One King's Way (On Dublin Street #6.5)(27)

As much as it might make him a bit of a dick, Craig had always been more fascinated by a woman’s body than her face. But there was a first time for everything, and as beautiful as her body was, Craig was mesmerized by Rain’s face.

He watched her sleep for a while, and as the clock on her dresser ticked quietly, forcing time along, Craig knew with a bone-deep certainty that he could watch Rain sleep forever and never be bored.

Years ago, before his dad died, Craig got up in the middle of the night to get a glass of water and found his mum asleep on the couch, lit up only by the fire glowing in the fireplace. His dad was sitting in the armchair opposite just watching her sleep.

He’d gestured to Craig to be quiet and followed him into the kitchen.

“What are you doing?” Craig had whispered in teenage boy confusion.

“Just watching your mum sleep.”

“Why?”

His dad had given him this knowing, secretive smile. “Because I like to watch her sleep. One day, son, you’ll know you’re in love when you can sit and watch your woman sleep for hours and never bore of it.”

At the time he remembered thinking he’d be lucky if he found what his parents had found in each other, although he’d never have said something so sappy out loud. But his dad seemed to know what he was thinking anyway, giving him that smile again before ruffling his hair and sending him back to his bed.

Craig felt a well of emotion rise up in his throat at the memory. His dad had been gone a long time and he’d made peace with that loss a long time ago too. But there were moments when the grief was sharper, tasting more bitter some days than others.

Like now, when he’d just realized he’d fallen in love for the first time and his dad would never get to meet the woman he loved.

The urge to wake Rain up and tell her he loved her was so strong he had to physically hold himself back from doing it. Rain was skittish and he knew she had her reasons, so he’d be patient. He’d wait for the right time to tell her that he was crazy about her.

A sound in the distance drew his attention. A vibrating noise. Coming from the hallway.

It took him a moment to realize it was his phone in the pocket of the jeans he’d discarded in the hallway last night.

Trying not to wake Rain, Craig slipped out of bed and crept out into the hall. He found his phone and discovered a missed call from his mum.

He shoved on his boxers and jeans and called her back.

“You alright?” he asked quietly.

“Aye, I just haven’t heard from you in a couple of days . . . and well . . . I was a bit worried you’re upset about me and Drew?”

Craig flinched. Her question was just bad timing considering his dad was on his mind. It was strange to think of his mum with some other man, especially knowing how much his dad had loved her, but he also knew it wasn’t fair to begrudge his mum companionship. “Not at all, Mum.”

“Why are you whispering?”

“I’m not whispering. I’m just being quiet.”

“Why?”

He glanced down the hall at Rain’s bedroom door. “Because I’m with the reason you haven’t heard from me in a couple of days.”

“Oh?” She sounded curious and also like she was trying not to sound hopeful.

Craig grinned. “I’ve found her, Mum.”

His mother sucked in her breath and after a few seconds of silence said, “You’re not messing with me?”

“Nope.”

“Craig,” she said excitedly. “That’s wonderful. What’s her name? What does she do? What’s she like? Where did you meet her? When do I get to meet her?”

He laughed softly so as not to wake Rain and wandered into the living room where she’d have less chance of hearing him if she was awake. “Her name is Rain Alexander. She owns her own clothing company. She’s amazing, she makes me laugh, and she’s absolutely stunning. I met her at work a few weeks ago. And she’s a wee bit shy about getting serious with me because she’s been hurt in the past so I’m taking it slow, which means it’ll be a while yet before you meet her. But as soon as she’s ready I’ll bring her around for dinner.”

“You sound happy,” his mum said, and he heard the tenderness in her voice. “I’m glad for you, son.”

“Aye, I know. Me too.”

“Well I’ll let you go. Tell Rain I said hi!”

He chuckled. “I will do. I love you, Mum.”

“I love you too.”

He hung up and turned around, surprised to find Rain leaning against the doorway wearing nothing but his shirt, and it was all buttoned up wrong so he could see plenty of skin. Unbelievably, after all their antics the night before, he wanted her again.

She gave him a small smile. “That was sweet.”

“What was?”

“You telling your mum you loved her like that.”

“I said it because it’s true and it makes her happy to hear it.”

“Oh.” She shivered in exaggeration and pouted her lips comically. “You’re making me want you again.”

He laughed. “Are you mocking me?”

Rain gave a light laugh and shook her head. “In all honesty, no. I think you’re charming, Craig Lanaghan.”

He felt her words sink into his chest and clutch on hard. “Mum says hi.”