Broken Wings (The Broken Series Book 3) (4 page)

Shae
looked completely horrified. “God, Kristine, I’m so sorry.”

I
tried to laugh it off. “Now you know why I’m in the conflict resolution
program.”

She
just shook her head. “What happened with Kadyn when you got back?”

“Kadyn
was really hurt when he learned I had fallen in love with Michael, willingly
had sex with him, and agreed to marry him. He told me he couldn’t just pick up
where we left off. He doesn’t want to date me anymore. He just wants to be
friends.”

Shae
looked surprised. “But… you were kidnapped, and that guy totally manipulated
you.”

I
nodded. “Like Michael, I think Kadyn was struggling with the fact that he
couldn’t keep me safe. I’d been kidnapped once before, two and a half months after
Kadyn and I began dating. Maybe he’s just sick of having to rescue me.”

Shae
grabbed my arm. “Hold up, Kri. You’ve been kidnapped
twice
?”

The
coffee nearly slipped from my hand. I quickly recovered. “A co-worker from
Montana. I was pretty beat up, but Kadyn got there before the guy could rape
me.” I guzzled the remaining coffee.

Shae
shook her head. “You were right, Kri. I wouldn’t want to be you, not even for one
day… not with all the crap you’ve been through.”

I
tossed my coffee cup into a recycling bin and pulled the door to our building
open. “Maybe I’ve gotten all of the bad stuff out of the way. Maybe it will be
smooth sailing from here on out,” I suggested optimistically.

“If
I were you, I’d enroll in the hostage negotiation class just in case,” Shae
responded drily.

I
laughed as we stepped inside Dr. Sandstrom’s classroom. “No. I think my days of
being kidnapped are over. I doubt anyone’s going to mess with me when Rafael is
around.”

Shae
shook her head again. “You were dating Kadyn when you were kidnapped, and that
guy is seriously ripped.”

A
chill ran down my spine as we settled into our chairs. Shae made a compelling
argument. It didn’t matter who I was dating. Michael and Justin had proven that
if someone wanted to kidnap or hurt me, they could find a way. The chill
settled deep inside my bones as I watched my professor and classmates stream
into class. All of a sudden, the hostage negotiation course didn’t seem like
such a bad idea.

*
* * * * *

When I pulled my jeep into the garage, I
discovered a long stemmed rose lying on the floor just in front of the door
that led from the garage into my house. I smiled as I picked up the rose. I
discovered another rose half way up the stairs that ran from the garage to the
main floor. Another rose was lying on the counter next to a piece of paper. I
set my books on the counter and picked up the note.

I wanted to give
you some time to process things, so I’m making myself scarce tonight. I’m next
door if you need me, and I programmed my new cell phone number into your phone
this morning. I left something in the refrigerator for you, in case you haven’t
eaten. I’d like to take you out for dinner tomorrow night if you’re available.
I hope you have only good dreams tonight. Love, Rafael.

I
cracked open the refrigerator and smiled. A tomato, basil, and mozzarella
sandwich was sitting on the top shelf. The sandwich was speared with a
toothpick and a yellow sticky note that read “eat me.” Rafael had drawn a big
smiley face on the note, with the tongue hanging out. I shook my head and
laughed.

I
went to nab a vase from under the buffet in the formal dining room and
discovered the trail of red roses resumed in the hallway. I found twelve roses
by the time I made it to my bedroom. A soft light was flickering from the
master bath, so I went to check it out.

I
gasped. He had lit at least fifty votives and scattered them throughout the
bathroom. The bathtub had been filled. Rose petals were scattered across the
top of the water, which was still steaming. I couldn’t believe Rafael’s timing.

I
placed the roses in the vase, filled it with water, and set it on my
nightstand. I returned to the bathroom with my iPod and quickly stripped down
so I could sink into the enticing tub. Soaking in the rose petals by
candlelight was heavenly.

I
reached for my cell phone as the water began to cool. It was shortly before eleven
o’clock. I scrolled through my list of contacts so I could send Rafael a text.
Wow.
You don’t mess around. The bath and the flowers are lovely. Thank you. I’d love
to join you for dinner tomorrow night. My classes end at six on Tuesdays. I
should be home by six-thirty. See you then?

Rafael
texted back just as I reached for a towel.
If not sooner... I’m imagining
you in that bath.

I
couldn’t help but smile. I tried to think of something witty to write back as I
toweled off. Nearly everything I came up with was likely to entice Rafael to
come back over to my place, especially since he was living right next door. My
thumbs flew over the screen as I settled on a response.
Maybe next time you
can join me in the bath, that way your brain won’t have to work so hard trying
to picture me in the tub.

I
patted myself on the back for coming up with a retort that could be perceived
as both an invitation and an insult. I ran a comb through my hair, brushed my
teeth, and blew out the candles. I eyed the bottle of sleeping pills near the
sink, but given everything that had happened with Rafael, I thought maybe this
time I wouldn’t need them. Maybe this time I’d dream happy dreams.

I
stretched out and savored the sun spilling across my bed. It had been a
glorious night… one of those rare times when I hadn’t needed a sleeping pill and
didn’t wake from a nightmare. It looked beautiful outside, so I decided to take
my yoga mat down to the edge of the river to work out before class.

I
wasn’t sure whether it was Rafael’s affections, the full night of sleep, or the
yoga, but I felt completely at peace by the time I finished working through my
yoga poses. I wandered back into the house and snagged a cup of coffee before
settling in at the desk in the library. I savored the dark, spicy notes of the
Italian roast coffee while I waited for my laptop to boot. I sifted through a
few news headlines before checking my e-mail.

I
quickly scanned my inbox. Shae had responded to the e-mail I sent with my
resume. I clicked on her message.
The days you get to sleep in are numbered
my friend. My boss looked over your resume, and he’s interested. Can you come
in for an interview at ten o’clock Wednesday morning?

Excitement
buzzed through me as I typed my response.
I’ll be there. Thanks, Shae! I owe
you one!!!

I
practically skipped up the stairs. I grabbed my iPod and portable speaker from
my nightstand and quickly scrolled through the play list until I found Pink. I
turned the speaker up as loud as it would go, then jumped into the shower. Pink
always inspired me to sing. She made me feel like I could conquer the world. I was
still singing when I toweled off, but I came to a screeching halt when I entered
my closet.
I have a date with Rafael.

I
raked through my wardrobe. Would this be considered a first date, even though we’d
already had sex?
I cringed. When did I become
that
girl?
I
began to panic as the closet pressed in on me. I couldn’t think or breathe. I
snatched a teal dress and fled the closet.

As
I began pulling the dress over my head, it hit me. I was holding the very same
dress I had worn the first time I met Rafael. I yanked the dress off and slunk
back to my closet.

My
thoughts turned to Rafael as I reevaluated my clothing options. I doubted a
relationship between us would resemble anything even close to normal, not after
everything we had been through together. He had been my bodyguard for crying
out loud. He saved my life when he resuscitated me after the drowning. He
helped me mourn the loss of my child. We had already faced so many difficult
experiences, things most couples never had to face. Was it any wonder the steps
in our relationship were all jumbled up?

I
sifted through the dresses. There were at least fifteen dresses, and I didn’t want
to wear a single one. I snatched a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt, suddenly
intent on shopping for something new. I had just enough time before class.

*
* * * * *

I
stood in front of the bathroom mirror and eyed my new dress. The black cocktail
dress felt a bit more snug than it had at the store, but I liked how the wide
neckline made the ruched sleeves look like a bolero jacket. The dress hit a
couple of inches above my knees, although it appeared shorter with four inch
heels. I had decided to pair the dress with glossy red heels and a red, black,
and silver beaded bracelet that was held together by a thick black bow. I
swiped on some tinted lip gloss and a bit more mascara. Then I quickly curled
my hair so that it fell down my back in long blond waves.

Excitement
zipped through me when the doorbell rang. I smiled.
It’s nice to know the
guy can use a door.
My pulse quickened as I made my way down the stairs and
opened the door. My breath caught when I saw Rafael. I had never seen the man in
a suit before. He typically wore black cargo pants or jeans and a Dri-fit shirt
that left little doubt as to how cut the guy really was.

Rafael’s
eyes trailed down and then back up my ensemble. “How the hell are we supposed
to make it through dinner?”

I
shook my head and laughed. “I have no idea.”

He
yanked me against his chest. His hands tangled in my hair as his lips coaxed mine
into a heated kiss. My hands lingered on his chest before easing over his
shoulders and settling at the base of his neck. My entire body pinged with
desire.

I
reached for his arm and steadied myself as he broke away. “Shall we?” I asked
shakily.

Rafael
tucked me under his arm. “My car is in the garage out back. Do you want to cut
through the house?”

I
was a little concerned that cutting through the house might involve a detour to
the bedroom, but I conceded. Thankfully, Rafael didn’t take any detours. We
wound through my kitchen and down to my garage, since his garage was right next
door.

Rafael
keyed the code to his garage, and the door slid open, revealing a sleek black
motorcycle and a Ferrari. My eyes grew wide. “Is that the bat mobile?”

Rafael
grinned. “That’s an Enzo F70. The bike is a Vyrus.”

“Of
course it is,” I mumbled, thinking virus not Vyrus. “So which one are we driving
to dinner?”

Rafael
laughed. “In that dress? The Enzo.”

I
nearly wet myself when the doors to the car rose.

Rafael’s
eyes crinkled in amusement. “Do you want to drive?” The look on his face was a
dare if I ever saw one.

I
peeked inside the car. “Is it an automatic?”

Rafael
roared with laughter. “No. It’s a manual.”

I
looked at him thoroughly confused. “Where’s the clutch?”

He
smiled. “The shifting paddles are on the steering wheel.”

I
examined the steering wheel more closely. “I wouldn’t know where to begin. What
if I break something?”

Rafael
pulled my back against his chest as he nuzzled my neck. “I’ll drive to the
restaurant so you can see how it works. Then you can drive home.”

My
head fell back against his shoulder as his lips demanded more access to my
neck. “God, Rafael, how am I supposed to maintain self-control when everything
about you screams sex?”

Rafael’s
hands burned a trail from my hips to my breasts. His voice was low and
seductive as his thumbs teased the tips of my breasts into hard pebbles. “The
fact that you’re trying to maintain control tells me you’re afraid and you
don’t trust me. I’m not going to hurt you, Kristine. I want you to trust me
enough to let go… to surrender that control you cling to in fear.”

My
voice trembled as my heart bolted from my chest to parts unknown. “I don’t know
if I can do that.”

Rafael
turned me in his arms. A determined look settled over his face. “You can, Kristine.
Once you’ve decided you can trust me, you’ll long to let go.” His eyes darkened
as he pressed me up against the car. Our breath mingled as his lips hovered
over mine. He searched my eyes until a smug look settled over his face. He
smiled as he slowly backed away. “Let’s go eat.”

My
emotions scattered as I tried to sort through why he hadn’t kissed me. I stared
at him, thoroughly perplexed, as we walked toward the passenger side of the
car.

Rafael
chuckled as he helped me into the car. “Don’t worry. I fully intend to collect
on that kiss.” He eyed my legs appreciatively as my dress inched up, but there
was no graceful way to fold myself into the low slung car. Rafael slid into the
driver’s seat. The doors hummed as they slid back into place. The Ferrari suddenly
roared to life.

I
wondered whether it was possible for a car to cause an orgasm. I turned to face
Rafael as he backed out of the garage. “What do you drive when it snows?”