Freedom (Billionaire Secrets 2)

For a second, she had thought he was going through her stuff for some reason, but that was crazy. She had dozed off, which made her brain get all foggy. Of course, Simon wasn’t looking through her things. She trusted him completely. It was obvious he was only trying to help her after her terrible fight with Gary.

“Thank you.” She yawned, took the phone from him, and checked her messages. “It’s a text from my mom. My parents just picked up Finn.”

“You sure you don’t want me to drive you over to your folks’ place?” He resumed his seat beside her.

His hair was deliciously disheveled, and his clothes were still a little rumpled. Her face heated. They had been so hot for each other that neither of them had taken the time to get out of their clothes before they’d had sex on the sofa. Simon brought out a side of her that she hadn’t even known existed. She felt so free around him. So alive.

She shook her head. “I’d have to explain things to Finn, and that might be a little complicated at the moment.”

“I’ll drop you off at work, then, so you can get your car,” he said.

“That would be great,” she said. “Thank you so much, Simon. I’m sorry we didn’t get any, uh, actually work done.”

“It’s fine. How’re you feeling?” he asked her.

She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his for a brief kiss. The sensation of his mouth on hers sent a tingle through her body. “After what we did on your sofa? Pretty good.”

He laughed. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”

“Sounds like it was a real sacrifice for you.” She giggled.

Simon dragged his thumb across her bottom lip and held her gaze. “Pleasuring you is definitely not a sacrifice.”

Heart skipped a beat. “I...” Her mind was in a haze and she couldn’t get the words out. Didn’t know how to respond to that. The fact that Simon hadn’t gotten tired of her made her pulse start to race.

But then, she remembered what Gary had said to her earlier today. You’re just a thrill to a guy like him. And when the thrill is gone, he’ll toss you aside.

Her old insecurities were always there. Waiting for her. Ready to remind her that Simon was out of her league. That she couldn’t do better than Gary and didn’t deserve to.

What if she really was merely a puzzle to Simon? Something to discard once he’d solved it?

“Are you okay?” Simon asked, his voice laced with concern for her.

“I have a lot on my mind,” she said softly.

“I understand,” Simon said. “Anything you want to talk about?”

“It’s just something Gary said,” she murmured. “He thinks you’ll get bored with me. Get tired of me.”

“Are you kidding?” Simon took her hands in his. “I’ve wanted you since we were kids. I know I left you behind to go to school, but I never stopped wanting you, Heather. Never stopped thinking about you. I’ve been crazy about you since I was twelve years old.”

“So, you do want a relationship with me?” she asked.

“Yes, I do,” he said. “I don’t know what it will look like, but I’m ready to give us a chance.”

Hope was forming in her, but she was still so afraid of letting the hope in after all these years of loneliness. Because her marriage to Gary really had been lonely. But this relationship with Simon barely existed right now. It was so new. So easily destroyed. Besides, she was keeping secrets from him. Secrets she couldn’t tell even if she wanted to. Which was why it seemed crazy to hope, under the circumstances, but his words gave her a courage she had never felt before.

“There are still so many obstacles we have to deal with,” she pointed out. “Dover, the media, my son, my ex-husband. Are you sure you want to deal with all that?”

“For you, I’d deal with all of that and more,” he said.

“Well, if that’s the case, I’m looking forward to our talk next week.” She smiled. “Maybe we can come up with a plan for how to work things out.”

“I’m sure we can,” he said. “Do you want something to eat before we head back out? I’ve got some food in the fridge if you’re hungry.”