In a Broken Dream (The Broken Series Book 4) (27 page)

“Nothing,”
she replied. “He likes it when we sleep naked.”

I
frowned. “Then why are we having a lingerie party?”

“Am
I right?” she asked.

“Yes,”
I replied, rolling my eyes.

“Shelby’s
doing the next shot,” she announced. “And we’re having a lingerie party because
I
like lingerie!”

I
waited for Shelby to drink her shot. “Sixth question. What does Roger love most
about you?” The room suddenly grew quiet.

Cenia
looked surprised, then stumped. “My sense of humor?”

I
smiled. “How kind you are.”

“That’s
so sweet,” Gabi cooed. Words of agreement sounded all around.

Cenia
drank her fourth shot.

“Seventh
and final question. What does Roger think is the key to a good marriage?” I
asked.

“Sex,”
she replied without hesitation.

I
tossed the interview notes onto the coffee table. “He claims the key to a good
marriage is respect.”

She
rolled her eyes. “You know Roger almost as well as I do. What do you think he really
believes?”

“Okay.
I’ll give you that one,” I consented. Everyone laughed.

“Gabi’s
drinking this one,” Cenia announced.

“Thanks!”
Gabi replied before knocking back the shot.

“Let’s
grab some dessert before you open your gifts,” I suggested. We shuffled into
the kitchen. I brewed coffee while sampling the lemon merengue pie.

“What’s
up with all the spray whip cream?” Shae asked. She was peering inside my
refrigerator.

“That’s
one of the party favors,” I replied.

Everyone
gathered around the refrigerator. Ten cans of Reddi-wip were stacked on the top
shelf. “What are we supposed to do with that?” one of Cenia’s co-workers asked.

“What
do
you
think you’re supposed to do?” I replied.

Gabi
started cracking up. “Do you think they’ll let me carry that onto the
airplane?”

Cenia
shook one of the cans. “I don’t know. Would you consider Reddi-wip a liquid or
a solid?”

I
took the can from Cenia and shoved it back inside the refrigerator. “I think
you’re going to have to put that inside your checked luggage,” I told Gabi.
“Let’s open presents!”

The
women filed into the family room with their presents, coffee, and dessert. I
ducked into my office to retrieve a notebook and pen. Shae handed me a cup of
coffee and a plate full of chocolate dipped strawberries when I joined her on
the couch. I recorded each of Cenia’s gifts and a few of her comments while she
opened the presents.

Cenia
received an ivory silk nightgown from Marie that she thought would be perfect
for her wedding night. Her friends from work gave her some red and black lace
lingerie to spice up her honeymoon. I gave her a rather scandalous black corset,
black garter belt, silk stockings, and a silver and black beaded G-string,
similar to the one Maxim had given me. The G-string garnered the most remarks,
especially when I announced that everyone would be receiving a pair as one of
the party favors.

I
had one final announcement after Cenia finished opening her gifts. “There’s an
old wives’ tale that claims you can predict how the wedding night will go by
recording the bride’s remarks when she opens her gifts at the bridal shower,” I
began.

The
room quieted as everyone stopped to listen.

I
grinned. “Here’s what Cenia had to say… Oh, that’s beautiful! It looks a little
big. Do you think it will fit? Oh! I like that. What the heck am I supposed to
do with this? I’ve never seen anything like that. Will it hurt when I try to
walk? Stop drooling on my stuff! Looks like I’m set. Thank you. Thank you so
much!”

Cenia
rolled her eyes as the room filled with laughter.

I
patted my friend on the leg. “You’re going to be a happily married woman.”

My
arm tightened around Rafael’s back as we approached the security line. I felt
sad watching all of the other travelers load their belongings onto the conveyor
belts. “I hate being separated from you. Promise me you’ll come to McAllen if
you finish up early.”

Rafael
pulled me in for a hug. The security line had ground to a complete stop. “I
think I’m in for a long battle with the mayor and the other property owners.
There are a lot of wealthy individuals living within the eight arrondissement. They’ll
view this as an honorable endeavor, but they’re not going to want political
refugees living next door to them.”

“But
the refugees wouldn’t be living next door to them, not for any significant
length of time. We’re providing temporary accommodations, just long enough for
them to gain refugee status and move to the United States,” I protested.

“The
accommodations may be temporary, but they’ll still view this as a security
threat. Even though we’re in the United States, I’m still concerned the SVR
will come after you. Their concerns are no different. They don’t want to draw
corrupt governments, militias, mafias, or mercenaries to their doorsteps,”
Rafael explained. We took a few more steps as the security line started moving again.

I
sighed dejectedly. “I appreciate your willingness to talk to them, but it
sounds like we may be fighting a losing battle. If you can’t alleviate their
concerns, we’ll just have to sell the house and try to find some other way to
help.”

Rafael
planted a kiss on my forehead. “There are lots of ways we can help. Now, I want
you to stop worrying about this. I want you to get on that plane, help your
friend with her wedding, and have fun.”

“I
still wish you were going with me,” I grumbled. There was an eerie sense of
déjà vu swirling around me. The last time we parted at an airport, I was heading
to Ukraine. There were too many parallels, especially with Rafael traveling to
Paris.

“You’re
going to be just fine,” Rafael said, as if reading my mind. “Kadyn, Cenia, and
Roger will be with you this time. They’re completely capable of keeping you
safe. Isn’t that what you’ve been telling me these past few weeks?”

I
gradually released the breath I’d been holding. “Yes.”

Rafael
lifted my chin as he forced me to look at him. “We’re going to focus on our
relationship and our future together once this wedding is over. See that your
friend is happily married so she can do the same for you.”

All
of my internal organs collided, as if we’d just rocketed over the top of a very
big hill. “Okay.”

His
thumb caressed my jawline as he lowered his lips to mine. My lips parted on a
sigh. His tongue explored my mouth as he coaxed me into a soft, lingering kiss.
I slipped my hand under his shirt, so I could feel his skin.

Rafael
groaned when I stepped between his legs and pressed my body to his. I rolled
onto my toes and deepened the kiss.

I
stilled when Rafael hardened against me. He broke the kiss but continued
holding me in his arms. “Don’t move,” he pleaded. “I need a minute.”

“If
you were joining me on this flight, we could take care of that,” I whispered
teasingly. “I’ve always wanted to join the mile high club.”

He
feigned a pained expression. Both of our cell phones chimed with an incoming
text. He glanced at his phone. I did not. I was still thinking about his
erection. I’d always thought sex in bathrooms was tacky. Now, I wasn’t so sure.
Maybe it was just…
necessary
.

“Your
friends are waiting for you at the gate,” Rafael explained. He offered me a
chaste kiss before nudging me forward in the line. “If I can get everything
wrapped up in Paris by Thursday, I’ll fly directly to Texas. The wedding is
Saturday, right?”

I
nodded. The wedding was only five days away. By the time Rafael flew to Paris
and back, it would be tight. Still, I was pleased to hear he might join us. “Give
me a call when you arrive in Paris tonight.” His flight was scheduled to depart
an hour after mine.

He
adjusted his backpack and kissed the back of my hand as he stepped out of line.
“Your wish is my command.”

My
heart sank as he backed away from me. I really didn’t like being separated from
him. “I love you.”

“I
love you too,” he replied. His eyes suddenly looked sad.

I
loaded my belongings into the gray plastic bins. Every step that increased the
distance between us was harder to take. Tears pooled in my eyes when I stepped
through the x-ray machine. I brushed them aside and blew him a kiss when I
crossed over to the other side. Why did crossing through security checkpoints
make me feel so vulnerable and alone? My cell phone rang before I could reclaim
all of my belongings. I smiled when I saw who it was. “Yes?” I answered. My
eyes searched for him in the crowd.

“I’m
just a phone call away,” he replied. “You can call me anytime day or night.”

“Keep
talking,” I pleaded as I slipped my shoes on. I was dangerously close to bursting
into tears.

“Planning
these trips separately was a mistake. I promise, from this point forward, we’ll
travel together,” he said.

I
started walking toward the gate. “You’re just saying that so you can join the
mile high club.”

“I
think I should purchase another jet. Maybe I’ll buy one while I’m in Paris.
I’ll try to find one with a bed. A private bedroom would be even better,” he replied.
I couldn’t tell if he was joking.

I
glanced up at the signs dotting the concourse. I still had twenty gates to go. “What
kind of wicked things would you be doing to me in that bed?”

He
laughed. “Listen closely, baby. You’re about to find out.”

My
face was a brilliant shade of red by the time we disconnected the call. Rafael
had gotten me so worked up, I was tempted to duck inside the bathroom so I
could finish myself off. I tucked all of his wicked thoughts into the back of
my head and went to Starbucks instead.

“You’re
such a junkie,” Kadyn razzed when he saw the Starbucks cup.

“Trust
me. This is better than the alternative,” I said.

He
gave me a curious look. “What’s the alternative?”

I
chose not to respond.

“Do
you have your passport?” Cenia asked. Kadyn and Roger had wandered into the
bookstore.

“Yes.
Do you think we’ll have time to go into Mexico?” I asked. I was watching a steady
stream of passengers exit the plane now docked at our gate.

She
followed my gaze. “Mom and I are planning to go to San Fernando tomorrow so I
can have a bridal portrait made for the wedding. You’re welcome to join us, but
it’s going to be a long day. San Fernando is a two hour drive from McAllen.”

I
glanced at her questioningly. “You’re getting your wedding pictures taken
before the wedding? But you said you didn’t want Roger to see the dress before
the wedding.”

“Roger
won’t be in the picture. Just me,” she explained. “The women in my family have a
long standing tradition. The bride has her picture taken before the wedding so the
portrait can be displayed at the reception. The rest of the pictures are taken
after the ceremony.”

I
eyed the long line of people anxiously waiting to board the plane. “Why are you
having your portrait made in Mexico?”

Cenia
peered toward the bookstore. “My grandmother, my mother, my aunts, and cousins
have all had their bridal portraits taken at this studio in San Fernando. The
photographer who took my grandmother’s picture died a few years ago, but she
passed the business on to her daughter, who’s an exceptional photographer.”

We
stood as the gate agent invited first class passengers to board the plane. I
tossed my Starbucks cup in the recycling. “Where are they?” I asked Cenia. Kadyn
and Roger had yet to return from the bookstore.

She
shrugged. “I think they’re still in the bookstore. We should wait. I’ll never
hear the end of it if we board the plane without them.”

Roger
poked his head out of the bookstore and peered down the hall. Cenia waved her
arms in the air. He ducked back inside the bookstore before walking out with
Kadyn. The two men cut across the hall and walked the short distance to our
gate.

“What
section are they boarding?” Kadyn asked. He was shoving the latest book from
the Hunger Games series into his backpack.

“First
class,” I replied as we fell in line. I pulled the cell phone out of my purse
so I could text Rafael.
Departing on time. Please fly safe. Win the property
owners over, purchase the jet, and meet me in McAllen
.

You
got it
, he promptly replied.

*
* * * *

Kadyn
and I pulled the luggage from the trunk of the rental car while Cenia and Roger
greeted her parents. They had met halfway up the sidewalk to her parents’
house. Cenia waved us over. “This is my mom and dad, Isabel and Alejandro
Perez. Mom, Dad, I want you to meet, Kri and Kadyn, our maid of honor and our best
man.”