Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Simon
“You need to pack your things and leave,” I said.
“I don’t have anywhere to go.” Her beautiful blue eyes stared into mine.
“That isn’t my problem, is it? There are hundreds of hotels in the city. Pick one.”
“I can’t afford to stay in a hotel.”
“You took a job here in New York without being able to afford a place to live? Who does that?”
“I was desperate. The company I worked for suddenly shut down because the owners decided to get divorced. We weren’t given any notice.
I didn’t make a lot of money, but that wasn’t important.
The only important thing was that I was doing a job I loved.
I sent out so many resumes, and Ever & Oak were the only ones who got back to me.
I called Daisy and asked if I could stay with her while I was here, but her house is being renovated.
That’s when she had the idea that I stay here while you were away. ”
“She was wrong for doing that. And believe me, I’m not finished with her yet. Cousin or not. And what the hell are those boxes on my kitchen island?”
“Products from Ever & Oak.”
“And what is it you do again?” I asked.
“I’m a content manager.”
“You’re a social media influencer?” My eye narrowed.
“No. I put together and edit content for their social media outlets and website.”
“No wonder you don’t have any money.” I shook my head.
“Like I said. I love doing that kind of work. Money isn’t everything, Simon.”
“It is when you’re basically homeless.”
“I promise to stay out of your way. You won’t even know I’m here. Just for the month of October. One month isn’t a big deal, right?”
“A month is a long time as far as I’m concerned.” I set my drink down, tucked my hands into my pants pockets, and paced around the room. Raine jumped up on Bella’s lap and laid down.
“It’s hard to believe you and Daisy are related,” she said.
“Excuse me?”
“She’s so full of life, sweet, and kind. And you’re—”
“I’m what?” My eyes narrowed.
“Just a big old meanie.”
“That was childish, Bella.”
“I speak the truth. Would it have been better if I’d called you an asshole?”
“You can stay tonight. But I need you to leave in the morning. Spend the rest of the night figuring out a plan. You seem like a smart girl. I’m sure you’ll figure something out.”
“Okay.” She picked up Raine, set her aside, and went to whichever guest room she was staying in.
I walked over to the bar, poured another drink, and stepped onto the terrace. The air was already getting crisp, and it felt good. It was one of the reasons I wanted to get back to New York as soon as possible. I liked fall, and I didn’t want to miss it by being stuck in Los Angeles.
The fact that Bella Castle was so fucking beautiful wasn’t helping this situation.
I’d noticed it the second I turned around and saw her standing there wrapped in a bath towel.
I wasn’t dead. She stood five feet seven inches with long brown hair that fell into waves over her shoulders.
She was the kind of woman men would notice before she ever opened her mouth.
She had high cheekbones and full lips. But the one thing that really stood out was her blue eyes.
They weren’t gray-blue or even a hint of blue.
They were ocean blue on a bright sunny day.
A smile crossed my lips as I thought about her calling me a big meanie. Who says that? She told me one month wasn’t a long time. But living with someone for a month would seem like an eternity, especially when I was used to living alone.
I turned to go back into the house and saw her grabbing the boxes from the kitchen island. I stepped inside and grabbed one.
“I got it,” she said.
“I can help.”
“I don’t want your help.” She walked away.
I followed her and set the box on the bedroom floor.
“Too bad. I’m giving it,” I said.
“So what? You’re trying to be all nice now?” She stood with her hands on her hips.
“I am a nice guy.”
“Could have fooled me.”
“Oh, I see. Because I won’t let a total stranger stay in my home for a month, I’m a bad person?”
“I don’t really know if you are or not. I don’t know you. And honestly, I don’t want to get to know you.”
“Well, you don’t have to worry about that because you’ll be leaving in the morning.” I walked out of the bedroom and headed to mine.
Bella
“Asshole,” I mumbled under my breath.
Now what was I supposed to do? I lay on the bed and looked up at the ceiling.
Raine jumped up and curled up beside me.
I ran my hand across her back. I loved being in New York and didn’t want to leave, but I had no choice.
Tomorrow morning, I’d have to call Geneva and tell her that I needed to go back to Massachusetts.
I’d have to move in with my mom and Harry and start over at twenty-nine years old.
Shit. How the hell did I even get here? I thought maybe New York would be a fresh start.
I’d do such a good job that Ever & Oak would hire me full-time, and I could stay.
That dream was quickly dismantled thanks to an overly handsome man named Simon.
I’d literally stopped breathing when he turned and looked at me.
Six feet three inches, short, wavy dark hair, a perfectly groomed five o’clock shadow gracing his masculine jawline, and his eyes.
A beautiful emerald green, deep and striking.
I wasn’t entirely sure if I’d ever seen such a handsome man.
And his suit. It was tailored and fit him perfectly in all the right places. Shit. I had to stop thinking about him.
Since Grady and I broke up over a year ago, no man had caught my attention.
Not because I was still hung up on him. That ship had sailed, sunk, and was probably resting comfortably at the bottom of the Atlantic.
I’d let friends convince me to meet men they swore were perfect for me.
I’d even downloaded a dating app one lonely Friday night, only to delete it forty-eight hours later after deciding I’d rather spend the rest of my life alone than date the creepy men who kept asking, “What are you looking for on here?” All they cared about was a hookup.
And when I’d tell them something different, they’d stop messaging me.
For the last year, there wasn’t a spark or flutter in my belly.
There were no moments when a man walked into a room and made me forget what I’d been thinking about.
And I was content with that. At least I had been until my eyes saw Simon.
A man who was throwing me out of his house come morning, yet somehow managed to awaken something inside me that had been dormant for so long. Damn him.