His eyes pierced hers and she saw the same arousal reflected in his expression as his jaw tensed visibly and his skin pulled taut over his cheekbones.
She sucked in a shaky breath. “Maybe a tiny bit—sore. But it’s mostly gone now.”
“You sure? You bled so much—Jesus, babe.”
Elaina glanced quickly around to see if anyone was paying them any attention. She was relieved to find they were completely alone in their conversation. “Raul, please, be quiet. I’m sure it was normal.”
“I guess so. I worried about you after I dropped you off.”
“Don’t you know so?”
“What?”
Now Elaina did feel the blush of embarrassment. “How much I bled,” she whispered so softly she knew he would have a hard time hearing her. “Don’t you know if it was normal?”
“No, I don’t. Christ, wait—what are you asking me?” His eyes flared and his fingers entwined with hers, grasping her hand completely.
&nbs
p; She remained silent as he studied her.
His voice was firm when he spoke. “I haven’t had any virgins before you.”
Pleasure, sharp and intense slid through her system. She was about to try to convey that emotion to him when her eyes looked past his to see the man coming up from behind him and toward her.
It was Mr. Reynolds, from the bank. He had a smile on his face and stopped in front of their table.
Elaina looked up at him and gave her best attempt at a smile as she retrieved her hand from Raul’s. Had the banker heard Raul’s last statement?
Mortification pierced her, but she didn’t have time to dwell on it as the man moved on to the business at hand.
“Elaina, I’ve been trying to find the time to call. We want you to start on Monday if you’re still interested in the job.”
Surprise and pleasure lit her face as she began nodding her head. “Yes, sir! Thank you, that would be great.” As exhilaration infiltrated her, she knew she needed to introduce the two men.
She was about to do just that when she realized it wasn’t necessary. Mr. Reynolds had obviously only now discerned who she was with. He held his hand out to Raul for a handshake as his eyes darted between the two of them in inquiry.
“How are you, Raul?”
“Good. You?”
“Fine, just fine,” the other man said as he looked like he was recovering from finding his newest employee having a tete-a-tete with the town’s hard-nosed, yet most eligible bachelor.
Gossip was rampant around here and everyone would know they were seeing each other long before she showed up at work on Monday.
She thanked Mr. Reynolds and watched him walk away and pay his bill at the counter. She looked back at Raul and found his frowning attention fixed on her.
“I didn’t know you were actively looking for a job.”
“I was, I’m not anymore,” she said with satisfaction in her voice.
His frown became a scowl. “Why do you want a job so bad?”
“I need a job.”
“You don’t need a job.”
“Yes, I do! I can’t leach off Janie and Brian forever,” she said with a distinct chill.