Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
Simon
Bella had left my office thirty minutes ago, and I hadn’t accomplished a damn thing.
I sat behind my desk staring at the same email I’d been trying to read since she walked out of my office.
I’d asked her to dinner. She noticed my hesitation when she asked if I was asking her on a date.
I should have flat-out said no. But for one fucking second I hesitated.
I leaned back in my chair and stared out the window.
What the hell was I doing? Bella and I had already spent too much time together.
We’d known each other a few days, and somehow, she’d worked her way into nearly every part of my day.
I’d wake up, and she was in my kitchen. I’d come home, and she was in my living room.
I’d try to relax, and she was there talking to me.
The one place I could escape her was work.
But apparently, she felt the need to show up here too.
The second I walked into my office and saw her standing in it with my father, something inside me shifted.
I didn’t plan on asking her to dinner, and that bothered me.
I planned everything. I never made impulsive decisions because I didn’t see the point when I could take five minutes and make an informed one.
Bella apparently didn’t give a shit about how carefully planned my life was.
She’d shown up at my office because she’d happened to walk past my building.
Who did that without calling first? But what really irritated me was when Sonia told me Bella was down in the lobby.
Not only was I surprised, but I liked it.
I glanced at my phone. Why? I had no idea.
Maybe I was hoping to see a text message from her.
Jesus Christ. This was exactly the kind of complication I didn’t need.
She was staying in my home for a month with an end date.
We’d established that from the beginning.
It was simple. Except nothing felt simple anymore since I walked into my penthouse and found her there.
I placed my hands behind my head and thought about dinner tonight.
Just the two of us at a restaurant. That wasn’t unusual for me.
I’d had plenty of dinners with women. Except those dinners always had a purpose.
I knew where they were going. The women knew what was expected.
And I knew exactly how it would end. Tonight, I didn’t, and that bothered me more than it should have.
I couldn’t cross a line. I always took pride in the control I exercised.
But I wasn’t sure if I could control myself anymore with her.
She was too damn beautiful, and I was curious. More curious than I’d ever been.
I picked up my phone and dialed The 86.
“Good afternoon, thank you for calling The 86. This is Marissa. How can I help you?”
“Marissa, this is Simon Montclair. I need a table for two tonight. Seven o’clock.”
“You’re all set, Mr. Montclair. We look forward to seeing you.”
“Thank you.”
I texted Bella.
I made reservations at The 86 for seven o’clock. You will need to dress appropriately. Do you have a nice dress?
Yes. I have a nice dress for our date.
My heart started racing.
It’s only dinner, Bella. Not a date.
If saying that makes you feel better, go for it.
Bella.
Simon.
I sighed and tossed my phone on my desk.
I stepped into the penthouse at precisely six fifteen. All was quiet. Too quiet. I set my briefcase down and looked around the living room. There were no signs of fall décor anywhere. Harold wasn’t even in sight.
“Bella?” I shouted.
She walked down the hall, and I nearly lost my breath.
She wore a short black dress with thin spaghetti straps that hugged every curve of her body, with black heels that made her already long, toned legs look even longer.
Half of her hair was pinned back with strands of loose waves around her face.
I had to force my eyes back up to hers before she caught me staring.
Fuck. I’d seen her first thing in the mornings with messy hair and no makeup.
I’d seen her in leggings and oversized sweatshirts, sprawled across my couch with her laptop, working.
None of those versions of her prepared me for this one.
She looked fucking incredible, and my cock immediately reacted.
I tucked my hand into my pocket as she walked toward me.
“Well?” She smiled, doing a little turn.
“Well, what?”
“Do I pass whatever inspection you’re conducting?” She grinned.
My eyes looked her up and down again. “More than pass. You look beautiful, Bella.”
“Thank you, Simon.” She smiled. “You clean up pretty well yourself.”
“I always look like this.” My brows furrowed.
“And there it is.” She shook her head. “For one second, you were almost charming.”
“I don’t do charming, Bella.”
“Can’t blame a girl for trying.” She walked past me, and I caught a whiff of her perfume.
I closed my eyes for a second. It was only dinner. Nothing else. As hard as I tried to convince myself of that, I knew I was full of shit.