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Book: Seaside Kisses: A Sweet Romance (The Seaside Hunters Book 4) by Stacy Claflin
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Authors: Stacy Claflin
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she didn't know how long she'd slept, and she needed to check Rafael.
It took her eyes a minute to focus, and then she realized that Rafael had some goop coming from one eye. She got up and wrung out the washcloth, dabbing it gently on his face, not wanting to wake him. But it wasn't enough to clean up the mucus, so she pressed harder.
He made a little noise, but didn't wake. Once she'd gotten it, she went into the kitchen and rinsed out the cloth. Then she kneeled in front of the couch and watched him breathe. She studied the skin around his eyes. The swelling had gone down, and the redness had turned into a light pink—probably only noticeable because she was looking for it.
She was glad she'd stayed, otherwise she would have worried all night since he refused to see a doctor. Not that she could blame him. There were a hundred other things she could think of that she'd rather do than visit a doctor's office.
Rafael stirred. Amara watched, listening for his breathing. He sounded good and looked fine—not that he could look bad. He rolled onto his back and let out a little snore. Her heart fluttered. Rafael managed to make even that adorable.
Amara couldn't help herself. She ran her finger along his face, starting near his eyes and moving down his jawline where stubble had formed. His arm moved, and he took her hand, holding it.
Amara's heart skipped a beat. Their hands rested on his chest, moving up and down rhythmically with each of his breaths. She could feel his heartbeat. Thump, thump, thump. She enjoyed the feel of her hand in his, against his chest.
She studied his face again. This time, however, it had nothing to do with his health. She felt confident that he had already made his recovery from the allergy attack. No, she just enjoyed looking at him. He was beautiful—partly the boy she had sat next to, afraid to talk to, as she grew up, partly a grown man, full of mystery. There was so much she didn't know about him, and really wanted to uncover…
He was kind enough to take care of someone's cat after having his place broken into. Despite his thoughtful behavior, he sported signs of stress on his face—furrowed brow, worry lines. She couldn't help wondering what had caused his distress. And then she remembered Sophia. Of course. How could she be so stupid? Rafael had lost his only sister to cancer.
Amara frowned. She couldn't imagine what it would be like to lose Alex—especially so young. Sophia had only been about twenty. Really, still a child in so many ways. Though she knew enough about the youngest Hunter to know she'd made good use of her short years, always happy and bringing others joy, as well.
Amara had gone to the funeral. She hadn't been to many, but she'd never seen one like Sophia's. It was packed—standing room only for those arriving late. The minister had had to ask people to stop sharing about her after calling forward anyone who wanted to speak. He encouraged everyone to share stories afterward, at the meal.
Rafael squeezed her hand, bringing her back to the present. Oh, how she wanted to lean her head against the couch and sleep next to him. She'd always wanted to be close to him, and this last week had been full of close encounters of the Rafael kind.
"Have you ever known my feelings for you?" she whispered, barely audible. She knew the answer. Of course he didn't, she'd done nothing but hide from him when they grew up.
The only indication was his accidental kiss—the one he'd apologized for. She frowned. But could it be possible that he hadn't just gotten caught up in the moment, but could actually have feelings for her? Was it possible now that they were older, and she wasn't the school nerd anymore? He was the only guy in town who even seemed to notice she had changed, and that was because he'd been away for so many years.
She ran a finger along his jawline. "Are you awake?" she whispered.
He didn't budge.
Amara moved closer to his ear, her pulse racing. She whispered
It took her eyes a minute to focus, and then she realized that Rafael had some goop coming from one eye. She got up and wrung out the washcloth, dabbing it gently on his face, not wanting to wake him. But it wasn't enough to clean up the mucus, so she pressed harder.
He made a little noise, but didn't wake. Once she'd gotten it, she went into the kitchen and rinsed out the cloth. Then she kneeled in front of the couch and watched him breathe. She studied the skin around his eyes. The swelling had gone down, and the redness had turned into a light pink—probably only noticeable because she was looking for it.
She was glad she'd stayed, otherwise she would have worried all night since he refused to see a doctor. Not that she could blame him. There were a hundred other things she could think of that she'd rather do than visit a doctor's office.
Rafael stirred. Amara watched, listening for his breathing. He sounded good and looked fine—not that he could look bad. He rolled onto his back and let out a little snore. Her heart fluttered. Rafael managed to make even that adorable.
Amara couldn't help herself. She ran her finger along his face, starting near his eyes and moving down his jawline where stubble had formed. His arm moved, and he took her hand, holding it.
Amara's heart skipped a beat. Their hands rested on his chest, moving up and down rhythmically with each of his breaths. She could feel his heartbeat. Thump, thump, thump. She enjoyed the feel of her hand in his, against his chest.
She studied his face again. This time, however, it had nothing to do with his health. She felt confident that he had already made his recovery from the allergy attack. No, she just enjoyed looking at him. He was beautiful—partly the boy she had sat next to, afraid to talk to, as she grew up, partly a grown man, full of mystery. There was so much she didn't know about him, and really wanted to uncover…
He was kind enough to take care of someone's cat after having his place broken into. Despite his thoughtful behavior, he sported signs of stress on his face—furrowed brow, worry lines. She couldn't help wondering what had caused his distress. And then she remembered Sophia. Of course. How could she be so stupid? Rafael had lost his only sister to cancer.
Amara frowned. She couldn't imagine what it would be like to lose Alex—especially so young. Sophia had only been about twenty. Really, still a child in so many ways. Though she knew enough about the youngest Hunter to know she'd made good use of her short years, always happy and bringing others joy, as well.
Amara had gone to the funeral. She hadn't been to many, but she'd never seen one like Sophia's. It was packed—standing room only for those arriving late. The minister had had to ask people to stop sharing about her after calling forward anyone who wanted to speak. He encouraged everyone to share stories afterward, at the meal.
Rafael squeezed her hand, bringing her back to the present. Oh, how she wanted to lean her head against the couch and sleep next to him. She'd always wanted to be close to him, and this last week had been full of close encounters of the Rafael kind.
"Have you ever known my feelings for you?" she whispered, barely audible. She knew the answer. Of course he didn't, she'd done nothing but hide from him when they grew up.
The only indication was his accidental kiss—the one he'd apologized for. She frowned. But could it be possible that he hadn't just gotten caught up in the moment, but could actually have feelings for her? Was it possible now that they were older, and she wasn't the school nerd anymore? He was the only guy in town who even seemed to notice she had changed, and that was because he'd been away for so many years.
She ran a finger along his jawline. "Are you awake?" she whispered.
He didn't budge.
Amara moved closer to his ear, her pulse racing. She whispered
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