Dante's Temporary Fiancée (14 page)

“Let her stay,” Rafe suggested.

“What?” Larkin turned on him. “Why?”

“You both can stay here until we get the problem of your bracelet sorted out.”

She instantly shook her head. “That's not going to happen.”

Rafe wasn't surprised. That would have been too easy, and something told him that nothing about regaining her trust would prove easy. “In that case, Gia has offered you a room while you search for your father. The only problem is that her place isn't suitable for Kiko. Leave her here for the time being.”

Tears filled Larkin's eyes. “It's not enough that you ruined my bracelet? Now you're taking my dog, too?”

Hell. “I'm not taking her,” he explained patiently. “I'm letting her stay until our business is settled.”

Her chin jutted out. “I thought our business was settled.”

“Apparently not. I still owe you for your time and the damage to the bracelet.”

“Forget it.”

“Somehow I had a feeling you were going to say that,” he muttered. “In that case, the least I can do is have your bracelet fixed so it's returned to its original condition. Will you consider that a fair exchange?”

She looked doubtful. “You can do that?”

“Francesca can handle anything.”

“Francesca.” Her eyes widened at the reminder, filling with horror. “I forgot about the engagement ring.”

She yanked the ring off, holding it out to him. When he refused to take it, she crossed to his bedside table and placed it there with unmistakable finality. “If you'll have my bracelet repaired, I'll consider us even.”

He wouldn't. Not by a long shot. She squared her shoulders and turned her back on Kiko. The expression on her face almost brought him to his knees. Despite the love and support she'd received from her grandmother, everyone else in her life had abandoned her. So many rejections in such a short life. And here it was happening to her again.

Well, not for long. No matter what it took, he intended to make things right.

 

The next couple of weeks were absolute agony for Larkin. Rafe made no attempt to get in touch. Nor did she go to the house, even though she missed Kiko fiercely. She made noises a couple of times about sneaking over while Rafe was at work so she could see her dog, but Gia informed her that her brother had elected to stay
at home for the remainder of his vacation, and Larkin couldn't bring herself to confront him. At least, not yet. Not while recent events were still so raw.

Midway through the third week, word finally came that the repairs to her bracelet were completed. “Meet me downstairs in five and I'll drive you over,” Gia called to say. “I think I'm almost as excited as you to see how it looks.”

It wasn't until they made the turn onto Rafe's street that Larkin realized where they were going. “I thought the bracelet would be at Dantes,” she said uneasily.

“Nope. Rafe has it.” Gia spared her an impatient look. “You've done nothing but grouse about the fact that you haven't seen Kiko in weeks. Now you have the opportunity to see both her and the bracelet. You should be over the moon. Don't tell me you're going to let a little thing like my good-for-nothing brother spoil your big moment.”

“No. No, of course I won't.” Maybe not.

To her surprise, Gia pulled up in front. Instead of parking, she waved her hand toward the house. “On second thought, why don't you go ahead without me.”

Larkin turned to glare. “You're setting me up, aren't you? You think if I go in there alone, maybe Rafe and I will resolve our differences.”

Gia shrugged. “Worth a try.”

“It's not going to work.”

“Then it won't work. But at least I'll have given it a shot.”

Realizing it was pointless to argue, Larkin exited the car. Snatching a deep breath, she forced herself to climb the steps of the front porch at a sedate pace and knock. A minute later the door swung open and Rafe
stood there. They stared at each other for an endless moment before he stepped back to allow her past.

She didn't know what to say. Emotions flooded through her. Powerful emotions. Longing. Regret mixed with sorrow. Love and the sheer futility of that love. And overriding them all was pain. A bone-deep, all-invasive hurt.

“Where's Kiko?” she managed to ask.

“Out back.” For some reason he couldn't seem to take his eyes off her, his gaze practically eating her alive. “The gentleman who brought the bracelet wanted you to inspect it before he left and I wasn't sure how well he'd take to having a wolf hovering over him.”

She almost smiled, catching herself at the last instant. “But Kiko's okay?”

“She's fine. Misses you. But then, that seems to be going around.”

She blinked up at him, not quite sure what to make of his comment. Not that his expression gave anything away. “I guess we shouldn't keep your associate waiting.”

Rafe led the way to the den and shoved open the door. She could see her bracelet spread out across the empty glass-topped desk, captured within the beam of a bright spotlight. A man stood nearby, silent and attentive.

Larkin approached the table, her breath catching when she saw the bracelet. She swung around to glance at Rafe, tears gathering in her eyes. “It's beautiful. Please tell Francesca she did an amazing job restoring it.”

The man beside the table cleared his throat. “She made a few minor changes. The fire diamonds, for
instance. They're similar in size, but the quality can't be compared. And I understand she used Verdonia Royal amethysts. The color is stunning, don't you think?”

Larkin glanced at the man and smiled. “Don't tell Francesca, but I still prefer the original.”

“Do you really?”

For some reason, he seemed ridiculously pleased by the comment. He looked directly at her then and she froze, riveted. He was far shorter than Rafe, maybe five foot six or seven and somewhere in his late forties. Eyes the color of aquamarines twinkled behind a pair of wire-rimmed glasses. And though his wheat-white hair was cut short, there was no disguising the wayward curls that were next to impossible to subdue. His nose was different from hers, stubbier, but they shared the same pointed chin and wide mouth. And she knew without even spending a minute of time with him that he used that mouth to laugh. A lot. Best of all, he made her think of leprechauns and rainbows and pots of gold. And he made her think of magic and the possibility of dreams coming true.

“I must confess,” he said, “the old girl looks quite grand with all those fancy stones attached to her.”

Larkin continued to stare at him, unable to look away. “Old girl?” she repeated faintly.

“The bracelet. She belonged to your great-great-great-grandmother.”

“You're—”

“Rory Finnegan. I'm your father, Larkin.”

She never remembered moving. One minute she was
standing next to the table and the next she was in his arms. “Dad?”

“You have no idea how long I've been looking for you.” He whispered the words into her ear and they flowed straight to her heart.

The next few hours flashed by. At some point, Larkin realized that Rafe had slipped away, giving her and her father some much-needed privacy. Coffee would periodically appear at their elbow, along with sandwiches. But she never noticed who brought them, though it didn't take much guesswork to know that Rafe was behind that, too.

During the time she spent with her father, she discovered that her mother had called him shortly before her death. “She was horribly sick. Almost incoherent,” he explained. “She just kept telling me I had a daughter but couldn't give me a name or location. By the time I tracked her down, she was gone and that bastard of a husband claimed he had no idea what I was talking about.”

Larkin also learned that her name belonged to the same woman whose bracelet she'd been given. And she discovered that she had a family as extensive as the Dantes, and every bit as lovingly nosy. “You won't be able to get rid of us,” Rory warned. “Not now that I've found you. I'd have brought a whole herd of the troublemakers with me, but I didn't want to overwhelm you.”

When the time finally came for him to leave, they were both teary eyed. Standing by the front door, he snatched her close for a tight hug. “You'll come by this
weekend. We'll throw a big welcome home party. And bring your man with you. Your grandmother Finnegan will want to look him over before okaying the wedding date.”

“Oh, but—”

“We'll be there,” Rafe informed him as he joined them.

The instant the door closed behind her father, Larkin turned to confront Rafe. “I don't know what to say,” she confessed, fighting back tears. “Thank you seems so inadequate.”

“You're welcome.” He held out his hand. “I have something else I want to show you.”

“Okay.” She dared to slip her hand into his, closing her eyes when The Inferno throbbed in joyous welcome. “But then I'd really like to see Kiko.”

“That's what I wanted to show you.”

He pulled her toward the back of the house to the guest suite where she'd spent so many blissful days and nights. The door was shut and on the wooden surface someone had screwed a glistening gold placard. “Official Den of Tukiko and Youko” it read.

“You told me that was Kiko's full name. I looked up the meaning.” He slanted her a flashing smile. “Moon child?”

Larkin shrugged. “It seemed fitting.” She frowned at the sign. “But who is Youko?”

“Ah, you mean our sun child.”

He shoved open the door. Where once had stood a regular bed, now there were two huge dog beds. The door to the backyard stood ajar and he ushered her in that direction. She gaped at the changes. In the time she'd been gone, someone had come through and transformed
the yard into a giant doggy playpen. Rope pulls and exercise rings, doghouses and toys were scattered throughout the area. He'd even had a section of lawn dug up and a giant square of loosely packed dirt put in its place.

“For digging,” he explained. “And burying bones. And for rolling around, if that's what they want.”

Just then Kiko emerged from one of the doghouses and bounded across to her side, nearly bowling them both down in her enthusiasm. Larkin wrapped her arms around her dog and buried her face in the thick ruff.

“I've missed you so much.” A small whine drew her attention back to the doghouse. Peeking out from the shadows was another animal. “And who is this?” Kiko darted back to stand protectively beside the newcomer, a dog who appeared to be part yellow Lab and part golden retriever. “Youko, I presume?”

“She's a rescue dog. Terrified of people, so I'm assuming she was abused. Kiko's helping me socialize her.” He hesitated. “I'm hoping you'll help, too.”

She stiffened. “A dog's a big responsibility. A long-term commitment.”

“Fifteen. Twenty years, if we're lucky. Of course, Kiko's Pals will also be a long-term commitment.”

Larkin stared blankly. “Kiko's Pals?”

“It's the rescue organization we're starting, if you're willing. A charitable organization to help dogs like Kiko. I'm hoping you'll run it.”

“You've started—” She broke off, fighting for control. “You did that for her? For us?”

“I'd do anything for the two of you,” he stated simply.

“I don't understand,” she whispered. “I don't understand any of this.”

“Then let me explain.”

This time he took her upstairs, pausing outside his bedroom door. Another plaque had been attached. This one read, “Den of the Big Bad Wolf and his Once in a Lifetime Mate.” He opened the door and stepped back, giving her the choice of entering or walking away.

She didn't hesitate. She stepped across the threshold and straight into hope. He closed the door and she turned. In two swift steps he reached her side and pulled her into his arms.

“I'm so sorry, Larkin. I was an idiot. You're nothing like Leigh and never could be. I've spent so many years protecting myself that I almost lost the only thing I've ever wanted. You.” He cupped her face and kissed her, losing himself in the scent and taste and feel of her. “I love you. I think I loved you from the first minute we touched.”

“Oh, Rafe.” She was laughing and crying at the same time. “I love you, too.”

He pulled back. “I still want you to be my temporary fiancée.”

Her eyes narrowed. “You do, huh?”

“Definitely. A very temporary fiancée, followed by a very long-term wife.” He swung her into his arms and carried her to the bed. “You'll have to remind me where we left off. It's been so long I can't quite remember.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and feathered a kiss across his mouth. “I'll see what I can do to refresh your memory.”

“Nope. We can't do that. Not without breaking my promise to Primo.”

He fumbled for something on the dressing table. Taking her hand in his, he slid her engagement ring on her finger, back where it belonged. The heat of The Inferno flared between them and even though he didn't acknowledge it aloud, she could see the acceptance in his eyes.

“It would seem this is the perfect ring after all,” he told her.

“And why is that?” she asked, even though she already knew.

“Your ring is named Once in a Lifetime, which is fitting because if there's one thing you've taught me—” he kissed her long and hard “—it's that wolves mate for life.”