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.”