Rina was just about to let Rafaele kiss her when she recollected herself and turned his face allowing the kiss to land on her cheek.
Rafaele was disappointed, but he didn't allow it to show.
"So will you look at it and tell me what you want adjusted?" she asked him.
"There is no need for that, I trust you."
He took a pen and signed on it before putting his seal on it.
"You won't even read through it?" she asked.
"No, I trust you Riri" he smiled at her.
"Thank you" she told him and then she kissed him on his cheek.
And then she fled the room.
Rafaele chuckled as he held his cheek and looked at the door where she had disappeared through.
Although Rafaele was sexually frustrated, he wouldn't take it out on her. He knew he needed to be patient. Afterall she was his mate and they still had a lifetime together.
Rina was in her room panting, what had possessed her to do such a thing?
She looked in the mirror, her cheeks were still red. She put water on her hands and put them on her cheeks to cool them off.
There was one thing Rina had refused to admit to herself, she was attracted to Rafaele.
.....
The days passed quickly, Rina planned the meeting with her friends, she cooked with Luna Rosa, avoided her mother, got closer to her father, flirted with Rafaele which usually ended up with her fleeing with blushing cheeks.
Her parents departure had come like a rude shock to her.
She stared at her father trying to make sense of what he was saying.
"did I do anything wrong? Did anyone offend you?" she asked worriedly.
He held her hands, "no my princess, of course not. You have been wonderful, everyone her has been wonderful and I am so happy that you and I have gotten closer"
"So why are you leaving?"
"There can't be two captains in a boat" he told her.
"two captains, what do you mean?"
"I mean your mother and Luna Rosa, they are both your mothers but I don't think they should be in the same space anymore."
Rina thought about what he said, it was true. Her mother and Luna Rosa had been in some weird competition.
Once, while they were cooking she had asked 'mother' to get her a glass of water. What had followed was a tussle at the kitchen sink.
There were other things she was just remembering now. She sighed. Her father was right.
"But, I will miss you" she pouted.
"I will miss you too"
"But how will you cope?" she asked him.
"We will be fine princess, we will get a help and everything will be okay."
"okay, but if you need anything, don't hesitate to send a message to me"
"I will" he smiled and then his face sobered up.
"princess, I am sorry." he told her.
"for what?"
"I should have made more effort to be closer to you growing up."
"No! Father, you don't need to apologize" she told him.
"No, allow this old man rectify his mistakes. I will try to be better now, okay?"
"Okay" Rina nodded, she felt sad, this wasn't an apology for her, it was for Rita. She felt guilt, but she shook her head quickly, this wasn't the time for that.
Two days later, she waved them goodbye as Jax drove them home.
She already missed them, she had wanted to accompany them but her father had rejected the idea.
Rina was still unsure how to feel about her mother. While they had shared a last hug before she entered the car, she had whispered, "I am your only mother, don't you ever forget that".
The whole thing with her mother puzzled her.
Soon the planning for the meeting which was fast approaching took her mind off her mother.
The meeting was just a few days away and she needed everything to be perfect. She needed to win the deal with Rafaele and also shut the mouth of the arrogant Luna Tyra and her daughter 'perfect Nani'.
The day of the meeting....
Rina was at the door with Rafaele, Jax, Rain, welcoming guests.
All the Lunas who had come so far had been friendly. One had even whispered thanks for making them change locations for the meeting.
And then Luna Trya and her family came. Her mate Alpha Tim was a nice man. Too bad, his mate was like a venomous snake.
"Rita, I see you are up and about" she had remarked in a snide note.
"Yes, I am Luna Tyra, thank you."
From the corner of her eyes, Rina spotted that Nani and Jax were shaking hands for longer than necessary, a smile on their faces.
Maybe her eyes were playing tricks on her, she thought to herself.
"My condolences on the death of your sister." she heard someone say.
It was a young boy, he looked to be the same age as Rain.
"thank you" she replied.
This had to be Damien. The name 'golden boy' was perfect for him.
Golden locks framed a beautiful face and beautiful blue eyes.
"Hey Rain, it's nice to see you" he told Rain.
Rina glanced at Rain wondering how he would react to his 'arch nemesis'.
Rain however seemed to be dumbstruck. He mumbled a response no one could hear.
While Rina was still confused, she heard a shrill voice, "Rain, I missed you" a dark haired girl was about to hug him.
Rain sidestepped almost crashing into an amused Jax.
This had to be Darla! Rina thought in amusement.
They proceeded inside, Luna Tyra's face turned up in a sneer ready to disapprove of whatever Rina had planned.
Soon everyone was present and they could start.
The guests were all treated to a delicious late breakfast.
After the breakfast, the men went for their meeting in the forest. Rafaele had confided it was just a cover for running around in the woods in their wolf form hunting, afterwards they would cook it over a slow fire, eat and drink to their satisfaction.
Rina had shook her head in amusement when he had told her.