“What are you doing here, Rafe?”
“I had to see your big moment. I’m proud of you.” Silence greeted his words as the two of them stood there awkwardly. Rafe couldn’t remember ever feeling so like an intruder.
“Thank you. I have people waiting,” she said as she tried to brush him off. Rafe reached out and grasped her arm, refusing to let her leave until she heard him out.
“I need just five minutes,” he said as he began steering her through the crowd. Surprisingly, she didn’t fight him, and soon he found an empty hallway for the two of them to talk.
“Say what you need to, Rafe. But please get it over with.” The new coldness in her eyes shook him more than he cared to admit.
“I’ve made mistakes, Ari. I know that now. I shouldn’t have judged you on mistakes from my past. I miss you, and would like for us to give a real relationship a try.” After several moments, Ari’s lips turned up and Rafe felt relief fill him. This had been easier than he’d thought it would be.
“No, Rafe. You are in no way ready to be in a committed relationship. The way you treated me was abhorrent, and even worse was that I fell in love with you anyway. You’re completely lacking in self-awareness, think you always have to be in charge, and deem women as the weaker sex. What I’ve discovered about myself in the last six months is that I’m a good person. I don’t need to hide behind fake glasses or baggy clothes the way I did before I first met you. I don’t need to cower in the corner afraid of someone judging me. I’m strong and intelligent, and I won’t ever let myself be mistreated again. I know there’s a good man beneath your hard exterior, but you need to find him. If you ever do, call me — I might even answer.”
With that, Ari turned and started to walk away from him. Rafe stood there not knowing what to do. Should he once again chase after her? Should he let her go? Was their time over? For someone who always had the answers, he simply didn’t have any.
“Ari,” he called out without having any idea what he was going to say. She stopped and turned, looking at him with pity, which instantly had his anger rising to the surface. He was not a man to be pitied – not ever!
“Goodbye, Rafe.” With that she turned and started walking away again.
“There are no goodbyes, Ari. We will see each other again.” Her shoulders stiffened, but eventually the crowd swallowed her up as her feet carried her away, and like that she was gone from his life.
Walking away from the courtyard with the sounds of happiness filling the air, Rafe was at a loss. Picking up his phone, he dialed his assistant, Mario.
“Have the jet fueled and ready. I’m going home.” Rafe moved with purpose to his car. It was time to go back home to Italy, back to his home and maybe even back to the heart he had somehow lost along the way.
Coming September 2013 — The third book in the Surrender Series: Seduced
Will Ari sever all ties with Rafe for good? Will he change for her and trust again? How far can Lia run from Shane? Will these strong, stubborn men make the ultimate sacrifice for the women they love? Will Rachel find her true love? Find out in the third installment of the Surrender Series: Seduced.
Table of Contents
Dedication
Note from the Author
Books by Melody Anne
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Epilogue