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But he couldn’t go home. Not after what Louisa had said.
In spite of your faults, in spite of your weakness, I love you.
His hands clenched to remember it. How did she dare? His weakness? No woman had ever said such a thing to him before! He’d intended to punish her, and yet somehow she’d gotten one step ahead of him!
His weakness.
Louisa knew him too well. She’d lived with him, day in and day out, for five years. No other woman had had such an opportunity to see beneath the facade. Or so thoroughly get under his skin. She knew him.
Rafael didn’t like it. It made him feel weak, like she claimed him to be. And so he’d checked into the Four Seasons hotel to teach her a lesson; to prove to them both who was in control, and how easily he could hurt her. Let her suffer the same suspicions he himself had suffered in Key West with her. Let Louisa wonder what other lovers might be taking her place!
He had her ring on his finger. And as long as he did, he would never cheat on her. His honor would not allow it. As long as he was with her, he would be faithful.
But she didn’t have to know that. She already had too much power over him.
A strong man allows himself to be vulnerable. He shows his love at any cost. A truly strong man gives everything he has—everything he is—to his family. He loves with all his heart and holds nothing back…! Have you ever considered that you are an impossible man to please? Have you ever considered that the problem might be you?
He was the problem? Him?
Rafael growled to himself in the elevator. She was the one who’d stolen his son!
Ignoring his bodyguard’s cheerful greeting, Rafael pushed open his front door. And froze in the doorway.
For a moment, he thought he’d wandered into the wrong house. This surely could not be his apartment. It did not look remotely like the same place!
The old apartment had been thoroughly scrubbed, and all the old dusty knickknacks had been swept away along with the ghostly white covers. Fresh flowers were on the kitchen table. He could smell something delicious baking in the oven.
And how the hell had she managed to replace the old, heavy-set wooden furniture with new modern sofas, sleek chairs and a huge big-screen TV—all in the space of just a few hours?
“Welcome home, Rafael,” he heard Louisa say behind him warmly, and he whirled to face her.
His wife looked incredibly pretty, smiling up at him, wearing a sweet, demure dress. He was immediately attracted in spite of himself. Taking a deep breath, he looked away—only to have his eyes fall upon the platter of caramel macadamia brownies cooling on the counter.
Louisa Grey—Louisa Cruz—was indeed everything any man would want. Sexy, strong, smart as hell. A good mother and a good cook. She was everything he’d ever wanted.
Except he hated her. Didn’t he?
“How did you do all this?”
“I have my ways.” She smiled mischievously, and love shone in her eyes. “I made the house a home. For us. For our family.”
“I see,” he said faintly.
He’d come home expecting a scene. He’d expected Louisa to scream and yell at him and wail, as other women had done when he’d pushed them away. Staying out all night was the swiftest, most convenient way he’d found to end a relationship.
But Louisa didn’t even ask him where he’d been all night. It was as if she weren’t even worried, as if she had complete confidence that she was the only woman he wanted.
And it was true, damn her.
She had too much control over him by half. She knew him too well. And he couldn’t simply end their relationship and walk away, no matter how much easier that seemed. They were married. They had a child.
But Rafael knew what she wanted. She wanted his soul. No matter how beautiful she was. No matter how tempting. He wouldn’t give it to her. He would never let himself be vulnerable again.
He took a deep breath, keeping his expression cold.
“I did not give you permission to do this,” he said. “I liked the house left how it was. I told you.”
“Well, I didn’t like it.”
