Broken Together (6 page)

I
slid off the stool, unable to resist the pull of the living room. The black leather
couch and chairs were anchored around a plush white rug. I tugged my boots and
socks off so I could step on the rug. The soft fibers tickled my toes. A large
flat screen television hung on the wall to my right. Two sets of French doors
opened onto two separate balconies directly in front of me. I unlatched two of
the doors and stepped out onto the balcony. This side of the building faced a large
courtyard. I stepped back inside so I could continue exploring the flat.

“I’m
brewing more coffee,” Rafael announced from the kitchen.

I
started toward him. Black and white photographs lined the wall behind the
couch. I stopped to check them out. “What is this?” I pointed to a picture
where black and white mosaic tiles formed a dizzying display of waves.

He
joined me in front of the picture. “That’s the pavement in front of Rossio
Square.”

“And
this one?” The photograph contained mosaic circles overlapping one another in alternating
shades of black and white.

Rafael
shrugged. “I can’t recall which plaza that pavement surrounds.”

“The
sidewalks were stunning along the
Avenida da Liberdade
,” I recalled. I
followed him back to the breakfast bar. “Did you take those pictures?”

He
poured two cups of coffee. “Yes.”

I
thought about the photograph he’d taken of me on the park bench. “You’re very
talented.” My eyes swept over the apartment again. “I like this place. Your
design choices are surprisingly contemporary for this historic building, bold but
elegant in a minimalist sort of way.”

“You
don’t think it’s too dark?” He cut into a small yellow custard with his fork
and held it up for me.

“I
find the absence of color very soothing.” I tried the custard. “What did you
just feed me?”

“
Pastel
de nata,
a traditional Portuguese pastry.” He took a bite. “Do you like
it?”

“The
pastry shell melts in your mouth.” I ate another piece. “The filling is creamy
and very sweet.”

“Try
this.” He offered me something that resembled a chocolate burrito.

My
eyes widened. “Wow.” I grabbed my own fork and took another bite. Chocolate and
a salted caramel sauce had been rolled inside the chocolate cake-like pastry.

“I
thought the
austriacos
would be more to your liking, given your affinity
for chocolate.” Rafael pulled a few more pastries out of the bag and set them
on our plates. “Lamb and veal
croquettes
. They’re a bit more savory.”

I
grinned. “Did you just serve dessert first?”

He
heated the
croquettes
in the microwave. “Honestly, would you have it any
other way?”

I
shook my head. Still smiling, we dug into the warm
croquettes
. “Do you
mind if we just relax here today? I’m still pretty tired.”

Rafael
set our cups and plates inside the sink. “Sure. I’m not in a hurry to go anywhere,
but I would like to take you out to dinner.”

“That
sounds perfect.” I twined my fingers with his.

He
led me down the hallway. I noted a bathroom and two guestrooms before we
entered the last door on the left.

Rafael’s
bedroom was decorated in the same three hues as the rest of the house. The wall
behind the bed was covered in large black and white suede tiles, similar to a
chessboard. Three large chess pieces stood in the far corner of the room… a
white king, his queen, and an elegantly carved knight. The other wall held a
large stainless steel sculpture that appeared to be folding in on itself. All
of the furniture was black. The bedding was black except for the white throw
pillows piled against the headboard. The most striking feature by far was a
long gas fireplace that hung on the wall opposite the bed. There were three highly
polished swords hanging above the fireplace. They weren’t jeweled or
embellished in any way. They looked old, which I found odd given Rafael’s
proclivity for contemporary things.

He
tapped a button on a remote near the bed. The embers along the bottom of the
fireplace glowed before the flames sprang to life. “What do you think?”

“That’s
even more impressive than the fireplace on the airplane.” I felt the comforter,
the pillows, and sheets.

“Clearly
we share an affinity for fireplaces.” He pulled his shirt off and tossed it on
the chair.

My
eyes snagged on a book sitting on top of the nightstand. “A little light
reading?” The book was entitled
Predators: Pedophiles, Rapists, and Other
Sex Offenders
.

 “I
was working on a case involving an international pedophile ring before I went to
work for Michael.” He shoved the book inside the drawer. “That was not an easy
case to walk away from.”

I
gently caressed his cheek. “Did you catch who you were looking for?”

He
captured my hand. “It’s a long, complicated, and repulsive story… not something
I want you thinking about before you go to sleep.” He pressed his lips against
the palm of my hand.

My
eyes remained on his lips.

“You
know that statement you made about
bica
?” His fingers dipped beneath my
waistband. He quietly unbuttoned my jeans.

“Vaguely.”
I stepped out of the jeans.

He
removed my sweater. “I’m giving you a bye on that… for now. I vowed to prove
that statement wrong, and I will prove it wrong once you’ve rested.”

“We’ll
see,” I mused matter-of-factly.

He
collapsed onto the bed. “You’re killing me.”

“Those
black satin sheets… that fireplace… this room… your entire apartment screams
sex and you want to offer me a bye?” I rolled my eyes. Snatching my jeans and sweater
off the floor, I turned toward the door. “I’m going to the bakery to get
another
bica
.”

“The
hell you are.” Barreling into me, he swept me off my feet and threw me onto the
bed. His eyes flared when he climbed on top of me. He opened the front clasp on
my bra before pinning my wrists against the bed. “Challenge accepted.”

*
* * * *

My
fingers raked through the curls in my hair while I pondered the closet. Rafael
wore black, white, and gray. His color preferences had bled into the wardrobe
he selected for me. Black cocktail dresses, black pants, black jeans… black
heels, shoes, and boots… black, white, and gray sweaters and shirts. There were
only two exceptions, a long-sleeved cocktail dress and a pair of heels, both in
lipstick red.

I
dropped my towel and pulled the red cocktail dress over my head. The dress had
a wide scoop neck that pushed the sleeves just below the shoulder, so a bra
wasn’t possible unless Rafael thought to buy a strapless one. Between the formfitting
cut and the high quality fabric, I figured no one would be the wiser. “Naughty
and convenient,” I whispered.

“Did
you say something?” Rafael called.

I
stepped out of the closet. “I can’t believe restaurants in Portugal don’t open
until eight o’clock.”

His
jaw dropped. “That dress...”

I
kissed him on the cheek. “Yes. Thank you.”

“Eva,”
he growled.

“What?”
My shoulders tensed.

He
tore his eyes from the dress. “I asked Eva, Benjamim’s wife, to pick out some
clothes for you. Benjamim pulled some money from my account so she could shop
for us. I left detailed instructions about the clothes.”

A
smile tugged at my lips. “Let me guess. Your list didn’t include a bright red
dress.”

“No,
but I
really
like this dress.” His hands slid over my hips, abdomen, and
breasts. “You’re not wearing a bra.” He backed me toward the bed.

“Later,”
I laughed. “I’m starving.”

“We’re
not lingering in Bairro Alto when dinner’s over. We’re coming straight home.” He
stalked down the hallway, across the dining room, and into the foyer.

I
trailed behind him while admiring the sassy red heels. Eva was on the fast
track to becoming my new best friend. “When do I get to meet Benjamim and Eva?”

He
helped me into a black trench coat before tugging a black leather jacket over
his shoulders. “We’re eating dinner at Benjamim and Eva’s house tomorrow
night.” He grabbed his keys from the counter and ushered me out the door.

Our
fingers twined. “Tell me about them.”

With
a soft “ding,” the elevator doors slid open. Rafael pressed the button for the
garage. “They’re good friends. Benjamim’s an attorney and an accountant. He
manages some of my finances and my property in Lisbon.”

“Is
this the Senhor Brantuas that Matias was referring to? The friend who manages
your apartment so he can drive around in the Porsche?”

His
hand slid to the small of my back. “Yes. Benjamim and I go way back. We’ve
known each other since high school.” The elevator doors slid open. Rafael strode
toward the car.

 I
brushed a quick kiss against his cheek before sinking into the passenger seat. “And
Eva?”

He
folded himself into the driver’s seat, backed out of the parking space, and
eased toward the entrance to the garage. “Eva’s from Madrid. They met when
Benjamim was still in law school. They married within weeks of meeting one
another. She moved to Lisbon, and they’ve been together ever since.” He waited
for a handful of cars to pass, then tore out of the garage. He stopped abruptly
at a light before turning onto the
Avenida da Liberdade
.

I
gripped the sides of my seat as he picked up speed. The Porsche moved with unfathomable
precision while Rafael dodged pedestrians and darted in and out of traffic at
warp speed. He didn’t slow until we crested a small hill.

Rafael
turned sharply in the center of the block so he could park in front of a white
building. “Restaurante 100 Maneiras is one of my favorite restaurants.”

I
was still gripping my seat when he stepped out of the car. Rafael opened the
passenger door. One by one he peeled my fingers from the seat. “Are you ready to
eat?”

My
legs wobbled when I stepped out of the car. I wasn’t sure if it was the
harrowing speed or those tiny little tiles throwing my heels off. “I think my
stomach is still sitting in the garage.”

“You
don’t like the Porsche?” He eyed the car uncertainly.

I
started laughing. “Oh, I like the Porsche. It’s the driver I’m not so sure
about.”

He
cracked a smile as we stepped inside. “So I’m eager to get through dinner. Don’t
blame me. Blame the dress.”

The
restaurant glowed between the gleaming white floors, a white planked ceiling,
white planked walls, and white tablecloths. Dark wood chairs and a dark granite
bar stood in stark contrast against the white canvas. Wine bottles lined a
shelf that circled the room above the windows and the artwork. Wine glasses
hung suspended over the bar. The bar was lit and candles flickered from the
center of each table.

The
hostess escorted us to a table in the far corner of the restaurant. She set two
menus on the table, said something in Portuguese, and returned to the front of
the restaurant.

Rafael
helped me out of my coat before pulling a chair out for me. I eyed the other
patrons and their entrees nervously. “Will you order for me?”

He
kissed me on the cheek before dropping into his seat. “Why don’t we let the
chef decide? They have a nine course tasting menu with a wine pairing, like
Komi.”

I
breathed a small sigh of relief. “That sounds perfect.”

A
waiter stopped by to fill our water glasses. Rafael visibly relaxed while he
and the waiter engaged in friendly banter. The waiter retrieved two glasses of
red wine from the bar and brought them to our table. Rafael raised his glass. “
Saude.
”

“
Saude.
”
I hummed appreciatively. “What kind of wine is this?” I took another sip,
savoring the rich cocoa, black cherry, and smoky notes in the full bodied wine.

“
Dao
,”
Rafael replied. He reached for my hand after setting his glass aside.

The
restaurant ceased to exist. “What do you want to do while we’re in Portugal?”

He
pulled my hand to his lips. “I’d like to spend a couple of days in Lisbon
before taking you to Sintra. I thought we’d tour the Pena Palace, Monserrate
Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, and the National Palace of Sintra while we’re here.”

“Monserrate
Palace. Isn’t that where your father proposed to your mother?” If I remembered
correctly, this was also the place where Rafael dreamed of being married.

He
brushed a feather soft kiss against my fingertips. “You remembered.”

“Of
course. How could I forget?” That wasn’t the sort of revelation a woman would
forget, although that evening had been a little crazy. Maxim had just
negotiated Kadyn and Roger’s release from the
sicarios
. Rafael was
paying the ransom. I was terrified the exchange scheduled the next day would
cost all our lives. I’d been desperate to forget the horrors we’d been through
and those we were still facing, so I convinced Rafael to make love to me despite
the fact that I hadn’t been on birth control since crossing into Mexico. Rafael
asked me to remain off birth control. More than anything, he wanted to see me
pregnant.