Page 52 of Love, Academically
He pulled out his phone and scrolled to Elin’s number, holding his finger up at Lila’s questioning look. His sister answered on the second ring.
“Shwmaebig brother, to what do I owe this tremendous pleasure?”
Rhys rolled his eyes.
“ShwmaeElin, I need your help,”
“Wait, let me press record. Right, say it again.”
Why couldn’t his sister just do what he needed? Why the snarky comments?
“Elin,” he said shortly.
She laughed. “Go on, what do you need?”
“I’m shopping with Lila—”
“Your girlfriend!” she interrupted. “Lila is such a pretty name.”
“Yes, well,” he said, shooting a quick glance at Lila, catching her polishing off her cake. “We’re looking for a dress for the family dinner. Where do you go?”
“Oh my God, if you’d have told me,Iwould have gone shopping with her!”
He could not imagine anything worse. The two of them gossiping about the only thing that they had in common – him.
“Elin, please.” He pinched the bridge of his nose.
“The top floor of Selfridges has personal shoppers. Ask for Miquita, she’s the absolute best. Tell her you’re my brother and she’ll sort you out. Put it on my account, you can pay me later,” she said quickly.
“Okay,diolch yn fawrElin. That’s a big help.”Thanks very much.
“Anything for you,brawd.”Brother.“I have to go, I’ve got a meeting.”
“Bye, Elin.”
That was another reason why he no longer wanted to work at Dallimores; Saturday meetings. Rhys hadn’t wanted to be there on the weekdays, let alone the weekends. But of course, that’s what was expected from the family.Dedicated to the family, dedicated to the businesswas another favourite saying of his father’s and Rhys had not missed that little nugget.
“Elin? Your sister,” Lila clarified.
“Yes,” Rhys nodded. “Are you ready to go?”
“Yeah, sure,” Lila said, slurping up the dregs of her ridiculousmilkshake. “Did she give you some ideas, because I’m at a bit of a loss now, I’m afraid.”
With her shoulders slumped and chocolate cake smudged on her chin, Lila Cartwright looked like a sad child. This was his responsibility now and he would sort this out.
Before his brain caught up with his body, he was leaning across the table and reaching for her. His fingers curled underneath her chin and his thumb swiped at the cake on the corner of her mouth gently, his eyes laser-focused on the softness of her skin. There was a bob of her throat as she swallowed, and her lips parted with a puff of breath. He found himself looking at those lips, thinking how easily he could press his thumb to the bottom one, see if it was as velvety smooth as it looked.
Rhys darted his eyes up to hers, which were wide and surprised by his touch. A noise came from her throat, a small, wispy, breathy hum that he was almost positive she didn’t know she’d made. Heat flushed up his neck and he pulled away. What was he even thinking? She could wipe her own face.
“Come on,” he said, pushing his chair back. “Let’s go.”
Rhys guided her to Selfridges, but she stopped before going in.
“Rhys, weren’t you listening?” Her voice was almost pleading. “I can’t afford Selfridges.”
“Lila, you’re helping me out. I do not expect you to spend your money on a favour to me.” He should have made that clear before they even went on this stupid, mind-numbing, stick-pins-in-his-eyes shopping trip.
“Rhys, I can’t expectyouto—”
