Amusement twinkled in his eyes. "Out of this world, huh?"
"You've always been a great lover, but that was toe-curling, head-spinning, mind-blowing good, and I can't wait for round two."
"Why wait when there's plenty more where that came from?"
Chapter 9
"Pick up, dammit." Rafael paced inside the master bedroom of suite 608 in nothing but his black boxer briefs, cursing and mumbling in Italian. He glanced at the bedside clock, saw that it was nine o'clock and hoped luck was on his side. The bride and groom were leaving for their honeymoon at noon, and he had to speak to Stefano before the newlyweds boarded their flight for the Galapagos Islands. Rafael had a score to settle with Paris, and it couldn't wait.
At the thought of the captivating beauty who'd given him the best sex of his life, then promptly skipped town, his hands clenched into tight fists. Making love to Paris was supposed to alleviate his stress, and his growing anxiety about the future, but he'd never felt more alone. He was confused, out of sorts, and couldn't handle his emotions. Rafael felt a twinge in his heart, a pain that burned and throbbed inside the walls of his chest, and wondered what he'd done to deserve being used and ditched. He'd woke up an hour earlier, expecting to see Paris lying in bed beside him, but she was nowhere to be found. He'd never been rejected by a woman before, especially after a passionate sexual encounter, and didn't like the feeling.
His gaze bounced aimlessly around the suite. He felt strange being there without Paris, but didn't want to leave until he knew exactly where she was. But phone calls to the hotel spa, gym and restaurant confirmed his worst fear: she was gone. His first thought was to call her, but he didn't have her cell phone number. And since the front desk clerk wouldn't give it to him, tracking his best friend down was his only other option.
The call went straight to voice mail, and Rafael did what he'd done three times before: he hung up and hit Redial. Sunshine streamed in through the balcony doors, but the warmth did nothing to improve his mood. He was pissed, and he couldn't wait to get his hands on Paris Sex-Him-and-Leave-Him St. Clair. She'd sexed him in a hundred different ways, then disappeared like a thief in the night. Who does that?
Rafael dropped down onto the chocolate-brown armchair, rested his cell phone on the side table and massaged his tired, aching shoulder muscles. Paris had worked him over real good last night, done things to him in bed that blew his mind. He'd woken up that morning hungry for more, only to find her gone, and her betrayal stung like hell.
As he shrugged on his wrinkled dress shirt and tuxedo pants, he spotted something shiny peeking out from underneath the king-size bed. Rafael bent down, lifted the blanket and picked up the diamond necklace. Holding it in his hands, he studied the delicate, heart-shaped locket. No way, he told himself, adamantly shaking his head. This isn't it. It can't be....
Rafael turned the pendant over, saw the inscription R.M.'s Girl, and knew it was the necklace he'd bought Paris for her twentieth birthday, the one he'd scrimped and saved to buy. Questions flooded his mind. Why had she kept the necklace all these years? Had she been wearing it all weekend? Why hadn't he recognized it before?
Because you were too busy drooling over her curves, his conscience reminded him.
Rafael heard his cell phone ring, surged to his feet and snatched it off the side table. He checked the screen, saw his best friend's phone number and sighed in relief. "I must have called you a dozen times. What took you so long to hit me back?"
"Well, good morning to you, too," Stefano said with a chuckle. "What's up?"
"I need Paris's cell phone number."
"That's why you've been blowing up my phone?"
Rafael tucked his wallet into his front pocket. "Just give me the number. I'm pressed for time."
"What's the emergency?"
I had sex with Paris, and she skipped out on me in the middle of the night. I want an explanation and I want it now! Since Rafael couldn't tell his best friend the truth, not without raising suspicion, he lied. "I found her diamond necklace and I want to return it before she leaves for the States."
"You're too late. Her flight was at 7:00 a.m. She's long gone."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, she had breakfast with Cassandra before she left for the airport."
Rafael hung his head and dragged his hand down his face. He felt winded, as if he'd been kicked in the stomach.
"Just hang on to the necklace, and return it when Paris gets to Washington next Friday."
His ears perked up. "Paris is going to be in Washington?"
"She didn't tell you?"
No, but I'm sure there are a lot of other things she conveniently forgot to share.
"She has some important business matters to attend to at Excel Construction, and she's also speaking at the Women's Business Expo in March," Stefano continued.
Rafael's heartbeat quickened. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I got Cassandra tickets last week and she's superexcited about the event...."
An idea took shape in Rafael's mind as he listened to Stefano discuss the three-day conference at the W Hotel in Washington. Surprisingly, plotting his revenge, his sure-fire, get-even plan, gave him a natural high. He had to teach Paris a lesson, and knew just what to do to even the score.
"Thanks, man." Rafael shoved the necklace into his pocket and slipped on his leather dress shoes. "Have a great honeymoon. We'll talk soon."
Rafael snatched his tuxedo jacket off the chair and exited the suite. He heard someone shout his name and froze. Hanging his head, he released a deep, heavy sigh. Damn. Rafael glanced over his shoulder, spotted his brothers standing at the elevator. "Hey, guys, what's up?"
"I thought your suite was on the twentieth floor," Demetri said, leaning against the wall.
"It is."
"Then why are you sneaking out of Paris St. Clair's suite?"
"That's none of your damn business."
Nicco snapped his fingers. "I knew it. You ditched us last night to hook up with Paris, didn't you? That's why you ignored my calls and texts."
"I'll see you guys later. I have a meeting in Tuscany today, and I can't be late."
"Not so fast, Casanova. Your meeting isn't until three o'clock, so that gives you plenty of time to have breakfast with your brothers."
Rafael shook his head. "I have to pack."
"You brought a carry-on bag. Won't take you long."
The elevator doors slid open and his brothers pushed him inside.
"You have a lot of explaining to do, so we're heading down to the hotel restaurant."
"I can't go in there dressed like this," Rafael argued. "My clothes are a wrinkled mess."
"That's your fault. Next time you get your freak on remember to hang up your suit!"
"Shut up, Nicco."
Demetri wore a sympathetic smile. "Don't sweat it, bro. You look fine."
Then looks can be deceiving, he thought sadly. I feel like crap.
An hour later, Rafael, Nicco and Demetri were sitting at a corner booth inside the hotel restaurant eating breakfast. The dining room was occupied with a few sleepy-eyed diners, the air was filled with lip-smacking aromas and the pop song playing created a light, festive atmosphere. His brothers were having a great time, laughing and cracking jokes about their night out on the town, but Rafael couldn't get his mind off Paris. And every time he spotted a women with long black hair enter the restaurant his heartbeat sped up.
"So, how was your night of sex and debauchery?" Demetri cut a glance at Nicco and cleared his throat. "What happened between you and Paris?" he asked, draping an arm casually over the back of the booth. "And what's with all this secrecy?"
"What is this, twenty questions?"
"I'm serious, Rafael. You've been acting strange the past few weeks, and this situation with Paris St. Clair just proves how much you've changed."
I'm not the one who got engaged and became a love-struck fool, Demetri. You are!
Rafael picked up his mug and tasted his coffee. His brothers were watching his every move, and the air was thick with tension. Needing to clear his head, he told Demetri and Nicco about his mind-blowing attraction to his first love. He deliberately skipped past the intimate details of his erotic encounter with Paris and instead spoke about all the fun they'd had together last night.
"Where is Paris now?"
Rafael shrugged and picked up his fork. "Your guess is as good as mine. I woke up this morning and she was gone."
"She left without saying goodbye?" Demetri gave his head a slow shake. "That's cold. No wonder you're pissed."