“No appreciation necessary. I did my job, that’s all.”
“Your commitment goes above and beyond the job. How about this: be my date for the Las Ventanas re-launch party?”
“I—” Had his fever burned away all common sense? “I can’t.”
“Why not?”
Her lungs felt trapped in her rib cage. “You know very well why not. I don’t work there anymore. I have no business reason to attend, and going as your date essentially tells the world we’re sleeping together.”
“As it happens, we are sleeping together.”
His logic only intensified the pressure in her chest. “And we agreed to be discreet. There is nothing discreet about attending the party together. It’s the exact opposite. I grew up at Las Ventanas. Some of the people there have known me all my life. Everyone would say—”
“It’s not everyone you’re concerned about. It’s Barrington.”
Paul rated so low on her list of concerns, she almost laughed. Guarding her heart, and her sanity, not to mention her professional reputation—those were concerns. “This isn’t about Paul. It’s about me.”
“Or is it about her?”
The flu had flattened her. She couldn’t keep up with this conversation. “Her who?”
Rafe traced his thumb along the sensitive corner where her lips met. “Cindy. Have you heard from her?”
The barrage of emails and texts from Cindy sprang to mind, filled with accusations and suspicions she’d done nothing to earn, but now, under Rafe’s sharp gaze, heat swept into her cheeks. He’d already overheard her speaking to Paul, and drawn his own conclusions. Admitting Cindy shared his ugly suspicions, to the point of sending multiple daily warnings, only legitimized them.
“I haven’t contacted her.”
“That’s not what I asked.” He ran his thumb over her lips. “And you’re dangerously close to polluting this lovely mouth with a lie.”
She tipped her chin away and broke the contact. “Don’t ask me a question if you already know the answer.”
“I’d like to hear your answer. Trust me enough to tell me what’s going on.”
The unfairness of the situation overwhelmed her, or maybe it was the trace of pity in his eyes, but suddenly everything came spilling out. “Look, I’m not chasing after Paul, despite what everyone seems to think. Tuesday night you overheard the one and only time I’ve exchanged words with him since he dumped me, and the sole reason I took his call was to tell him I had no interest in reconciling. I didn’t get that far, unfortunately, because Cindy interrupted. She’s convinced I’m a threat. They’re having problems and it’s easier for her to blame me than accept that she doesn’t inspire any more loyalty from him than I did.”
She drew in a long, unsteady breath, hoping the burn in her throat would subside. “Seven thousand miles and I still can’t get beyond the debacle I walked away from last year. I haven’t done anything wrong, but I’m the one on the defensive, and I’m forced into interactions I didn’t invite. All I wanted was a fresh start.”
A warm, strong hand uncurled her fist from the blanket. “I can help.”
The offer meant a lot. For one, it meant he believed her, and the show of support steadied her more than it should. She shook her head. “No. This is my problem. I don’t want to pull you in.”
“You didn’t. Cindy made it St. Sebastian’s problem when she sent inappropriate emails to you using her work account. We terminated her employment today, and agreed to pay severance in the form of salary continuation for twelve weeks provided she never contacts you again. You need to let me know immediately if she fails to honor the terms.”
“Oh, Jesus.” He already had his hands full with Las Ventanas. The last thing he needed was another issue. “I’m sorry—”
“I’m not.” He threaded his fingers through hers. “Not about that, at any rate. She needed to go. It was only a question of time, and she resolved the question for us.” He paused and looked her in the eye. “I am sorry about my behavior Tuesday night. I felt like hell, and I took it out on you. I owe you an apology.”
The sincerity of his words soothed away her hurt feelings. They also made her face heat, because she couldn’t help thinking about the last time he’d apologized to her. She looked down at their linked hands. “No apology necessary.”
“I disagree.” He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. “I look forward to earning your forgiveness.” The heat in her cheeks spread like wildfire. Apparently they weren’t at odds anymore, but she probably looked pretty…uh…unforgiveable at the moment. “N-now?”
He laughed, leaned in, and kissed her forehead. “You’re beautiful, but I meant later, when you’re feeling better. I need you at full strength to offer you a proper apology. In the meantime, the least I can do is feed you. What sounds appetizing?”
“I didn’t realize you knew how to cook.”
“I know how to use a phone.”
“Room service is hard to come by on my side of the island.”