Page 61 of Surprisingly Us

“I do remember there being some tension between you two but I thought it was teenage boy stuff. Hormones and egos trying to best each other.”

“Unfortunately, we didn’t grow out of it, he wants the president of the board position to spite me. To take something that is rightfully mine. It’s the same shit that I dealt with when we were younger.”

The words are stated matter of fact, but a flicker of hurt crosses his face.

“I’m sorry.” I don’t know what else to say.

“It doesn’t matter. What matters now is that I win.”

The look of determination on his face is intense. I’ve always seen Rhys as a laid back, go with the flow, nothing gets under his skin kind of guy.

Rhys takes the notecards I’ve outlined for him and starts filling them out.

I watch him for a moment before returning my attention to the notecard I’m filling out, more curious than ever about his relationship with Jerrod. It’s clearly contentious if Rhys feels like he must compete with Jerrod for the presidency of the foundation that his own parents created.

While the Spencer family has always been known for their wealth and entrepreneurial undertakings, Wes and Abigail put The Spencer Foundation on the map because of who they were as people. Yes, money is necessary, especially with non-profit organizations, as I’m learning with my work at Leg-Up, but it was the way they showed up and were a part of the community that made the difference.

I see that in Rhys, but it seems right now he’s too caught up in the competition with Jerrod to realize what he truly has to offer.

“What else do you think we should know about each other?” I ask.

“I’ve got a whole list.” He waves his phone at me.

My face lights up, excited he’s taking this seriously. “Is it another ‘this or that’?”

“Sort of.”

“Okay.” I nod for him to proceed with his question.

“Shower or bubble bath.”

“Shower. It’s efficient. I have trouble relaxing in a bath.”

“Probably because you haven’t had a bath in my tub before.” He winks. “I’m a bubble bath man all the way.”

I picture Rhys surrounded in bubbles in his giant bathtub and laugh. “Next.”

“Neck or lips?”

I blink, confused by the question.

“In what way?”

“Where you liked to be kissed.”

“Oh.” I clear my throat while my mind races.

Do I have a preference? Only one guy has ever kissed my neck and he’s currently pinning me from across the coffee table with his wildly expressive hazel eyes.

“What kind of questions are these?” I ask.

“Spicy ‘this or that’ for couples.”

“Why would we need to know that?”

“We’re working on our intimacy. Young, hot couples like us would be fucking a lot, exploring each other’s bodies, so since we’re not doingthat, this is the next best thing.”

“Is it?” I gulp. I don’t know what to focus on first. The fact that he called us a young, hot couple or that he said we would normally be fucking a lot.

---