Mistletoe Magic (6 page)

Rafe was laughing when he returned. “Aren’t they something? I suppose as a father I’m prejudiced, but I often think I’ve got the smartest, cutest kids in the world.”

“They’re definitely smart and cute,” Melissa agreed. As she made the statement, Rafe beamed with pride.

“I’m going to send them to Harvard,” he stated seriously. “Or Princeton or NYU or wherever they want to go. I’ll send them to the moon if they want to be astronauts. I’m going to get the best for my kids.”

“I’m sure most parents feel that way.”

“Yeah, parents. But there should be two of them. My kids have only one…who can be fully responsible, anyway. They deserve a little extra in other areas.” Rafe sighed. “I hope Nicole can take them for the entire two weeks this Christmas. Otherwise, they’ll be disappointed like they were last summer when they had to come home early. But I shouldn’t complain about all my problems. Wouldn’t want to bend your ear.”

“Bending is good for my ears. It hones down the points.” When Rafe looked at her curiously, Melissa laughed in silvery tones. “I’m a fairy, remember? We all have little pointed ears.”

“Let’s see.” He moved toward her, the expression on his face communicating much more than curiosity. Warmed by his dark liquid gaze, fascinated by the curve of his sensual lips, Melissa caught her breath, wondering just what Rafe intended to examine. Would they recapture the mood they’d started before Gretta’s arrival? How disappointing to be interrupted by a childish shout.

“Daddy!” Gretta ran across the studio again. “Come and see the stuff I drew! You come too!” She pointed at Melissa.

“Sweetheart,” Rafe said patiently. “We’re working. Go back upstairs. I told you I’d talk to you at dinner. Okay?”

Gretta stamped her foot. “No! I want you to look now!”

“Well, all right. But why don’t you bring your drawings down here and show us?”

Gretta seemed to consider, then whirled around. “I’m bringing them! I’m bringing them!” she singsonged, skipping out of the studio.

“Sorry for the interruption. We can be quick and finish these shots.” He went to work rapidly, having Melissa turn from side to side. They were almost through when Gretta came back.

“Look, Daddy.” The little girl presented Rafe with some colorfully scribbled sheets.

“Nice.”

“These are very pretty, Gretta,” Melissa said when she examined the drawings.

“This is Daddy. This is Mommy. This is a dog. And this,” offered Gretta dramatically, waving a paper, “is a big dragon with no teeth!”

As both Rafe and Melissa laughed, Hank walked in. “I thought we were supposed to wait for dinner to talk to you, Dad. How come Gretta’s down here?”

“She got impatient.”

“Well, if you have time for her, how about coming upstairs with me? You said you’d help me install a new computer program. Or maybe we can play some computer games. I never get to see you very much.”

“Yeah, I know. I’m almost finished here.”

“Do you suppose we could go out later and look at video recorders? We really need another one, Dad, a machine that can be set for programs at different times on different channels. The other kids at school all have their own.” For the first time Hank looked directly at Melissa, giving her a lopsided grin that was a cute version of his father’s. She smiled back. “I bet
she’d
like to see some movies with us. Can we buy another one, Dad?”

Listening to Hank’s friendly but demanding tone, Melissa saw that Rafe could have a problem with his children. Although they were definitely nice, they were also spoiled. Could he have been indulging them because of his divorce? She remembered what Louise had said about her grandchildren having had a difficult time. Well, it wasn’t any of her business. She had enough to think about after discovering Rafe had more sides to him than her initial impression. Although she still thought him forward, she’d seen he was also humorous, intelligent, and good with his children. She’d probably interpreted his teasing remarks as being more than they were.

Observing Rafe helping Gretta pick up the drawings she’d dropped on the floor, Melissa asked, “Are we through? I can go home if you’ve got other things to do.”

“I probably have enough shots.”

“We can drive her home and go look at video recorders,” suggested Hank.

Melissa went to the hall closet to get her coat. Putting it on and taking out her garment bag, she readied herself to leave.

“Just a moment,” Rafe told her from the doorway of the studio, then glanced toward Louise as she suddenly hurried down the stairs.

“Gretta! Hank! Your father is busy now. Come back upstairs. Honestly, I get on the phone for a moment and they disappear.”

“Dad’s going to take me to look at VCRs,” Hank insisted stubbornly.

Placing one arm around his son, Rafe said, “I think it would be better if we went some other time, Hank. Why don’t you go upstairs with your grandmother? I’ll be up later, like I said.”

“Aw, Dad.”

“Come on, Gretta,” chirped Louise. “I’ll bake you some cookies.”

“I want cake!”

“We’ll make some cupcakes then.”

“She’s not going to eat her dinner, Louise,” Rafe complained.

The older woman sighed. “You know she won’t eat any vegetables or meat anyway. I’ve been giving her cherry-flavored vitamins along with peanut butter for protein.”

Rafe shook his head resignedly. “Kids!”

Herding the children up the front stairway, Louise turned to say, “Oh, Rafe, Mr. Feld called and canceled. He wants to make another appointment in a week.”

When Melissa started to leave also, Rafe followed her closely. “No more work for today. Hey, how about letting me take you home? As long as it won’t offend you, that is. I know I came on a little strong the last time.”

“I live only a short distance away—at Twenty-second and Eighth Avenue.”

“Please. You’ll be doing a poor abused father a favor. I need to get out.” He laughed down at her, the expression crinkling the corners of his dark eyes and revealing even, white teeth.

Standing so near him, she once again became aware of his subtle, seductive cologne. Without thinking, she nodded yes.

By the time they reached her apartment building in Chelsea, it was early evening. Light snowflakes drifted down from the dark December sky.

“It was nice enough of you to help me pick up some groceries,” Melissa commented as they climbed the winding stairway. “You didn’t have to carry them up too.”

“Whew!” Rafe huffed, setting down the shopping bags on the fourth-floor landing. “Only two more flights to go. My God, how do you do this every day? Too bad you’re not a real fairy. Maybe you could have flown us up.”

“I can take the bags from here.”

“No, no,” Rafe said, resuming his burden. “I need more exercise anyway. And these aren’t very heavy.”

Although she didn’t say so aloud, Melissa was secretly pleased he’d insisted on accompanying her. She was reluctant to give up the warm camaraderie they’d enjoyed since leaving his town house. Could she get him to stay for a cup of tea? Used to relative luxury, would he look down on the way she lived? Surely he could appreciate how she’d fixed up the place and kept it clean.

Still, she experienced a sudden thrill of nervousness when she inserted her keys. The police lock, a huge metal bar that leaned against the door, made a scraping sound as she swung the door open. She switched on the kitchen’s overhead bulb by pulling its string. A round white Japanese lantern shaded the light’s glare.

“Where shall I put these?”

“On the counter.”

“That’s a counter?” Rafe stared at the painted wooden planks on top of the bathtub that was placed along one wall of the tiny room.

“As long as I’m not taking a bath. This is one of those old buildings that was originally erected without bathroom plumbing. The tub was added later, along with a water closet. See?” Melissa opened a door to reveal the toilet. She’d painted the tall, narrow space a soft rose and covered its six-foot window with a narrow bamboo blind. “You can catch a great view of the Empire State Building from here.”

“How entertaining.”

“I like it,” Melissa stated, trying not to be defensive. “I’ll show you the rest of the place. It’s a railroad apartment, with one room opening right into another.” She led him through the other three small rooms, turning on the lanterns she’d rigged up as lights. The last room fronted the street six floors below and also featured a magnificent view of the Empire State Building. Tonight its glowing lights were somewhat dimmed by the steady descent of snow.

“I grew some flowers out on the fire escape last summer.” Could she really expect him to admire her ingenuity? Should she ask him how he liked the way she’d painted the rooms in soft white and decorated them with careful choices of second-hand furniture? Would he be impressed that she’d refinished the rocking chair herself and made a tablecloth for the cheap card table? Did he appreciate the delicate touches she’d added—dried flowers and pretty stones, candles of every shape and size imaginable? If so, would it mean he really liked
her
?

“Very nice,” he said noncommittally, looking around. “I haven’t seen a place like this in a long time.” When she raised her brows in question, he explained, “I have some friends who used to live in a similar apartment in the East Village.” On their way back to the kitchen, he eyed her futon mattress lying on the floor. “And I haven’t seen furniture of this sort since I was in college.”

“Furniture of what sort?”

“The kind that’s impermanent, lightweight.”

“Oh? Do you think I should carry a sleeper sofa up to the sixth floor?”

“You’ve got a point there.” He grinned as he walked over to her bags of groceries. “I’ll help you put these away.”

“No, you’ve done enough. Why don’t you let me fix you some tea?”

“Can you get near enough to the stove to do it?” he wondered, examining the small, old appliance that sat behind one end of the tub.

“I can get in to use the burners. I just can’t open the oven door completely.”

“Luckily, you’re tiny.” For a moment, he raked his gaze over her appreciatively. “You’re lovely too. I neglected to tell you that when I was taking your pictures today and teased you by calling you cute.” He moved closer, speaking softly. “Actually, Melissa, I don’t have time for tea. But I’d like to look at your ears before I go. I didn’t get the chance before. Are they really pointed?” Placing his hands in her hair, he caressed the silky strands and gazed deeply into her eyes.

They moved naturally into a kiss, Melissa fitting neatly into his hard, compact body. His lips warm and tender, he explored her own with soft pressure. Closing her eyelids tightly and murmuring deep in her throat, she laced her arms securely about his neck, trying to get even closer. Rafe responded by kissing her more deeply.

When their tongues touched, sweet sensations spiraled out from her center and she felt lost, as if she had fallen into a magical realm of airy darkness. Were they both falling? Briefly, Melissa envisioned herself and Rafe drifting high above the lighted city, gliding softly through the night like snowflakes on the wind. Would her fragile wings be enough to break their steep descent?

His warm hands moving up her sides awakened her. She gasped as his palms cupped the underside of her breasts, then moved back to her waist. Gently, he held her away from him. “I think I’d better go,” Rafe said huskily. “Or I’m never going to get home for dinner tonight.”

“Perhaps you should.” Her initial disappointment turned quickly into appreciation. This man was definitely not the playboy she’d first thought.

“It’s not that I want to leave,” Rafe told her sincerely. “Can I see you again?”

“I’d like that.”

They moved apart awkwardly, Melissa not knowing what to do with her hands. Finally, she clasped them behind her back. Would that keep her from reaching out to touch him again?

“I’ll call you,” he promised.

When he left, Melissa leaned over the railing of the stairwell and watched him descend six flights to the main floor below. He waved up to her, then disappeared. Humming to herself, she reentered her apartment and stood quietly for a while, looking out of the front room’s tall windows. It was snowing harder now. Perhaps by morning New York would be transformed into a lovely winter wonderland. Something wonderful had already transpired for Melissa. Was her casual wish for romance—jokingly expressed to Clarence—really about to come true? Would the negative image she’d had of Rafe dissolve into one of exactly the kind of man she was looking for?

“Once upon a time,” she began. “There was a handsome prince and a beautiful fairy. And it was winter and the snow was falling all around…” Melissa laughed. She couldn’t help herself. “And then they fell in love and eventually they got married and lived happily ever after in a beautiful castle that was decorated with snowflakes in winter and flowers in summer.” Wasn’t that the way all fairy tales went?

Unfortunately, though, life was not a fairy tale. Willing herself to be more serious, Melissa realized she was making a lot of playful assumptions considering she and Rafe hardly knew each other and hadn’t even gone out yet.

What if he never called? Frowning, she quickly pushed the negative thought aside. They’d felt so right together, just as their sizes made kissing thoroughly enjoyable. She’d always been annoyed when a man had to pull her up on the tips of her toes in order to kiss her, sometimes lifting her completely off her feet. Rafe Damon was just about perfect.