Page 25 of Rio
RIO
Dex and I met earlier in the day, in a bar at the hotel where I’m staying.That dude was all wrapped up in guilt.I could immediately tell that he feels bad for hiding my visit from Dani.
I get it.
These two lovebirds don’t want any secrets between them.Totally understandable.Dex feels bad for the all the trickery Dani endured, on account of the old man.Raquel probably hates my guts even more, if that is possible.
That is, if she’s even thinking about me.
I was starting to wonder if my surprise visit was such a good idea, but a few Negronis was all it took to convince me that it was.Dex said the girls were having a spa day, and then he told me about how the meal went last night, when they announced their engagement to Raquel.
I chuckled when he described her reaction.
“Not exactly happy,” is what Dex said.
No shit.I’m sure Raquel wants nothing to do with the Knights, after seeing how the old man screwed Dani’s father over.
Raquel’s treating them to a celebratory dinner, and I can’t screw this up.Dex isn’t thrilled about sneaking me into their little engagement celebration, but he claims he understands why I need to crash it.He said he doesn’t want to lie, so I’m the one who has to come up with a good reason for turning up unexpectedly.
I’ll do it.
I’ll do whatever I have to.Still, my stomach twists as I walk into the restaurant where Dex told me they’d be.The hostess leads me through the dimly lit dining room.This is good, Raquel won’t see me coming.
It will be a complete surprise.
The ambiance is intimate.Soft candlelight and art deco chandeliers.People talking in hushed tones, making polite conversation.Charmed laughter.
That’s when I see her.The woman who’s taken up permanent residence inside my head.
Raquel.
Everything crawls to slow motion.My insides turn light and floaty, like I’ve just dropped from a great height in a rollercoaster.She has her hair pinned back, off her face, twisted into something elegant.No wild curls tumbling down.She looks sleek, and polished.She’s always glamourous.Always eye-catching and beautiful.I long to trace my fingers along the delicate curve of her neck, to cup her face and admire those sharp cheekbones, to just stare at her dark Bambi eyes.
Even in the dimmed light, I can make out satin red stain on her lips.My heart jolts, and my pants start to feel tight again.
This woman doesn’t even have to touch me to have an effect on me.I watch in wonder as a champagne glass dangles from her fingertips.It immediately reminds me of the panties she once dangled.I head towards them.She’s mid-laugh, head tilted back, Dani leaning into her like a conspirator, and Dex sitting opposite them looking like he’s an extra who wandered into the wrong scene.
She still hasn’t seen me, and I get a few moments to stare freely.This woman is a hit of adrenaline and something more dangerous.She’s the type of woman you remember months and years later.She’s in my blood, but I’m not sure if that’s addiction or poison.All I know is that it’s annoying, and I just need to get her out of my system, so I can get on with my life.I adjust my jacket before stepping into the spotlight.
“Well, this is a surprise.What the hell are you all doing here?”
Three heads turn.Dani gasps.Dex tries to look surprised.Raquel freezes, the glass halfway to her lips as her smile vanishes before my eyes.
Dani’s the first to recover.“Rio?”Her tone is warm, but confused.“What are you doing here?”
“Business.”I lie smoothly, sliding into the booth next to Dex.A muscle tenses along Dex’s jaw.Like he’s thinking,
“Wrong move, brother.Don’t make yourself too comfortable.”Dex wants this to look purely coincidental.Raquel is sharp.Too sharp.He doesn’t want her, or Dani, suspecting anything.
“Sorry.It just felt like old times.”I immediately get back up again.“I won’t stay long.Didn’t mean to interrupt.”
Raquel is still silent, her mouth open.Her eyes curious, as if she doesn’t know what to make of this.
“This is a surprise.”Dani lets out a nervous laugh.I find it odd that she’s doing all the talking.
“Had a few important meetings that couldn’t wait, I thought I saw you guys walking in so here I am.”
“Are you stalking us?Is this planned?Are you trying to pretend that this is unexpected?”Raquel snaps.This woman.Her interrogative skills seem to be a permanent part of her personality.
