Page 9 of King of Lies
I take my cup of coffee into my bathroom and start the water for my shower. I strip out of my pajamas and step into the shower, quickly washing my hair and myself and then shut off the taps. I wipe away the water with a towel and wrap it around my hair before heading to my closet to pull on a bra and panties. I layer jeans and a tee with a cardigan over top. I don’t have time to dry my hair, so I quickly comb it and then plait it in a thick dark braid down my back. I dust a little blush on my cheeks and coat my lashes with mascara. My favorite tinted lip balm is in my bag. I chug the last of my coffee and brush my teeth before sliding my feet into my favorite sneakers.
I quickly grab my book from my nightstand and dump it in my bag on my way out the door. I barely get the keys in the lock before I’m already racing down the stairs to my car. I hate being late and if I dilly dally at all, I will be.
In record time, I park my car in the staff lot behind the building. I grab my bag and hop out, locking the door behind me. I push through the staff door and make my way to the locker room where I lock my bag up for the day and then I hit the floor.
I really do love this store. There’s nowhere else in the world that I feel at home. I may not have friends, or parents, but I’ve always had books and that has to count for something.
I spend the rest of my morning filling stock from the back and helping a handful of customers. I love finding hidden treasures here. We get a few online orders for pick up right before my lunch break and my tummy rumbles just a bit while I get them done.
I’m just reaching for a book on a high shelf when I feel a weird tingle on the back of my neck. It’s an awareness I don’t usually feel. I look around the room and don’t see anyone, so I go back to the book that I was looking for when I hear a voice behind me.
“We have to stop meeting like this.”
I gasp and grab the ladder that I’m standing on to keep my balance. I hold the book tight in my hand while I climb down. I have a feeling I need to keep my wits about me and my feet firmly on the ground where this man is concerned.
“Can I help you find something?” I ask.
“No.”
“Umm …” I start, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “Okay, then.”
I turn to walk away but he stops me, his hand light on my arm. I turn back to face him again and he smiles at me and says, “You don’t need to help me find anything because I was looking for you and here you are.”
“Oh.”
“Oh,” he repeats. “I was hoping you’d changed your mind about dinner.”
I freeze. I know I talked a big game about missing my shot and not living my life on the sidelines anymore, but let’s be real, that was mostly because I thought I had missed my shot and hindsight is always 20/20. But now that he’s here, asking me out again, I don’t know what to do.
“I can see that I’ve taken your breath away.” He laughs. “How about this? Have coffee with me when you get off work and we’ll go from there.”
“I don’t even know your name,” I mumble.
“Rhys.” He smiles. God, what a sexy name. Now where did that thought come from?
“Rhys what?”
“Rhys Alexander,” he says, holding out his hand to shake mine.
I put my hand in his. “Stella Reyes.”
“It’s nice to make your acquaintance, Stella Reyes.”
“It’s nice to meet you, too.”
“So … coffee?” he asks, and I start to fidget. I’m so far out of my comfort zone already and I’m panicking. “Don’t say no.”
“Okay.”
“Brilliant,” he says happily. “What time do you get out of here?”
I look at the clock on the wall and reply, “In about two hours.”
“Perfect,” he says. “I’ll see you in two hours, Stella Reyes.”
“I’ll see you then.”
And then he’s gone as quickly as he popped in, leaving me wondering if I’ve imagined it all. Either way, I spend the next two hours keeping as busy as I can, so I don’t have to admit that I’m excited.
