Seduced by the Heir(38)

"The story's not as exciting as the media makes it sound...."

Rafael spoke in a soft, measured tone as he recounted what had happened  twenty-four hours earlier. Paris found herself enthralled, caught up in  the excitement and drama of his tale. He told her about Cicely's  unexpected visit, her jaw-dropping pregnancy announcement and the  pandemonium that had ensued once her water broke.

"All I did was call 911," he explained with a dismissive shrug. "The  paramedics arrived in less than five minutes, and I wisely stepped  aside."

"How are Cicely and the baby doing?"

"Noah had the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck...."

Rafael's voice broke, and Paris rushed to his side. She wanted to  comfort him, the way he'd comforted her so many times before. She  clasped his hand as she sat beside him on the couch.                       
       
           



       

"It was touch and go for a while, but the doctors are confident he'll  pull through." Sadness flickered across Rafael's face. "He's a little  wee thing, only five pounds, so they're keeping a close eye on him in  the NICU."

Paris weighed the truth of his words, giving serious thought to what  he'd said. She believed him, and as much as she didn't want to admit it,  he'd done the right thing yesterday. But it didn't surprise her. Rafael  was an upstanding guy who put others first, and she loved him all the  more for being a kind, compassionate soul. Paris heard her cell phone  ring, but ignored it. She wasn't ready to leave his side, not yet. "I  hope that everything works out for you, Cicely and the baby," she said  quietly. "You deserve to be happy, and I wish you nothing but the best."

"Don't talk like that. My future is with you, and I want us to-"

"Rafael, there is no us. I don't do secret babies or baby mama drama.  And it sounds like your ex-girlfriend is obsessed with you."

"I had a DNA test done this morning but the results won't change a damn  thing." Rafael clasped Paris's hands, holding them tight. "You're the  only woman I want. My feelings for you are stronger than they've ever  been."

Paris felt her heart swoon inside her chest and excitement dance along  her spine. His words gave her a rush, set her heart ablaze with passion  and desire, but she wisely bit her tongue. She had to know where they  stood or if the article she'd read that morning in The Washington Post  was true. "Are you planning to marry Cicely so the baby can have the  Morretti name?"

"The only woman I'd ever want to carry my last name is you." Gazing at  her, Rafael cupped her chin gently in his palm. "Paris, I won't let you  walk out of my life again. The last time almost killed me...."

Bowled over by his confession, she stared at him in stunned disbelief.  Paris wanted to tell Rafael everything that was in her heart, but she  didn't know where to start. He had opened up to her, freely sharing his  thoughts and feelings. Paris felt closer to him than she ever had  before. The more he talked, the less she worried about their future.  What he said touched her deeply, and it took all her effort not to burst  into tears.

"Two nights ago, while making love, you said you loved me."

Paris felt her eyes widen and embarrassment stain her cheeks. She  remembered losing control of her mouth, remembered pouring out her heart  and soul as she'd climaxed for the second time. But she faked amnesia  now. "I did?"

"Yes, it was one of the happiest moments of my life."

His soft words were enough to make Paris cry.

"You're not wearing your diamond ring," he noted, tenderly stroking her fingers.

"I decided to sell it and donate the money to Soldiers' Angels."

Rafael cracked a smile. "That's the best news I've heard all day."

"I knew you'd say that!" she said, laughing.

"I love you, and only you," he whispered, placing light, tender kisses  across her cheeks, nose and lips. "We're destined to be together. You  know that, right?"

Paris nodded and raised her eyes to his face. They had lots of obstacles  to contend with, but she was confident they could overcome every  hurdle. Her heart guided her to tell him the truth, and tears spilled  down her cheeks as she spoke. "I love you, too, Rafael, more than you  will ever know, and I don't want to live without you."

"Good," he said with a chuckle. "Because I'm not going anywhere."

He kissed her then, slowly, thoughtfully, like a man hopelessly and desperately in love.





Chapter 21

Rafael opened the hood of the stainless-steel grill, doused the rib-eye  steaks with his secret barbecue sauce and flipped them over. The outdoor  kitchen at Nicco's Coral Gables mansion felt hotter than a furnace but  Rafael was having fun making lunch.

Blowing out a deep breath, he cleaned the sweat from his brow with the  back of his cooking mitts. Rafael loved being at Nicco's lavish estate,  and for the second time that day considered extending his trip.

The breeze ruffled the palm trees dotting the expansive estate, birds  chirped and squawked, and the intoxicating scent drifting over from the  botanical garden made Rafael think about his beautiful lady. It was  another sunny day in Miami, a scorching ninty-five degrees and rising,  and humid. Yet Rafael didn't mind the heat.

Hell, the hotter the better.

The record-breaking temperatures had brought out the inner vixen in  Paris, and since arriving in Miami they'd taken their relationship to  lusty new heights. They'd made love everywhere-in the pool, in the  rental car, in the VIP room of her favorite downtown nightclub. The more  spontaneous they were, the hotter the fire burned.                       
       
           



       

His chest filled with pride. It always did when he thought about his  girlfriend and their passionate, red-hot relationship. Paris made life  interesting, and kept him guessing in the bedroom, and never failed to  make him laugh. They were closer than ever, had a rock-solid bond and  were committed to making their long-distance relationship work. There  was no question in his mind that Paris was the only woman for him, and  now that Cicely had permanently relocated to Los Angeles, he didn't have  to worry about her causing problems. The DNA test had proved that he  wasn't the father of baby Noah, and these days he was happier than ever.  Weeks earlier, he'd accompanied Paris to her sister's anniversary  party, and she'd proudly introduced him to her family and friends.

If he could now find out a way to win over Paris's father, life would be  perfect. He'd visited Excel Construction several times but the  businessman still hadn't warmed up to him. Rafael hoped he came around  soon because he needed Mr. St. Clair's blessing before he popped the  question to his daughter.

His smile widened. The big day was fast approaching, and he couldn't be  more excited. With Paris's birthday only weeks away, he was more  confident than ever that she would accept his marriage proposal. What if  she doesn't? his inner voice asked, vocalizing his deepest fear. What  if Paris rejects you in front of all your friends and family? What then?

"Then I'll keep asking her until she says yes."

Feeling a hand on his shoulder, Rafael dropped his head to his chest.  Nicco and Demetri stood on each side of him exchanging bewildered looks.  "Bro, you have to quit talking to yourself," Nicco said, his tone  stern. "It's creeping me out."

Rafael chuckled. "My bad. I was just thinking out loud." He shrugged,  wearing a sheepish smile. "You guys are in love. You know how it is."

"We sure do!" they answered in unison.

Demetri spread a crisp white cloth over the patio table and set a vase  filled with long-stemmed red roses in the middle. "Angela has me wrapped  around her finger, and I can't do a damn thing about it," he confessed.  "Last week she forced me to watch the Dating in the City marathon and  now I'm hooked. Nelson Hamilton is a smooth, charismatic dude. Just like  me!"

Laughter flowed across the spacious backyard.

"I just realized something." Wearing a pensive expression, Nicco slowly  stroked his jaw. "This time last year we were all bachelors, and now  we're all in serious relationships with feisty, headstrong women."

"I know. Crazy, huh?" Demetri shook his head. "If I didn't know better  I'd think Mom had something to do with it, because she's the most  determined woman I know. What Vivica Morretti wants, she gets!"

"I was just thinking the same thing," Nicco said. "I wonder how she pulled it off...."

Rafael burst out laughing. His family was in Miami for the weekend to  celebrate Nicco's thirty-fifth birthday and for the first time ever,  they'd all have a significant other with them. His mother was good, but  not that good. He enjoyed listening to his brothers' outrageous  conspiracy theories, however.