The Officer's Runaway Wife and Secret Son novel Chapter 457

Rhys got home at five in the afternoon.

"You're back," Clara said from the sofa, a book in her hands.

Rhys slipped into his slippers, took off his overcoat, and hung it on the rack. He walked over and sat down beside her. "Yeah. Is it a little late?"

Clara turned a page. "Busy at the station?"

"Ran into a couple of old colleagues. We chatted for a bit longer than I expected."

Rhys's answer was perfectly natural.

Clara didn't reply, but her nose twitched slightly.

Besides the chill of the outdoors, he'd brought back the faint scent of coffee beans.

She'd been to the station enough times to know what it was like. The desks of those cops, who were constantly working overtime and pulling all-nighters, were always piled high with instant coffee. No one there had the time or inclination to be grinding fresh coffee beans.

It was easy to narrow down the list of people who could get Rhys to sit and chat in a coffee shop for an entire afternoon.

When he met up with his old teammates, their usual haunts were dive bars or cheap diners. The only people who would arrange to meet in a café, and then talk for a whole afternoon, were Daniel and his circle.

He had agreed far too readily, without a hint of the usual disappointment at being left at home.

For the past few days, whenever she'd suggested going out, Rhys would find all sorts of excuses to tag along, or he'd look at her with those restrained, wounded eyes.

When something seems too good to be true, it usually is.

Clara looked away, deciding to play along.

Whatever it was, she'd have her answer tomorrow.