Page 16 of King of Lies

“Jumper?” I ask.

“You know, the cardigans with the big knits that only librarians and salty old fishermen seem to fancy. You’re wearing one, aren’t you?”

“Uh … what’s the right answer here?”

“The truth.”

“Then yes, I am,” I answer, and he laughs ending in a groan.

“You have no idea what the granny jumpers you wear do to me.”

“I think you might be a bit crazy.”

“Only for you,” he answers. “Only for you. What else do you have on? If it’s the bloody yoga leggings, I might have a heart attack and die. You’ll kill this old man.”

“Jeans.”

“Fuck,” he bites out.

“What?”

“I was just imagining your arse in a pair of jeans.”

“You’re ridiculous.” I laugh.

“Aye, I am and it’s late and I have a long day of more shite tomorrow before I can come home,” he says.

“I like that you think of here as home,” I whisper and wonder what it is about being on the phone that makes me feel like I can be so honest with him.

“I’m starting to think that wherever you are just might be home,” he says just as quietly.

“That’s sweet, too.”

“Now I really hate to go, but I have to,” he says.

“That’s okay. I’ll see you tomorrow night?”

“Aye, you will.”

“Will you be hungry when you get here?” I ask.

“Aye.”

“I’ll see that you have dinner.”

“I’ll be hungry for that, too,” he says softly in that voice that sends shivers down my spine. Before I can say anything else, he says, “Sleep well, Hen.”

And then the line goes dead.

I get myself ready for bed. When I lay down in the dark, I just know I won’t sleep a wink because Rhys, who’s so honest with his feelings toward me, has made it abundantly clear that he can’t wait to see me. That he wants me, like I wish for him. So the question begs … do I let him have me? Because for the first time in my life, my body, heart, and mind all say a resounding YES! Even though the small voice in the back of my mind whispers maybe not.

Chapter 6

Miss Me

The morning sun shines through my bedroom curtains and I blink my eyes open. I’m off again today so I didn’t set an alarm. Instead, I slept in. I didn’t think I would get any sleep last night after Rhys dropped the bomb on how much he thinks about me, but then, it was like something had settled in me, and instead, I drifted off to a peaceful sleep. Even though I haven’t come to a decision about him yet, I’m settled.

I toss back the covers and head into the small kitchen to make myself a cup of coffee, pulling down a mug and dropping in my favorite coffee flavor pod. When it’s done, I fill it up with my favorite creamer and carry it to the sofa where I plop down and pull the chenille knit throw over my legs. I let the warmth from the mug in my hands seep through my body and the aroma wake me up.