Page 64 of Flare

“Read your list,” he taunted. “I included ahell yeahset of free-pass options to get us started.” He winked and my mouth turned to dust, although the slight waver in his smile told me he was possibly more nervous about the whole idea than he was letting on.

“Jesus, Rhys.” I swallowed hard and shifted into drive. “How the hell am I supposed to focus now?”

He leaned across and ran a finger up my chin. “You’re drooling.” Then he shoved his finger between my lips and I met it with my tongue, my foot easing on the brake as I pulled the car up to the first set of lights. “But I’m comforted to know you have my best interests at heart.” He popped it free and then sucked on it himself while I turned to watch, hoping the lights stayed red just a little longer as his eyes fixed on me and blew black.

Holy smokes. How the ever-loving fuck was this suddenly my life?

If this was Rhys with a few hang-ups to work around, I wasn’t at all sure I’d be ready for the fully loaded version anytime soon. Just as well we were taking it slow.

Slow?

Good god. The man needed a new fucking dictionary.

“The lights are green, babe.” He smirked and I jerked my gaze back around, moving the car forward as Rhys settled in his seat with a happy hum. “Lead on,boyfriend. I’m entirely at your mercy.”

I highly fucking doubted that.

* * *

“You took Rhys to mini golf?” Jack’s horrified expression said it all. “For a first date? And then you brought him to dinner with your nephew?” He shook his head to emphasise his disapproval. “We really, really need to have a talk, Uncle Beck. You’ve got to up your game. How did you ever get laid?”

“Jesus, Jack.” I eyeballed my nephew. “You’re sixteen.”

“And probably getting more action than you.” He grinned and waggled his fork at me.

My mouth dropped open. “What in the hell does that mean?”

He sent me a sly look. “Most of the boys might be dicks, but a couple of theitgirls saw the fight last week and they were pissed about it. They’ve started talking to me and it’s helpingupmy cool factor. I’m playing the sympathy angle.” He tapped his temple with his finger.

Good Lord. “You better behave. I don’t care if you’re legal, remember what I said.”

He sighed. “Yeah, yeah. Respect, consent, protect.”

“All three, got it?”

He nodded. “Now, can we move on? I want to hear more about thisdate.” He made air quotes.

“Well.” Rhys leaned into Jack, his brown eyes twinkling as he helped himself to another serving of the mash and mince goulash Jack had made us for dinner. “It wasn’tonlymini golf, oh no. After I whipped your uncle’s arse at that, we ate hokey pokey ice creams and watched the planes take off and land at the airport.” He looked over and covered my hand with his. “It was very romantic.”

“Hey, those ice creams weren’t cheap,” I huffed. “And I’ll have you know Iletyou whip my arse, ‘Mr I’ve Never Played Before, Whatever Shall I Do’ Hellier. Never played, like hell. You could go pro. Still, I could’ve taken you down any time I wanted. It’s called chivalry.”

“Oh, is that what it’s called?” Rhys laughed. “Good to know. Silly me. And here I was thinking you hit the second highest score for the most strokes needed to finish the game because you simply sucked that badly.”

Jack snorted mash potato out his nose and I shoved a serviette into his hand.

“I was had,” I grumbled to Jack. “The man is a mini golf prodigy.”

“Right,” Rhys scoffed. “It’s all that spare time I have to lower my handicap.”

“Exactly.” I stabbed my fork at him. “I never had a chance.”

Jack shovelled another forkful of mash into his mouth and shook his head in despair. “There is so much work to do, Uncle Beck. So much.”

“Well, I had a wonderful day.” Rhys held my gaze. “Best date ever.”

“Don’t encourage him.” Jack jabbed his fork my way. “Next time he’ll take you to some eighties band you’ve never heard of and embarrass you by singing all the words.”

“Once.” I laughed. “It happened once. And you’d only been here a week and I already had the tickets. Rafe gave his up just so you could go. Plus, it was a Split Enz review.Everyoneknew the words.”

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