The Heirs: The Murphy Sweetheart

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Emery

After Rhys and I kiss, I wake up feeling rejuvenated and giddy. I want to call Mila, but it's the middle of the night back home, so I enjoy reveling in the fact that the kiss is my little secret for just a little while longer. I roll around my hotel bed, squealing to myself.

I get ready for the day. Rhys is currently meeting with some of Cal's soldiers to talk business and then he's taking me to the botanical gardens before our flight back to the States. I throw on a cute outfit and brush my hair out, playing and replaying the world's most perfect first kiss.

I want to do it again.

And again.

And then some.

I have no idea where we stand, but I feel more hopeful about where we are than I ever have. Maybe it's only because I finally broke him down, but I'm not complaining.

There's a knock on my door a little after 10. I open the door and can't fight my smile when I see Rhys standing there, looking handsome in a suit.

"Hi," I smile, feeling my cheeks burn.

"Hi."

He looks me up and down and lingers on the dip in my shirt, exposing just a slight amount of cleavage. His eyes move up to mine and he surprises me even more when he leans in for a kiss. I grab his tie and pull him further into me. He chuckles as our lips meet. He tastes sweet and when he groans into my mouth it takes everything in me not to pull him deeper into the hotel room and have my way with him.

Rhys breaks our kiss, smiling almost dopily at me.

"Are you ready to go?" he asks.

I nod excitedly. We make our way down to the car. Rhys tells me about his meeting, that he'll be dropping me off in Boston before heading to New York to handle this business with the Donnellys.

"I can go with you to New York," I suggest.

"Too dangerous."

"Rhys, I can handle myself," I say, giving him a look.

Rhys sighs a bit, turning to me. "I know you can. But this isn't that kind of trip."

"Oh."

"I just want to make sure you stay safe."

"Alright then. Well, if there's anything I can do from my end..." I say.

Rhys smiles a bit, "Always so helpful, aren't you?"

I shrug. "I like to feel useful."

"You're more than useful to me, Emmy. You're vital."

He says it so casually that I know he means it. I feel my heart warm at his statement but hardly have time to process it as we pull up to the botanical gardens. It's a cloudy day and looks about ready to rain, so we only have so much time. Plus, our flight leaves soon. But I have to do some sort of sightseeing before we left.

We step out of the car and Rhys shocks the hell out of me when he takes my hand, weaving our fingers together. As soon as he does it, it feels like the most natural thing in the world. My heart expands tenfold.

I feel so different with him already than I ever did with Harrison. The way Rhys walks with me, just a slight pace behind, letting me lead but also watching my back – makes me feel so protected and cherished. This almost feels like a real date. We walk around and he lets me check out all the plants and flowers. They're absolutely stunning.