chapter Twenty-Five
Rafe was silent as he walked from Ari’s room beside his family. For once in their lives even his sisters were quiet as they made their way down the hallway. This situation had gone from out of control to radioactive levels.
Rafe didn’t know if it was stubborn pride, or obsession, but in either case, he knew he wasn’t letting Ari go just yet, so it looked like the only option was to smooth out the waters, convince his family to return to their home, and put things back on the right path.
“Let’s have dinner,” Rafe said as they entered the parking lot.
“That’s a good idea, son. Then you can explain to us why you wouldn’t call us immediately after being shot. I'd also like to know what’s really going on with this Ari you seem so fond of.”
Rafe had to hold in the retort wanting to pop from his mouth. He’d never been disrespectful to his parents and he wasn’t about to start.
“Isn’t it obvious, Dad? Rafe’s in love,” Rachel said in a singsong voice.
“Rachel, for once in your life you need to keep your mouth shut. Ari is… she’s just an employee.”
“Ha!” Lia muttered.
Rafe glared at both of his siblings.
“Well well, if it isn’t the man of the hour – the hero of San Francisco, who swoops in and takes down an armed man while saving the princess from certain death.”
Rafe turned to find his best friend approaching them. He wasn’t thrilled to see the amused smile on Shane’s face. He braced himself for an even longer evening. There was nothing Shane liked more than to find a weakness and then dig in.
“I thought you were out of the country, Shane.”
“I flew all night to make sure your sorry butt was okay. Thanks for calling, by the way.”
“Everyone is simply overreacting to the whole situation. I’m fine, thank you. Go back to South America, or wherever it is you’ve been saving the world.”
“Raffaello, you’re being so rude,” Rosabella scolded as she approached Shane and gave him a welcoming hug.
“Yeah, buddy, very rude,” Shane said with a frown as if his feelings really were hurt. He winked at Rafe as Rosabella released him. His friend knew how to make Rafe look like an ass and he enjoyed doing it.
“Would you like to join us for dinner? We were just leaving,” Martin asked.
“Of course I would. I haven’t seen my favorite family in over six months now. How are you beautiful?” he said while rubbing Rachel’s head.
“I’m not ten years old anymore, Shane. You no longer get to rub my head,” she snapped.
“Sorry, squirt; you’ll always be ten in my eyes.”
“What about Lia? Will she also always be ten?” Rachel goaded, causing both Lia and Shane to squirm. Rafe’s eyes narrowed as he saw the tension between his best friend and little sister. What the hell was going on?
“Shane?” he questioned. He knew there was a problem when Shane wouldn’t look him in the eyes.
“Hey. I thought we were getting some grub. I just flew halfway across the planet and I’m starving,” Shane said with a laugh. Rafe noticed he still wasn’t making eye contact with Lia. He was going to have to have a chat with his best friend before the night was out.
“Yes, with all the stress today, I haven’t been able to eat a thing. Knowing that you’re going to be okay has returned my appetite. Let’s find a restaurant with a view,” Rosabella said as they approached Rafe’s waiting ride.
The family climbed in the back of the limo, and Rafe’s eyes were watchful as Lia scooted all the way to the far side, and Shane sat on the opposite seat the furthest away from her. He just hoped he didn’t explode before he was able to get Shane alone.
“Where have you been and what have you been up to?” Rosabella asked.
“Oh, nothing much. I’ve just been down in South America,” he answered, squirming a bit.
“Nothing much! You’re building houses with your own money. Not only that, but you’ve managed to gather a group of other investors to jump in and donate not only their funds but their time. That takes some heavy lifting,” Lia said, obviously impressed.
“Why is it that you and my son are so over-confident in business and yet so awkward when talking about volunteer work and the beautiful things you do for people? Those are the things you should be shouting from the rooftops.”
“First off, it’s really not that big of a deal. I spent a lot of time as a teenager and my twenties being selfish, taking whatever I wanted and not even thinking of giving back anything. Plus, if someone is doing community service for a pat on the back, then they’re wasting their time. Giving of yourself or your money is meaningless if you’re only doing it because you want to be seen or praised. The reason I like doing volunteer projects out of the country is because I don’t have the news hounding me every five seconds. If nobody knows where I’m at, I finally get a bit of peace. Your son’s been on a few projects with me. He says it’s to get away, but he works his ass off,” Shane answered, nodding at Rafe with respect.
“Speaking of my closed son, do you know what’s going on between Rafe and this lovely Ari?”
Shane’s head whipped around and he finally met Rafe’s eyes. Rafe sent him the slightest shake of his head, asking his friend not to question him in front of the parents. When he saw the gleam enter Shane’s eyes, he knew he was screwed.
“Well, I haven’t heard of Ari before, which tells me that Rafe may actually be interested in this woman.”
“If you haven’t heard about her, then it can’t be that serious,” Martin said with confusion.
“Ah, but that’s where you’re wrong. You see, Rafe and I share everything with each other. I know all about his conquests within days of them meeting. If he’s keeping her from me, then it’s because he doesn’t know what he’s doing. Rafe always knows what he’s doing, so it looks like a woman may have finally come along that is able to knock him off of his perfectly projected life,” Shane answered with a smile.
Enough was enough!
“I haven’t mentioned Ari because we hardly know each other. Yes, I’m dating her, or at least considering it. She’s a little to brash for my normal taste, but she has her qualities,” Rafe started when he heard his mother gasp in shock at his crudeness.
“However,” he continued. “My dating life is none of your business, Shane. Mom, if I were to ever get that serious about a woman, I would tell you. The bottom line is that no woman has gained much interest in my eyes in a long time – Ari included,” he finished as if he was already bored with the conversation.
“That is a horrible thing to say, Rafe,” Rosabella scolded.
“I think it’s best if we just drop this subject. Besides, I’m far more interested in learning why Shane and Lia can’t even seem to look at each other.”
All heads turned to Lia first, whose face was flaming red, and then to Shane, who seemed to be breaking out in a sweat.
“There’s nothing to tell,” Shane said awkwardly as he fiddled with his cuffs.
“Nothing to tell! How about a few months ago when you spent the night together,” Rachel piped in with a wicked smile.
“What!” Rafe thundered as he glared at his best friend.
“Before you attempt to kill me, let me explain. We didn’t exactly spend the night together…” he hedged.
“You have about five seconds to explain before I toss you from a moving vehicle, then have the driver run you over.”
“Look, Lia and I were at the same fundraiser a few months ago and we got together for dinner and drinks. We both ended up drinking a few too many glasses of the exquisite wine and then decided to have a couple more glasses in my room before calling it a night. We passed out. Nothing happened.” When a deathly silence filled the car, he added, “I swear!”
“Dad, open the door – I think I'll throw Shane out anyway,” Rafe thundered.
“You’re such a damn hypocrite. I didn’t even touch your sister – I treated her with nothing but respect. I love your family too much to violate Lia. However, you treat women like they’re nothing more than used gum on the bottom of your shoe and you’re going to sit back and judge me. I love you, Rafe, but when it comes to women, you’re a certified a*shole,” Shane said with a glare.
“Ha! Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. When’s the last time you’ve spent two nights in a row with the same women. At least I’m responsible in my affairs. I stay with the same person for a minimum of three months,” Rafe replied like it was something to be proud of.
“You think you deserve sainthood because you treat your relationships like another business merger.”
“There’s nothing wrong with having strict guidelines to follow.”
“I think we should just drop this Rafe.”
“You’re probably right. I’d rather we didn’t say something that can’t be taken back.”
Rafe looked around, having forgotten for a moment that his parents were sitting across from him. He didn’t like the look of censure in his mother’s eyes or the thoughtful expression on his sisters faces.
The rest of the ride to the restaurant was silent as Rafe sat there brooding. The complications with Ari continued to pile up. He needed to be alone so he could figure out where everything had gone so wrong. At the moment, he could almost admit that he was in over his head.
When the limo stopped, Rafe nearly sighed with relief. He wanted out of the tension filled space. It didn’t help that his sisters seemed to be communicating silently with each other. Since they were little, the two of them had formed a way of speaking without saying a single word. More often than not, it had led to trouble. He had a feeling times hadn’t changed just because they’d all aged.
As his family was seated he noticed the tension between Shane and Lia. He needed to take his friend aside soon and find out exactly what was going on there. He and Shane were cut from the same cloth – both messed up when it came to women. Rafe didn’t want Lia mixed up in that. Rafe didn’t think his friendship could survive it.
*****
“Are you going to refuse to meet my eyes, now!”
Shane stood there trapped by the bathroom door. He hadn’t thought Lia would follow him. Rafe had to be even more suspicious now. He’d barely escaped Rafe’s questions, but knew his friend was going to confront him privately soon. If Rafe found out the vivid dreams Shane was having about Lia, his best friend would kill him.
When several awkward seconds passed, Shane finally met Lia’s eyes. The worried expression and defensive stance didn’t help him feel any better.
“Lia, this is a mistake. I shouldn’t have kissed you that night. Rafe’s my best friend. I don’t know how it happened.”
“I’m not a little girl anymore, Shane. I can kiss guys all I want without my big brother’s permission. As a matter of fact, I can even have sex with them, too if I want,” she said boldly, making Shane want to punch a wall. He didn’t even want to think about Lia having sex – unless it was with him.
“If you’re trying to get a reaction, you are doing a damn fine job – and you’re not going to like the results,” he threatened.
“A reaction? Oh, that couldn’t possibly happen. There can be nothing but stiff formality and indifferent looks from the mighty Shane. You know what? I don’t care. I think I’ll just head to the bar and pick up someone who isn’t ashamed to look at me,” she stormed as she turned away.
Like hell she would!
Frustration taking over his good sense, Shane gripped Lia’s arm and swung her back around to face him. The surprise in her eyes was quickly overtaken by desire as he pulled her up against him. Knowing it was a mistake, but still not managing to stop, Shane gripped her head while he captured her lips.
All thoughts fled as he tasted her sweet mouth. There was no slow exploration. He felt like a starving man finally finding food. Pushing Lia up against the wall, pinning her body with his own, his hand moved down her neck, then roamed the front of her shirt while he consumed her mouth.
When she cried out as his hand brushed her breast, his body went solid and he pressed his arousal against her, trying to seek relief.
She greedily accepted all he was giving, encouraging him to take her right there. His hand slid beneath her shirt as he reached for her bra. He needed to feel her bare skin.
“Well, isn’t this interesting? I can see there’s nothing going on between the two of you.”
Shane froze at the sound of Rachel’s voice. He pulled back from a very flushed Lia, horrified at how he’d been violating her in public.
“I’m sorry,” he said before turning and making a quick exit from the back hall of the restaurant.
“That is one great bathroom break,” was the last thing he heard Rachel say as he went straight outside. He’d call Rafe later and make up an excuse of why he’d had to cut out early. Rafe would take one look at him right now and have no doubt about what he’d just been up to.
Guilt ate him as he hailed a cab and fled the scene. When his phone rang five minutes later, he ignored it. He knew he’d have to face the music sooner or later, but he wasn’t ready to go there yet. Rafe was his best friend – his family. If he lost that friendship, he didn’t know what he’d do.
The situation was impossible because the bottom line was that even fleeing to a third world country hadn’t rid his mind of Lia. He was falling hard for her, and he knew a relationship with her was impossible.
In the long run, he knew he’d just hurt her because he wasn’t capable of having a long-term relationship. An affair with her wasn’t worth losing his best friend. Now, if only he could convince certain parts of his anatomy of that, he’d be just fine.