satisfied him. She stood. "Thank you for your devotion to my father and your excellent care."
"Thank you. I miss him." He rose to walk her out into the hall. "You must be going home soon."
It was a statement, not a question. "I haven't set a date."
"As long as you're here, you mustn't allow a careless word to damage your father's reputation. All of Spain would be deeply offended."
It was a plainly worded threat, and rather than respond in kind, she nodded as though he'd given her excellent advice. She walked down the hall to the women's restroom. She leaned against a sink and considered her mission successful. Moreno's hostility alone had confirmed her worst suspicions.
A woman came in with a little girl, and they entered a stall. Maggie washed her hands, relieved they weren't shaking noticeably, and went downstairs to meet Rafael. She thought about all the stories she'd written on the first day of school in September, but she'd never tell a soul how she'd spent this summer's vacation.
Rafael took her hand. "What did he say?"
"I hadn't realized my father had had two heart attacks prior to the final one. Moreno understood my concern for all of my father's children, but he'd examined only Santos."
"Did he want to examine you?"
"No, he believed I'd be going home soon."
"You didn't ask him for tranquilizers?"
It had completely slipped her mind. "The man's a cardiologist, and I didn't want to waste his time. I feel better now and don't need them."
He pulled her around to face him. "Are you sure?"
His knit brows made him look older than his years. "I just need to keep busy."
He studied her expression and shrugged. "If you're sure. The zoo isn't open late on Sundays. Would you like to go today?"
"Don't you have to train or prepare for tomorrow?"
He flashed a charming grin. "It's better if I relax, and I want to take you to the zoo."
She reached up to kiss him. "Then that's where we'll go. In the winter, people cross-country ski through the Minneapolis Zoo. I don't suppose they do that here."
"No, but perhaps I could find you a skateboard."
"I'm sure they don't allow it." She laughed with him and thought even if all of Spain came after her, he'd be all the security she'd need. She'd dressed in her aqua top and rainbow skirt and was a burst of color beside him. As they strolled along the zoo paths, people walking toward them often stared, but while they heard a few whispers of "El Gitano" as they passed, no one spoke to them or asked for an autograph.
After walking miles of zoo trails, they were too tired to dress and go out to dinner and ordered in. They danced, made love with slow, teasing affection and woke up early Sunday morning with Maggie dreading what the day might bring, while Rafael was in high spirits.
"I had a key made for you." He worked it off his keyring and handed it to her. "You might want to come home before I do. Don't invite Santos and Fox to come in. They'd just make fun of my home."
"Not within my hearing they won't." She bent over to brush her hair, then stood to shake it into place. "Thanks for the key. I probably won't need it." She refused to consider he might not be coming home and she'd be left on her own.
"Just promise me one thing," he asked. He'd already taken his traje de luces down to his car and needed to be at the bullring that morning when they drew the bulls they'd fight.
"I know how to swim. I won't drown if Santos takes me sailing."
"I'm not worried you'll drown. I just don't want you to fly home without telling me good-bye."
She couldn't mistake the seriousness of his expression, and unlike his mother, she wasn't one to run away. Still, he must fear she might. She'd considered it briefly last weekend, which she wouldn't admit. Instead, she framed his face with her hands and kissed him. "You have my word on it."
He pulled her into his arms. "I want to take you out tonight to a restaurant that serves delicious paella. We won't have to dance but simply enjoy the candlelight and each other."
"I'll look forward to it." She hung on to him and wished she'd thought of something lovely and sweet or at least meaningful to say. She couldn't beg him to stay alive when she knew he'd do his best, but it was