Rhys (Secrets Book 1) Read online

  “We knew you were at the store and we wanted to surprise you with our visit. Given your reaction, we succeeded. Brant provided us with the information—he was critical in pulling off our surprise. I’m sorry if you’re upset by our presence.”

  This comes from my mother. Of course, the only questions my father has managed to toss my way have been about Averill, about her living with me. He gathered that tidbit from my ‘home’ comment when I barged out of the back room. Little do they know, I’m not going to give them the whole truth, especially my father. He doesn’t deserve it.

  “What are you doing flying this shortly after nearly dying?”

  Granted, it’s been maybe six weeks; I’ve lost count. There have been just a few major events going on in my life lately, and everything seems to be interconnecting into one big giant mess.

  “I don’t care for the accusatory tone of your voice, boy.”

  “And I don’t give a flying fuck what you do or don’t care for.”

  Here we go. We haven’t been able to be in the same room for more than five minutes without tearing into each other since the fateful day he all but demanded I enlist.

  “Hush now, we’re in public. I don’t know why we couldn’t go to your house, Rhys.”

  There’s my mother for you, trying to bring peace into what’s bound to become a tornado of insults.

  “Hm, let me list a few reasons for you.” Grabbing the hand Averill offers me instead of keeping mine on her knee, I thread our fingers together before listing some reasons. “Number one, it’s not just my house. Number two, since I’m not technically on speaking terms with Dad, he’s not welcome there. Number three, I didn’t ask you to come. Number four, it’s not safe. Is that enough reasons for you or would you like me to go on? I’m sure I can think of more.”

  Averill has yet to utter a word. She’s offered me her hand, knowing her simply being there would steady me. Even if she was upset with me about the unexpected arrival of my parents, she’s still silently offering me her peace.

  I’m not entirely sure I deserve an angel such as her, but I’m never letting her go.

  “This is obviously a wasted trip, Aideen. I don’t know why I let you convince me it was a good idea.” Shaking his head, he attempts to get up from his seat but is held back by my mother’s arm. “Dammit, let me up.”

  “No, Frank. I will not let you up. If I let you up, you’ll walk out and this stupid idiotic fight will never cease. You’re both bullheaded fools. Stop this nonsense, now. We’re going to talk this out like adults and all leave here happy, or else.”

  Or else. Shit, I know she means business when she tosses those words out. We both know it. No one, and I mean no one crosses Aideen Gallhagar when she uses those two little words—at least no one smart.

  “How about we go to my old house? It’s neutral ground and no one is using it. They could stay there instead of a hotel while they’re in town as well. It makes sense.”

  Leave it to my girl to have an answer for everything, to be the voice of reason.

  “Now that is a suggestion I think we can all agree on.”

  Before another word is spoken, I stand, pulling Averill with me, our hands still woven together.

  “Shall we?” I ask while tossing a few bills on the table to cover the waitress’s wasted time. We never did get around to ordering, but that doesn’t mean she shouldn’t still receive a tip for her efforts.

  Averill leads the way out of the restaurant. I silently laugh to myself, because absolutely nothing was accomplished inside. No questions were actually answered. All I know is Brant helped with telling them where I’d be, and all they know is they’re not welcome at our house.

  My life is a mess. Shrugging, I realize I don’t care. It could be worse. My life could always be worse. I’m alive, for the moment, and I have the love of a woman I’ve loved for over half of my life. For the most part, I’m happy. Content. Maybe I don’t get along the greatest with my family—so fucking what? It is what it is.

  Everything I could ever want is walking less than a foot in front of me. She’s what brings me peace and makes me complete. If I come out of this night on speaking terms with both of my parents, great. If not, I’m okay with it.

  “You can follow behind, but I’ll also put the address into the GPS so you have it in case we get separated in traffic. If that does happen, we’ll meet you there.”

  Hitting the unlock button on my key fob, I help Averill into the truck, making sure she’s secure before walking over and putting her old address into the GPS of my parents’ rental car. I loved when she referred to her house as her old house, like she never plans on returning to live there. Maybe I should ask her to move in on a permanent basis.

  Kissing my mother on the cheek, I shut her door and quickly stride over to my truck.

  “I’m truly sorry for what I said back at the store, babe.” It’s not the first moment we’ve had alone since, but it’s the first I’ve been calm enough to genuinely apologize. My lovely display of word vomit nearly had me in the doghouse. Her feelings were well and truly hurt. “Remind me to never again comment on how sexy you are,” I say while winking at her so she knows I’m semi-teasing.

  “Stoooop with the winking,” she cries out on a laugh. It takes her a moment to stop laughing, which was my intention when winking. “I’m sorry, too. I may have overreacted.” Holding her pointer finger and thumb apart about half an inch, she says, “Just a tad, maybe this much.” She adjusts them, nearly pressing them together. “Nah, more like this much.”

  “Cute, babe. Cute.”

  Grabbing the hand she’s using to make her point, I open it and place a kiss to the inside of her palm.

  “I love you. Thank you for forgiving me. Thank you for being the voice of reason tonight.”

  She pulls her hand from my grasp and runs it down the side of my face, gently cupping my cheek. “I love you too, Rhys.”

  The rest of the drive is spent in our perfect silence, one I think we both need before dealing with the storm of questions we’ll meet from my parents as soon as the truck doors open again.

  The time passes by all too quickly.

  Our peaceful bubble breaks before the truck is in park—my mother is at Averill’s door opening it before we’re fully stopped. “What the hell, Mom? Let me at least park before grabbing my girl out, please.”

  “Your girl? That term makes you sound like a caveman, Rhys. She’s your girlfriend. Lover. Friend. Use any term other than ‘my girl’. I raised my son to be respectful.”

  “I actually like being called his girl. It makes me feel protected. Loved. Treasured. Special.”

  With those parting words, she jumps out of my truck. I’m left to my own devices, sitting in a stunned stupor when my dad walks up to my side of the vehicle. The ladies have already entered the house, and normally I wouldn’t have let this happen, but my defenses are down. Once I realize what’s going on, I bolt for the front door.

  “Where’s the fire, boy?”

  “I have to check the house for intruders. They shouldn’t have gone in alone.” If he needs an explanation, he’ll have to follow me to get one.

  “Averill? Mom?”

  “In the kitchen,” they answer in unison. Good, at least they’re safe.

  “Stay there until I give the all clear. I was stunned and didn’t check the house before you both entered. Don’t move from the kitchen, please.”

  “Okay, babe,” Averill answers back. I hear her voice continue to speak but it’s muffled. She must be explaining a bit of what’s going on to my mother, maybe my father too. I know he followed me into the house, but he sure didn’t follow along on checking the rooms. Asshole.

  After thoroughly checking the house twice, I find them all sitting at the table in the kitchen with two open bottles of wine.

  “Should you be drinking?” I gesture to my father.

  “I’ve barely taken a sip. Besides, my doctor said some red wine is okay.”

  At l
east he answered without too much disdain, and I didn’t have nearly as much venom in my voice as I did in the restaurant.

  “Now, you know we have a million questions. We deserve answers. First and foremost, what the hell is going on? Why the need to check this house for safety?”

  My father is asking, my mom is drinking her wine, and Averill is staring at me. She nods, telling me to go ahead, tell them everything—the good, the bad, and all the ugly in between.

  “We may need more wine for this.”

  I take a seat, pour myself a glass, and proceed to tell them as much as I can without telling them everything, leaving out the bits and pieces about Martinelli. If they ask how I became tangled up with Smith, I’ll have to be quick on my feet to think of an explanation, or I could use Averill’s theory as an answer. It could work.

  The next two hours are spent with me telling them whatever I can. Some of the information is new to Averill, only because I haven’t had a chance to talk to her about the incidents I found out about today or my theories when it comes to the two open cases in Santa Rosa. That brings me to now, right this second.

  “You think what?”

  “I think Smith killed Alix. The police ruled Alix’s death a homicide. All the information I have gathered thus far points to Smith.”

  In this moment, I’m thankful my parents are here for this. I was dreading having this conversation with her. All this time, she’s believed he died of an overdose. The police have at no time contacted her again because they’ve never believed she was in any way involved in his death. I’ve read all of their notes, at least the ones available to me online.

  “The autopsy report doesn’t show he died of an overdose. It lists him dying of strangulation.”

  “Oh.” It’s the only word she says before she gets up and runs toward her bedroom. I get it; she needs some alone time to process what I’ve just said.

  “Who’s Alix?”

  “He was her boyfriend, her first love. They were living together and having a baby when she came home to find him dead in their apartment, before all the horrible events I told you about. I left out the part about her boyfriend dying because I wanted her to tell the rest of her story. It’s hers to tell, or it was. I felt bad telling you she was violated, but you had to know why she’s in danger now.”

  The strangled gasp my mother lets out is part cry, part anger, but not at me. She’s angry about the circumstances my girl has suffered through.

  “Why haven’t her parents protected her?” my father questions, his gruff voice sounding over the sobs I hear coming from down the hall, joining my mother’s silent cries at the table.

  “They’re not part of her life anymore.” Pushing my chair away from the table, I stand. “Excuse me, I need to go comfort her.”

  It’s killing me to not be holding her while she cries. She’s cried enough tears alone. Never again will she have no one to lean on.

  Walking into her bedroom, I find her curled up into herself in the middle of her bed. Without saying a word, I lie down behind her, pulling her into my arms. She comes willingly.

  “I’m not crying because I still love him. I’m crying because he was murdered. He was killed by someone he loved, Rhys, someone he loved with his whole heart, the way I love you. It hurts my heart to think of it.”

  Her words are broken up by her cries, and it’s killing me. I can’t imagine losing her, ever, which is why I’m protecting her so fiercely. Averill slipped through my fingers once, and I’ll be damned if I ever let her go again.

  “Shh. I understand, love.” Soothing her, I gently run my hands up and down her back. I knew telling her would upset her. “I was going to tell you tonight, either way. I’m sorry it had to be brought to light with witnesses.” As much as I liked having them here as a buffer, her reaction wouldn’t have changed. She would still be crying in my arms; the only change would be the location. “Not to change the subject or anything, but it’s kind of related—do you still want to take some time off? I’d like to access the records from the police department there, and maybe we could see your parents?”

  It’s my way of asking whether she’s on speaking terms with them or not. I did tell my parents she wasn’t, only because I assume she’s not.

  “You’re shining like a clear crystal, Rhys. What you’re actually asking is if I talk to my parents. Admit it,” she says while twisting around in my arms to face me. As she does so, she elbows me in the stomach, which I’m positive she meant to do.

  “Ouch, you have sharp elbows.” Rubbing my stomach as best as I can without pushing her too far away, I pout and say, “You should kiss it and make it better.”

  “Hell no, I shouldn’t. Your parents are right down the hall—or have you conveniently forgotten the parents you weren’t on speaking terms with until what, an hour ago?”

  “Touché, Tiger Lily.” Caressing her face, I gaze into her amber depths. “I love you. If you don’t feel like answering me now, we can talk about it later. Let’s go back out there. The sooner we finish our talk with them, the sooner I get you home.” I make sure to stress the last word, making sure she knows she isn’t home now, knows she’s home when she’s at our house.

  “Sounds perfect to me, Reese’s Pieces.”

  I help her off the bed and we walk out of her old bedroom to continue merging our past with our present, together.

  My parents spend the next eight days visiting. Eight days.

  It’s eight days of torture. Why? Because by the time they leave every night, we’re both too exhausted to do anything but fall asleep. It’s been nine days since I’ve had anything more than a kiss.

  Normally this wouldn’t bother me. I’ve gone months, even years without sex before, but that was before her.

  Before I knew what I was missing.

  Before my soul knew what it was like to be with its other half.

  Smith has yet to make a move, but I know as soon as I let my defenses down, he’ll slip through. I’ve managed to find someone to work undercover at the rehab facility he’s recovering at, but so far, no word.

  Tossing the papers down on my desk, I stalk out of the back room in search of Tiger Lily. She has both Kendra and Jessica working with her today, so I see no reason why she can’t call off for the rest of the day.

  I feel like taking my girl out on a date.

  We’ve been cooped up for far too long. The only time she goes out in public is when she’s in the store and the one time we were out with my parents. Other than that, we lie low.

  Not tonight.

  “Hey babe, can I talk to you for a minute?”

  “You know you don’t have to ask.” She’s behind the counter checking over some invoices, instantly making me feel bad because normally she’d be doing that type of thing in the back office. I’ve completely taken over every aspect of her life.

  “All right, well how would you like to go out to dinner tonight? Take off for the rest of the evening? I’m sure the ladies are more than capable of closing up.”

  Kendra eyes me from a nearby display she was straightening up and gives me a thumbs-up.

  At least she agrees with me.

  “Hm.” She looks around her nearly empty store—there’s one customer Jessica is busy assisting. “I guess I could manage that. It would be good practice for when we take a few days away.”

  Yes. Wait—did she say when we take a few days away? We’ve yet to talk about going to Santa Rosa again. My parents being here put off any further discussion, firmly closing the subject; it’s not just my sex life they messed with.

  “Great. Let’s go. We can go wherever you wish, but I get to pick what we do after.” Winking at her, I hope she knows exactly what I mean.

  “Again with the wink. Ugh. When will you stop?” She’s laughing, and I know she still likes it. Check off another win for me—I take my victories where I can get them.

  “Ready whenever you are,” I say while holding my hand out to her.

  “Oh, you meant t
o leave right now, now?”

  “Yeah, it’s nearly four and the ladies clearly can handle the crowds. We deserve some alone time. Dinner out sounded perfect to me.”

  She hesitates; instead of moving toward me, she just stands there. I get it, I do. She’s yet to leave her baby in the hands of someone else (other than Tessa, but she knows her) for any amount of time. She barely knows Kendra, but she does trust her, and that should count for something, right?

  “Come on, be Tiger Lily. She’s fierce. Plus, you deserve the time out, in public.” I add on the last two words to make sure she knows I mean we’ll be eating out, not picking up dinner to eat at home.

  Sighing, she finally reaches for my outstretched hand.

  “There’s my girl.”

  Kendra claps as we walk back to the office to grab Averill’s purse and my keys. It’s like she’s been waiting for this moment since she was hired nearly a month ago—she probably has been.

  “Why does it feel weird to be leaving my store while it’s open?”

  “Probably because you’ve never done it before?” I question, because truthfully, I don’t know if that’s actually the case—I don’t know what she did before we came back into each other’s lives.

  “Nope, I’ve never done it. It’s…oddly freeing.” She stops in the middle of the sidewalk, releases my hand, and twirls around in a circle. “This is exciting, Rhys. And we’re going out in public. I don’t know which part excites me more.”

  “Wanna know the best part?”

  “There’s more?” She stops mid-twirl to observe me.

  “You bet.” Making sure to hold her stare, I lick my bottom lip and slowly bite it. “Dessert.”

  “Forget about dinner in public, take me home—now.”

  Our gazes stay connected as she grabs for my hand, which I grant her. Taking hers, I press it onto my impressive erection.

  “He can wait. Let’s go eat, baby.”

  Not giving a shit that we’re in the middle of the sidewalk on a public street, she leaves her hand there for several seconds before turning it around and linking our fingers together.

  “How about for dinner, I suck your cock?”