Chapter 15 #3
This last Monday, they’d taken a break from the renovations, opting for a lazy night in front of the TV with Chinese takeout. She and Gio had forced Rafe to watch Crime Scene Kitchen, and while he grumbled about it, she noticed he’d had strong opinions about what the mystery dessert was.
The three of them had settled on the couch, just as they had the month before, Cricket nestled on the cushion between her and Rafe.
Their hands brushed once or twice when they reached to pet the sweet dog at the same time.
Keeley had wished every time that he would take her hand in his, but he’d simply pulled away.
Rome wasn’t built in a day, she told herself, seeking some consolation.
They hoped that by recreating everything they’d shared—minus the sex—Rafe would realize that what the three of them had wasn’t just an affair. It had been so much more.
Last night, she’d gone out to dinner with her brother again, so she hadn’t seen either of her guys.
She refused to think of them any other way.
She still hadn’t told her brother about Gio or Rafe.
Not that she thought he’d be angry or upset, and not because she wanted to keep it a secret.
It was just that until things were settled—please, let them settle the right way—she wanted to wait.
She wanted to be able to look at Kayden and tell him that she was madly, deeply, truly in love with Gio and Rafe, and know that they felt the same way.
So now, it was Wednesday night again, and they were back in the office, after putting the finishing touches on the room. Thus far, Keeley had shown bits and pieces of the office on video, but hadn’t given a total panoramic, waiting until the work was finished so she could do a big reveal show.
Tonight, they were finally there, and the three of them were thrilled with the end result.
“And that’s a wrap,” she said, hitting the red button to stop recording. She spun around once more, marveling at the room. “I can’t believe this is the same room! When I started working for you, Rafe, this was floor-to-ceiling boxes with little more than a path to the desk.”
“I know.” Rafe’s smile was huge and contagious. “I can’t…Jesus, I never imagined.” He looked over at Gio. “You outdid yourself.”
Gio waved the compliment away. “We outdid ourselves. You were right beside me every step of the way, man.”
“Yeah, but I never could have come up with this. My idea for renovating it was slapping some paint on the walls. This…”
Gio’s vision had gone quite a few steps further and included stripping and refinishing the molding and hardwood floor, adding a vintage rug they’d found at an antique shop, repairing the gorgeous bookcases that lined two walls, removing the heavy curtains to let in more natural light, replacing the gross, dusty lamps with recessed lighting that worked with a dimmer switch, making the useless fireplace functional again…
and then, slapping some paint on the walls.
In addition to restoring the historical aspects of the room, Gio had updated it with some hidden, contemporary touches, because this room—once the inn opened—would serve as the business center.
“Well, one room down, forty-seven more to go,” Gio joked as he slapped Rafe on the shoulder. “At this rate, we should have the inn ready to open by our ninetieth birthdays.”
“We could break all the records for longest-running renovation show on Facebook,” Keeley joked.
Rafe chuckled, but before he could respond, his phone rang. He answered it, turning his back to them and walking to the window.
Keeley could tell it was his mother. Rafe had a “mom voice,” which was sort of similar to the tone he used to use on her, when she was flirting shamelessly.
Patience and affection.
“Oh, Mom, I’m sorry to hear that,” Rafe said.
Keeley and Gio exchanged a glance, both of them coming to the exact same conclusion.
Rodney, the stepdick, had left. Keeley felt the slightest twinge of panic because, while there was no love lost between Rafe and Rodney, she couldn’t help but wonder what that would mean for the three of them.
Would this set Rafe back? Restrengthen his convictions that love and relationships were bad things?
“I’ll come by tomorrow morning to see you, promise.” Rafe paused, then said, “It’s all going to be okay. Bye, Mom.”
After hanging up, Rafe stared out the window, into the darkness.
Keeley studied his reflection, hating the heaviness that replaced what had been genuine happiness just a few minutes earlier.
“Rodney leave?” Gio asked, breaking the silence.
Rafe nodded as he turned around. “Does it make me a terrible son that I’m glad the asshole is gone?”
Keeley shook her head and walked over to him. “I think it makes you a good son. From what you’ve told me about the guy, he was a total jerk and not good to your mother.”
Rafe lifted one shoulder miserably. “And yet, she loved him.”
Keeley acted on instinct, hating how sad he looked. She stepped closer, wrapping her arms around him. “I’m sorry, Rafe.”
Unlike the past couple of nights, Rafe didn’t immediately return her hug, his arms remaining by his sides. Keeley didn’t care. She wasn’t letting go.
Once that became apparent, Rafe lifted his arms, wrapping her up, holding her tightly. She breathed in his scent, relishing this too-infrequent closeness.
When his grip began to loosen, she lifted her head from his chest, turned her face up to his. She could feel his breath, could see all those emotions he’d been trying so hard to hide written in his eyes.
“Rafe,” she whispered.
He lowered his head and kissed her. Kissed her with the same passion and power she’d come to expect from him. Rafe never merely claimed. He consumed. And she loved it.
Their lips parted as the kiss deepened. Her fingers closed in his shirt, while his found her hair, his fist closing around it tightly until her scalp stung under the delicious intensity. He used his grip to twist her head, to control her, to put her exactly where he wanted her.
And then, as quick as it started, it ended. Rafe broke the kiss and took two steps back. She started to follow him, but he held his hand up, and she knew she’d let this go too far, too soon.
It was just…he’d been hurting.
Rafe’s expression was one of regret and apology, especially when he turned to look at Gio.
Keeley followed his gaze, took one glance at Gio, then her eyes flew back to Rafe, perfectly aware he wouldn’t like what he’d seen.
The apology lingering on Rafe’s lips died the moment he saw Gio’s smile, his pleasure at watching the two of them kiss.
After all, Gio had allowed his best friend to assume they’d moved on, that they were fine with following the standard protocol of Rafe walking away and Gio continuing the relationship.
Gio’s smile. Her kiss. It gave them away.
Rafe’s eyes narrowed.
They’d overplayed their hand. Revealed their true intentions, hopes, desires.
“That won’t happen again,” he said coldly.
Four words. That was all Rafe said before he left the room.
Gio sighed heavily. “Fuck.”
“Yeah,” Keeley agreed. “Fuck.”