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It had completely slipped her mind. “The man’s a cardiologist, and I didn’t want to waste his time. I feel better now and don’t need them.”
He pulled her around to face him. “Are you sure?”
His knit brows made him look older than his years. “I just need to keep busy.”
He studied her expression and shrugged. “If you’re sure. The zoo isn’t open late on Sundays. Would you like to go today?”
“Don’t you have to train or prepare for tomorrow?”
He flashed a charming grin. “It’s better if I relax, and I want to take you to the zoo.”
She reached up to kiss him. “Then that’s where we’ll go. In the winter, people cross-country ski through the Minneapolis Zoo. I don’t suppose they do that here.”
“No, but perhaps I could find you a skateboard.”
“I’m sure they don’t allow it.” She laughed with him and thought even if all of Spain came after her, he’d be all the security she’d need. She’d dressed in her aqua top and rainbow skirt and was a burst of color beside him. As they strolled along the zoo paths, people walking toward them often stared, but while they heard a few whispers of “El Gitano” as they passed, no one spoke to them or asked for an autograph.
After walking miles of zoo trails, they were too tired to dress and go out to dinner and ordered in. They danced, made love with slow, teasing affection and woke up early Sunday morning with Maggie dreading what the day might bring, while Rafael was in high spirits.
“I had a key made for you.” He worked it off his keyring and handed it to her. “You might want to come home before I do. Don’t invite Santos and Fox to come in. They’d just make fun of my home.”
“Not within my hearing they won’t.” She bent over to brush her hair, then stood to shake it into place. “Thanks for the key. I probably won’t need it.” She refused to consider he might not be coming home and she’d be left on her own.
“Just promise me one thing,” he asked. He’d already taken his traje de luces down to his car and needed to be at the bullring that morning when they drew the bulls they’d fight.
“I know how to swim. I won’t drown if Santos takes me sailing.”
“I’m not worried you’ll drown. I just don’t want you to fly home without telling me good-bye.”
She couldn’t mistake the seriousness of his expression, and unlike his mother, she wasn’t one to run away. Still, he must fear she might. She’d considered it briefly last weekend, which she wouldn’t admit. Instead, she framed his face with her hands and kissed him. “You have my word on it.”
He pulled her into his arms. “I want to take you out tonight to a restaurant that serves delicious paella. We won’t have to dance but simply enjoy the candlelight and each other.”
“I’ll look forward to it.” She hung on to him and wished she’d thought of something lovely and sweet or at least meaningful to say. She couldn’t beg him to stay alive when she knew he’d do his best, but it was difficult to offer only a trembling smile. “Let’s go. I know you’re in a hurry.”
“I’m not in a hurry to leave you.” He gave her a final squeeze and took her hand as they walked down the stairs to his car. When they reached Santos’s apartment, he escorted her to the door.
Santos and Fox were cooking breakfast. “Want something to eat before you go?” Santos asked.
“No, thank you,” Rafael replied. “If you’re going sailing, should I meet you at the beach house later?”
“That’s fine. I don’t want Grandmother and Cirilda to think I’m avoiding them,” Santos replied.
“I am avoiding them,” Maggie declared, “but they don’t own the beach.” Rafael gave her a quick kiss, and she closed the door after him. She turned to find Santos and Fox staring at her. “What?”
“I just don’t see you two as a couple,” Santos declared. “You can’t know much about him. We should hire a detective to find out who he really is.”
Now that she’d discovered their father’s motives, she couldn’t use him as a reference for Rafael. “All I have to do is live through today. Please don’t give me more trouble than I already have. What are you cooking?”
Fox waved a dishtowel. “We’re trying to make waffles. Is there a secret to it?”
“Yes, the iron has to be greased and sizzling hot.” She led the way into the kitchen and helped them produce golden brown waffles, but she couldn’t swallow a bite. She checked her watch. It would be a very long day, and she was still sorry she hadn’t thought of a better way to tell Rafael good-bye.
Santos rested his hands on her shoulders. “I asked a friend who’ll be in the arena to call me after Rafael fights his second bull. You needn’t wait until you see him to know he’s all right.”
“Thank you. Now tell me how you learned to sail.”
“Spain once had the greatest fleet in the world. We’re born knowing how to sail.”
