Total pages in book: 176
Estimated words: 164533 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 823(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164533 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 823(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
I wondered if he’d noticed the shift in me.
“Don’t worry,” he said, patting my hand as his gaze wandered over my cheeks that were a little flushed from the cold, the wind blowing tendrils of hair across my face. “You’re in no rush. We’ll find you somewhere eventually.”
His warm, reassuring tone did something funny to my chest.
“I really like this place though,” I said, trying to distract myself from the butterflies that swarmed my belly whenever he touched me. “I was looking through the pictures, and the apartment is super cute. Plus, the neighbourhood seems cool.”
“It is a cool neighbourhood,” he agreed, his attention wandering over the people lined ahead of us as well as those gathering behind. There was a tense, stressed out atmosphere amongst the prospective tenants that was beginning to infect me, too. Sensing my tension, Rhys brought his hand to mine again, placing his palm over my knuckles and giving a soft squeeze.
“Relax, okay? Today is for seeing what’s out there and getting the lay of the land. No pressure.”
“No pressure,” I repeated, nodding to myself just as the line began to move.
It was almost an hour before we got to go inside, and even then, we were only allowed a cursory look around before a harassed looking woman took my details and said she’d be in touch.
“I have a feeling she’s not going to be in touch,” I commented wryly as Rhys gently pressed his hand to my lower back and guided me out of the building.
“With that many people looking, it goes without saying that competition is stiff,” he replied and directed me down the street to where he’d parked his car.
We drove to the next viewing, which wasn’t too far away but was a similar situation to the first, with a long line waiting to get in. I wasn’t as enthused about that one, and neither was Rhys, mainly because the front door was flimsy and the security of the building in general left a lot to be desired. It was the kind of place a burglar only had to breathe on the locks to get inside.
Being in his line of work, Rhys seemed to notice those things a lot more than the average person. By the time we got to the third viewing, I couldn’t resist teasing him a little.
“Let me guess, the alarm system is from the Stone Age, and your ninety-five-year-old grandmother could kick in the locks,” I said with a small, lopsided grin when I saw him frowning at the barely functioning alarm pad.
“I won’t apologise for taking your security seriously,” he grumped, and my cheeks heated. Why did that statement get me strangely hot and bothered?
“It’s lunch time,” he said then. “Let’s get out of here.”
“Oh, yes! I’m starving. Can we get cheeseburgers? I’ve had a real craving for fast food lately. Not that I don’t appreciate Aunt Jo’s cooking, but it’s always either comfort food or super healthy.”
Rhys’ lips twitched. “I can probably make that happen.”
We hopped in the car and drove a short distance before Rhys parked on a residential street.
“This doesn’t look like a fast food establishment,” I commented, a little confused.
“Well, that’s where you’re wrong. I’ll have you know that Maison de Rhys makes a mean cheeseburger.”
My eyes widened. “This is your house?”
“Yep, come on in, and let’s get you fed.”
He came around to open my door for me, and I stepped out, taking it all in. Rhys lived in a yellow brick terraced house on a long street that ended in a cul-de-sac. I was more curious than I’d been in a long time to see inside.
“I didn’t realise cheeseburgers were a French cuisine,” I commented teasingly as he slotted his key in the door. Rhys cast me a playful grin.
“Of course, they are. You’ve just got to put a little Dijon mustard on them.”
“Ah, so that’s how it works,” I said, shaking my head as he led me in.
I stepped into the entryway, unsurprised to find the place spotlessly clean. I remembered Rhys being particularly neat and tidy when we’d worked together in the hotel kitchen as teenagers. His time in the army had probably made him even more adept at keeping his living space in order.
“Let me take your coat,” he offered, eyes soft as he waited for me to remove it. I did so carefully before handing it over, our fingers brushing a moment. As always, touching him brought forth a zing of awareness.
He really had no idea how much spending time with him meant to me. Rhys was patient and easy going, allowing me to initiate touch if I felt like it but not making a big deal if I did. He had the emotional intelligence to know how difficult it was to try to get back to a place of normality after living for so long in tension and fear. I was grateful he hadn’t tried to bring up our kiss in Aidan’s office, nor any of the stuff he’d discovered about my ex-husband. Rhys was very good at making everything feel easy and normal between us, and it was exactly what I needed.