Modern Girl's Guide to One-Night Stands (23 page)

Simon grabbed Julia’s hand and led her around to the side of the house before she could protest. He knew if they had stayed there one more second, he would have beat the shit out of that prick.

Behind them, he could hear Luke saying something about never doing business with his firm again, as if he had that kind of authority. And even if he did, Simon still would have kicked him out. No one had the right to treat a woman that way, and the fact Luke had been doing it to Julia made him see red.

The deck wound around the side of the house and came out to a paved path that went the from the gardens to the boathouse. They were halfway to the boathouse when Julia stumbled on her stilt-like heels. Simon stopped his relentless escape and scowled down at her feet. “How the hell can you even walk in those things?”

“I can’t, really,” she said and started to snicker, then laugh uncontrollably. She kicked off the offending heels. “Those are the most impractical shoes I’ve ever seen. I don’t know what Megan was thinking. If I didn’t trust her, I’d think she was trying to kill me.”

He’d planned to take things slow and see if their online friendship and the animal attraction they’d shared could find a balance. But when she looked up at him through her thick lashes with humor coloring her features, it was all Simon could do not to push her up against one of the trees and devour her.

“I’m so sorry about that back there,” she said. “Luke was being an asshole. I’ll call him next week and try to talk him down. I don’t want you to lose a client over a misunderstanding.”

Simon wasn’t worried about losing Star Atlantic. The marketing team had already approved the package they’d put together and most of the ads were already in place. There was no way they’d change direction this late in the game.

“That was no misunderstanding. He was out of line. Please, don’t call. He doesn’t deserve a second of your time. Besides, I'm the one who should be apologizing,” he said as they continued down the path. “If I’d known Luke Davis was your ex I would have made sure he wasn’t on the invite list. I vaguely remember you saying he was an executive with an airline. I should have asked. But I have to be honest, I’m having a hard time imagining you two together.”

They stepped onto the narrow porch in front of the boathouse and Julia leaned against one of the posts. Her expression was shaded in the low light, but he could tell by the way she drew back, Julia wasn’t comfortable with the subject.

“I’d like to say it was a temporary lack of good judgment, but truthfully, I was lonely and liked Luke’s attention. He was constantly sending me gifts and taking me away on short trips. I thought it was his way of showing affection, but in hindsight I know he was just showing off his wealth.” She shrugged and looked back to the house. "After the accident, I was completely alone. I moved in with my grandmother who was a virtual stranger, and even my friends stopped visiting after I didn't return to school. I craved connection with another person."

“I haven’t known Luke long, but I know enough about him. If he wanted a relationship with you, I’m sure he pulled out all the stops."

“He had me buying the lie. God, I was such an idiot.” Julia shook her head in self-admonishment, causing a cascade of auburn curls to swirl around her face. “I actually convinced myself his control was really love. I trusted him. I trusted us. At least I caught him cheating. It was then I realized that I was just another one of his possessions."

Simon leaned against the railing next to her but still didn’t make contact. They were so close, he could feel the heat coming off her body. All he wanted to do was reach out and pull her into his arms, kiss her until that haunted look left those beautiful eyes.

But he didn’t. He needed to know where they stood before he dared to touch her. Because he knew the moment his hands found her body again, he would be lost.

Clearing his throat, Simon banished thoughts of her body pressed against his. “Don’t be too hard on yourself. Luke is very charming and has a way of knowing exactly what someone needs to hear in order to close a deal. That’s what makes him a good businessman.”

She looked up. Her eyes were narrowed, hidden under long lashes. “From what I hear, you’re a good businessman too. Are you charming and persuasive?”

“I am, but I’m not controlling or manipulative. And I wouldn’t have cheated on you.” He reached out and slipped an errant curl behind her ear. His finger traced down her chin, caressing the soft skin of its own volition. He couldn’t seem to control himself around her. Simon took a step back and got some distance between them. “Megan is waiting for you. I should let you go inside.”

“Aren’t you joining us?”

He thought he heard disappointment in her voice and smiled. “I’ll be down soon. I need to stay a little longer. It would be bad form to leave, since I invited half the people here tonight.” He also needed to make sure Luke had left. “You should go in before Megan drinks all the wine.”

“I suppose you’re right,” she said on a sigh. Julia gathered her skirt, showing off entirely too much of her shapely leg, and started for the front door.

That dress was going to have a starring role in many of his wet dreams from this night on. He followed the leg up to the slight curve of her ass, and further up still, across her exposed back with that damn tattoo, all the way up to the single button at the neck.

If he slipped that button loose, would the dress slide off her body and pool around her feet? Walking close behind her to the door, it took an enormous amount of willpower not to find out.

Julia stopped before opening the door and turned around. “I wanted to tell you how much I’ve enjoyed our chats.” She looked down at the ground to her bare feet, not meeting his gaze.

He loved that she was a bundle of contradictions. Shy, while standing there in a dress that made all the men around her drool. Unsure and timid with him after standing up to Luke in the middle of a crowd.

“I have, too,” he said.

He wanted that easy way they’d chatted online to translate into real life. But every time he was within ten feet of her all thoughts of talking, getting to know her better, took a back seat to his lust. He reached over and slipped that rebellious lock of hair behind her ear again. “I haven’t told you yet how beautiful you look tonight. You were by far the most beautiful.”

She looked up to meet his gaze. There was a hard set to her brow and she frowned. “If anyone saw us leave together, the gossip mill will go wild. Respectable women don’t wear dresses like this. The color alone would make some of those uptight socialites blush. Are you sure you want to be associated with someone like me?”

He didn’t know what made her think that, but he had a pretty good idea it had something to do with Luke. He wanted to throttle the man all over again. Then Simon wanted to kiss her until any doubts Julia had about how much he wanted her were driven out of that pretty head. “I don't really care what people think about us. And that dress. Julia, you look stunning.”

As if reading his thoughts, she closed the gap between them and slid an arm around his neck and kissed him. The initial contact was like an electric jolt to his system. He laced his fingers into her hair and deepened the kiss as his other arm wrapped around her back, finding the bare skin. God, he’d fantasized about this for weeks, but even his hottest fantasies paled in comparison to having her here with him now.

Unbidden, his hand began tracing a path down her skin, sinking into the loose fabric at the small of her back. The thin lace of her thong left most of her ass exposed and he cupped the lovely swell of her backside, pressing her against his hard erection.

She broke the kiss and gasped at his intimate touch, and that was enough to bring him back to reality. This was not how he’d imagined things would play out tonight. He wanted to explore this—whatever the fuck this was—before it got physical. And besides, they were in full view of the house, and there he was, groping her.

Simon removed his hand from inside her dress and grasped her hips, pushing her back slightly. With a sigh of resignation, he rested his forehead against the top of her head and tried to suppress his growing need. “Fuck. Julia, I’m sorry……”

He let his words trail off, unsure exactly what he was apologizing for. He needed to let her go, but she felt so good in his arms. Instead, he just closed his eyes and inhaled her scent. He’d never be able to smell vanilla again without remembering the taste of her, and tonight that lovely scent was layered with a bright note of orange. He loved citrus, but it had never smelled as intoxicating as it did mixed with Julia’s sweet-smelling skin.

He felt her chest rise and fall in short bursts and his heart skipped a beat.
Shit.
He’d made her cry. “Julia? Are you…" he started, pulling her away from him.

There was a brightness in her eyes and she was biting back a smile.

“Are you laughing?” he asked, not quite sure what to make of this development.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to laugh, but did you just smell me?”

“Yes,” he said, frowning. “I love the way you smell. But now I feel a little creepy saying that.”

She took a step back and cocked her head to one side. “So guys really do that? Megan and I argued for hours over something I read. She kept telling me that even if they didn’t say it, men are affected by the way women smell.” She paused for a second and a sly smile bloomed across her face. “So you like the way I smell?”

He smiled back, unable to hide his amusement. “I like a lot of things about you, including the way you smell.” He loved that coy look on her face and he leaned in and pressed his lips against her cheek. Taking another deep breath, he said, "You smell sweet, like sugar and vanilla, and tonight there’s just a hint of orange. It’s intoxicating and reminds me of summer afternoons and Dreamsicles on the dock.”

She pulled back and slapped a hand over her mouth to stifle her loud snort of laughter. “Did you just compare me to an ice cream novelty?”

He laughed too, and was just about to tell her exactly how he liked to eat his ice cream bar when he heard his name.

“I’ve been looking all over for you,” Peter called from halfway down the steps.

“Is something wrong?” Simon looked back to Julia and noticed she’d taken several steps behind him and was smoothing her hair. He hated the interruption but knew it was unavoidable. Until the party died down, they wouldn’t have any time alone.

“You disappeared as soon as you walked through the door. Your father is about to lose his cool. I thought I should find you before tonight turns into a disaster.” Peter had joined them on the porch and looked over to Julia with a raised eyebrow and back to Simon. The unspoken question was written all over his face.

“I was just walking Julia down to meet Meg,” Simon started to explain. “I was telling her how the boathouse was our refuge during our summers here, and how much I loved sneaking down to enjoy ice cream on nights like tonight.” A loud, choked laugh sounded beside him, and Simon continued without pause. “Now that she’s safely here, I'll join you back at the party.”

Simon walked past Peter, who eyed him suspiciously. “Julia.” Peter nodded and followed Simon back up the narrow wooden stairs.

They were still a good distance from the house when Peter broke the silence.

“So, what really was going on back there?”

“It was nothing,” Simon said.

“Man, it sure didn’t look like nothing. What’s up? First, you were telling me Julia was hands off. Then you insisted you weren't into her.”

“There isn’t anything… Fuck, I don’t know what, if anything is going on.” Simon stopped and turned back to his friend. “I’m getting ready to leave for New York. I don’t know how long I’m going to be away. I definitely don’t need a new relationship, but I’m not sure I want to walk away either."

“So what changed? I know she looked killer tonight, but you’ve been with women equally sexy. I just don’t get what has your panties in a bind?"

“Fuck off.”

Peter’s brow creased and he shook his head. “Seriously, man. Is this why you’ve been blowing me off the last few weeks?"

Running a hand through his hair, Simon sighed. “I’ve been blowing you off because, unlike you, I’ve been working my ass off. Just leave it alone and let me figure things out."

“And how do you plan on doing that?”

“We’ve got Star Atlantic under control. I think I’m going to take some vacation time and hang with the girls. You know, see if there's anything there. I’m leaving for New York next week. Until then, I’ve got my laptop. If the office needs me, you know where I’ll be.” Simon started back up the steps, not waiting for Peter to argue. “Let’s get back to the party and kiss some ass so we can be done with this night."

The rest of the party dragged, and Simon was ready to crawl out of his skin when his father brought over another of Chicago’s elite for him to impress.

“Simon. How’s that little internet thing you and your friends were toying with?” Henry Mayfield asked.

“Well, it’s not so little anymore,” Simon said, trying hard to keep the sarcasm out of his voice. “We now have a New York office and have tripled our clientele in the last year.”

“Hannah didn’t mention anything about New York when we had lunch last month. It’s good to hear things are going well,” he said, grabbing another glass of champagne off a passing tray.