Page 47 of Winter
Yes. Friends.
But the nextday there seemed to be a tension between them all morning that neither could understand and, when they arrived at her lawyer’s office, things came to a head.
Inca stared at the secretary.
“So you’re telling me the paperwork isn’t ready?”
The secretary looked between Inca and Raffaelo, a bemused look belying the polite smile. “Ms. Sardee, it’s not that we haven’t got it ready. It’s that, as I explained, you called here yourself and canceled the paperwork some weeks ago.”
The implication was clear:Hey, nutso, don’t bring your crazy around here.
Inca flushed and turned away from the woman’s gaze. Raffaelo put a hand on her back and smiled kindly at the receptionist.
“Ms. Sardee hasn’t been well … Do you think you could reschedule the paperwork?”
Inca opened her mouth to speak, but Raffaelo shook his head at her. “It’s okay, Inca. I’ll sort this out.”
Irritation spiked in her chest and she turned away and walked out of the office. On the street, a freezing air blew up from Elliott Bay, a faint spattering of drizzle hanging on it. Inca squinted out to Alki Point, the outline of it muzzy and undefined. The adrenaline was starting to fade now and she felt foolish. So what if Raffaelo had taken charge? He was trying to be a friend, trying to protect her.
Deny all you want, the small voice in her head said.You know it’s more than that. Inca shook the thought away, but her irritation remained.
She felt a hand on her back and turned to look at Raffaelo. He was frowning.
“Why did you leave? We were just dealing with—”
“Raffaelo … I’m a grown woman, and I can speak for myself. Why did you think it was appropriate for you to say that to that woman? You made me look like a total idiot.” Her tone was snippier than she’d intended, but she couldn’t shake the annoyance she felt.
Raffaelo went very still and when he spoke, his own voice was hard.
“That wasn’t my intention, I can assure you. I was merely trying to help. Hey …”
She’d turned away from him and started walking away. He grabbed her wrist, twisting it around as he stopped her. His fingers bit into her skin and she winced.
“Raffaelo, you’re hurting me.”
His grip didn’t lessen. “Then don’t turn your back on me when I’m talking to you.”
She turned back to him and nearly recoiled at the anger in his eyes, eyes that had darkened from his usual green to a dark hazel. Anger that turned to desire. They bored into hers and she felt her stomach flip, her breath catching in her throat. She froze. He dropped her wrist and took a deep breath. When he spoke again, his voice was softer.
“I apologize. I was just trying to help.” He touched her face. “What is going on today? Why is there this tension between us?”
She flushed, not wanting this conversation now, here, out on the street. He dropped his hand.
“Inca, we need to talk about what is happening between us.”
She said nothing, but looked away, down the busy street. She felt an overwhelming need to be alone, to shake off everything and everyone in her life. An idea occurred to her and she turned towards the city, not looking at Raffaelo.
“I’m going to see my realtor.” She didn’t elaborate, and Raffaelo said nothing, just walked beside her. He slid a hand up her back and rested his hand on the back of her neck. It felt good, a comfort, and so she didn’t pull away. A couple of blocks later, she pushed open the door to Mindy’s realty office and smiled thinly at her friend. Mindy greeted her warmly. Inca rather stiffly introduced Raffaelo to her. They shook hands and the small blonde woman frowned slightly.
“Have we met?”
Raffaelo smiled back at her. “I’m afraid not, but I am pleased to meet you now.”
Mindy was still frowning when she offered them a seat. “What can I do for you, Inca?”
Not looking at Raffaelo, Inca got straight to the point. “I would like to see some more apartments. In the city, rather than Willowbrook.” She felt Raffaelo look at her in surprise, an expression that was mirrored in Mindy’s face.
“Really? Well, that’s … why the change of heart?”
