Page 34 of Hidden Raphael
Come to think of it, where was his bedroom? He wasn't on the same floor she was.
She circled the library one more time.
Where did he spend his day? Kimberly rubbed her chin then tapped her fingers together. She'd have to find him.
She returned to the main hall and decided which way to go next.
Her body went warm and she turned back around. Raphael was at the library door.
She placed her hand on her hip. "Where were you?"
"Huh?" He stared at her in surprise then took off his headset. She smiled. He hadn't heard her calling because of his music. He pocketed his earpieces then said, "I was heading to the library."
To the library? She bounced on her tiptoes. "Where were you?"
“You look nice, but should be in sweats.”
She turned her head and stared into his brown eyes. “What? I asked where you were.”
"Ohh. I was in the gym." He brushed against her arm. Her entire body electrified from his simple touch. "As I said, you're in a dress. Go and change into sweats and I'll show you some self-defense moves like I promised."
“Roger is dead.” She played with her hair as he took his hand back. “Why should I learn this now?”
“It’s for your own protection.”
She lost the ability to think for the moment. Then she nodded. "Where is the gym?"
He stepped away from her and pointed. "Two doors further down on the left."
"Okay." She took a step closer to him and smiled. "Meet you there in ten minutes, Rafe."
"Raphael is fine. No one’s called me Rafe in a long time."
“I like both. I’ll have to decide which one I like better.”
He shook his head, but smiled back at her. Finally. His dimples were adorable. She turned around and walked down the hall aware that he stared at her backside. She had an extra swivel in her hips until she turned the corner to head up the stairs.
Was she flirting? Was she crazy? Raphael was not a guy she could take home as a souvenir to meet her mom. She vowed to herself to never get swayed by a man. On the beach in her hut, that vow was easy. His kiss last night had her off kilter now, but she'd work through this. Her fingers went into circles to help her steady her thoughts.
She ran up the stairs, jumping a few to climb faster. Back in her room, she threw the dress on the bed, and then rushed into the closet. The floor was still chilly despite her sneakers.
She'd move a rug in here to keep her toes warm. She then checked out the racks of clothes and hoped to find a pair of sweats. In her bag, She had some of her own clothes that needed washing. She stopped short. Her clothes were hung and pressed on the first rack.
Meg must have done that. Kimberly pressed her lips together. She'd have to thank her. Her own mother had never done her laundry. She shook her head then continued on her path. In the back, she found shorts that had an elastic waist.
She slid them on and realized that the shorts were shorter on her than they were intended. She’d cover that with a long t-shirt.
She went back to the rack with her clothes and chose her plain black tee that she wore to clean her own house.
Raphael would not find her attractive now.
She swallowed. Good. Then she tied on her sneakers and rushed back down the stairs.
Meg was nowhere to be seen. She ran back to the library, slowing down to not seem overexcited. She shouldn't be anyhow. She shook her hands then walked slowly.
She opened the door to the gym and stared at Raphael without his shirt on. Her entire body awoke in awareness. He was built to be an action hero. What would it be like to have him hold her close and press his lips harder on hers? She sighed.
Most men could never get that cut with muscle. She stared at his US Marine tattoo. She opened her mouth to say hello, but she couldn't quite get the sounds out of her mouth.
