Dante's Temporary Fiancée

Rafe turned to face her, leaning his hip against the counter. “We’ve had this discussion before.” He fixed her with his penetrating green gaze, his expression one that no doubt sent his employees scurrying in instant obedience. “I don’t see any point in having it again.”

It was the second time she’d caught a glimpse of the more intimidating aspect of his personality. Not that he hadn’t warned her. She’d just been foolish enough not to believe him. She should have known better. Rafe didn’t pull his punches.

“In that case, I’ll wear a few of the outfits and leave the rest,” she said lightly. “You can return them after I’m gone.”

He shoved away from the kitchen counter and approached. “Why all this talk about leaving?”

“Well…” She forced herself to hold her ground even though a siren blared in her head, urging a full-scale retreat. “It occurred to me that since everyone’s going to be at the lake, that might be a good time to stage our breakup.”

“In front of all my relatives?”

“Bad idea?”

“Very bad idea, since I’m willing to bet that the majority of them would take your side in any fight you might care to initiate.”

She cleared her throat. “I wasn’t thinking of a fight, so much as an announcement.”

“I don’t do fights or announcements. Not in public. And I sure as hell don’t do them in front of my entire family.”

He closed to within inches of her. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t keep herself from falling back a pace or two. Kiko looked on with intense curiosity and Larkin suspected that if it had been anyone other than Rafe proving his intimidation skills, the dog would have objected in no uncertain terms.

“Are you bored already, Larkin? Is that the problem?”

Her mouth parted in shock. “No! How could you even think such a thing?”

If shrugs could be sarcastic, Rafe had it nailed. “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe it has something to do with your wanting to break off our engagement after one short week.”

“In case I didn’t make it clear enough last night, I’m not bored.” Images of what they’d spent the time doing flashed through her head and brought a telltale blush to her cheeks. “Not even close.”

“I’m relieved to hear it. But if it’s not boredom…” He raised an eyebrow and waited.

Naturally, she broke first. Would she ever learn to control her tongue? “I’m afraid, okay?”

It was his turn to look shocked. “Afraid?” Shock became concern. “Of me?”

“No!” She flew into his arms, impacting with a delicious thud. “How could you even think such a thing?”

He wrapped her in a tight embrace. “Hell, sweetheart.” He rested his chin on top of her head. “What else am I supposed to think?”

“Not that. Never that.”

He pulled back a few inches and snagged her chin with his index finger, forcing her to look at him. “Then what are you afraid of?”

She didn’t want to explain. Didn’t want to tell him. But she didn’t see what other choice she had. And maybe if he understood, he’d let her go before it was too late.

“It’s what we were talking about before. I’m afraid to drag out our engagement,” she admitted. “I’m afraid that it’ll hurt too much when the time comes to walk away.”

Something dark and powerful moved in his gaze. How could any woman have believed for one little minute that he was emotionally distant? It wasn’t distance, but self-control. Larkin had never known a man whose emotions ran deeper or more passionately than Rafe’s. And because they were so strong, he’d learned to exert an iron will over them to keep them in check. Intimidating? Okay, she’d give Leigh that one. But not distant. Never that.

“I won’t let you go.” The words came out whisper-soft and all the more potent because of it. “I can’t.”

He didn’t give her the opportunity to reply. Instead, he swept her into his arms. Instead of carrying her in the direction of the guest suite, he climbed the stairs to his own bedroom. They’d never made love there before and she’d understood without it ever being said that his inner sanctum was off-limits.