Page 86 of Hidden Raphael
She planted her legs wide apart, crossed her arms, and gritted her teeth. "You told me Roger was dead and let me think the same about Harry."
He crossed his arms too. "He thought you'd die if he tossed you out the plane."
Her nostrils flared, her arms flew to her sides, and then she gulped. His words filtered into her brain, and she blinked. "What?"
His green eyes seemed almost black again, and his voice had an edge to it. "It's what he told me when I questioned him."
Harry had meant to be cruel too. She should have known. Her entire body felt like she’d crumple into cereal Raphael would have to clean off the floor. "You should have told me."
He scratched his head. She tapped her foot on the ground and he stopped. "I didn't want you to spend every second here worried they'd get out."
Her hands clenched. He should not be making decisions like that for her. Her back stayed stiff as she said, "Not good enough."
He stood up and took a step toward her, but she stepped back. "You were scared when you arrived."
She shook her head. "That's not a reason."
Then he spread his hands, palms up. "I'm sorry, Kimberly."
She rubbed her arms and ignored his offered palm near her. Eventually he withdrew his hand. Her heart whispered to let this go and be happy, but her mind reeled. He couldn't be trusted. "You also didn't tell me about Eileen and Ali and that you knew them."
This time he crossed his arms, like she'd thrown a knife in his back. She held her head higher. He took a step back. "No, I didn't."
He'd lied about important matters of the heart and she couldn't trust him. Her foot tapped on the floor again. "Why lie about them?"
His mouth dropped open like she'd said the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard. Her entire body heated. How dare he act that way? He was the one that had lied. Then he shook his head. "You said Eileen was your friend and that you blogged about people's personal lives for a living."
"We weren't that close." Kimberly shook her head. "Eileen was my roommate for one year and she offered me a plane ride home. That doesn't mean I'd crucify you."
He pushed the bag of peas further back on the kitchen counter. "I didn't want to take the chance."
She swallowed and her heart felt hollow. "But you were willing to sleep with me?"
His mouth fell open. "That's not the same thing at all."
She spun on her heels to stand right in front of him and she clenched her hands at her side. "You don't want to take chances, but you were willing to have me in your bed."
He ran his hands through his hair and massaged the back of his neck, like that would give him any comfort. "I tried to say no to you."
She'd almost trusted him with her heart and soul. "You didn't try hard enough."
He shook his head. "I don't want to spend a second of my life thinking about Eileen."
"Why? 'Cause you pick women who clearly don't value you."
He stepped back again. "Is that what's wrong here?"
She froze. "That's not fair. I should be angry."
A vein seemed to dance on his forehead. She swallowed, and he turned his back on her. "Kimberly, I won't bother you again."
Her mouth fell open. She feared she'd gone too far. She pressed her hands to her stomach and called out, "Wait."
Raphael walked out of the kitchen. He left the bag of frozen peas on the counter.
Her heart hammered in her chest, and she had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. She paced and decided to refreeze the peas. She pinched her forehead and tried to shake off a headache. She had seduced him. She tried to put her hand in those circles, but it didn’t help. Every atom in her body begged that she should still be open to him.
Thinking hurt her head. She decided to head upstairs. She’d told him the truth, and she had every right to be angry, but the ache inside her intensified now that she was alone. She should go see how Mica slept.
