My Stepbrother's Dirty Little Secret novel Chapter 549

Chapter 549

“Yes.”

The words settled directly in my chest as we stared at one another for a few more moments.

“You know,” he said quietly, “I had an entire evening planned.”

I smiled, “What is next?”

Raphael glanced around the reptile house then back at me, “I was going to show you the rehabilitation center.”

“Mm-hm.”

“The veterinary wing.”

I nodded, “Okay.”

“The turtle pond.”

A laugh escaped me, “The turtle pond?”

Then Raphael looked down at me for a long moment, long enough that my stomach started flipping again.

His voice lowered, “But then you started looking at me like that.”

My heart skipped, “Like what?”

His hand tightened slightly at my waist, “Like you are now.’

I swallowed, “Oh.”

Raphael nodded once, “Which has significantly disrupted my schedule.”

I laughed softly, “Your schedule?”

“Yes,” he breathed out.

“What a tragedy.”

“It is.”

His face remained perfectly serious, “The turtle presentation has been delayed.”

I buried my face against his shoulder, laughing. And for the first time all night, I felt him laugh too. The sound wrapped itself around me and suddenly I realized I would do almost anything just to hear it again.

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The second we left the sanctuary, Raphael reached into the back seat and put a blindfold over my eyes and suddenly I couldn’t see anything.

The car moved through the darkness while I sat beside him trying to figure out where we were going.

Every few minutes I attempted to guess. Every few minutes I was wrong. Raphael refused to provide any useful information.

Eventually I crossed my arms, “I hate surprises.”

The drive seemed to last forever, then finally the car slowed. A gate opened somewhere nearby. The vehicle rolled

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forward before coming to a stop.

My heart immediately started beating faster. Raphael climbed out first, a second later my door opened, large hands settled gently around mine, “Careful.”

I rolled my eyes beneath the blindfold, “I am perfectly capable of walking.”

Slowly he guided me forward, cool air brushed against my skin, the smell hit me first, fresh water, clean air, trees and the faint scent of wood smoke.

My confusion deepened.

Then Raphael stopped behind me, his fingers brushed the knot, “Ready?”

The blindfold slipped away. I blinked and forgot how to breathe. The lake stretched endlessly in front of us. Moonlight shimmered across the dark water like scattered silver.

A pavilion sat near the shoreline, built from stone and dark wood. Warm lights glowed through large windows. Lanterns flickered softly outside. Nearby, a fire burned inside a stone fireplace, casting golden light across everything.

I turned slowly, “Raphael…”

His eyes stayed on me instead of the pavilion, “Do you like it?”

I looked back at the lake, then the lights, then him. I didn’t know what to say because no one has done things like that for me before, “It’s beautiful.”

Inside the pavilion was even better. A long table sat near the windows overlooking the water, candles glowed softly, fresh flowers rested in small glass vases.

Everything looked elegant, then I looked at the food and immediately stopped.

My eyes widened, “Is that…”

A burger, and not just a burger. A ridiculously fancy burger, next to it sat truffle fries, a gourmet milkshake, mini tacos, mac and cheese and tiny desserts.

Every single thing on the table was something I loved. Every single thing looked like it belonged in a magazine.

I slowly turned toward him, “Raphael.”

He pulled out my chair.

I sat automatically, “Raphael.”

He took his own seat.

“Raphael.”

“What? How do you know all my favorite foods?”

His expression remained completely calm, “I possess eyes.”

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