Page 8 of Burned

He raised one dark brown brow. “What don’t you understand?”

“Why me? I’m still trying to figure that out.”

He narrowed his eyes. “I’m still not following you, Sadie.”

“What does someone like you want from someone like me?”

“Someone like you? You’ve got to be kidding me. If I have the privilege of seeing you again, I hope you’ll tell me who it was that hurt you to the point where you don’t see the value in yourself. I find you extremely attractive and honestly I was sitting here thanking my lucky stars I finally managed to convince you to come out with me. I thought I’d have to forget the idea of us going out together. But I saw something special in you that made me keep trying and I’m glad I did. You’re quite lovely, and I wish you could see what I do.”

She lowered her lids as heat rushed to her cheeks. There was so much sincerity in his words how could she not believe him? “You’re embarrassing me.”

“What? I find it hard to believe you don’t hear how lovely you are on a daily basis. If not, I’m not sure what the hell is wrong with the men around here. But if I’m embarrassing you, I apologize. I’ll take the spotlight. Ask me anything you’d like.”

Sadie breathed a sigh of relief. She wasn’t used to people telling her she was attractive other than her sisters. Even Terrell had never really told her that he thought she was gorgeous. He’d told her she was cute, but she got ‘cute’ a lot—never beautiful. “Okay, Dr. Edwards, tell me about that wonderful accent of yours. How long have you been in the U.S.?”

“Hmm, I’ll be thirty-seven this year and my family moved from Wales when I was seventeen so…twenty years. I’ve lived in this country longer than I have in Wales but I haven’t managed to shake this accent.” He grinned. “I realized right away the ladies seemed to dig it so I played it up a bit. Now I don’t even try anymore and it’s still there. It’s funny because when I visit family back home, they say I sound very American. My brother Colin, on the other hand, spends a lot of time in Europe for his business so his accent is considerably thicker than mine.”

“How often do you go back to Wales?”

“Not as often as I’d like, but at least twice a year. My mother moved back about five years ago so I try to see her as often as I can. I also think it’s a good idea for my daughter to be in tune with her roots.”

Sadie had been in the middle of raising her coffee cup to her lips and stilled. Daughter? He never mentioned he had children. This was the catch. She knew there was something about him that was too good to be true and this was it. “You have a child?”

“Well, I wouldn’t exactly call Carys a child anymore. She just turned fourteen.”

“I guess that means you’re divorced?”

“Yes. I have been for the past eight years but we were separated two years prior.”

“And how often do you see your daughter?”

“That’s an odd question.”

“I mean do you see her on the weekends or every other week or once a month?”

“Ah, I see. So you think because I’m a man I wouldn’t have custody?”

Sadie realized how stupid she must have sounded. “I didn’t mean to offend you.”

“I understand. In most cases, the mother does retain custody of the child but it’s been just me and Carys since she was little.”

“Does she ever see her mother?”

Rhys’s lips tightened briefly indicating it wasn’t a favorite subject of his. “No. At the same time she decided she no longer wanted to be married to me, Lacey also decided she didn’t want to be a mother either. The last time I saw her, she was feeding Carys breakfast when I left for work. I came home, Carys was sitting in the middle of the floor crying with soiled underwear. I had no idea how long Lacey had been gone. For all she cared, Carys could have seriously injured herself. I didn’t even hear from her until a few days later. After that, all communication was through our lawyers. She didn’t even want custody of Carys. It’s been the two of us ever since.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

Rhys shrugged. “I’m over it. I’m more upset about the breakup on Carys’ behalf. She never says so but I think it bothers her how her mother abandoned us. She’s really a sweet kid. You two will get along.”

Sadie raised a brow. “You assume there’ll be a next time after this?”

“I’m hoping.”

“Can I be honest with you?”

“I’d prefer it.”

“I’m really not interested in dating a man with children.”

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