Page 115 of Quiet Longing

“That does sound ideal,” I said. It was a pity I didn’t have someone like that, I thought to myself, but then realised it wasn’t entirely true.

I had Rhys, and he, too, was recently out of a relationship. But unlike Jonathan and his ex, Rhys and I hadn’t technically ever broken up. We’d just stopped contacting one another, and I’d been so completely cut up over the whole thing. It certainly hadn’t been the amicable situation Jonathan described.

Despite this, I wondered if perhaps we could have a friends with benefits arrangement. I found myself daydreaming of him often, thinking about his body and his touch, and I knew from our kiss that he at least found me attractive on some level.

How would he react if I suggested a similar arrangement to Jonathan’s? The very question had me shivering, and then, as though some sneaky higher power was trying to mess with my head, Rhys strode into the restaurant.

He was on his phone as he approached the head server, and they exchanged a few words. Hotel security business, it looked like. He must’ve sensed my attention because his eyes travelled across the restaurant and landed directly on me. Then they went to Jonathan, and anxiety flooded in. I knew exactly how things must’ve looked. Panic gripped me as the faintest frown crossed his features. He brought his attention back to the server, they exchanged a few more words, and then he left without another glance my way.

“Are you okay?” Jonathan asked, clearly noticing my distress

“What? Oh, yes, um,” my gaze flicked to the bar where the girl was motioning me over. It appeared my sandwich wasfinallyready. “It looks like my food’s ready, but it was lovely to meet you, Jonathan.”

“Yes, hopefully, it won’t be the last time,” he replied with debonair confidence, standing like a gentleman as I left.

I snatched the brown paper with my sandwich, my heart in my throat. Why was I so freaked that Rhys might think I was on a date with Jonathan? I mean, I’d told him I wasn’t ready to date, and he’d been determined for me not to date Jonathan even when Iwasready. Rhys said Maggie’s half brother wasn’t a good guy, and though I was on the fence on whether that was true since I’d only just met the man, I didn’t want Rhys to think I was blatantly disregarding his advice.

I barely thought about the direction I was going until I found myself outside his office. Raising my hand, I knocked on the door.

“Come in,” Rhys called, and I hurried inside, slamming the door shut behind me.

His eyes flared at my appearance. He was clearly surprised to see me.

“That wasn’t what it looked like,” I blurted.

“Oh?” he asked, a faint frown creasing his brow.

“It wasn’t a date.”

31.

Rhys

I knew it wasn’t a date.

Shay and I had been held up dealing with a couple who’d locked themselves in their room and refused to check out. Their stay had ended, and the card the reception desk had on file was declined. In the end, we’d been forced to enter the room and escort them off the premises, which was never fun. From the look of them, I’d expected drugs and alcohol were involved, but the receptionist who’d checked them in said they’d seemed perfectly sober when they’d arrived.

Anyway, dealing with that situation had made Shay late to meet Maggie and Jonathan for lunch. Maggie had come looking for him, and she’d mentioned how Jonathan was still in the restaurant talking with Charli. My jealousy had flared at the thought of that suave prick getting the opportunity to chat her up. I’d been unable to help myself from going straight there on the pretence of checking in with the head server, Matt. As soon as I saw her sitting at a table with Jonathan, I’d had to fight the urge to stride over there, yank her into my arms, and growlMinelike some crazed neanderthal.

Thankfully, I’d managed to get my shit in order as I’d forced myself to leave the restaurant without making a scene.

Charli stood several feet from my desk, a brown paper bag clutched in her hand, and her expression flustered. A sense of possessiveness filled me because she’d come wanting me to know she hadn’t been on a date, but at the same time, I didn’t like seeing her distressed. My body struggled against the urge to approach her, hands itching to gently smooth away the stressed indent between her eyebrows.

“I just, um, I remembered you saying I should be wary of Jonathan, and I didn’t want you thinking I disregarded your advice,” she went on, biting her lip. Fuck, she was so earnest and beautiful, and I was a piece of shit for feeling victorious that she’d come to me.

Clearing my throat and endeavouring to maintain a cool facade, I replied gently, “You’re under no obligation to take my advice. You can date Jonathan if you feel you’re ready.” The words were like swallowing broken glass, but they had to be said.

“But I trust your advice, and besides, I’m not interested in him. I just …”

She seemed conflicted, and it took all my effort not to cross the room and surround her in a protective embrace. “Charli?”

She glanced at the seat in front of my desk. “Can I sit?”

“Of course.”

Charli exhaled heavily then pulled out the chair and set her brown paper bag on the side of my desk. Her eyes darted around the room, settling on the shelf behind my desk then the container of pens near my laptop and the stack of papers I’d printed out the day before.

Basically, she looked anywhere but directly at me, which told me she was either shy or nervous. Possibly both.

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