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“You should call me Raphael”

“Not necessary”

He placed the bottle and glasses on a table then settled on a lounger, propped his elbows on his knees and returned to his intense scrutiny of her “Because you’ll run away every time I’m around?”

“I’ve been suitably and repeatedly impressed hat an important, powerful and wealthy man you are You run a multinational autoe not only Gio’s finances but your mother’s family’ finances and your father’s and all the numerous cousins thereof

I, on the other hand,to know Gio I let him railroad me into this ball because ittime in each other’s company is pretty low”

“When the su Pia didn’t want to discuss

“This summer is just holiday I wasn’t even sure if Gio would believe randmother, a life without any close friends A life where no one really cared about her

Which hy she’d been such an easy mark for Frank

“Is Gio aware of your supposed intentions?”

“No, and they’re not supposed,” she said, losing her te please the man?

The water lapped around her silently “You’re staring,” she said softly

“You look like a different woman”

“I was terrified all evening that I’d spill soetting into worsecontacts Now there is no war paint on my face And my hair is back in its natural, uncontrollable state” She pulled a coiled curl that was already dry

He followed the action as if he was transfixed “Your students?”

“I teach Science to fifth graders”

Surprise dawned in his gaze It tracked her wet face, lingering far too long than was proper over her mouth, and then the slope of her shoulders, visible over the water’s surface A shiver snaked down her spine

“An elementary teacher? I find I’m overwhelmed by curiosity about you A rare occurrence”