While she focused on seasoning the chicken at the kitchen counter, her father was busy chopping vegetables for a salad at another counter. Behind Heather, her mother was fixing a quick snack for Finn to eat to hold him over until dinner was served.
After a long day, she welcomed spending time with her parents and her son. Especially since lying to Simon earlier today had taken such an emotional toll.
Drew had dropped by her office to give her some more documents that might help with the investigation. He had been good enough to keep her updated on his efforts, but that just meant that her secrets were piling up. That was why she had avoided Simon all week. If she didn’t have to see him, she wouldn’t have to lie to him about working with Drew.
But then Simon had showed up and she had been a stammering, stuttering mess. Of course, her attempt at keeping the secret of Drew’s involvement with the investigation had been a disaster. She had never been a good liar, especially if that meant lying to the people she cared about.
A loud banging on the front door made her jump in surprise. She frowned. They weren’t expecting anyone. “I’ll go see who it is.”
After she quickly wiped her hands, she rushed to the front door and opened it.
Simon was standing at the threshold. His dark hair was deliciously tousled like he’d been running, and he had the grimmest expression on his handsome face.
She gasped in surprise at finding him at her door. “Simon? What are you doing here? Is everything all right?”
“Are you dating Drew?” he demanded.
Her mouth fell open. That was the last thing she’d expected him to say. “What on earth?”
“I’m not angry if you’ve been seeing him,” he said gently. “I just need to know the truth.”
“The truth...” Her breathing hitched as she contemplated actually lying to his face. It was clear that the evasive tactics she had used earlier at work weren’t going to fly. Not by that anguished look on his face.
Simon was hurting so much she could almost feel it. He wasn’t angry. Just dealing with a pain that had been familiar to her for years. For years she had carried that heart-rending anguish over their breakup inside her heart. Now he looked like he was in pain.
But how could that be? She knew he had strong feelings for her, but surely not as intense as her feelings had been for him back when they were in high school. Simon was a cool, calm, measured man. It wasn’t like him to have such depths of feeling. Such passion.
When she didn’t respond he turned away from her, breathing heavily. “I know it’s none of my business. We haven’t decided to be exclusive, but I’ve been faithful to you this whole time.” He turned back to her, his jaw clenched like he was struggling to hold what was left of his emotions in check.
“If it’s none of your business, why do you want to know?” she asked, stalling for time.
“Wouldn’t you want to know?” he demanded, his voice tormented. “This isn’t childish jealousy, Heather. I can’t stand to see you with another man. I literally cannot stand it.” He paused, his torment turning into a something far more commanding. “Don’t date Drew. Stop seeing him.”
“We’re not officially together, Simon—”
“I love you, dammit.” He raked his hands through his dark hair and pulled away from her.
“No, I meant you and I aren’t officially together,” she said breathlessly, unable to keep the secret anymore. “Drew means nothing to me. He’s helping me with the investigation, nothing more.”
Her heart started to pound so wildly in her chest it was a miracle she couldn’t hear it. Had Simon just said that he loved her?
Hope flashed in his eyes. “You’re not seeing Drew?”
“Did you just...did you just say that you love me?” She took a step towards him, her entire body tingling with an electric heat she had never felt before.
“Of course, I love you.” His chest was heaving as his breathing grew heavier. “I love you so much I can’t stand to be away from you. I don’t know how I survived ten years away from you, because right now I don’t think I could last ten minutes without you, Heather.”