Chapter 25 Falling for him
Vivienne's POV
I practically ran to my room, closing the door behind me and leaning against it heavily, trying to catch my breath and calm my racing heart. The cool wood pressed against my back as I stood there for a moment, just breathing, trying to make sense of everything that had happened tonight.
What am I doing? What am I getting myself into?
I pushed myself off the door and walked to my bathroom, turning on the shower and letting the water run hot. Steam began to fill the small space as I undressed, my hands trembling slightly as I unbuttoned my dress. I stepped under the warm spray and let it wash over me, hoping it would clear my confused mind.
The water felt good against my skin, washing away the sweat from dancing and the smell of the club. But it couldn't wash away the memory of his hand on the small of my back, or the way he looked at me when he asked me to stay the night, or the feeling of his lips so close to mine when I had kissed him.
I scrubbed my skin and washed my hair quickly, not wanting to keep him waiting too long. Part of me wondered if I should just stay in my room, pretend I was too tired, make up some excuse. It would be easier that way, safer. I wouldn't have to face whatever was happening between us.
But another part of me, the braver part that my mother had raised, wanted to go out there and see what would happen next. Wanted to understand who Raphael really was beneath that cold, business-like exterior everyone talked about.
I got out of the shower and dried myself off with a soft towel, then stood in front of my closet trying to decide what to wear. Everything seemed either too formal or too casual or too obviously trying too hard.
Finally, I settled on a simple white cotton dress that fell just above my knees and a light cardigan in case it got cold outside.
I looked at myself in the mirror as I brushed my damp hair. My cheeks were still flushed from the hot shower, and my eyes looked bright, almost nervous. I looked like someone about to do something scary and exciting at the same time.
"You can do this, Vivienne," I whispered to my reflection, trying to give myself courage. "Just go out there and be yourself. That's all you can do."
I took one last deep breath, squared my shoulders the way my mother had taught me, and walked out of my room. My bare feet were silent on the cool floor as I made my way through the house, following the soft sounds of movement that I assumed was coming from the kitchen area.
The house looked different at night, shadows filling the corners and making everything seem more intimate somehow. I could see lights on at the back of the house, near where I knew the porch was located, and I headed in that direction.
As I got closer, I could smell something delicious cooking. Garlic and herbs and something savory that made my stomach rumble, reminding me that I hadn't eaten much at the club. I had been too nervous, too focused on Raphael and our conversation and the way he looked at me.
I found him standing on the porch, looking out at the view of the city below. He had changed too, now wearing dark jeans and a simple black shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He looked more relaxed than I had ever seen him, less like the powerful businessman everyone described and more like just a regular person.
"Hi," I said softly, not wanting to startle him.
He turned around and his eyes swept over me, taking in my simple dress and damp hair. A small smile crossed his face, genuine and warm in a way I wasn't used to seeing from him.
"You look comfortable," he said simply. "Come, sit down. The food will be ready soon."
I walked over to where he was standing and saw that someone had set up a small table with two chairs, covered with a white tablecloth and simple place settings. There were candles in glass holders, not lit yet, and a bottle of wine with two glasses waiting.
"This is beautiful," I said honestly, surprised by the effort he had put into this.
"You didn't have to go to so much trouble."
"I wanted to," he replied, pulling out a chair for me like a gentleman. "You agreed to stay, so I wanted to make it nice for you."
I sat down carefully and he took the seat across from me. For a moment we just sat there in silence, the night air cool and pleasant around us. I could see the lights of the city spread out below, twinkling like stars that had fallen to earth.
"Can I ask you something?" I said finally, breaking the quiet that had settled between us.
"Anything," he replied, his dark eyes focused completely on me.
"Earlier tonight, when I kissed you..." I started, then paused, not sure how to phrase what I wanted to ask. "You didn't kiss me back. But now you're asking me to spend the night with you. I'm just confused about what you want, I guess."
He was quiet for a long moment, and I worried that I had said the wrong thing, pushed too hard, asked too much. But then he leaned forward slightly, his elbows resting on the table, and when he spoke his voice was honest and open.
"You surprised me," he admitted quietly. "I wasn't expecting you to be so bold, so direct. Most people are afraid of me, Vivienne. They see my money or my reputation and they either want something from me or they keep their distance. But you're different."
"Different how?" I asked softly.
"You see me," he said simply. "Not my money or my business or the rumors people spread about how cold I am. You actually see me as a person. And that terrifies me more than anything else."
My heart squeezed at his words, at the vulnerability I heard in his voice. This was the real Raphael, I realized. Not the cold businessman, but this man sitting across from me admitting he was scared.
"I'm terrified too," I confessed. "I don't know what I'm doing or what this is between us. But I want to find out."
He reached across the table and took my hand in his, his thumb brushing gently across my knuckles.
"Then let's find out together," he said.