Chapter 26
A lexandra
Late afternoon brought an end to the hard work, and Mia and Daisy hugged me, thanking me for all I’d done.
“Come back any time.” Daisy slammed the boot of her car, packing away her cleaning goods. “Seriously, you’ve been amazing.”
“Shame we didn’t find the treasure.”
“There’s always tomorrow, and an uncountable amount of personal possessions still to work through.” Daisy gazed across the garden, where Raphael, Jackson, and Valentine stood with Ben.
The team leader had been pulled back in to finalise whatever plans they had come up with for Dori. I couldn’t wait to hear, and nerves crawled through my belly, not just for my hurting friend, but mainly for Raphael. He was risking a lot. Guilt won out over my emotions.
Daisy continued, “If Raphael is gone most of the day tomorrow, you can come here if you need somewhere to hang out. I don’t mean to work. You can just come for the chat.”
“I’ve actually really enjoyed today.”
“Really? Want a job?”
I laughed, then Ben claimed her and they left. Raphael returned to me, sweeping his gaze over me in that familiar and reassuring way he did when checking I was okay.
He raised a hand to brush over my cheek, probably rubbing away a smudge of dust on my skin.
“Am I dirty?” I asked.
His lips tipped in a smirk. “You’re perfect. Ready to go? We’re having dinner with my family tonight, but there’s time to change.”
The knot in my belly tightened, but I nodded, and we climbed into his car then drove out of the village.
Twisting in my seat, I faced him. “Catch me up on what you’ve decided for tomorrow.”
Raphael tapped the steering wheel. “Ye took the words out of my mouth. For the sake of safety and weather, we’re flying out at first light. I’ve secured a heli, and there’s a helipad at Issy-les-Moulineaux in Paris. Should be able to land there. Assuming Dori is waiting for us and we don’t need to track him down, we’ll head straight back. He’s agreed to it all, so I’m hoping it’ll be straightforward.”
I mangled my fingers together, stuck on the image of Raphael disappearing off across the sea. “Is this dangerous? I don’t just mean the flight, but for what you’re doing.”
He grinned. “You’re worried. That’s cute. This is what I do for Leo, fly him in and out of cities, bringing him home here. Piece of cake.”
His confidence eased some of my concern, but not all. “How long is the flight time?”
“Four hours or so, but we’ll need a couple of refuelling stops. Should be home mid-afternoon.” He reached for my hand and squeezed it. “The flight planning was a breeze. The bigger issue was who’s going with me. Valentine has this irrepressible energy and hates being left behind, particularly as our team is quiet at the moment, but Jackson pulled the best friend card. I think he’s unhappy that I’ve neglected him.” He slid a look my way before returning it to the country lane. “I didn’t talk to him about ye.”
My heart thumped. “You can tell him whatever you like.”
His voice returned less sure. “Did ye talk to Dori about me?”
“A little. He called you my boyfriend. I said you weren’t.”
My whole existence pinned on him correcting me. Or asking the question. The thing between us had happened gradually but surely, and was only growing by the hour. I had no chance of stopping it. I didn’t want to.
But Raphael didn’t say a word.
His focus was locked on to something ahead, and tension poured off him.
I followed his gaze. Instead of returning to the castle, he’d taken us someplace else, to a pretty hillside where two white cottages overlooked an incredible view. Sunshine spilled over the front gardens where Valentine and Mia climbed out of their car. The door to what must’ve been their cottage flew open, and a little girl half fell out to reach them for hugs.
Raphael idled the car until they’d gone inside then cruised on to park outside the next cottage. He killed the engine and turned to me. “I know it isn’t a palace, or castle, but I thought the privacy might suit ye better.”
I stared from him to the cute building. “We’re staying here?”
Colour flushed his cheeks. “If ye want to.”
I swung back to take in the building. It was the cutest home, and the view was to die for. I’d been content with the idea of returning to Castle Braithar, mainly because I got to be there with Raphael, but he was right. We had little privacy in someone else’s home.
This was…everything.
“I came here earlier to set the place up as much as possible. I installed cameras around the outside. The doors and windows already have decent locks. We only have the basics in terms of furniture, but I stocked the fridge. It’ll make a good hideaway.”
I’d wondered where he’d gone but figured it was something to do with his job. No. Raphael had yet again been doing something for me. Or for us. The lack of an answer over the boyfriend situation dissolved, replaced by joy.
I pulled back to gaze into his eyes. “You’re amazing. I love it.”
The corner of his mouth tipped up. “Ye haven’t seen inside yet. But even that is going to have to be done in a rush. We need to be at Gabe and Effie’s soon.”
I was already out the door, on my way to investigate the cottage.
Inside the thick wooden front door, a flagstone floor spanned a generous living room with a kitchen to the left. There was a sofa and a bookcase, and curtains in the windows, plus a wood-burning stove in the corner, the space clean and bright. A short hall held two bedrooms and a new bathroom.
In the main bedroom, I gazed at the big bed, complete with fresh sheets and plump pillows. My bag waited on the bedside table, the only other piece of furniture besides a lamp.
“Like it?”
I twisted around. Raphael leaned against the opposite wall, watching me. The heat in his dark eyes practically scalded me.
“It’s perfect. The thick stone walls especially.”
In his bedroom last night, I’d been conscious of making too much noise. Castle Braithar was huge, and no doubt with thick stone walls, but I didn’t know how close his friends slept or who might wander past the door. Here, we could be as loud as we liked.
His lips curved, but he pushed off the wall and jacked a thumb at the bathroom. “Twenty minutes, princess, then we hit the road again. Don’t give me those eyes and make us late. I’m cooking, remember?”
Right. Getting my hair and make-up done in that time would be a challenge, but I wasn’t going to start without something first. I snagged his hand and stopped him, cupping his neck to bring his mouth to mine for a fast, hard kiss.
Raphael’s hand slid into my hair, and he returned the kiss with a passion that gave away how much hid under his controlled surface.
I broke away. “I’ve never had a place of my own that wasn’t just a bedroom. You don’t know what this means to me.”
Leaving him in my dust, I scrambled to get ready to meet his family. Another first. As far as I was concerned, he could have them all.
Our early evening drive took us through winding roads on the vast estate, and Raphael pointed out houses as we passed, telling me who lived where. There was a real community among the residents, lots of young families, many of them being relatives of Gordain McRae’s. Raphael told me how often the locals got together for parties and socials.
“Coming from my background of a broken home and every movement carried out on a public stage, you make me quite jealous,” I told him.
We were approaching a new property, clearly modern, but designed to blend into the landscape. He parked up and turned to me. “Most people would assume the opposite about ye. That your life is charmed.”
“I should check my privilege, right?”
There was nothing but kindness in his eyes. “That isn’t what I mean. Only that I know ye better.”
I wanted him to. I wanted to know about him even more.
“I grew up in palaces but with two parents who hated each other and made sure I knew it, then shipped me off to boarding school because that was the done thing for kids like me. My father changed his tune after he was ill, and mourned the wife he’d lost. When drunk, he confesses that he hates the royal family and how it drove Mum away, though he can’t really blame it all on the family. He’d cheated on her all throughout their marriage. She did with him as well. Nowadays, I only hear from her if she wants palace gossip, and you know what’s happening with my dad.”
He watched me in that so engaging way of his. “Then came me and the university picture which put you in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.”
I stared right back, the whole scene shifting in my head. “More and more, I think I got that wrong. I saw it as a curse when it was something else entirely. It brought you into my life.”
Another car pulled up alongside ours, Jackson jumping down then rounding to let out a dark-haired woman who had to be Ariel. Our time to talk was over. I hadn’t been brave enough to ask Raphael any big questions.
Later, I would.
Inside the oldest Gordonson’s home, I was introduced to Raphael’s two siblings, and to Effie, Gabe’s wife, who was more pregnant than any person I’d ever seen before in my life.
“Almost two weeks overdue,” she griped. “And the bairn is an acrobat in the making.”
I gave a sympathetic smile. “You’re cooking that one up good.”
“Which means he or she is going to be huge. I’m so screwed.”
She grinned, though it was tinged with a grimace that had her cupping her lower belly while we all moved to the kitchen where Raphael laid out ingredients on the counter. At Effie’s request, he was making hot and spicy chicken noodles, and I sidled up.
“Can I help?”
Raphael grinned then gestured for me to take over what he was doing. I rounded to the chopping board then wrinkled my nose.
“This is ginger, right? Don’t laugh at me, but what do I do with it?”
Raphael set a pan down on the hob and came over, standing directly behind me with both arms around me to guide my hands. Having him this close heightened my awareness.
Especially when he stooped to put his lips to my ear. “See that teaspoon? Use it to peel the skin off the ginger, then grate it.”
I followed his instructions, though my focus was entirely scattered by his proximity.
I giggled. “I’m doing a bad job.”
Raphael tutted, joining our hands to show me how to use the spoon. “Can’t drive, can’t cook. What am I going to do with ye?”
I shivered at his low tones meant just for me. “I can think of a few things.”
His grip on my hands tightened, and a thrill passed through me.
“Uh-oh, I was just going to say that Jackson and I will clean up after dinner since you cooked, but I’m going to need to take a picture.” Across the counter, Ariel held up her phone. “Permission, please. Not for sharing. I just want to show you what you look like right now.”
Raphael gazed down at me, and I gave him a nod. He lifted his chin at his sister. “Take the shot.”
She did, then held up the screen to show us. I gazed at our image. Raphael in a short-sleeved black button-up shirt with his dark hair in a tumble over his forehead, bracketing me in the pretty white summer dress I’d worn to impress his family. Both of us were smiling softly under the warm kitchen light. We looked like a couple.
We looked like we were in love.
Ariel grinned. “See? The moment needed capturing. Raph, I’ll send it to you.”
She left us, and Raphael released me with a mutter about getting everyone fed so we could leave. I pressed my lips together and got on with wrangling the ginger into shape.
In thirty minutes, we were eating, the conversation flowing about the extreme sports business that Effie ran and Ariel worked for. Like his brother, Gabe was a pilot so had stories of flying and mountain rescue work that Raphael would eventually sign up to as well. I traded their tales for tidbits of royal life, keeping it to the fun stuff, and with no one pushing for anything salacious, like my mother would’ve done.
Under the table, Raphael held my hand.
This was nice . Grown-up. I’d gone from boarding school to uni, with Dori my only real constant, and a party animal attitude we hadn’t grown out of.
I’d had my artwork, until I’d quit it like it was a poison. But in this moment, glancing at a happy and relaxed Raphael at my side, laughing at something his brother was saying, I wanted nothing more than to grab a sketchbook and draw him, then commit the moment to canvas.
A groan came from across the table. Effie dropped her fork and clutched her stomach.
Gabe quirked a dark eyebrow. “I’m calling it. It was six minutes ago that ye last did that. It’s time.” His gaze took us all in. “It is, isn’t it?”
Ariel’s eyes rounded. “None of us have kids. How would we know? But yeah, get that girl to the hospital. Pretty sure your baby is on its way.”
As one, everyone shifted to action, gathering up an ashen Effie and retrieving a bag to go with her and Gabe. Outside, Gabe carefully helped his wife into the car.
She paused with one hand to the doorframe. “Raph, it’s going to be okay.”
Raphael schooled his features into a relaxed mask, but I’d seen what was there before, and it surprised me.
Fear.
In the rush to leave, I hadn’t noticed anything other than his quick movements and his help for his sister-in-law, but Raphael was scared.
He faked a smile. “Of course it will be. Go have that bairn, and keep us updated.”
Effie gave him one last look then let Gabe load her into the car, then they disappeared off into the night, the turnaround so fast it almost made my head spin.
I faced Raphael. His stress had returned, played out on his taut features, his jaw locked and his focus on the retreating taillights of the car. Shadows seemed to crowd around him.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
Ariel twisted around and took in her brother. “Oh no. Stop it.”
His gaze flicked to her, but he didn’t answer. The siblings glowered at each other, apparently having a conversation without words.
Jackson glanced between them. “No one’s going to know. The birth isn’t going to be announced or publicised anywhere.”
Raphael shook his head once, his lips in a flat line. “Doesnae matter. Ye know the lengths he’s gone to in the past. He’ll find out.”
Ariel scoffed. “And you know what I have on him. What we all have on him.”
Jackson chimed in. “He wouldn’t dare.”
“He would, or have ye forgotten what he attempted only months ago?”
Ariel’s focus came my way with some kind of understanding in her eyes. She spoke again to her brother. “You’re displacing.”
That comment was about me. “What is he displacing?” I asked.
I was clueless as to what was going on. Why Raphael’s mood had shifted so abruptly. All I knew was that I wanted to comfort him from whatever was hurting him. His family knew, and pulling the scant pieces together suggested it was to do with their history, though I had no idea what.
Ariel sighed. “The reason he’s a bodyguard, and why he’s never had a girlfriend.”
Raphael stomped away from her to yank open the passenger-side door of the car, indicating for me to get in. I did, right as he delivered the killing blow.
“And why I never will.”