A Touch of Notoriety(54)

Although the stricken look that came over Beth’s face as she glanced up and saw him standing in the doorway didn’t encourage Raphael into thinking of sharing that decision with her.

Any more than Raphael would wish for her to be aware of the feelings of jealousy that had ripped through him at the sight of her laughing so naturally with the man he had chosen to take his place as her personal bodyguard.

Cesar had been far from happy with his decision when the two men had spoken on the subject on the telephone the night before, but the uncharacteristic jealousy Raphael was feeling now, because he had only found Beth laughing and talking with another man—a man moreover who was also only a Navarro employee—only confirmed that Raphael had made the right decision in stepping down. He could not protect Beth, in the way she needed to be protected, when he only had to look at her to have his head flooded with memories of their lovemaking, and to burn with an inner desire to make love to her again.

No, his decision to step down had been the right one—even if it gave him an ache in his chest just thinking of handing Beth’s future welfare over to any man other than himself.

Raphael drew himself up determinedly as he strode briskly into the kitchen, his gaze glacial as he glanced at the now-standing Rodney. ‘Edward is ready to take us all to the airport if the two of you have quite finished your...conversation?’

Beth’s eyes widened as she heard the condemnation in Raphael’s tone. What the hell was wrong with him now? Now? There was nothing different about Raphael’s briskly businesslike behaviour towards her this morning than any of the other mornings they had spent together.

She gave a cool nod. ‘I’ll just go upstairs and collect my bags.’

‘They are already in the car,’ Raphael informed her dismissively.

She gave a saccharin-sweet smile. ‘Of course they are.’

Blue eyes narrowed on her piercingly. ‘And what is that supposed to mean?’

Beth raised mocking brows. ‘Exactly what it sounded like—admiration for Raphael Cordoba’s efficiency.’

His lips thinned. ‘Rodney has already explained that he will be taking over your security as from today?’

‘Oh, yes.’ She nodded coolly. ‘And I can’t tell you how nice it is to know that I get on so well with the man I will be spending so much time with in future.’

Raphael’s jaw clenched. He had intended to tell Beth over breakfast of the necessary changes that had been made in her security detail—if not the reason for them!—but she had looked so pale and unapproachable when she joined him in the kitchen earlier, followed by his discomfort after their conversation regarding his estrangement from his father, that he had thought it better to wait until they were on the plane before breaking that particular piece of news to her. He had not anticipated that Rodney would see her first and impart that information to her.

Information which, if Beth’s coolly contemptuous attitude towards Raphael now was any indication, she had totally misinterpreted. A misunderstanding, and attitude, that Rodney’s presence made it impossible for Raphael to try and explain or change. And asking to talk to Beth alone—being alone with her for any reason—would not be a wise move on Raphael’s part when he still desired her so deeply!

‘As we are all ready, we may as well leave,’ he bit out tautly instead.

‘The sooner the better,’ Beth added hardly.

Raphael gave her a long and searching glance. She really did look very pale. To the point of delicacy. Far too much so, he believed, for it to be attributed solely to the tension that now existed between the two of them.

Could he possibly have physically hurt Beth last night, with the intensity of his lovemaking? Had he been too rough with her? Too demanding?

‘Would you wait outside for us in the car?’ Raphael instructed Rodney abruptly, his gaze still fixed unwaveringly on the pallor of Beth’s face.

She looked displeased at the idea of being alone with him. ‘Oh, but—’

‘Rodney,’ Raphael prompted hardly, waiting until the other man had left the kitchen before turning back to a wide-eyed Beth. ‘Are you feeling quite well?’

‘Is that your not so polite way of telling me I look awful this morning?’ she came back challengingly.

‘Stop it, Beth!’ Raphael reached out to lightly grasp the tops of her arms as he shook her slightly. ‘You are very pale, that is all. I did not...hurt you, last night?’

Beth looked up at him sharply, her gaze searching on that aristocratically handsome face. Had Raphael somehow guessed? Did he know how she felt about him—?