Page 23 of Surprisingly Us

I expect him to throw it in my face or smirk as he walks by with her, but instead, he’s engaged in conversation as he helps her toward the door.

“There are a few steps here, but I’ll help you down them, okay?” I hear him say.

I’m tempted to watch them all the way out the entrance to the hotel, but then I remember I need to get her purse.

Luckily, I find it at her table, then move as quickly as I can in this flowy dress out to the front of the hotel.

A few feet away, Rhys is guarding the open car door where Aunt Maggie appears to already be loaded inside.

“Got it!” I wave the purse as I rush toward him.

Rhys smiles and all the signals in my brain get confused.

I’m normally light on my feet and graceful, but these three-inch heels don’t care about my reputation as a dancer. Their thin ankle straps are not the supportive laces I’m used to and the moment I step down onto the sidewalk, midstride, I lose my footing and launch forward.

For that split second, I’m free falling, and my stomach nosedives. My body braces for the hard concrete landing, but it never comes. A strong arm wraps around my waist, pulling me upward.

“I got you, Princess.” His husky words tickle my ear.

He lifts me up and spins me around to face him, but he doesn’t let go of his hold on my waist. His body is firm and warm, his scent spicy and luxurious. Those intense hazel eyes of his drop to my lips. With his arm still around me, holding me close, Rhys’s hand lifts toward my face.

Is he going to kiss—

His fingertips brush away a loose strand of hair that I didn’t realize was stuck to my lips.

“Your hair—"

“Thanks.” It comes out more breathless than I intended.

After what feels like forty-seven minutes of staring into his gorgeous face, Rhys releases me.

I clear my throat and press my hands against my dress to make sure everything is in order. “How’s Maggie?"

“She’s already passed out,” he says.

“Oh, no. Is she breathing?”

“You tell me.”

I duck my head inside the car to find Aunt Maggie sprawled across the seat, snoring loudly.

When I move to get in the car, I realize with Maggie lying down, the three of us won’t fit across the seat.

“How should we—" I begin, but Rhys scoops me up around the waist and pulls me into his lap. I make an elegantoofsound as I crash into his hard body.

“Problem solved.” He shuts the door before I can protest.

“Seatbelt?” I ask.

“Is that necessary right now?” He motions to our shared seat.

“Yes. Safety is always important. And if we get in an accident, I’m your human shield.”

He pulls the seatbelt over his shoulder, then across my body, where I take it from him to buckle it.

“There,” I say, satisfied, until I realize that now I’m strapped to Rhys. Rhys’s hard, muscular body that’s warm and like Aunt Maggie confirmed, smells divine.What have I done?

But the driver is already pulling away from the curb.

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