Broken Together (13 page)

Eva
offered a knowing smile. “Benjamim and I will be in the garden.”

Rafael
led me to the dance floor. With a playful twist, he pulled me into a waltz.

I
smiled, thoroughly amused. “Any idea what we’re dancing to?”

He
moved closer to the violinists. “Tchaikovsky’s ‘
Valse Sentimentale.
’”

My
eyebrows rose. I wasn’t really expecting him to know. “What type of music would
you like for our wedding?”

Rafael
looked thoughtful. “A pianist or a violinist would be nice for the ceremony,
but I’d prefer a band for the reception.”

“That
sounds perfect, although… I’m beginning to question the sunset wedding.”

He
stopped dancing. “Why? I thought you loved seeing the sun set over the palace
gardens.”

I
stepped a little closer. “Do you remember when you took me to see the sunrise
at Lewes Beach?”

Rafael
nodded.

My
hand slid from his shoulder to his chest. “You told me that sunsets make you
feel sad, like you just lost something.”

“That’s
true. They do.” He gazed deep into my eyes.

“I
don’t want the sun setting on our relationship while we exchange our wedding
vows,” I admitted softly.

Slowly,
we resumed dancing. “We can schedule the wedding a little earlier if you’d
like.”

I
took a deep breath and slowly released it. “You told me you prefer to watch the
sun rise. You like how the morning sun beckons new beginnings.”

Understanding
dawned in his eyes.

Mischief
danced in mine. “I think we should drag all of our loved ones out of bed in the
dead of night so we can exchange our vows at sunrise.”

Rafael
laughed. Loudly.

I
watched him turn the idea in his head.

A
number of emotions played across Rafael’s face. Excitement won out in the end. “We
can line the trail between the parking lot and the palace with luminarias. The
palace is lit at night, so our guests would get to see Monserrate Palace
glowing against the night sky… a glorious sight few people ever see… and imagine
their surprise when the sun rises! Most of our guests wouldn’t know about the magnificent
gardens surrounding them until the moment the sun crept over the palace.”

I
grinned. I knew it was crazy, dragging everyone out of bed so early in the
morning, but with an evening wedding, our guests would arrive shortly before
sunset. They would catch only the briefest glimpse of the palace gardens before
the grounds grew dark. The entire reception would be held in the dark, which
was truly a shame given all the natural beauty surrounding Monserrate Palace.
If we were married in the morning, our guests could explore the gardens and the
palace in the light of day. “Just think, with all of the wonderful pastries
Portugal is famous for, we could host a brunch instead of dinner… serve
bica
,
mimosas, and
Vinho Verde
at the reception. We could still include a band
and dance the morning away. We would have the entire day to celebrate.”

“I
think that’s a brilliant idea.” His lips slanted over mine.

“Ahem…”

Rafael
looked up. “
Comandante,
I had a feeling you’d be cutting in, but I
wasn’t expecting it to be in the middle of a kiss.”

Chief
D’Souza laughed. “Please, by all means, finish your kiss.”

Rafael
looked at me.

I
pressed my finger to his lips. “Later,” I promised.

Chief
D’Souza’s smile widened. “May I have this dance?”

My
chin rose ever so slightly. “You may.”

Grudgingly,
Rafael tucked my hand in his.

The
police chief whisked me away. “Are you enjoying the ball, Senhorita Stone?”

“Yes,
very much so.” I surveyed the room. “I hope you secure enough donations to
provide for your injured officers and their families.”

He
nodded thoughtfully. “What do you think of our city?”

My
shoulders began to relax. Chief D’Souza was an adept dancer. “I love Lisbon. The
people are friendly. The food is amazing. The weather is perfect. The
architecture and art are fascinating. Even your sidewalks are pretty.”

Chief
D’Souza laughed. “That they are.” He spun me under his arm. “Has Rafael made a
decision?”

I
glanced at him in surprise. “I think Rafael would prefer to answer that
question for you.”

“I’d
prefer the answer came from you.” A hint of amusement sparked in his eyes.

“Why?”
I blurted incredulously.

“So
I can gauge how you feel about the decision.”

I
stared at him for a couple of heartbeats. “Rafael will be returning on a
temporary basis to assist with the investigation.”

He
nodded. Once. “And if he decides to remain on a more permanent basis?”

My
eyes narrowed. “Then I will support him in that decision.”

“Will
you marry him regardless?”

“Of
course,” I bristled. “I love Rafael with all my heart.”

His
eyes darkened. “I was the first officer who responded… the one who found him kneeling
in blood, praying for a miracle with both parents in his arms. I had to remove
Rafael’s father from his arms, force him to focus on his mother, and then re-direct
his anguish when she passed away. I gave him a constructive outlet for all that
anger and pain. I empowered him to save others and to make this world a better
place.”

I
choked back tears. “You love Rafael… like a son.”

“I
do.” He sighed. “I tried everything to piece that young man back together. He
followed my advice. He welcomed every challenge, exceeded every expectation,
and poured himself into his work.”

“You
did good,” I whispered. “Rafael’s a courageous man. He has a huge heart. He’s
selfless and kind. He’s devoted his life to protecting others.”

“But
he was still hurt and lost,” Chief D’Souza noted, “until he met you.”

I
shook my head sadly. “I’m afraid I’ve hurt more than helped Rafael.”

“You’re
referring to Michael,” he surmised rather astutely. “You’re not the one who shot
Michael.”

“I
put everyone’s life at risk when I went to work in Ukraine,” I persisted.

“Including
your own,” he rebutted softly. “You were in Ukraine because you wanted to help
others… because you wanted to make this world a safer place. Don’t you see,
Kristine? You were the missing piece.”

I
eyed him uncertainly.

“I
gave the man a purpose, but that wasn’t enough. You… you healed his heart.” He tucked
my hand against his chest. “There’s one thing you should understand before you
marry this man. Rafael needs you just as much as you need him.”

Goosebumps
trickled down my arms and back. Michael didn’t want Rafael to join the police force.
Benjamim claimed he had a death wish. And now, the man who recruited Rafael for
special ops described him as hurt and lost. I knew he’d been deeply affected by
his parents’ death, but he’d always appeared so capable and strong. Not once
had I considered the fact that Rafael might be every bit as broken as me.

Chief
D’Souza stopped dancing, although my hand remained clasped to his chest. “You
will love and support him in his efforts to protect those who are vulnerable
whether through the police force, his private security firm, or the Templar.”

I
blinked back my surprise. “Yes. Of course.”
Hadn’t we already covered this?

“And
you will continue to devote your life to helping others?”

I
thought it odd that he was focusing on my goals, but I nodded all the same.
“Yes. I’m afraid I’m hardwired that way.”

He
battled a smile. “You’ll keep the Templar’s secret?”

“Yes,”
I whispered. I glanced around nervously.

He
lowered his voice even more. “Do you solemnly vow both secrecy and support for
Rafael Tiago Garcia and his fellow knights?”

“Yes,”
I answered distractedly. Why was Chief D’Souza asking me this here? Was he questioning
my willingness to follow through with the required vows?

He
raised a single eyebrow.

“Yes,”
I answered more firmly.

This
time he smiled. “In exchange for this vow of secrecy and support, the Knights
Templar will aid and protect you, wherever you live for as long as you may live.”

“V…vow?”
I stammered.

Chief
D’Souza lifted his hand and mine, revealing the service pin on his tux.

My
eyes widened when I realized what it was. The ivory circle in the center of the
pin displayed a white cross with red trim. The round pin was surrounded by a
gold, fiery looking star. “The Order of Christ Cross,” I whispered in awe.

“You
were appointed the grand master’s designee,” Rafael stated from directly behind
me.

I
spun around. “What?”

Chief
D’Souza clasped Rafael’s shoulder. “Senhorita Stone has issued the required
vows. She is everything you claimed and more. You have our blessing. I expect
an invitation to the wedding, of course.”

Rafael
shook his hand before tucking me beneath his arm. “
Obrigado, Comandante.
We
value your blessing, and you’re already on the guest list.”

Chief
D’Souza smiled before adopting a business-like tone. “You will report to work
January four?”

“Yes,”
Rafael assured him. “I will return to work on January fourth.”

“Very
well then.” Chief D’Souza clasped, then kissed my hand. “I enjoyed spending
time with you, Senhorita Stone. Thank you for the dance.”

“Thank
you,” I answered softly. I looked at Rafael when he stepped off the dance floor.
“What just happened?”

He
turned me so that our bodies were flush. “Chief D’Souza has accepted your oath
of fealty to the Order on behalf of the grand master. I wasn’t expecting him to
solicit those vows here. I thought there would be a private meeting.”

I
breathed a small sigh of relief. “Well, I’m glad that’s over, but it would have
been nice to have some sort of preamble or warning before he began asking those
questions.” He’d pretty much just blindsided me.

Rafael
glanced curiously after the police chief. “He probably thought it would be less
stressful for you.”

I
linked my hands behind his neck. “On the plus side, I’ve been authorized to
marry a knight.”

He
dipped me back over his arm. “Not just any knight.”

I
chuckled softly. “No, Rafael. You’re not just any knight. You’re
my
knight.”

With
smoldering eyes, he claimed the kiss we’d been deprived.

*
* * * *

I
scooted forward. “I know what I want to do for Christmas.”

“What?”
Rafael slid his legs around me while easing into the steaming tub.

I
leaned back against his chest. “I don’t want to exchange gifts. I want to purchase
gifts for the children at the Casa Pia Orphanage instead.”

“There
are over four thousand children at the Casa Pia Orphanage,” Rafael warned. He
reached for the cedar and sage soap we purchased at the outdoor market after
securing pastries from the corner bakery.

“You
don’t think I can manage four thousand gifts? Clearly, you
don’t know
who you’re marrying.” I thoroughly enjoyed throwing those words back at him.

He
looked doubtful. “You’re going to purchase four thousand gifts in two days?”

I
turned and faced him while kneeling between his legs. “Give me your phone.”

He
set the bar of soap aside and handed me his phone.

I
scrolled through his contacts with a ridiculously smug look on my face. My eyes
met his when I hit send.
“Olá, Eva?”

“
Hâlo,
Kristine. Como vai?
” Eva answered.

“
Bem,
orbrigada. E vocês?
” I replied.

“Está
tudo,”
Eva said, nearly exhausting my ability to speak
Portuguese. “What are you doing?”

My
eyes travelled Rafael’s naked body and mine. “Um…” I decided an honest answer
wasn’t required. “I have a
huge
favor to ask.”

“Really?”
she replied. “Does this favor require shopping?”

Rafael
pulled the phone away from my ear and switched it to speaker so he could hear
both sides of the conversation.

I
grinned. “Yes. Actually, this favor is going to require a
ton
of
shopping. Instead of exchanging gifts with Rafael, I’d like to purchase gifts
for the children at the Casa Pia Orphanage. I want to deliver them in time for
Christmas. Rafael is doubting my ability to pull this off.”

“Oh!”
she exclaimed excitedly. “I would love to help with that. What do you have in
mind?”

“What
was the name of that traditional cake? The one you gave to Matias?” I asked
Rafael. He was gliding the bar of soap across my back. His Greek god-like body
was glistening between the bathwater and the sun streaming through the open
blinds. The cedar and sage scented soap smelled so utterly masculine it was muddying
my mind.