Page 31 of Love, Academically
“Okay.” She gave him a smile that set him at ease and turned back to the TV.
Easy. That was the right word. Lila was easy, comfortable. It was easy being in her space. There was no pressure to be anyoneother than himself. She accepted him just as he was. He didn’t have to pretend, he didn’t have to talk. This was nice.
He should go home, but her house was so warm and homey and, he realised, he was actually quite enjoying himself. There was no expectation here.
Richard Gere had finally carried Deborah Winger through the factory floor, andnowRhys understood what Lila had meant when she asked him about a hat.
He turned to Lila to say that exact thing, but her eyes were closed, lashes resting against her pink cheeks, breathing deeply. She was fast asleep. He should leave, go back to his grey flat with its grey walls and hard sofa. He’d just check the news first.
Lila
“Put your arms around me. Come on, Lila, help me out a little,” Rhys said, his voice a groggy whisper on her cheek.
“What’s going on? What time is it?” Lila rubbed her hand across her forehead and put her arms around Rhys’s neck automatically. He worked his arms under her legs and lifted her from the sofa.
“It’s gone two. You fell asleep.” He paused sheepishly. “I fell asleep too.”
“What are you doing now? I’ll just sleep on the sofa,” she whined. It was comfortable, the blanket was soft and she was fine right there.
“The sofa isn’t big enough for you to sleep on, and you’ll have a sore neck when you wake up,” Rhys said, navigating the stairs so he didn’t bash her ankle.
Her eyes drifted closed again, her head lolling against his crumpled collar. He was comfortable and smelled of, well, Rhys.
“On the left,” she mumbled, her forehead falling against his stubbled jaw.
Lila heard the door swing open and Rhys cursed quietly when he kicked a stray shoe. He lowered her so she was sitting on the bed and unwrapped her arms from him.
Snapping on the bedside light, he said, “I’ll get your painkillers.”
Forcing her eyes open, Lila changed quickly into a vest top and shorts snatched from her bedside drawers and threw her lounging clothes on the floor. They were way too warm to sleep in, even when it was cold.
“Here.” Rhys reappeared and put her phone, a glass of water and two tablets on her little bedside table, stepping over her discarded clothes. “Okay, I’ll be back to pick you up in the morning. Well, later in the morning.”
“Rhys,” she said wearily.
“Lila.” He swung round to face her, eyes slightly pink and hair just that right side of dishevelled. Rhys looked devilishly sexy when tired, but, also he looked damned tired. “Don’t say you’ll get a taxi. I’ve already said I’ll come and get you.”
“I wasn’t going to say that,” she snapped, before smoothing her face into a sleepy smile. “It’s gone two in the morning. By the time you get home and get to bed it will be nearly three and then you’ll only be back here in a few hours.”
Rhys shrugged and passed a hand over his face.
“It’s too dangerous for you to drive when you’re this tired. Why don’t you just stay here? That would make sense.”
“Where?” He barked out a laugh. “The sofa is too small for you, let alone me. Your spare room, which I managed to find instead of the bathroom earlier, is the size of a matchbox and is full of books and, and, I don’t even know what else.”
She sighed and plugged in her phone before snuggling down in the bed, carefully moving her leg.
“I know all of that, Rhys, it’s my house. I meant here. This bedis perfectly big enough. We’re two adults. I’m sure we can sleep next to each other.”
Rhys hesitated. His shoulders drooped and his eyes blinked so slowly she thought he may have fallen asleep standing up. Everything she’d said was true. He would have to be back here in a few hours if he insisted on coming to get her.
“Lila, I—”
“Rhys Aubrey, I’m not going to hear anymore from you. If you won’t stay here, then I will hold a Mexican themed day in your office, invite all your students and make you sing Mexican karaoke.”
Lila yawned and waited.
She was one hundred percent not about to jump Rhys – she was far too tired for all that. Besides, she had sworn off men. Rhys just had a nice arse. He had looked after her all day and now it was her turn to look after him. What if he got in an accident because he’d fallen asleep at the wheel? What if he overslept and missed the entire day at work? Lila didn’t know which would be worse for him. Besides, if he slept at her house (and therefore had more sleep because of lack of travelling), she would be doing her best to diminish the rattiness that he surely would have tomorrow.
