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didn t want to go. Ari had never had trouble telling him what was on her mind. Already, Rafe had
bent his rules  made accommodations for her that he d never made with any of his other mistresses.
He was in the right to keep their relationship safe  free from burdens like love and affection. Yet
if he truly felt that way, why did his heart feel so hollow? Why did he want to listen to his father and
run to her, tell her he cared? Was he falling in love with the woman?
If he was, it would only end tragically. She could never love him after the way he d treated her.
And if she did, she was a fool. This couldn t end well for either of them.
The thought tore through him. He needed just a bit more time  then he would listen to his dad.
Then he would do what he should have done the moment he d met her in his office all those months
ago.
Even then, he d known she was all wrong for him. His emotions had clouded his normally cool
head. He d chased her, something he never did. He d won  but at what cost? The price may have
just been too high for both of them.
 I just don t know, Dad.
 Go somewhere and think. You are surrounded every day by people whose only desire is to please
you. If you give yourself some time alone, you can sort all of this out. You can come to grips with
yourself and what s best for you  and for her. I think you ll be surprised by the answers you ll
find.
Rafe rose and walked over to his dad, slinging his arm around his shoulders and giving him a
warm hug.
 Thank you, Father. I m sorry I ve shut you out. I m sorry I ve disappointed you. I think time alone
is just what I need.
With that, Rafe left the room and called his pilot as he climbed in the car. Telling no one of his
destination, he left the country. It was past time he figured out what he wanted.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Ari inhaled deeply, reveling in the evocative scents of her mother s flower shop. She d been coming
here since before she was able to form lasting memories.
Her mom had told her about the brightly painted basinet that had sat in the corner until it was
replaced by a playpen, and then eventually a school desk. In that corner she d learned how to make
beautiful bouquets for weddings and create corsages for girls at their first prom.
 Hi, Mom, she called out when she spotted her mother at her beloved workstation.
 I wasn t expecting you in here today, Sandra replied as she wiped her hands, then quickly
stepped around the counter and rushed over to embrace her daughter.
 I came to help and spend quality time with my mom.
 Well, you certainly picked a good day. I have a small wedding I m preparing flowers for. I have
to drop them off in the morning, so it was going to be a long night for me. But with two sets of hands
we might get out of here in time to grab a bite to eat.
 I m a bit rusty, but I m sure you can refresh my memory in record time.
 It s just like riding a bike. It will all come back to you  besides, we re working with roses and
it s hard to mess up a bouquet with such a beautiful flower in it. Come on and I ll put you to work
while you catch me up on what s been keeping you so preoccupied these days.
The stress from the last few months evaporated as she stood by her mother s side and started
bunching flowers together and tying ribbon around the stems. Turning nature into art was very
soothing  therapeutic even  and soon Ari relaxed.
 Have you registered for classes yet?
 Not yet, Mom, but I m thinking about going back next term  I promise, Ari answered with a
wince. Without her mother s pushing her so hard, she might have given up on going back. Nerves and
Rafe s insanely demanding schedule kept sidetracking her.
 I will go with you just to make sure. I want to see my baby girl receive that diploma.
 OK. I promise I ll do it. How about we make it a date and go in next Friday? Ari asked with a
laugh. If Rafe thought Ari was pushy, he obviously hadn t spent much time with her mother. Not that
Ari wanted him to  she was too deeply involved with his him and his family, and adding her mom
to the equation would make parting with him so much more painful.
 Now that we settled that, how is work going?
 It s fine. I enjoy the Palazzo building. It s beautiful inside and out. The only real negative is that I
hardly ever see Amber, Shelly and Miley from my old job anymore. Rafe has a crazy traveling
schedule; we leave on a moment s notice. And then sometimes we re at the office until midnight. It s
a little exhausting, Ari admitted. She didn t add that his demands in the bedroom were the most
exhausting of all  very satisfying, but exhausting nevertheless.
 Ari, you have to make time for your friends. When a man starts to dictate too much of what you do
and demand all your time, that s your cue to back away. I like Rafe, honestly I do, but I worry that
he s taking too much from you. I d have no problem with stepping in and letting him know he needs to
back off, Sandra threatened.
 That means the world to me, Mom, but I can take care of it. He s not a bad guy; he just& makes
the wrong decisions sometimes. However, he treats me well. When he tries some of his demanding
crap, I don t allow it. I promise you that if I ever feel as if I m being taken advantage of, I ll walk
away from him so fast, his head will spin. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]