For Both Are Infinite (Hearts in London Book 1) by Stephanie Alba Page A

his eyes and pushed his lips into a slight pucker as if he was contemplating something or analyzing me. It made me uncomfortable, knowing he fully understood my questioning, and it got worse when he opened his mouth. “Did you think I was on a date?”
    “No,” I laughed, extremely mortified. “I was just making conversation. That’s your business, Rhys.”
    The corners of his thin lips rose in the most spirited way and I knew he didn’t believe me. Why would he? My cheeks were red hot. We sat quietly for a few moments, glancing at the televisions by the bar. When I looked back for a second I saw his expression had turned serious again.
    “Since you revealed your circumstances to me, I thought of a few things I wanted to ask you…but I don’t want to overstep.”
    At this point he knew the worst, so I didn’t see harm in new questions. I secretly loved that he wanted to ask about me, that he was interested in who I was. Nobody had cared about me after Aaron died, they only cared about the loss, the experience, but not how I actually was or even who I became in the after math.
    “You can ask me anything.”
    He seemed torn as he stared at my mouth, unsure if he wanted to push the conversation in that direction. “Have you dated anyone since Aaron?”
    Not what I expected . “No, no one.”
    “Do you ever hope to?”
    This was hard to think about. I had pushed Aaron out of my mind the last few days as I became preoccupied with Rhys, and it tortured my guilt-ridden heart. I couldn’t imagine how it would be if I actually dated someone.
    “That’s a complicated answer. I haven’t wanted to really, but I also don’t prefer the idea of being alone forever. I guess I’m not over the fear of loss and it keeps me from getting close to someone. I still don’t understand why Aaron was taken from me so early. I know people die, and nothing lasts forever, but I didn’t think our time would be so limited.” I paused to drink some water, anything to prolong his gorgeous eyes staring at me.
    “I see families and it’s the worst. I see these strangers and all I really see is Aaron and the kids we wanted. At this point I can’t even imagine kids because I consider them losing me and that scares the shit out of me.”
    “That’s completely understandable,” he said, looking down. His eyes acquired a certain sorrow in them and I could tell he didn’t want me to notice. “I haven’t suffered that kind of loss, but I can’t imagine living after that. I think you’re doing a fantastic job though: you’ve moved, started afresh, you have this great job in a city full of promise. Perhaps Aaron seems far from your heart, but I think he’s sending things your way.”
    Unbelievable. He was unbelievable and all I could do was stare back. Rhys’ smile crept up his face nervously, almost as if he worried he’d gone too far.
    “You may be right,” I grinned. “Aaron was always my biggest cheerleader and he knew this was an end goal. Maybe I lost him but gained something in the end.”
    Shortly after, our pizza arrived and we ate in comfortable silence. He treated me for lunch again and there was no point fighting it. On our way back to campus Rhys mentioned that he wouldn’t mind meeting somewhere else since I was on vacation. “Where did you have in mind?” I asked.
    “I don’t know, it’s London; there are infinite possibilities. We could go to the park? Saying my lines outside might be fun.”
    He was filled with enthusiasm and an excitable grin took over his face. It was seriously the sexiest smile I’d ever seen, not just because he was gorgeous, but because there was nothing but pure, unadulterated joy in his expression. And he’d been talking about time with me .
    “Okay, let’s do that.”
    “Great. I’ll bring my binder and we can meet there?”
    “Yeah, sure. I’ll bring my Paris books too. That way you can help me plan my trip for the fall.”
    “That’s a wonderful idea. I really hope