Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 25896 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 104(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25896 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 104(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
They stepped off the elevator and Rhys walked down the hall. He knocked on Celeste’s door and waited. Agitation grew. She knew when they would be arriving, and he felt they shouldn’t have to wait. He pounded on the door and adjusted Trey in his arms.
“Hey,” Celeste said when the door swung open. She stood there for a moment before stepping aside to let them in. “Hey, buddy.”
Trey said nothing. He buried his face into his dad’s shoulder and held on tightly when Rhys tried to put him down. “Come on, buddy,” Rhys whispered to his son. Trey finally let go and let his father put him down. Trey didn’t go to his mom, but to his bedroom instead.
“I don’t know what you say to him when you have him, but I don’t appreciate it.”
“Me nor my parents say anything to him, Celeste. He’s a smart boy. He can sense that he’s not wanted here.”
“That’s not true.”
Rhys fought hard not to roll his eyes. She always thought they sat around and bad-mouthed her, which they never did. Gloria would never allow it and always made sure Rhys put in an effort on Trey’s behalf to make sure his son gifted his mother presents on her birthday, Mother’s Day, and Christmas. Not that Rhys wouldn’t do those things on behalf of his son without those hints.
“Do you want something to drink?” Celeste asked, changing the subject quickly.
“No thanks.”
“Why are you dressed in a suit? It’s Saturday.” Rhys had dressed for his date with Maisie before he made the trip to Boston. He could’ve backtracked and gone back to his house to change but figured he’d pick Maisie up as soon as he was back on the island, and they’d head to dinner.
“I have dinner plans.”
“What’s her name?” Celeste asked sharply.
“Doesn’t matter,” he told her. “I’ll call Trey tomorrow. Same time as usual, and I’ll pick him up on Thursday,” he said as he made his way to the door.
“Wait. Before you go.”
He stalled and bit the inside of his cheek.
“I’m heading to Los Angeles this coming week for a photo shoot. Can you pick him up on Monday instead?”
Rhys turned slowly. He had so much to say, mostly about how she spent very little time with their son. He was calling his attorney Monday morning to request a hearing to modify his child support and custody agreement. “Of course. When will you be back?”
“By Friday,” she told him. “This could be my big break.”
“For what?” he regretted asking as soon as the words came out.
“You know I want to be a model.”
Rhys sighed quietly before responding. “Have a good trip,” he said before he left. He couldn’t indulge her current fantasy. Celeste was his biggest mistake. Trey wasn’t. Unfortunately, they were a package deal.
Rhys couldn’t get back to Brenton Island fast enough. Thankfully, the traffic leaving the city wasn’t as congested as usual and he was on the island in record time. He parked near Maisie’s apartment and took the stairs two at a time. He barely knocked when the door swung open.
“Fuck,” he muttered appreciatively as his eyes roamed over Maisie. She wore a red dress, with matching fuck-me heels. If he wasn’t mistaken, her skin glittered and she smelled like sunshine and roses. Maisie had her hair down in loose curls. Curls that begged to be wrapped around his fingers. The diamond pendant that hung from her neck caught his attention. He wanted to know who put it there. Rhys reached out and touched it and then let it drop back into place. He caught her staring at him and licked his lips. He wanted her.
“Hi,” she said breathlessly.
Had this small interaction affected her like it had him?
Rhys cleared his throat and held his arm out. “Are you ready?”
“Yeah,” she said as she stepped outside, pulling her door shut behind them. “You are very handsome. I’m curious to see what you look like in jeans and a T-shirt, though.”
“Maybe tomorrow,” he said.
“Tomorrow?”
He shrugged and gave her a smirk before he led her to his car. Rhys held the door open for her until she was seated, and then ran around to the other side. “You know, I’ve had a hard time driving around these past few days after what we did in here.”
Maisie chuckled. “Sorry?”
“I’m not.” He reached for her hand and brought it to his lips. “Except, I’d swap the back seat for my bed.”
Maisie blushed and Rhys loved the new pink hue of her cheeks. Making her blush was quickly becoming a favorite habit of his.
They pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant in front of the valet station. Rhys buttoned his suit jacket as he waited for the valet to help Maisie out of the car. He smiled and held his arm out for her again. Rhys stepped forward, but Maisie didn’t move.