LITMIR.BIZ

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that it hadn’t been before. In Miami it had been easy to say he wasn’t sure if he wanted to be king but seeing this palace—he felt the history. And he sort of understood Juan Carlos’s perspective for once. Rafe didn’t want to let down their family line.

      If Alma wanted the Montoros back on the throne than Rafe would have to put aside the feelings he felt stirring for Emily and figure out how to be their king.

      That surprised him. He hadn’t expected to feel this torn. He was isolated from the rest of his family who seemed to think this return to royalty was just the thing they needed. They were all caught up in being back in the homeland. But as much as he felt swept up in the majesty of their return to Alma he knew he was still trying to figure out where home really was.

      * * *

      Emily worked the closing shift at Harry’s and walked home at 2:00 a.m. Key West wasn’t like the mean streets of Miami, but she moved quickly and kept her eyes open for danger. It was something she’d teach her kid.

      She was starting to find her bearings with this pregnancy more and more as each day passed. Being a mom was going to take some getting used to, but as her own mom had said, she had nine months to make the adjustment.

      Her cell phone vibrated in the pocket of her jeans and she reached back to pull it out. Glancing at the screen, she saw it was an international call. She only knew one person who was traveling internationally right now. She did some quick math and figured out that it was early morning in Alma.

      “Hello?”

      “Hey, Red. Figured you’d be getting off work. Please tell me I didn’t wake you.” Sure enough, it was Rafe.

      “You’d think you’d be more careful about disturbing a pregnant woman’s rest,” she teased. She didn’t want to admit it but she’d missed him. Three days. That was all it had been since she’d seen him, but it had felt like a lifetime. His voice was deep and resonated in her ear, making her feel warm all over.

      “Well, maybe I did call the bar earlier to determine if you were working tonight,” he admitted.

      That sounded like Rafe. He was a man who left little to chance. “What can I do for you?”

      “How are you feeling?” he asked. “How’s Florida?”

      “I’m feeling fine,” she said. “I have had a little bit of morning sickness, and it’s not just limited to mornings. I’ve been getting sick midafternoon.”

      She saw her house at the end of the lane and got her keys out. She’d left the porch lights on and it looked so welcoming. The only thing that would be better was if Rafe was waiting for her. And to be honest, as he talked to her on the phone, it was almost as if he was there with her.

      “Makes sense since that’s when you wake up,” he said. “Is there anything you can do to help that?”

      “No,” she said. “It’s not too bad. How’s Alma?”

      “Nice. You’d like it. It’s all sand and sea for as far as the eye can see and quaint little villages. Not as laid back as Key West but still nice.”

      “Any places to go paddleboarding?”

      “Not yet. Why, do you think you’d move here and start a business?” he asked.

      It was the closest he’d come to suggesting that she be near him in the future, and she felt numb even contemplating it. She had her own plans to open a restaurant around the corner from Harry’s. Not to be Rafe’s hidden mistress in some far-off European country.

      “Not at all. I’ve got a place picked out for my future restaurant,” she said.

      “Is that what you want to do?”

      Once again she realized how little they actually knew of each other’s lives.

      “Well, I can’t be a bartender forever.”

      “I guess not. Tell me about your dreams,” he said.

      She thought she heard the sound of footsteps on a tiled floor on his end. “Where are you?”

      “Not ready to share that much with me?” he asked, countering her evasion.

      In a way she wished they were playing a game. It would make everything easier. She could concentrate on winning and not really have to think about the emotions. But the truth was she was tired and still a little unsure of what she was doing. Sure, just hearing Rafe’s voice made her feel not so alone. But she didn’t want to allow herself to become dependent on him.

      Not to turn her life into one big sob story, but usually when she started to feel comfortable with someone they left. It wasn’t that they abandoned her, just moved on and left her to her independent self. Even her mom and Harry. And she didn’t want that with Rafe.

      “Nope. I want to hear about Alma. I read a little online yesterday. Seems like the change of regime is going to have a big impact on the economy. I know you are good at making money. Is that why they chose you and your family to come back and lead the country?” she asked.

      “Our family ruled the country before the coup that installed the late dictator, Tantaberra. That’s why we were chosen. But my parents are divorced so Dad, who would be next in line, can’t assume the throne. They want someone with the right pedigree and the right reputation.”

      “Um...I’m guessing if they found out about me that could put a wrench in things.”

      “Possibly. I’m not going to deny you exist, Emily.”

      “Really?”

      “Yes. Would I be on the phone with you if I didn’t care?” he asked.

      “I don’t know,” she said honestly. “We’re strangers.”

      “Who are about to be parents to a baby,” he said. “Let’s get to know each other. And while we have half the world between us maybe I can talk to you without being distracted by your body and that sexy way you tilt your head to the side. You always make me forget everything except wanting to get you naked.”

      Her breath caught as she sank down into the big armchair where Rafe had sat the one time he’d been to her place. They’d made love in the chair and she felt closer to him now. She tucked her leg up underneath her and let those memories wash over her.

      “Red? You still there?”

      “Yes. Dammit, now you’ve got me thinking about you naked.”

      “Good. My evil plan worked,” he said. “Tell me something about yourself.”

      “What?”

      “Anything. I want to know the woman who’s going to be the mother of my child.”

      She thought about her life. It was ordinary: nothing too tragic, nothing too exciting. But it was hers. “When I was six I thought if I spent enough time in the ocean I’d turn into a mermaid. My mom’s a marine biologist and we were living on her research vessel, The Sea Spirit. She made me a bikini top out of shells and sent me off every day to swim.”

      “I’m glad you didn’t turn into a mermaid,” he said with a quiet laugh.

      They talked on the phone until Emily started drifting to sleep. She knew she should hang up, but she didn’t want to break the connection. Didn’t want to wake up without Rafe.

      “Red?”

      “Yes?”

      “I wish I was there to tuck you into bed,” he said.

      “Me, too,” she admitted. Then she opened her eyes as she realized that she was starting to need him.

      “Good night, Rafe,” she said, hanging up the phone before she could do anything stupid like ask him what he’d wanted to be as a boy. Or to come back to Key West.

       Four

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