Chapter 8 - THE FIRST TIME HE CALLED HER BEAUTIFUL
Nora had always believed Raphael Corsetti was incapable of ordinary affection.
He remembered business figures.
Security codes.
Names of men who had betrayed him.
But he rarely remembered birthdays.
He didn't attend office parties.
And he considered small talk a waste of oxygen.
Yet during her recovery, he began noticing things.
She liked peppermint tea.
Hated lilies.
Read mystery novels backward because she enjoyed understanding how the author constructed the ending.
And had a habit of tapping her fingers when she was thinking.
One afternoon, Raphael arrived with a pair of glasses.
Nora stared.
“What are those?”
“Yours.”
She blinked.
“My glasses broke.”
“I know.”
He handed her a case.
Inside was a new pair, made from her prescription after she'd authorized the optician to release the details.
Nora put them on.
The room sharpened.
For the first time in weeks, she could see Raphael clearly.
His dark eyes.
The faint scar near his jaw.
The exhaustion he tried to hide.
She smiled.
“You look terrible.”
Raphael laughed.
“Thank you.”
“You need sleep.”
“So do you.”
She adjusted the glasses.
Then looked at him.
“What?”
Raphael was staring.
He hesitated.
“Nothing.”
“Mr. Corsetti.”
He smiled.
“You're beautiful.”
Nora froze.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then she looked away.
“You must be sleep-deprived.”
Raphael shook his head.
“No.”
His voice softened.
“I've thought that for a long time.”
Nora's cheeks flushed.
She didn't know what to say.
So she said the only thing that came to mind.
“You're still late for your four o'clock meeting.”
May you like
Raphael laughed.
And for the first time, Nora realized she was falling in love with him.
