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reached
cruising altitude, only this time we slept like the dead.
    *
* * * *
    “Portugal?”
I gasped. “We’re in Portugal?” As soon as the wheels touched down, the pilot
welcomed us to Lisbon, Portugal. I peered out the window. Hopefully, the soft
gray sweater, faded blue jeans, and gray suede boots I was wearing were
appropriate for the weather. Rafael was wearing black jeans, a gray
long-sleeved shirt, and a black leather jacket.
    “I
want you to see where I’m from.” Suddenly, he looked worried. The jet slowed.
The pilot turned toward the terminal.
    My
heart clenched. Rafael surprised me with a trip to Montana three and a half
months ago. He thought the trip would help me heal from Michael’s death. Would
Portugal offer Rafael the same opportunity or trigger painful memories? I
reached over and squeezed his hand. “Will this be difficult for you?”
    Rafael
shook his head before peering out the window. I wondered whether he was
diverting his eyes intentionally. Rafael’s parents were murdered when he was
seventeen. His family was extremely wealthy. Some thugs raped his mother and shot
his father after breaking into their house to rob them. His father was dead by
the time Rafael arrived home from an outing with his friends. His mother died a
few days later in the hospital. Rafael pursued a career with the Portuguese
Police Special Operations Group because of that horrific experience. He served
in the counter-terrorism unit before working in VIP protection. He’d been
protecting people ever since.
    I
traced a heart in the palm of his hand. “Do you still have a lot of friends
here?”
    He
glanced at his hand before searching my eyes. “A few. Most of my friends serve
on the police force.”
    The
airplane rolled to a stop. The ground crew rolled metal stairs toward the front
of the aircraft. I glanced toward the front of the jet. “How long did you serve
on the police force?”
    Rafael
unhooked his seatbelt. “Ten years.”
    “You
should try to catch up with your friends while we’re here.” I gave him a hug
when he drew me to my feet.
    “There
are a few people I’d like you to meet.” He coaxed my lips into a slow, tender
kiss. With a low growl, he grasped my jaw, angled his head, and delved deep
inside my mouth. He took his time seducing… teasing… tempting me to surrender
everything.
    Either
he was unaware of the fact the flight and ground crew were waiting for us to
disembark or he simply didn’t care. It wasn’t until my nipples hardened, until
I shifted so that his erection slid securely between my legs, that he finally
released me. “Soon,” he promised. “As soon as we get home.”
    “Home?”
I inquired a bit dazedly. Rafael’s already high sex drive seemed to be in
overdrive ever since he slipped that ring on my finger. I sincerely hoped he
wasn’t referring to Virginia, because the need he’d just wrung from me required
more immediate attention.
    “My
flat in Lisbon.” He linked his hand in mine and tugged me toward the door.
    “You
have a home here?” Why didn’t I know that?
    Kari
smiled as we neared the front of the aircraft. “I hope you enjoy your stay in
Lisbon.” The pilot and co-pilot joined her outside the cockpit.
    A
smile tugged at my lips. “Thanks for the wonderful flight.”
    Rafael
shook their hands. “Will you be joining us for the return flight?”
    The
two pilots exchanged glances. “Definitely.”
    “You’re
aware of the date?” Rafael was determined to keep me in the dark about when
that might be.
    They
nodded.
    “We’ll
see you then.” Rafael led me down the stairs. He stopped to speak with the
ground crew when we reached the bottom of the stairs.
    My
eyes widened when I realized he was speaking in Portuguese. I made a mental note
to study his native language.
    He
pulled me close when we resumed walking. “Just making sure the jet will be well
cared for.”
    My
feet stalled when we entered the main terminal. The building was constructed