Larkin flinched at the word. She didn’t know what had happened to Rafe all those years ago, but she could feel the waves of turbulence rolling off him, his impressive willpower all that held the emotions in check.
“I think we’re being called to dinner,” she said, hoping to defuse the situation. Standing, she offered her hand to Rafe. “I can’t wait to sample Primo’s cooking. Everyone I’ve spoken to has raved about it.”
To her shock, he scooped her close. Lowering his head, he took her mouth in a slow, thorough kiss that caught her off guard and had her responding without thought or hesitation. “Thanks,” he murmured against her lips.
“Anytime,” she whispered back. Especially if it meant being rewarded with a kiss like that.
The kiss hadn’t escaped the notice of Rafe’s relatives, nor did she miss the gentle laughter and whispered comments that followed the two of them inside. She might have been embarrassed if not for the relieved delight on their faces. It didn’t take much guesswork to understand why. Clearly, Leigh had done quite a number on Rafe and they were thankful that he’d finally put the trauma of his marriage behind him. She winced.
If they only knew.
“You didn’t mention that we were expected to join your family at the lake next week,” Larkin said.
“Sorry about that.” He opened the door leading into the utility room off the kitchen and held it for her. “Is going to the lake with me a problem?”
With the exception of the few monosyllabic replies she’d offered in response to his various attempts at conversation, she hadn’t spoken a word since they’d left Primo’s. Rafe couldn’t decide whether to be relieved or concerned that she’d finally started talking again. Clearly, something was eating at her. If their visit to the lake was her main concern, he could handle that and would chalk the evening up as a reasonable success. Otherwise…
“No. I just would have appreciated a warning.”
Damn. She still wasn’t looking at him, which meant her silence wasn’t because of the trip to the lake. A lead-in, perhaps, or an oblique approach to the actual problem. But definitely not the problem itself. She crouched to greet Kiko, scanning the area as she did so.
“I don’t see any damage in here. Maybe we should do a quick walk-through, just to be on the safe side.”
“I’m sure she was fine.” He stooped beside the pair and gave Kiko a thorough rub. The dog moaned in ecstasy. “Weren’t you, girl?”
Sure enough, a quick inspection of the house revealed no damage. Once Larkin satisfied herself that Kiko had behaved while they were gone, he inclined his head toward the patio. “I’m not ready for the evening to end. Why don’t we go outside before turning in for the night?”
She hesitated, another ominous sign. “Okay.”
He removed a bottle from the refrigerator and nabbed a pair of crystal flutes, then followed her into the moonlit darkness. “Hmm. For some reason this has a familiar feel to it.”
She tossed a smile over her shoulder, one filled with feminine enchantment. “Been there, done that?”
He set the bottle on the table. “Close, though a bit different from what I have planned for this evening.”
She eyed the bottle and stilled. “Champagne?” A frown worried at the edges of her expression. “Are we celebrating something?”
“I guess that depends on how well this goes over.” He removed a small jewelry box from his pocket and flipped it open, revealing the glittering ring within. “I couldn’t wait until Monday,” he explained in response to her look of shock. “Hell, I barely made it through last night.”
She drew in a sharp breath. “Oh, Rafe. What have you done?”
His eyes narrowed. “You knew this was coming. I just moved up the timetable by a day or two. After last night…”
She actually blushed, which he found fascinating. At a guess, she didn’t often wander around naked in the moonlight. A shame. It suited her. It also suited him.
She took a quick step backward. Not a good sign. “It’s just…” She trailed off with a shrug.