“You are to me as well,” Rafe said. Juan Carlos had grown up in their home after his parents had died. “I do need to be in Miami to take care of the details of the new shipping deal I just signed. I will let the court and the coronation committee know that’s why I’m returning.”
“I will back you up,” Juan Carlos said. “Just be sure you make the right decision.”
Rafe nodded. His impromptu decision to leave had to be delayed until he could talk to the court advisors and his family. Since it was early morning it would take time for the entire Montoro clan who were in Alma to be ready to go.
But sure enough, later that day, they were all on the plane and headed toward Miami.
Seven
Emily went to Key Koffee for a cup of decaf and sat at the corner table again. Last night with Rafe had been different. It had been fun, but also, in the safety of the darkness and with the distance between them, she felt he’d shared more of himself than he had before.
Caution, she warned herself.
Her mom was always warning her about racing headlong into action before thinking about it first. But she felt as if it was too late to change. And last night had made her fall a little more for Rafe.
Which was probably why she was up early even though she had to work later. But her mom was also due to dock at the marina at nine, and Emily wanted to be there to greet her.
“Give me a double espresso and a lemon poppy-seed muffin to go as well as my usual order,” Emily said to Cara behind the bar.
“Sure thing. Feeling hungry this morning?”
“A little, but the extra stuff is for my mom. She’s back in port today,” she told Cara.
“How about your man?” Cara asked.
Emily shook her head. “I don’t have a man.”
She couldn’t claim Rafe as her own until he indicated he was ready for that. And she knew despite their closeness when they were alone that he wasn’t. That knowledge sort of tinged her day. She frowned a little. The smell of the espresso was strong this morning, and she felt bile rising in the back of her throat.
She swallowed hard to keep from getting sick and then realized it wasn’t going to work. She ran for the bathroom but made it only as far as the hallway before she began retching. She forced herself to keep moving into the bathroom and threw up. She was heavy and aching and knew this wasn’t one of the times when she could say she was enjoying her pregnancy.
Cara followed her into the bathroom with a wet towel. After Emily rinsed her mouth and splashed water on her face, Cara walked her back to her table. Emily felt as if everyone was staring at her. Cara just smiled at them.
“She’s pregnant. You don’t worry about our food.”
Everyone nodded and went back to their papers and electronic devices.
“I sort of wasn’t planning on telling anyone yet,” Emily said.
“Sorry, Em. But I can’t have people thinking it’s my food.”
“It’s okay,” Emily said.
“Your man should be here with you,” Cara said in a kind way. “I saw you two together. He’s not the kind of man who’d just walk away.”
Cara tucked a strand of Emily’s hair behind her ear. “Have you told him?”
She wasn’t that close to Cara, but they were friends. They’d gone to the same high school and had even taken a road trip to Georgia together one time. But she didn’t want to discuss Rafe with her. “Yes. It’s complicated.”
“Fair enough. Park yourself right there. I’m going to get your order for you.”
Emily looked up and noticed a man watching her. The same guy who had been eavesdropping on her telephone conversation with Rafe the other day.
“How you feeling?” he asked, coming over with a packet of Club crackers that they kept on the tables for when Key Koffee serve conch chowder in the afternoon. “These always helped my wife when she was expecting.”
She smiled her thanks and took them, weakly opening the pack and taking out a cracker. She munched on one and tipped her head back as her body stopped rioting and started to calm down.
“Are you reading this?” he asked.
She glanced down at the Miami Herald, which was flipped open to the society page with a picture of Rafe and his family in Alma.
“No.”
“I can’t believe how obsessed everyone is with that family,” the guy said. “I’m Stan, by the way.”
“Emily,” she said. “Well, it’s a fairy tale, isn’t it? American royalty becomes real royalty.”
“True enough. I’ve heard that Rafe comes down to Key West,” Stan said.