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)
It seemed Derek and Tristan had kept quiet about what happened with my dad because Aidan and Theo didn’t act any differently around me, which was a relief. I wasn’t going to lie for my father anymore, but I’d also prefer to avoid talking about him where possible.
It was late evening when I spotted Charli walk by in the direction of her bedroom. The door was slightly ajar, and I had to fight the urge to follow her. She was carrying a few bags from a women’s boutique and was probably tired if she’d been out shopping. I should let her get some rest. That was the sensible thing to do, and yet I found myself muttering to Derek about needing the bathroom. He nodded, continuing his game of pool with Theo as I left and headed for Charli’s room.
After knocking gently, her silky voice called, “Come in.”
I opened the door and stepped into the room. The shopping bags sat on her bed—and recognising one of the store names—my throat ran dry. It was a well-known women’s lingerie brand, a fancy one.
“Hey, Rhys,” she said, smiling when she saw it was me. “Oh, your face looks so much better,” she went on as her eyes ran over me. “How are you feeling?”
“Thanks. I’m good. Better. Were you shopping?”
Charli’s attention went to the bags, and she flushed, seeing I’d noted the lingerie one. “Oh, yeah. Nuala and Aunt Jo invited me on one of their shopping trips. I used some of my summer job money to treat myself.”
“Good,” I said. “You deserve it.”
She bit her lip, glancing at the large flat screen on her wall. “Um, I was going to put a movie on. Do you want to watch something with me?”
My chest tightened at the invite. I wanted to say yes, but I’d already told Derek I’d go with him and the boys to a small party on the beach.
“I can’t. The lads and I are going to the beach in a little while for a party. You should come.”
“Oh, right, that sounds kind of cool. I’ll ask Nuala if she wants to go, too.”
“Do,” I replied, stepping closer to the bed, and Charli quickly snatched the bags to shove in her wardrobe. Her sheepish expression made me chuckle. “Hiding something?”
“Yes, of course, I am,” she replied. “I’m pretty sure I don’t need the guy I like seeing I’ve been shopping in Victoria’s Secret.”
The guy I like. I still couldn’t get my head around the fact a girl as beautiful and sexy as Charli liked me. “Isn’t that the point of shopping there?” I countered, unsure where my confidence came from as I took a step closer to her. “So that the guy you like can eventually see you in whatever you bought?”
Her hazel eyes flared wide, and she glanced at the floor for a second. I could see the cogs whirring in her mind as she scraped her teeth over her bottom lip. Her eyes flicked up, and she replied, “Do you want to see it?”
Fucking hell, my pulse skyrocketed as soon as she shyly uttered the question, and I found myself nodding, my voice scratchy and low when I said, “Definitely.”
15.
Charli
I can’t believe I’m doing this.
Nerves that were oddly thrilling skittered through my body as I went to close my bedroom door. I’d just asked Rhys if he wanted to see what I’d bought at Victoria’s Secret. It wasn’t something I’d ever consider buying for myself until Nuala and Aunt Jo encouraged me. As I’d stood in the store, selecting a matching bra and panties set, my mind had inadvertently wandered to Rhys. I imagined his face, the way he might look at me if he saw me wearing something like that. Would his eyes flare, his breathing quicken?
Returning to the closet, I picked out the bag, remembering how Aunt Jo had been acting strangely the last couple days. It was like she felt the need to spoil me, and I didn’t understand why. I’d spent some of my earnings from the hotel on the clothes I bought, but Jo insisted on paying for a new dress and some cute shoes. She’d also paid for the lingerie.
Nuala and her mom had that kind of easy-going relationship where they could buy sexy underwear in front of each other and not feel mortally embarrassed. I’d never been comfortable enough to purchase anything other than practical every day bras and panties when shopping with my own mom.
Speaking of which, I’d called her to ask about the phone conversation I’d overheard between her and Uncle Padraig, but before I could breathe a word, she’d announced she was coming to Ireland in two weeks to see me. She’d managed to get a couple days off work and decided to use the days for a short trip. As soon as she’d said it, I’d known something was up. Mom didn’t book impromptu trips across the Atlantic. She was coming for a reason, and I suspected that reason was to finally tell me whatever it was Padraig had been urging her to reveal.