Page 27 of Rio
“No need,” Raquel says, eyes still locked on mine.“We’re great.Totally fine.”
“Fine is such a subjective word,” I counter.
Dex stands.“How about we get our dessert outside, Daniela?”
Dani hesitates.“Raquel?”
Raquel waves her off.“I’m good.I’ll try not to kill him.”
I smile, warming up to her.“You’d do anything to get your hands on me.”
“Chokehold or a headlock?”she asks, eyes narrowed.Dex and Dani leave quickly, and then it’s only the two of us.The air tightens around us instantly.
“That’s not a good move for a lawyer.”I wave the server over and order a Negroni.
“And I’ll get the bill, please,” Raquel tells him.
“You’re leaving already?”I’m shocked.I didn’t expect her to rush off this fast.I expected more time, more banter, more flirting.Now I’m doubting myself for coming here.Maybe she’s in a relationship?
“You came all the way here to...what?Ambush me with banter and pretend it’s business?”
“Who says I’m pretending, princesa?You spoke to Andre, didn’t you?”
“Please.”She scoffs, folding her arms.“I’ve met you, remember?I know you Knights have answers for everything.You people are good at covering your tracks.”
“Want to go over and meet Andre?”I glance at my watch, but don’t note the time.“We can go and have a drink with him.Maybe he can tell you all about our meeting.”
“Nothing for me, thank you,” she says, when the server asks if she’d like dessert.
“You’re not asking me?”
“Absolutely nothing for him.My guests are outside, if you’d like to take their order.”
“Certainly, ma’am.”The server nods and disappears.
I relax back against my chair.“You’re being rather strict on me, and we’re not even a couple yet.Afraid I’ll out on weight, or is it diabetes you’re trying to save me from?”I flash her another one of my charming smiles I know she hates.
“You can overdose on all the sugar you want.”
Ouch.She really is mad at me.Still, I don’t want to waste this opportunity.“I came here to talk, princesa.To get the conversation going.I didn’t take you for a coward, so why are you running away?”
Eyes blazing she glares at me.“I’m not scared of you, Knight.I’m being sensible.”
“Tell me you don’t think about that night.”
Her eyes flash.I see something wild and defiant, like she’s daring me to see exactly what she’s thinking.
“I waited for you,” I remind her.“You told me to.You had work to do, but even though I offered to leave, you told me to stay.”
“I took pity on you,” she snaps.
I lean forward more and touch her arm.Her skin is warm, and prickly now.Every touch, every look, every whisper, it affects us both.Not only me.
“So much pity that you asked me in and then suggested a game of strip poker.”I grab my drink from the server.
“It seemed like the polite thing to do, after all, you left your brother’s wedding reception to walk me back.”
“There’s nothing polite about playing strip poker.”
