For Both Are Infinite (Hearts in London Book 1) (29 page)

Rhys chuckled, “Ellie, am I making you uncomfortable?”

“Um, a little, but not in a bad way,” I stumbled, and could see Rhys smirking in the corner of my eye. “ I’m just going to get some water,” I said, rushing out of the room.

He tried calling me, but I ignored him and proceeded to the kitchen to chug a huge glass of ice water. His large room felt too small when he looked like that, like a man, one I desired but was keeping at arm’s length. I prayed that he would have his shirt on by the time I got upstairs, and with each step up, I took a deep breath.

Back in his bedroom, Rhys was nowhere to be found. The bathroom door was open, so I slowly approached it with my toothbrush and found him before the mirror, completely dressed. He had on his usual pajama pants and a skintight V-neck shirt, and it was harder seeing him dressed now that the image of what was underneath was so clear in my mind. He smirked again while applying lotion to his face and asked, “Are you okay? It’s just my chest, you could see that easily at the pool or beach.”

The jerk was making fun of me. “That’s easy for you to say, you look at yourself all the time. We aren’t at the beach either…how would you react if I whipped out
my chest
right now?”

He smiled devilishly and then caught himself, quickly becoming contemplative. “Okay,” he nodded. “Fair enough. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable, darling.” I started brushing my teeth to help distract myself. “Are you upset?”

“No…maybe. I don’t know,” I shrugged. “You look amazing, and I’ve been wondering to be honest, but I didn’t expect that, or how much I would like it. And then I felt rude for liking it.” Rhys’ grin grew and I gave him a stern look. “I’m sorry. I’m rather complicated.”

“I like complicated,” he winked. “I won’t do it again, though, so don’t worry.” He looked down and grabbed his own toothbrush when I answered back quickly.

“Eh, I wouldn’t go so far as to avoid repeating it.”

Rhys’ neck turned rapidly to look over at me to see that I was unabashedly smiling. He shook his head at my bluntness and I met his gaze.

“It’s just all new. All these firsts are more extreme for me because I’ve only been through this once, and it was in high school. I didn’t think I’d be at square one again, and while it’s great with you, it’s also intense. Does that make sense?”

I began searching for reassurance in his eyes, proof that he didn’t believe me to be ridiculous, and he gave it. He nodded at me seriously, with a sweet smile and said, “So, no more shirtless views? I just want to make sure.”

“No way. Now that I know what’s under that,” I gestured with my toothbrush, “bring it on.”

He laughed from deep within his throat and bit his tongue playfully. It was the sexiest sound and became infectious after he pressed a small kiss on my mouth and pushed the sound into my mouth. We started brushing our teeth when he looked at me in the mirror.

“You know, this is a first for me too?”

“Huh?” I mumbled back.

“I’ve never had anyone stay here. You’re the first, Ellie.”

“Really?” I looked at him beside me, not through the mirror, and he met my gaze.

“Really. My last serious relationship was before I bought this house.”

For a beat it bothered me that Rhys was ever in a relationship serious enough to warrant sleepovers, but I was being hypocritical. After all, I’d been engaged, and living with someone, and that didn’t seem to bother him. The thought that I was going to be the first girl in his bed warmed my heart, but then I remembered beds aren’t only for sleeping.

“Have you had anyone in your bed…in any capacity?” I blurted out and then winced. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have asked that.”

He turned towards me and his eyes grew serious. “No one, I promise. And you have every right to ask that when you’re about to sleep in it.”

Rhys finished brushing his teeth and came from behind to wrap his arms around my waist. “I haven’t done anything to that degree in a long while. Longer than most would care to admit, but I don’t take it lightly. I guess I’m traditional and that’s important to me, plus with my public career I don’t just jump into bed with anyone…in any sense. Understand?”

With his face against mine, I could feel his cheekbones rising and falling against my ear as he spoke. He squeezed my waist and pressed me against him, imploring me for a response. I managed a nod, overwhelmed by the information he had just divulged. “Would it help if I read to you for a bit?”

“Maybe…I’m really grateful for you, you know. You’re a freaking saint.”

“Hardly,” he grinned, pushing his groin against my backside, reminding me how much he wanted me. “But that’s for another time. Let’s go to bed, Ellie,” he said, kissing my cheek and then pulling my hand towards his room.

∞

Friday, Rhys left earlier for the show because there was an issue with the understudy for Ophelia. I surprised him with dinner when he got home and we spent the rest of the weekend in similar bliss. Earlier in the week he’d gotten in touch with his mother and arranged for us to have dinner Sunday night.

I wanted that, and I knew Rhys cared for me if he wanted to introduce me to his mother, but that day I had been so anxious. I went home to try on multiple dresses, stupidly unhappy with the three I’d packed for his house, and I even called Anne to help bring me out of my anxiety attack. The night before, I questioned Rhys about his mother, asking him what she knew about me and how much he had told her.

He sensed my unease and explained while tickling the palm of my hand. “I’ve told her about your situation, but nothing in immense detail. I felt that was something you could discuss with her yourself, over time. She knows how we met, since day one, because while I didn’t divulge my infatuation with you, I told her that you were beautiful and intelligent. I’m sure she suspected something early on because I don’t usually talk about people I work with to that extent. She knows you’re American, and that you left home to get a new start.”

I nodded, staring across the bed into his sweet eyes.

“But what’s most important is that she knows you’ve made me incredibly happy. I was rather lonely before you came along.”

Understanding what she knew and didn’t know helped ease my concerns, and he read to me again which helped too. But when he left for the show that Sunday afternoon, my worries returned. They grew into this tangible thing, becoming monstrous as Bruce drove me to the theatre to pick up Rhys. He sized me up the minute he got into the car.

“What’s the matter?”

“I’m nervous.”

Scooting in beside me, Rhys reached for my hand and leaned his face close to mine. “Do you trust me?”

“Completely,” I said, surprising myself with my speedy reply.

“Okay, I promise you’re going to adore her more than me.” He paused and glanced at my outfit. “You look lovely by the way, I like your tights.”

He tried hiding his devious grin, but failed miserably. He was always aware that I needed a distraction. I kissed him, appreciative that he’d made me laugh. “I bet you do.”

∞

The Italian restaurant was busy, but not uncomfortably crowded. You could smell the tomatoes roasting in the air and it was easy to see it was family owned. The dim lighting gave off a romantic vibe, covering the space in a honey colored ambiance, and there were picture frames on every wall depicting the family’s history. Some were black and white and obviously in Italy, giving the sense that they’d been cooking for a long while.

I took it all in as Rhys left my side to request our table. The hostess, an adolescent girl, greeted Rhys and even hugged him. They seemed friendly, and clearly knew each other as they exchanged questions about their families after Rhys introduced me. She was amicable, leaving me to regret my momentary jealousy.

“Your mum isn’t here yet, but we saved your spot in the back,” she said as she led us to the table. Rhys took off my coat and then his, joining me for a seat. Then the owner stopped by as we glanced at our menus and Rhys got up at once, shaking his hand and turning it into a tight hug.

“Tomas, this is my girlfriend, Ellie.” I’d never tire of hearing him introduce me like that.

“
Buonasera
, Ellie! I’m so glad he’s brought you. He never brings ladies except his mama!”

Rhys tilted his head and it seemed he was blushing, though I couldn’t be sure in the dark room. They continued their conversation for a moment and when he sat back down I asked, “Another first?”

“Yes,” he nodded. “You caught me.”

“I like that, quite a bit actually.”

“Good,” he smiled.

We were interrupted by the owner speaking loudly at the front of the restaurant, and it clued Rhys in that his mother had arrived. Apparently his mother and Tomas were very old friends and Rhys rose to greet her. I found her across the room; she was beautiful and looked classically English. As she and Rhys approached me, I noticed her long white hair that grew past her shoulders, and I could see the slight resemblance between the two of them. I assumed he looked more like his father, but he certainly had her eyes because the moment she greeted me, I saw those same blue orbs staring back at me with nothing but affection and light.

“Ellie, it’s so good to meet you. I’m Catherine.”

“It’s nice to meet you, too,” I said, truly meaning it.

We sat and ordered as Rhys asked for a bottle of red wine and Catherine discussed the horrendous traffic that kept her. Once we had been served our drinks she asked me, “Ellie, I saw the show and I can’t believe how impressed I was. What do you think of our boy?”

“He’s something special,” I said, implying various meanings. “Easily one of the best I’ve ever seen.”

“I agree. I don’t tell many people that. They assume I’m being biased, but I just couldn’t comprehend how affected I felt by his performance. To think his father didn’t want him to act…”

“Mum, don’t start with that,” he chided her.

“We’ll it’s true. Don’t get me wrong, dear,” she looked over at me, “his father and I have been separated for years now, but we’re still best friends and he drives me insane. We didn’t always agree when it came to Rhys’ passion, but Freddy had no choice but to come around.”

“Of course, Rhys is so successful.”

We continued discussing the show and his mother proceeded to tell me about her home in Scotland. Every now and then her Scottish accent escaped past her London dialect and as terrible as I felt comparing her, she really reminded me of Mrs. Doubtfire. She looked nothing like Robin Williams’ character, but she exuded that same bubbly, welcoming personality. I instantly fell for her, and as dinner progressed I felt the stress rolling off my shoulders. I loved and hated that Rhys was right. He knew I had nothing to fret over and I’d let my head get the best of me.

During our dessert wine, Catherine asked me about our trip for Thanksgiving and it warmed my heart that Rhys had shared that with her. It meant it was important to him.

“Ellie, Rhys told me that you’re both going for the holiday. That will be lovely for him to celebrate with your family. I was wondering, what are your plans for Christmas?”

Rhys coughed harshly into his wine glass as though he’d choked and then blatantly stared at his mother as he cleared his throat. The silence grew awkward as I analyzed his reaction.

“We haven’t discussed that as of yet, mum,” he said.

But she shrugged and ignored him. “Ellie, if you’re in town for Christmas, we always a have a nice dinner with his father and the girls. I’d love for you to come, should you feel comfortable to join us.” Her eyes were so sincere and I could see where Rhys not only got his gaze from, but that glow that warmed everyone around him.

“Mrs. Edwards, thank you. I appreciate that you want to include me.”

“Catherine, please. No need to be so formal. And of course, we’d love to have you.”

“Thank you, Catherine.”

Shortly after, she took note of the time and claimed she needed to get home before her dessert wine kicked in. Rhys helped her with her coat, and then with mine, and it was rather sweet to see him dote on his two women. I got the sense that being surrounded by his two sisters and mother had taught him how to treat women and had given him lessons in how to deal with them too. It must have been why understanding me came so easily to him, that and the fact that his heart was made of gold.

Outside, the blistery cold of autumn greeted us and once she was in her car and driven away, I concluded that I adored her just as he said I would. It seemed I had won her over too, considering she invited me to Christmas dinner. At first I thought I was reading too much into it, but when Rhys sat beside me in the backseat, he looked over and blatantly admitted, “She loved you…I mean,
loved
you.”

“Yeah?” I questioned him.

“Without a doubt,” he paused. “Christmas dinner is sacred. She’s never let my sister, Lena, bring over a guy unless they’ve been together for at least a year.”

“I’m relieved. She was amazing, I can see where you get it.”

Rhys grew shy at my compliment and we rode in silence for a while. Just before getting to his house, he asked me, “Ellie, what are your plans for Christmas? I know it’s a while from now, but I have been wondering. I remember you mentioned you would stay if you went home for Thanksgiving. Is that still your plan?”