Page 54 of Just What She Needed

"Couple of minutes more, then you can have some."

Lilith leaned her hip on the counter and sighed. "I still think it's crappy that Granny's in Florida instead of here. I mean, she missed Thanksgiving because she was in Atlanta with Patsy, and now Christmas, too. Let Patsy go visit her family by her own self and let Granny be with us."

"I miss her, too. But I don't begrudge her the chance to get away." Rhett turned the heat to low and popped a lid on the skillet. "This is the first time since before I was born that your granny's been able to travel and meet new people. Let her have fun."

Lilith gave her mother a long look over the rim of the coffee mug. "You're sure she's not mad at you and Mel for living here instead of staying in Claiborne or something?"

Rhett pulled a long oven mitt onto one hand. "Scoot back so I can open the oven door. No, she's not mad." She pulled the pan of biscuits out and placed it on a waiting trivet. "I kind of think she was a little envious when I moved here, to tell you the truth. Maybe she saw me getting out of that small town and starting to have fun and decided to try it herself. She and Patsy sure don't stay home much these days."

"No kidding." Lilith eyed the golden, flaky biscuits. "Do I have to wait until Brendan and Mel wake up before I can eat?"

Laughing, Rhett kissed her daughter's forehead. "It's Christmas, kiddo. You can eat whatever and whenever you want." Her cell phone chimed from her back pocket, and she pulled it out to see a video call coming in. There was only one person who would call her this early on Christmas morning, and her heart gave a pleasurable little thump. "I'm going to go take this in my room, okay?"

Lilith snickered. "Tell Rhys I said Merry Christmas."

Rhett hurried into the living room and answered the call. "Merry Christmas, you."

"And Happy Christmas to you, too." Rhys's beautiful face smiled up at her from the screen of her cell phone. "Why are you out of breath?"

"Because I'm about halfway running to my bedroom. Can I call you right back?"

"Um ..." He looked rather dumbfounded at the request, and Rhett bit back laughter.

"Really, just stay right there, and I'll call you right back."

"All right then." He cocked a brow. "But I'll want an explanation."

"You'll get one. 'Bye." Rhett ended the call as she entered her bedroom. After shutting the door behind her, she grabbed her laptop and stretched out on the bed with it. A few clicks of the mouse, and Rhys was back in front of her.

"What was that all about?"

Rhett settled herself in a more comfortable position on the pillows. "I was on my phone before, and I wanted to see you full size on my computer screen, that's all." She grinned at the pleased look he tried to hide. "You're too hot to be relegated to a cell phone."

And, oh, he was hella hot smiling at her from halfway around the world. His hair was mussed, and he sported a day's growth of facial hair that lent him a tough vibe that made her motor run.

"You keep flattering me like that and I'll not be able to get through the door."

"Not flattery," she said. "Truth. So, how's Brighton?"

"London, actually. We're having Christmas at my sister's this year since there's more room here than either my mum or dad have. How's Dallas?"

"Still the way you left it."

His lips pulled up in an almost wistful smile. "I've found myself getting a bit homesick the past few weeks. Seems like an eternity until I can be there again."

Rhett could not have agreed more. Illicit would be touring the States beginning in January, but their concert at American Airlines Center in Dallas wasn't scheduled until the end of April.

"Yeah. I kind of miss you." If she kept that up, she was going to get teary. That wasn't something she wanted him to see, so she changed the subject. "Was Santa Claus good to you this year?"

"He was very good to me. And would you mind explaining how he managed to sneak a gift from you into my luggage?"

She laughed at his wry expression. "You're doubting the abilities of a guy who can squeeze down chimneys all over the world in one short night?"

"Ha ha. You can imagine my surprise when I arrived at my flat here yesterday, opened my suitcase and found a brightly wrapped package with a tag that read 'To Rhys, with love from Rhett.' I know for damn sure I didn't pack it in there myself. How the hell did you do that?"

Pleased with the success of her surprise, she relented. "It was Ross. I kind of stole his number off your phone and worked it out with him before y'all left the States. I sent the package to him while y'all were rehearsing in California, and he dragged it with him until the other night when he snuck it into your luggage." An attack of nerves hit her, and she bit down gently on the inside of her lower lip. "Did you open it yet?"

"Last night." His smile warmed her and abated the nerves somewhat. "It's perfect."