right.
He lived downtown near Chelsea Piers. So that morning they’d taken a walk, grabbed breakfast at one of those trendy hipster spots. Like a normal—well, couple.
Except you’re not a couple, are you? No, but you want to be, obviously. Dumb ass. But his point was, everything should have been fine. But it wasn’t. Quiet introspection he could handle, but this felt different. It felt like brooding.
“Everyone was cool to you yesterday, right? Noah’s a good kid, but sometimes he can be an asshole.”
She shifted her gaze off the television to meet his. “No. Noah was perfectly nice.”
“Did JJ say something? Listen, she’s brash, but you know, she’s pretty cool—”
She laughed. “I don’t know. I kinda liked her. And I don’t think she’s brash. I think she’s awesome. She really will say anything. I almost swallowed my chicken wing whole when she told Oskar that her dick was bigger than his.”
Rafe threw his head back and laughed. “I don’t doubt it.”
“I swear, I’m fine. I’m just thinking, you know? Your family is lovely. So, so… nice. Normal. Which is weird.”
Rafe frowned. “What, you expected a three-eyed, three-horned, giant purple people eater?”
“If you’re referring to that giant purple vibrator JJ was talking about, then possibly.”
Rafe chuckled. “JJ is hilarious. Next time ask her about risking her life in an apartment fire to save her fish. You should have seen Jonas’s face when he realized she’d run back in to rescue that thing while she was practically naked.”
He still couldn’t believe that shit. Rafe had been worried about her once they’d gotten the alarm. But Jonas had been beside himself. Rafe had never seen the guy like that before. But then, when Jonas discovered what she’d run back into the apartment for, he’d about lost it.
“If you’re sure things are okay, I’ll just have to trust you.” The hell he would. His instincts had served him well over the past fifteen years or so. Something was wrong, and he’d figure out what it was. He was nothing if not patient.
She sighed. “Okay. look. If you must know, I sort of walked in on Noah and Lucia you know…”
Rafe blinked. Had he heard that right? “Noah and Lucia you know…” And then it dawned on him. He wasn’t sure his body had ever gone through simultaneous reactions like this before—the urge to throw up coupled with the urge to throw his head back and laugh. “Oh.”
“Yeah. Oh. I mean, are they always like that?”
Rafe nodded. “Yeah, pretty much. I know you’re probably pretty traumatized by the whole thing, but don’t worry about it. We’ve all walked in on them. And I mean all of us. If it is traumatizing and awkward for you, imagine how it is for—”
His phone rang. It was rare that anyone called him. If it was some kind of emergency, Noah would have sent the usual signal, a series of texts and rings that would let him know he was needed for trouble. No, in this case, his phone was just ringing. Which meant Oskar. He didn’t even look at the screen when he picked it up. “What do you want?”
“Is that any way to treat a friend? Not a friend, your mentor even.”