But how was she supposed to negotiate with a man she didn’t trust?
She straightened. “Okay. Let’s go find that puzzle.”
“Okay.”
He smiled and slid off the bed. She followed him. In the hallway, he reached for her hand. She held on to his small fingers and vowed that no matter what, she was never letting go.
Rafael walked toward the back door of the Marcelli house. He’d had two angry phone calls with his father that morning. The king was not a patient man and he expected his grandson in residence before the end of the summer. Rafael didn’t see how that was possible. He was no longer willing to simply spirit Daniel away, as he had been before. Mia had worked legal magic to keep Daniel with her in any other circumstances. It was a problem without solution.
The door opened before he could knock. Daniel stood there.
“Good morning,” Rafael said pleasantly. “I thought we could go into town today. There is a children’s museum that is-”
“You made my mommy cry,” Daniel told him. “You made Mommy cry and say a bad word. Go away.”
With that, the door slammed shut, leaving Rafael standing alone outside.
Mia looked up when Grammy M walked into the library. “What’s up?” she asked.
The older woman was twisting an old dish towel. “It’s Danny,” she said, then quickly added. “He’s fine.”
“Okay.” Mia stood. “Did he do something wrong?”
“I’m not sure you’ll think so. Rafael was here.”
Mia glanced at the clock and swore. It was ten after two. Their appointment was for two.
“I was trying to figure out my class schedule,” she said. “I wasn’t watching the clock.” Her heart froze in her chest. “Oh, God, Rafael didn’t take him, did he?”
“What? Of course not. None of us would be lettin’ that happen. It’s nothin’ like that. Danny answered the door and told his father that he’d made you cry and that he should go away. Then he slammed the door in Rafael’s face and ran up to his room. He’s there now.”
Mia winced. “He walked in while I was having a personal pity party last night,” she admitted. “I didn’t think he would take it so hard. What did Rafael do?”
“He left.”
Mia blinked. “You’re kidding. I would have thought he would demand his son.”
“I think Danny hurt his feelings.”
Mia couldn’t imagine a building falling on the man and causing pain, but stranger things had happened. “Okay, I’ll take care of this.”
Danny first, then Rafael, she thought.
“Rafael really left?” she asked again.
Grammy M nodded. “He got in his car and drove away.”
“So not like him to walk away.” She couldn’t believe he’d given up on Danny, which left what? He’d been shocked, maybe? Because the hurt thing…so not happening.
Thirty minutes later she pulled into the hotel parking lot. She’d had a very productive talk with her four-year-old, explaining he didn’t get to say who came and went in the house, and now she was here to…to…
She parked and stared at the small hotel as she tried to figure out what she was there to do. Telling Rafael he was welcome to come over was the sort of thing she could say on the phone. So why had she left Danny in the very capable hands of the Grands and driven here herself?
Oh, well, now that she was here, she might as well deliver her message.
She walked up to the second floor and was immediately stopped by Oliver.
“It’s me,” she said easily. “I’m not armed and I’m not going to let you feel me up to confirm that, but you can check my purse if you want.”
She held out the bag. He quickly went through it, then handed it back.
She walked to Rafael’s room and knocked.
“It’s open.”
She stepped inside and found him sitting on the sofa, reading what looked like a very thick report.
“Hi,” she said as she entered. “I came by to, ah, talk about what happened with Danny.”
Rafael rose and pointed to the sofa. “Please, have a seat. Would you like something to drink?”
“No, I’m good.”
He waited until she was seated before claiming his own chair again. She studied him, trying to figure out what he was feeling, but his dark blue eyes gave nothing away and the half smile hid all his secrets.
“I heard what happened,” she began, again wondering why she hadn’t just phoned it in. “I’m sorry Danny did that. I didn’t coach him.”
“I did not think you did. Two days ago he was furious with you because he thought you were the reason I no longer lived at the house. Today I am the villain.”
Bad guy, she thought, but didn’t correct him. “Okay. Well, I thought maybe you were upset.”
“So you came to gloat?”
“Ouch. That’s not fair. I said I’m sorry.”
“So you did. You are sorry and I am sorry. Where do we go from here?”
He was asking her? “I haven’t a clue,” she admitted. “We’ll have to find some middle ground.”
“Difficult when you don’t trust me.”
Difficult, yes. But impossible?
“I want to trust you,” she said slowly.
“You say that as if it’s a horrible thing.”
“It is. How many times do you get to fool me?”
“I’m not fooling, Mia. This is very real. We’re talking about our son and his future and how best to be parents. What is more real than that?”
“You’re still an arrogant prince who doesn’t believe he has to play by the rules.”
“Perhaps, but you didn’t come here because of Daniel.”
He was on his feet before she had a chance to absorb his words. Once she did, she stood and glared at him. “If you’re saying what I think you’re saying…”
“You’re here because of me. Because of the connection that exists. You’re here because there is a need and a hunger and because when you close your eyes at night, I’m the man you see.”
She started to stalk out, but he grabbed her arm and spun her toward him. They were inches apart. She could feel the heat of his body and hear the soft rhythm of his breathing. His eyes were as dark as midnight and she recognized the passion burning there.
“Admit it,” he commanded.
“Never.”
“But you must, Mia. You were never a liar.”
“Of all the arrogant, self-centered, egotistical-”
He cut off her rant with a kiss. She knew what he was going to do the second before his mouth touched hers and she braced herself for the assault.
Only it never came. Instead he released her arm and pressed his lips to hers in a gesture so tender, so soft and tentative, she felt herself strain toward him to deepen the contact.
All the anger and uncertainty drained away, leaving nothing in their wake but desire. Her body remembered what it had been like to be touched by this man, and every cell called out to him. Her breasts ached, her thighs tightened, and between her legs, she was already wet.
All this and they were still kissing like schoolchildren.
“Mia,” he breathed against her mouth. “How I’ve wanted you. How I’ve thought about what it was like when we made love. We have always had the fire. When I touch you, I feel your pleasure.”
She felt the same. As she ran her hands over his body, she knew his response as if it were her own. But she didn’t say that. She might be foolish enough to sleep with him again, but she wasn’t going to get sucked in emotionally.
This was just sex. Fantasy and friction. Nothing more.
Still, when he pressed against her mouth, she turned into him. And when his arms came around her waist, she raised hers to his shoulders. Then she tilted her head and parted her lips and surrendered.
His tongue swept inside her mouth. His heat and taste combined with incredible sensations of delight. She surged toward him, wanting to feel the hardness of his body against hers. Even as he explored her mouth, he rubbed his hands up and down her back. She did the same to him, then went lower, to cup his rear and squeeze.