Impulse (Billionaire Secrets 5)

“It tastes disgusting.” Simon’s lips twitched.

“So, why do you drink it?” Finn asked.

“To steel our nerves.” Simon served some of the fish onto Heather’s plate and then served himself.

She laughed. “Simon, he’s not going to know what that means.” She leaned closer to him to give him a quick kiss on the cheek. “Besides, what do you need to steel your nerves for?”

He gave her a look that she couldn’t read. Was he still grappling with all the pain his father had caused him? Simon had seemed to be doing better on this vacation, but maybe memories were coming back to him.

All she wanted was for him to be happy, and it crushed her to know that his father had tried to ruin his happiness. Their happiness. Because, if Simon wasn’t happy she wasn’t happy. She loved him too much to believe otherwise.

He smiled a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “I didn’t think we’d catch so many fish,” Simon finally replied.

Apprehension tugged at her insides. Something was off. During the past few weeks he hadn’t held back. Hadn’t kept a single thing from her. Until now.

“Are you okay?” she asked softly. Worry made her wonder if someone from Dover had called about work. Neither of them had been to work since that night in the park, though they had worked from home. This vacation was a chance to recharge without any distractions from work or the press.

The press had been insatiable after Simon had told the truth about his father. Lying wasn’t going to do them any good, so they had decided to come clean about the hoax. If Simon hadn’t decided to drop charges, the police would have arrested his father.

And on top of all that chaos, the documentary film crew was now hard at work adding details of the fake kidnapping to the documentary. The producers seemed to relish all the drama the hoax had created. Even investors seemed to love it, making Dover’s stocks surprisingly go up. The documentary producers had managed to convince some very unscrupulous internet trolls that Onslow’s behavior had been some sort of bizarre anti-capitalist performance art. All of which Dover had spun to the company’s advantage.

That kind of craziness had made a vacation absolutely necessary. She hoped the pressure wasn’t finally getting to him.

Simon took a sip of his wine. “I’m fine, Heather.”

“Are you gonna ask her?” Finn whispered loudly. “Are you gonna ask her?”

She raised an eyebrow. “Finn, what on earth are you talking about?”

Her son clamped his tiny hand over his mouth, trying to suppress a giggle to no avail. “Nothing.”

Both Simon and Finn were acting very strangely, but maybe it was a guy thing. As strange as their behavior seemed, her heart warmed at seeing them get along so well. Simon being such a positive presence in Finn’s life filled her with so much happiness.

After dinner, Simon and Finn helped clear the table.

“How about we go for a walk?” Simon suggested. “We can watch the sunset.”

“That’s a wonderful idea.” She smiled, excited to go on a romantic walk with him.

“I’m coming, too!” Finn exclaimed.

“Of course you are.” She leaned down to kiss the top of her son’s head. “We wouldn’t leave you behind all alone.”

Once she slipped into some comfy shoes they all headed out, making their way to the seashore. The salty air was invigorating, and she hoped that they’d spend more vacations at Cold Springs in the future. It was a nice out-of-the-way place that Simon had found. The area had a lake on one end, and the ocean on the other. Just a few days ago they had gone whale-spotting and Finn had been thrilled to see some of the whales.

Right now, the sun was setting behind pink and gold clouds. The Cold Springs lighthouse loomed over them, its white tower gleaming in the orange glow of the sun. She looked up to stare at the lighthouse, remembering that one of the brochures had said it was over one hundred years old.

“It’s beautiful,” she said, holding Finn’s hand.

“It sure is.” Simon looked up at the lighthouse and wrapped his arm around her. “You know, it makes me think of all the ships that have gotten to shore safely because of its light.”

“Lighthouse

s were built to protect people,” she said softly. “To warn them of danger. To guide them safely home. Imagine, something being built just to make sure that strangers are safe. It’s like a public act of love.” She laughed. “Sheesh, how cheesy does that sound?”

“That doesn’t make it any less true.” He gazed at her, and the look on his face almost took her breath away.

She tried to tell herself it was the ocean air that was making it hard to breathe, but she knew better. His eyes were burning with the same fire and intensity of the setting sun. His face as calm as the waves of the ebbing tide. The love that seemed to radiate from him made her feel as safe and secure as any lighthouse could.