Claiming Her Heart by Lili Valente Page B

sense in hiding her feelings. “But that doesn’t mean we have a future.”
    “I think it does. Blake loves you more than anything in the world. He’s got it in his head he’s no good for you or something, but I swear he’s the best man I know. He’s all heart under the big scary act.”
    Erin felt her throat grow tight and a bubble of hope expand in her chest, making her dizzy. “I know he is. But he told me to stay away from him. It’s the last thing he said before he left.”
    “Listen, I know you guys have got this kinky Dominant and submissive thing going on,” Rafe said, making Erin smile at the obvious discomfort in his tone. “But even the ‘boss’ needs to be told what’s what sometimes. Blake is all mixed up. So just take that ticket and go tell him to quit being an asshole. You three belong together, I feel it in my gut.”
    He pulled an envelope out of his pocket and set it on the table next to the plane ticket. “These are directions to the shop and Blake’s condo. I took the liberty of having a key made to his place in case you decide to make yourself at home. He’s been working the early shift at the shop, twelve to eight.”
    Erin bit her lip, trying to fight the excitement making her heart beat faster but finding it impossible. Rafe wasn’t a hopeless romantic; he was a practical man, even a cynical one. If he was here, insisting Blake was lost without her, she had damned well better believe it.
    “Let me ask you one question,” she said.
    Rafe nodded. “Shoot.”
    “Is that ticket one-way?”
    He smiled. “It sure is.”
    She returned his grin. “Good. Because if I’m going to do this, I’m going to do it right.”
    “Good.” The warmth in his dark eyes finally made her see why this was a man who made women swoon. Rafe was a gorgeous human being when he let his softer side show. “A woman after my own heart. Though I did get a round-trip ticket to Kauai. Two, actually. I plan on bringing someone home with me.”
    “The woman who inspired the change of heart?” Erin asked, happy for the man.
    “Yeah. I was pretty sure I hated her until I realized I’m fucking crazy about her.” He frowned as he crossed to the door. “Amazing what you learn about yourself when you hear someone’s eloped with another man.”
    “Oh, no,” Erin said. “I’m sorry.”
    “That’s all right,” Rafe said with another heartbreaker grin. “I’m going to get there before the ceremony and talk sense into her. You want me to help you pack anything before I go? The next direct flight leaves at eleven o’clock. I assume you’ll want to be on that one. No sense leaving that man down there to suffer any longer.”
    Erin glanced around the room at the furnishings that had come with the studio and the very few things she’d managed to bring with her and Abby when they left Scott the first time. She wasn’t going to be sad to leave the place that had been their home for the past two months. “No, I think I can throw our clothes in a couple of suitcases and box up the rest of the stuff before we need to catch a cab. There’s not that much here.”
    “All right, then, I guess I’ll be heading out.” He paused and turned to catch her eye. “You’re really going, right?”
    “I am.” The last of her resistance faded away as she imagined how amazing it would be to see Blake again.
    “Thank you,” Rafe said, vulnerability in his eyes she’d never seen before. “And don’t let him tell you no.”
    “Thank you.” She smiled. “I won’t.”
    As she watched Rafe leave, she realized she’d never meant anything more.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER SIXTEEN
    Blake
     
    “You want a sandwich from the Cuban bakery?” Garret, one of the Miami studio’s most talented artists, stood at the door looking like the last thing he wanted to do was bring Blake a sandwich or a pastelito de guayaba . “They’ve got those hot ham and cheese ones and the pastries go half price after seven