Impulse (Billionaire Secrets 5)

“No, she’s right, Simon.” His father swiped at his eyes and put the photo back. “I’ve overstayed my welcome. Time for me to leave.”

“Wait. No.” Simon held up his hands as his father slowly stood up. “You just got here.”

“I really should be getting home,” his father said.

“Where do you live?” Simon asked.

“I’m crashing on a

friend’s couch.” His father stared at the floor, as if he was too ashamed to meet his gaze. “I don’t have a place for myself.”

Simon knew that he was about to go out on a limb. After all these years it was probably a risk to let his father back into his life, but now that he had seen him again he didn’t want to close the door on them. Not yet. Not until he got some answers at least.

“Dad, don’t leave. Please,” Simon said. “I’d like you to stay.”

Chapter 2

Simon was making a mistake. In her heart, Heather knew he was going to end up regretting this decision.

“Stay?” she demanded with a gasp. “What do you mean?”

“Dad, why don’t you come stay here with me?”

“Here in your apartment?” His father frowned. “I don’t want to intrude on your life, son.”

“You wouldn’t be,” Simon insisted. “Besides, I own all the other apartments in the building, so you can stay in any one of them.”

Heather wanted to intervene and stop Simon before he got burned by his father, but she didn’t know how to do that without being totally rude. She might have been able to point out Onslow’s flaws, but she really couldn’t very well tell Simon not to trust his father right in front of him.

“I’d still feel pretty rotten about imposing on your space like that,” Onslow said. “Actually, I was just on my way to checking into a hotel for the rest of my stay in Seattle. My friend needs his space now that I’ve been on his couch for so many weeks.”

“Well, why don’t I help you get settled into your room at the hotel?” Simon offered. “Which one were you going to stay in?”

“Stay in? Uh...” Onslow started to pat himself down, searching for something. “Shoot. I thought I had my wallet with me, but all I’ve got is some loose change. Must have left the darn thing at my buddy’s house. Luckily I haven’t actually made a room reservation yet.”

“Don’t worry about that,” Simon said. “I’ll pay for your hotel room. The Covington always gives me a room when I want one, even on short notice.”

She almost choked. The Covington was by far the best hotel in town. It was the playground of dignitaries and the exceedingly wealthy. One night there was the equivalent of the average person’s monthly wage. With narrowed eyes she focused her attention on Onslow, looking for any telltale signs that he was up to no good. In less than an hour he had managed to get a fancy hotel room without breaking a sweat.

“Simon, surely your father hadn’t planned on staying there.” She let out a breathless laugh, too apprehensive to do anything else.

“You heard him,” Simon said. “He left his wallet. I don’t mind helping him out for a few days. You don’t mind, do you, Dad?”

“I don’t mind if you don’t,” Onslow replied. “I appreciate your generosity, son.”

“There’s a restaurant at the hotel as well, so we’ll get ice cream for Finn,” Simon said. “I can drive us all down to the hotel.”

Her heart warmed. As unsettled as she was by his father’s sudden appearance, knowing that Simon was still thinking of her son eased some of the turmoil she was feeling. Maybe she was being too hard on his father. After all, Onslow was actually trying now; and Simon was still looking out for Finn, unlike her ex-husband.

“Thanks, Simon.” She got up and padded towards the guest bedroom. “I’ll go get Finn.”

Twenty minutes later they were all freshened up and piling into Simon’s electric car. Heather sat in the back with Finn, letting Simon’s dad sit up front.

When they got to the Covington they all walked to the front desk to help Simon’s father check in. The lobby was expansive, glittering, with a gigantic crystal chandelier shining down on them.

“Hot damn, I’ve never been in a hotel this fancy before,” Onslow said as Simon made arrangements with the receptionist.

“It takes some getting used to,” she said.