“Cold?” he asked.
She nodded, but the feeling wasn’t just physical. “I-uh.” She cleared her throat. “This is awkward, but I need to be alone.”
“Buyer’s remorse?” he asked, still beautifully, unabashedly naked.
She bit her lip. “Overwhelmed. It happened so fast. I didn’t think it through.”
“Are you suggesting that I pushed you? Because-”
“No,” she said. “If anything it was the opposite. That dream was so frightening. I was desperate to feel alive.”
“Any man would do?” he asked, lifting a dark brow.
“Of course not.” She sighed. “I’m not myself. I’m rattled. I need-” She took another breath. “I need some time alone.”
“Okay,” he said, touching his finger to her nose. “But be forewarned, if you start screaming again, I’m coming in here.”
She smiled, but suspected it came across as more of a grimace. “No more screaming.”
He shot her a look full of sensual promise as he rose from the bed. “No need to be rash. Under the right circumstances, screaming can be good.”
She forced herself to look away from him as he pulled on his boxers. He caught her by surprise when he slid his hand beneath her chin and kissed her. “Don’t worry. Things could be much worse,” he said, then left her to sort out her thoughts.
After he left, she waited for herself to settle down, to become rational again. Even though she’d known she was attracted to Rafe, there were so many reasons for her not to give in to her feelings.
First, she needed to remain objective for Joel’s sake. She still needed to find out if Rafe had any potential of being abusive, and if she did, she would fight to the death to keep him away from Joel. Secondly, her sister had been involved with Rafe. She’d always stayed away from men who’d dated Tabitha. If a man fell for Tabitha, then he couldn’t possibly be right for Nicole. She was too different. Beyond those two mountains of objections, she’d just learned that Rafe didn’t believe in love. Did she want to spend her entire life with such a cynical man?
Nicole’s head began to ache. Torn in a dozen different directions, she climbed out of bed and took a shower in the adjoining bathroom. Maybe the water could wash away her confusion.
The following morning, Nicole had to drag herself out of bed. After urging Joel to eat his breakfast, she drove him to his preschool, walked him inside and kissed him. He seemed a little less nervous than he had been the previous week.
After she waved good-bye, she returned to Rafe’s house, full of restlessness. She still couldn’t make sense of what had happened between her and Rafe last night, but she knew she couldn’t blame him for it. She’d been an all-too-willing participant.
Her cell phone rang, distracting her from her thoughts. Her father’s number appeared on the caller ID and her stomach tensed. She took a careful breath and answered.
“Hello, Father,” she said in the calmest voice she could muster.
“Nicole, I’ve had a hard time getting in touch with you. I called your house with no response,” her father said.
“That’s because I’m not there,” she said. “I decided Joel and I should take a little vacation. We’re in Florida having a wonderful time.”
“This is so sudden. You should have told me you were going,” he chided. “You know I like to keep tabs on you and my grandson.”
The undertone of manipulation in his voice clawed across her skin like a scratchy sweater. “No need to worry,” she said. “We’re having a fabulous time. We’re going to swim with the dolphins.”
An uncomfortable silence followed. “Where exactly are you staying?” her father asked.
“ Miami,” she said. “In a cottage.” The gross understatement stuck in her throat, but she swallowed it.
Another silence followed. “ Miami,” he echoed. “I have business contacts down there. I should visit.”
Nicole felt a surge of panic. “Oh, I’m not sure about that. We’re so busy. Joel is taking swimming lessons and we’re doing kiddy activities every day.”
“Hmmm,” her father said.
Her nervousness rose with each passing second. “Well, I don’t want to keep you,” she said.
“You’re not. I’m back from Greece. Working a deal with the Argyros cruise line. It looks promising. I should close it within the next week.”
“Congratulations,” she said, because she couldn’t think of anything else.
“Good instincts and hard work,” he said. “Let me talk to my grandson.”
“He’s in class at the moment,” she said. “Art class.”
“Art,” he said with a condescending tone. “You need to get him into something more competitive. A man needs a competitive drive in this world.”
“He’s not a man yet,” she said.
“But he will be. You need to make sure he’s ready. I worry that you won’t,” he said with the slightest edge to his voice.
“No need to worry, Father. He’s not quite four yet,” she told him, tamping down her impatience.
“He’s never too young to develop his competitive edge,” he said.
“I hear you,” she said, wanting to end the call, feeling as if he was closing in on her.
“You hear, but do you act?” he challenged.
“Of course, I do,” she said. “Thank you for calling me. And congratulations on your new deal.”
“I’ll call again soon,” he said, but his voice sounded like more of a threat than a comfort.
“Good-bye. Take care,” she said and hung up. She stared at the phone, wishing she never had to speak to him again.
Talking with her father reminded her of unanswered questions about Rafe.
Nicole still wasn’t content with the report from the private investigator. She wanted more information. Taking advantage of the time that Joel was in preschool, she drove to downtown Miami to visit Rafe’s former employer. Although it was early in the day, the club also served lunch.
A young blonde woman, wearing a dress that showcased her cl**vage and long legs, greeted her. “How many for lunch?” she asked.
“I’d like to speak to the manager,” Nicole said.
“Keno’s hiring,” the young woman said. “I’ll see if he can talk to you now.”
“But…” Nicole said to the woman’s back. She’d already left.
A couple of moments later, the woman returned. “Come this way. Jerome has a few minutes since we’re not busy.”
“I’m not really-” She broke off as the woman led her into an office that faced the white sands and turquoise water of South Beach.
A large, dark-skinned man nodded toward her. “You want a job? We need hostesses,” he said and cocked his head to one side. “You’re not bad, but you’ll need more paint and shorter skirts. Have you considered going blonde?”
Nicole couldn’t quite swallow a laugh at the man’s suggestion. “My sister did that for me. I’m not here for a job. Are you Mr. Keno? I’m here to ask about Rafe Medici. I understand you were his employer several years ago.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “Yes, I’m Mr. Keno. Why do you want to ask about Rafe?”
“Because he is the father of my sister’s son,” she said. “I need to know what kind of man Rafe really is.”
“Why should I tell you?” he asked.
“Because you are a good, ethical man,” she said with more hope than proof.
Jerome Keno laughed, revealing white teeth. “I’ve been called many things, but good and ethical are low on the list. You have a good cause, though, so I’ll humor you. What concerns you about Rafe?”
“He was charged with battery while he worked for you,” she said.
Keno shrugged. “Happens every now and then with bouncers. My lawyers always got the charges dismissed.”
Nicole felt a shiver of fear. “Does that mean the charges weren’t valid or your lawyer was good at his job?”
“Both,” Keno said. “Rafe didn’t use force unless it was absolutely necessary.”
Still uneasy, Nicole bit the inside of her lip. “Would you say that he was an angry man? Did he have issues with his temper?”
“I never observed him to be out of control. If anything, he was extremely calculated when using physical force. Why are you asking?”
She resisted the urge to defend her concerns. The truth was she was afraid for Joel. “I want to make sure he wouldn’t hurt a child. He’s a passionate man. I don’t want him to abuse his son.”
Keno paused. “I don’t believe he would ever use that anger against someone weaker than himself. His power lies in his self-control. That’s only my opinion,” he said. “My question for you is, what will you do when he learns that you have been investigating his past. Rafe has become a very powerful man.”
“Rafe won’t be surprised that I’ve investigated his past,” she said. “He’s done the same to me.”
Keno shook his head and laughed. “Well, if you should need employment, give me a call. A short skirt and a different top…My customers would like you very much. So would I. ” he said.
Nicole left the club with less doubt than when she’d walked in, but she began to wonder if she would ever be able to fully trust Rafe. How much of that was Rafe’s doing? How much of it went back to her father?
The next day, Tuesday, Rafe cleared his afternoon schedule in preparation for the visit from the social-services specialist. After lunch, he arrived home to find Nicole and Joel playing a board game with a woman who appeared to be in her late thirties.
Nicole glanced up at him. “Rafe, Joel and I have shown Mrs. Bell around the house and introduced her to the staff.”
“Thanks,” Rafe said and extended his hand to the woman. “Thank you for coming.”