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)
He rolled down the window and stuck his head out. “Need a lift?”
I began walking towards his car, aware of his eyes scanning me as I approached. I tugged my long coat around me, shivering, but not from the cold. How did his attention still affect me so much even after all these years?
Rhys emerged from the car as he went around to open the passenger side door, and I was suddenly remembering what Nuala had said about him over lunch, what an old school gentleman Rhys was, the sort of guy who held open doors and brought you flowers “just because.” I experienced a very feminine reaction, a tendril of pleasure sweeping through my belly as he motioned into the car.
“Hop in.”
I was about to do just that when I finally came to my senses, unsure if I wanted to be confined to a car with Rhys. I was already getting butterflies just from him opening the door for me. I wasn’t sure I could handle an hour alone with him during rush hour traffic. “You’re driving to Malahide?”
“It’s Friday, isn’t it?”
Right, he mentioned driving out to my aunt and uncle’s house on Fridays.
“I don’t want to impose,” I said, knowing a lot of people treasured their quiet drives after a long, hectic week at the office.
Rhys cast me a look like I was being silly. “We’re both going to the same place, Charli. Of course you’re not imposing.” His eyes flickered to me for a second before he continued, “In fact, make sure you come find me on Fridays from now on, and I’ll give you a lift home.”
I was a little chagrined since he was right. It made sense for me to hitch a ride with him, I climbed into the car and put on my seatbelt. Rhys walked back around to the driver’s side.
“Thank you,” I said once he was back in the car and had started the engine. “It’s very kind of you to offer to drive me, but you really don’t have to take me every Friday. You might like to be alone some weeks, and—
“Charli,” he cut me off. “I insist. I like having company on my drives, okay? Now, quit being so awkward about it.” This last part, he said gruffly like he didn’t appreciate me acting as though we were some kind of strangers or brand new acquaintances who had to be all polite and stiff with each other. I understood his annoyance since there was a time when I felt like I’d known him deep down to the depths of his soul. But that had been so long ago, and now … well, now, I still felt like I knew him, but we’d both changed in different ways. It was impossible to just act like no time had passed.
Silently, I nodded, unable to come up with a solid argument against accepting his offer. It wasn’t like I could say the idea of being confined in a car with him every week, close enough to touch, gave me butterflies I hadn’t felt in a long time. I didn’t think I was still capable of feeling such things. I thought Jesse had killed it all. But he hadn’t. It was yet another small victory, and with that realisation, I smiled faintly to myself.
“Good day at the office?” Rhys asked, noticing my smile.
“What? Oh, yes, it was good. A good first week though I still have a bunch of tax forms to submit, and the revenue office only opens from nine to five on weekdays. It’s so inconvenient because I work during those hours. I’m going to have to try and get away during my lunch break on Monday—”
“I can take you,” Rhys offered, cutting me off mid-complaint.
I blinked. “Really? I don’t want to be a bother. Besides, I can easily take a cab.”
“No need. I’m happy to do it. I know where the office is, and I can have you back at the hotel before the end of your lunch break. If you take a cab, you might end up having to wait for one to become available to bring you back.”
That was right. Dublin still mostly ran on an old school cab system. Uber and Lyft weren’t as prevalent yet.
“Well, all right, then. I accept. Thank you.”
Rhys smiled faintly. “No worries.”
We drove in silence for a few minutes, and my gaze drifted over the passing city before my thoughts returned to Maeve’s request. I remembered Nuala’s comment about suspecting Stephanie had done something to make Rhys break up with her, about her possibly pressuring him to start his own business. It reminded me all too much of the pressures Jesse had put on me to do the things he’d envisioned rather than allowing me to decide for myself. Not that I thought Rhys’ relationship with Stephanie was anything close to my marriage. That was an extreme example. But there were other, more subtle versions of manipulation and control between partners.