For Both Are Infinite (Hearts in London Book 1) (22 page)

Besides speaking with my mother, I found myself with too much time on my hands. I enjoyed being off, but when I was isolating myself it was my main distraction from my life’s problems. Somewhere along the way, Rhys had taken over as my primary distraction and while I welcomed it gladly, I also knew I needed balance, especially as a safety measure for my heart. Things weren’t guaranteed, both in my life and with Rhys; allowing him to be the only good thing in my life wasn’t healthy, no matter how exciting.

Despite having a few more days off, I went into work on Thursday to clean my office and prepare for the new semester. Campus was especially quiet without students; void of music and college organizations overpowering the courtyards, and the London sky only added to the dreary scenery. One giant cloud covered the heavens, preventing any inch of blue from escaping through the gray cotton-like clouds piled upon one another. The temperature was changing too, and leaves were beginning to wither off the trees that first week of September. I’d always thought London was most beautiful when framed in dried-out, bare branches, and I couldn’t wait to walk in the park hand in hand with Rhys.

The English department was equally vacant, having only two other offices lit with fellow professors getting a head start. I had been printing my syllabuses for copies when John walked by and stopped, surprised to see me.

“What are you doing here?” he asked.

“Wanted to get my copies done,” I said, holding up my papers.

“Ah, good thinking. I’m doing the same later.”

John stared at me with a speculative look in his eye. He tilted his head, pausing for a moment. “Something’s different about you… since dinner at his house.”

I shrugged, “What do you mean?”

“You look,” he paused hesitantly. “Don’t be offended, but more alive.”

“Hmm…” I looked down at my monitor trying to remain contained, but it was unsuccessful.

“Ah, he asked you out didn’t he?” John laughed.

My eyes opened wide and shot up at him. At first I didn’t say anything as shock crossed my face, and then I decided playing dumb was my best choice. “Huh?”

“Don’t huh me, Ellie. You know exactly what I’m talking about.” He walked in and shut the door behind him, yet still whispered when he said, “Rhys asked you out.”

John knew me better than I gave him credit for. “How do you know that?” I asked, panic rushing over my body. Were we already all over tabloids? Or worse, were people at the office talking about me?

He noted the fear in my eyes and sat down at my desk, leaning in. “Relax. A few days after that first meeting, he asked if you were available. I said you weren’t attached, or available, and he asked what I meant. I explained it wasn’t my place to say, but I could tell he fancied you since day one. I’m more surprised you said yes.”

“What? When exactly did he ask you?”

“About a week after meeting you. He said you were unlike anyone he’d encountered, that you were obviously gorgeous, but it was more than that… he felt connected to you.” John opened his eyes wide and rolled them. “At first I found it ridiculous and clich
é,
but then I saw how he looked at you during dinner… he genuinely cares for you, it wasn’t a game. You’re together I take it?”

I didn’t hear John’s last question, too distracted by the fact that Rhys asked about me that early on. That’s how badly he wanted to be with me, and of course he’d asked the closest thing I had to a father in London. John asked me again, “Ellie?”

I told him everything, and explained that I was happy again. He smiled genuinely through my story, but when I finished he didn’t say a word. “What are you thinking?” I asked.

“Nothing. I’m overjoyed for you. A bit jealous it wasn’t my nephew, but the heart is the one that decides, eh?”

I nodded. “Yeah, mine did even though I tried preventing it, actually.”

“Well, if the way you look is a result of him making you happy, he’d better keep it up.”

∞

On my way home Rhys texted me, and after only hearing from him in between rehearsals and shows, it made my heart fly.

Rhys: Are you free Sunday night?

Me: No, I obviously have plans with you.

Rhys: Perfect answer. I have a surprise.

Me: Hints?

Rhys: No, but you’re going to like it. I’m sure of it
.

It had been a week since our last date, so Sunday I awoke thrilled to see him. We played phone tag the day before, and I missed him. Stupidly I thought I wouldn’t since we were in the same city, but if anything I missed him more than when I’d been home. Something about knowing he was now mine made me want him around even more. I didn't have to limit my gazing, I could touch him if I was brave enough; I could even kiss him. With no idea of where we were going, and the only directions being to dress warm and be ready by 6:00p.m., I texted him in hopes of more information.

Me: 2 questions… 1, should I eat beforehand? 2, can I bring treats for us?

Rhys: 1, I’ll have dinner for us after at my house. 2, treats…besides yourself?

Me: Yes, besides me, charmer. I was thinking of baking.

Rhys: That would be wonderful. FYI, I love chocolate.

Me: Duly noted. Have a good show.

After finding the perfect chocolate cookie recipe, I went to Tesco express and got the ingredients I needed. Baking used to be my favorite way of spoiling Aaron. He loved my treats and always claimed I was trying to keep other women from stealing him away. Truthfully, I just enjoyed making him feel special. He had done it for me every day, and that was my way of doing the same. I hoped Rhys wouldn’t find my gesture juvenile, but I highly doubted he would. Sometimes I felt that our relationship left me inexperienced, especially with Rhys’ fame and the fact that he was thirty-one and I was only twenty-seven. It wasn’t a huge gap, but our experience in love wasn’t comparable since I’d only been with Aaron. I didn’t know much about Rhys’ past relationships, and I wasn’t sure where that left me in the rankings either. Hopefully he didn’t see right through that.

Going on the instructions to dress warm, I chose a beaded white tank, a thick knitted cardigan, and my skinny jeans. Assuming we’d be outside, I wore flats in case we needed to walk too. While packing the cookies, Rhys knocked on my door and the butterflies swarmed instantaneously in my stomach. I opened quickly, uncaring that it might seem desperate, and his grin stretched over his gorgeous face all the way to his eyes.

He leaned forward and grabbed me possessively by my waist while planting his lips on mine. Squeezing his hands on my hips, he pulled back after kissing me once more with one hard, long kiss. Craning his neck to look at me, he said, “Wow, I missed you. I was aware I did,” his brows rose curiously, “but seeing you made it intensify. I love the way you light up when I look at you.”

“Rhys…” I mumbled, leaning into his chest.

“Am I making you uncomfortable?” he asked, tilting his head with a sly grin.

“No,” I whispered, inhaling his scent. “Just very shy.”

He rubbed my back. “I’m sorry, I just feel the need to tell you.”

“I missed you, too,” I said, squeezing my hands around his back and I felt his smile pressed against my forehead.

He grabbed me so quickly my hands were squished against his chest awkwardly. He grabbed one and pushed me back enough to admire my outfit and the long waves down my back. Thoroughly pleased, he stepped close again and sighed deeply before pressing his lips to mine. He kissed me gently, slowly, tilting his head significantly because of our seven-inch height difference. Rhys’ mouth lingered over mine, breathless, desperate for more contact. “You look lovely…are you ready to go?”

∞

Rhys walked ahead to open my building door for me, and it allowed me to admire his outfit. It was the first time I’d seen him in jeans; ones that fit perfectly tight and made his long legs look impossibly longer. I flat-out stared at him, adoring how equally hot and preppy he looked in his shawl-collared cardigan that fit against his lean frame. I still couldn’t believe he was mine.

I told him he looked nice in the car and after a short drive, Bruce left us on the corner of Regent Park. The sun was already descending as Rhys grabbed my hand, clasping it during our walk through the surprising crowd of people that hadn’t spotted him in the dusk. I cherished how often he searched for my hand when we were together. Aaron had always done it; there’s something about the sensation you can’t duplicate without the other person.

You feel loved, safe, adored, but most of all united. You have someone else in the world that’s yours and nothing beats that. I was trying not to compare everything between the two, but finding similarities made it seem as though Aaron was still around in some way.

The closer we got to our destination, I started seeing the edge of the open theatre and flashed back to the moment I’d told him about my favorite book. I suppressed my knowing smile so I wouldn’t ruin his surprise, but I couldn’t stand how sweet his plan was. I looked over at him, squeezing his hand to gain his attention. “Rhys…you remembered.”

He looked back, grinning from ear to ear. “Surprised?”

“Yes, this is so thoughtful. Thank you.”

He stared at me and relished my appreciation. I’d been looking at the stage in splendor, fully aware of his watching, but I let him, just as he often let me. Sometimes it seemed Rhys couldn’t believe I was his either, and I liked the idea of that; that we were so happy with one another, we didn’t believe it to be real.

Rhys led us to our seats and the entire time his face held a childlike expression, his eyes exploding with excitement over my happiness. It was endearing, and he held my hand even after sitting, not letting go for more than a minute the whole night.

After the first twenty minutes I asked, “Rhys, is everything okay?”

“Yes, why?” he asked, his tone uncertain.

“You haven’t let me go much,” I gestured towards our hands.

“Sorry,” he said, self-consciously letting go of my hand.

I reached and reunited them. “Why are you sorry? No one said I didn’t like it.”

He looked down at them, then back at me. “I don’t know. I’ve missed you quite a bit these last few days. I got used to seeing you often, and the week was achingly slow.”

I looked at him, completely smitten, and he licked his lips nervously before smiling. Gripping his hand, I leaned on his shoulder for remainder of the show.

The cast was phenomenal, truly bringing their characters off the page. I wondered what it must be like for Rhys to watch other people’s performances and if he analyzed them out of habit. He was captivated, so maybe he was learning as he watched.

At one point, he put his arm around the back of my seat and rubbed my opposite shoulder. It was a tiny, not worth considering gesture, but it revealed how comfortable we were becoming with one another. It was cool out, and he’d kept me warm, and when he leaned over me like that I snuggled further into his chest as we watched. Every few scenes he would kiss my forehead or rub my hair, and whenever he did that I felt his heartbeat race in his wrist planted firmly against mine.

Rhys had probably wanted to do this for weeks. Now that we were together, he no longer had to hold back except to filter his affections and desires for my sensitive past. But he was perfect, giving me enough to want more, while still respecting my pace.

During the intermission I remembered the cookies in my bag. I offered them, and when he took the first bite he moaned suggestively. It aroused me, tempted me to kiss the crumbs off his lips, but even though my hormones were ready, my brain and heart weren’t. Thankfully, he hadn’t noticed the way I stared at his lips.

After the cast bowed multiple times, we made our way back to the corner and Bruce drove us to Rhys’ home. He ordered Italian for us, and during the car ride he revealed he had re-read
To Kill a Mockingbird
after I’d mentioned it was my favorite. Knowing he took an interest in what mattered to me, and then planned our date accordingly, was the simplest but best exhibition of his affections. He cared and made an effort, and it left me soaring that night. Over dinner, in his quiet home, I told him how much it meant to me, and he only revealed another reason to adore him.

“I have a bit of a confession to make… I bought the tickets the day after you mentioned it was your favorite. I saw they only had a few more shows with availability, so I took the chance and hoped you’d say yes sometime in the future.”

“That was bold,” I winked.

“Yeah,” he shook his head. “I was incredibly optimistic hoping I was right about you, and us.”

“Seems you were,” I smiled as I sipped my wine.

“Hmm, I suppose so,” he said, biting his lip.

I put my wine glass down and expressed what was in my heart. “I’m glad you had faith in me…I know it wasn’t and may not always be easy.”

“It is when you’re open with me. Are you happy with your decision?”

“Can’t you tell? Nothing has felt this right in a long time, Rhys.”

He bit his lip again, attempting to suppress his bashful smile that set my heart on fire.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

A
s if someone had challenged him, maybe even himself, Rhys seemed determined to prove how perfect he was. That Tuesday following the show was my first day back at work, and when I opened my office a fragrant perfume greeted me. On my desk was a gigantic bouquet of white and purple dahlias surrounded by orchids and other small flowers. Seeing the extravagance made it clear who they were from, and with a fool-like grin I read his card.