Page 22 of Love In Print

“I think you should show me how thankful you are.”

“With pleasure.”

nine

Dorian wokeearly and met Maisie in the kitchen with a travel cup full of coffee. “I figured you’d need this.”

“Thanks.” Maisie took a sip. She closed her eyes and let the midnight blend settle. Her date night with Rhys turned into two days and nights. Once they hit the sheets, they only emerged from his bedroom for food, to rehydrate and fuck on the kitchen counter, and to drive Maisie home so she could get a change of clothes. Not that she wore her clothes in his house. There, she opted for one of Rhys’s button downs. The sight of her in his shirt drove him crazy.

“So, is it serious?” Dorian asked as she leaned against the counter with her own mug of coffee.

“It’s sex. And lots of it. I’m so fucking sore.” Maisie felt the blush at the back of her neck as memories of the weekend flashed through her mind.

“Is there such a thing as a lot of sex?”

Maisie nodded. “I think at one point my vag put a wall up when his dick got too close. It was like, ‘whoa dude, chill for a bit!’”

Dorian burst out laughing and coffee spurted from her mouth. “What is wrong with you?”

Maisie let out an exaggerated sigh and rubbed her hand over her face. She was tired, and the past two day’s exertions had left her feeling weak. “In any of my past relationships, it was a one and done, maybe twice if we were feeling horny, but with Rhys, everything turns us on.”

“So, it’s definitely a ‘we’ problem and not a ‘him’ or ‘you’ problem?”

“‘Problem’ seems so dramatic. Honestly, I’m looking forward to being at work because I need to rest. Rhys needs to rest.” Maisie sipped from her cup, and then refilled it.

“You’re so weird.”

“I know,” Maisie agreed. “But whatever. I’m super attracted to him, and I thoroughly enjoy being with him. He’s kind and polite, and so fucking sexy. He’s not anything like you’d expect someone as rich as him to be. And the house he lives in . . . it’s creepy AF, but beautiful at the same time. Oh, and he thanked me a couple of times for taking out the ad, so I guess, in reality, he’s thanking you.”

“Does he have a brother?”

“Only child, but he spoke about a cousin who lives in Boston, and sometimes stays at his place.”

“And he lives in that mansion by himself?”

“No, his parents and the house staff live there. Rhys lives on the third floor, in an apartment.”

“Wow.Richrich.” Dorian exclaimed, her eyes wide.

Maisie nodded. “It’s daunting. But other than his car and the house, he’s not flamboyant about his money. I never would’ve figured it out if you hadn’t told me.”

“I’m torn about that,” Dorian said. “Like, why not just come out and say who you are?”

Maisie looked at her best friend. “He enjoyed being normal for the night.”

“Ah, that makes sense.”

“All right, I gotta go save some lives. I’ll see you later tonight. Pizza for dinner?”

“I’ll have it ordered and delivered by the time you get home. Stay safe, be careful, and treat everyone with love.”

Maisie hugged Dorian and then made her way out of their apartment and to her car. It wasn’t quite spring yet, but the birds chirped about their early morning finds and the peaking sun colored the sky in shades of pink, red, and blue.

She checked the projected temperature for the day and groaned when she saw the sixty-degree mark. While Maisie absolutely loved her job and living by the beach was her dream, days like today made her wish she could bail on being an adult. The sun, sand and surf screamed her name.

Maisie stopped at a local coffee shop and ordered another coffee and some breakfast. She preferred the family-owned hut over the New England favorite of Dunkin’. There was a time and a place for the chain, but on her way to work wasn’t it.

The egg sandwich she bought and ate in the car was farm fresh and made using homemade bread. It reminded her of her mother who was always cooking something from scratch. Everything her mom made came with the ‘Made with Love’ stamp of approval.

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