Page 16 of Wicked Mistletoe

Finally. There it is. That flicker of shock I’d been waiting for since we walked into this place. I fight to keep my smile discreet while savoring his reaction, but inside, I’m doing a victory dance.

After reading his note, I went on a rapid-fire shopping spree. My everyday wardrobe consists mostly of slacks and jeans—not exactly fine dining attire. So I splurged a little on this killer blue V-neck dress. And oh boy, Rafael’s reaction made it well worth every penny.

“See something you like, Rafael?” I tease, throwing his words from years ago back at him.

His gaze snaps to mine, holding me hostage for an intense moment. For a heartbeat, I stop breathing as I watch the storm of emotions swirling in his eyes. But then that all-too-familiar nagging itch starts in my brain, and I can’t help but shift my gaze to his shoulder, annoyed at myself for breaking the spell. Even now, even when I want nothing more than to lose myself in his eyes, I can’t… Why is it so hard…

His hand moves to my chin, fingers warm and assertive as he tilts my head up. I focus on the bridge of his nose but can see the little smirk playing on his lips. “As a matter of fact, amorina, I do see something I like. Very much.”

My heart roars in my chest, my throat runs dry, and my palms start sweating uncontrollably. I didn’t see that coming. When he finally lets me go, I feel an odd emptiness. But then Isee he’s only pulling a chair out for me. Nervously, I lick my lips and sit down, hyper-aware of his presence as he pushes my chair closer to the table.

Rafael takes the seat across from mine, leaning back with the easy confidence of a king on his throne. The waiter hovers nearby, looking more than a little nervous as he presents the bottle of wine in his hand. Rafael nods slightly, barely acknowledging him, his eyes still glued to me.God, stop looking at me like that.I bite down on my lip, forcing my attention to the fluid motion of the wine being poured into our glasses.

Focus on the wine. Anything but those eyes.

“So, it’s been a while, huh,” I blurt out, grasping at the first words that come to mind. But he just keeps staring, studying me like I’m some unsolved puzzle. I squirm under his gaze, grabbing my glass and taking a long sip of wine. It’s delicious, rich, and full, but my nerves are so frazzled that I can’t even fully appreciate it. Damn it, why am I so rattled? It’s just Rafael. Even with my silly crush, I’d never been this nervous around him. So this shouldn’t be such a big deal.

But it is.

My heart is thumping erratically in my ears, and his eyes on me are like beams of electricity, sending tingles everywhere they touch.

“Five years.” His voice is low, almost a growl. “Where did you go?Whydid you leave?”

And here we go. The million-dollar question. I frown into the wine, swirling the glass so the dark red liquid swishes around. “I um… I explained that in my letter.”

“Right. The letter.” He rolls his eyes as he picks up his own wine glass. Finally, his gaze breaks from mine, and I exhale softly, grateful for the momentary relief. “So, you went to medical school in Houston. Why come back to Manhattan for your residency?”

I glance up at him in surprise, though I really shouldn’t be. Stacey called me last night to warn me that she would release some information about my past to prevent suspicion when Rafael inevitably started digging. I just wasn’t expecting him to dig into it this quickly.

“What if I told you I missed the city?” I hesitate, feeling the words clog in my throat. “Missed…you?”

His eyes whip back to mine, and for a brief second, they flare with something—hurt, disbelief, maybe even a flicker of anger—before freezing over, turning as cold and distant as a glacier. “I invited you to dinner, Emilia. No need to lie to get on my good side.”

But I wasn’t lying. My heart sinks and a lump forms in my throat. Ihadmissed him, missed all of them. But clearly, the Rafael sitting across from me now isn’t the same boy I left behind five years ago.

Before I can respond, the waiter returns, bearing a tray filled with food. I frown, confusion briefly overriding my hurt. We haven’t even had a chance to order yet. But, of course.Rafael must have ordered for us in advance, huh?

“I hope you still have the same tastes,” he says, studying me again with those endless eyes. “I made sure to order your favorites. You do still like the same food, don’t you? Or have you gone and changed on me,piccola?”

4

EMILIA

The restaurant is eerily quiet. The only sounds are the clink of our silverware and the waiter’s annoyingly calm voice as he presents each course of mouthwatering dishes. Not exactly the best vibe for a place this stunning. No, it’s like all this elegance is wasted on the thick tension hanging between us now.

My stomach churns, and it’s not from the rich food. Damn it, I’m such an idiot. I didn’t mean to piss Rafael off by saying I missed him, but clearly, that’s exactly what I’ve managed to do. Now what? My mind races, searching for a way to fix this mess I’ve created.

I chance furtive glances at him between bites. Should I say something? Apologize? Or will that just make things worse? He’s got that closed-off look, so I can’t read a thing on his face. It’s maddening.

I want to shake him, to make him understand that I meant what I said—I missed him.And not just him. Maximo, Michael, Romero; they were my friends too, even if it was only for that one fleeting year.

But Rafael…hewas the one I missed the most. The one I couldn’t forget.

And now he won’t even look at me.

I poke at my dessert, trying to stretch out these final moments with him. My brain screams at me to say something. But what? Something light? Something serious? Or should I just blurt out an apology, after all. ‘Sorry I said I missed you.’ Yeah, right. Or maybe, ‘Let’s pretend I never said anything.’ What a classic. I can’t exactly tell him the truth, either: ‘Oh, I didn’t actually go to medical school in Houston. I was away for training in Quantico to become a special agent, not that I didn’twantto keep in touch.’ Yeah, that will go over well. I can just see the look on his face if I ever let that slip. Or that my first mission is to investigatehim.

Ugh… Let’s just stay cool and try not to dig myself into an even deeper hole over dessert.

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