Page 14 of Forgettable in Every Way

Simon

SIMON SMILED AS HE WATCHED Jack and Jules run along the shoreline. The red kite flew high above them. Jules made sure Jack held it properly and with just enough slack so the wind could make it take flight. Jack had insisted the princess help him, and that Simon watch the royal dog.

Winston stayed faithfully by Simon’s side, happy not to have to move.

“Well, chap, tell me, is your owner really a spy?” Simon was more than intrigued about his old mate. In fact, he couldn’t stop thinking about her. Though she hadn’t called him, he couldn’t help but find an excuse to see her. He was smart enough to know that after their lunch together, she probably wasn’t going to give him a ring and he was going to have to make the next ten moves. It certainly seemed as though she didn’t want to look at him or be in his presence for more than a few minutes at a time.

Simon wondered if she hated him now, or perhaps she was embarrassed because of the photo album. She needn’t be. He found it more than charming. Whatever the issue was, it was frustrating the bloody hell out of him that she was apparently fixed on ignoring him. Not that he didn’t deserve it after his behavior in New York, but he wished to make amends if she would allow it. At the very least, he wished to know what life had been like for her over the last twelve years.

One thing he knew for sure was that her goodness had not changed. The way she laughed and played with Jack told him that.

Simon thought back to fall days with Jules in the park, lying on a plaid blanket and watching kites hover in the sky. He didn’t remember much of what they talked about, but he remembered thinking how he’d never met a woman so content with the simple pleasures in life. It was something he admired about her. That, and she’d brought with her butterscotch biscuits, or cookies, as she called them.

Jack and Jules started back toward him.

Simon was determined to talk to Jules and hoped she would respond.

“Daddy, do you see how high the kite is?” Jack giggled.

“I do. Good job,” Simon praised him.

“The princess taught me how to pull on the string just right.”

Simon smiled at Jules. “She’s a wise princess.”

Jules gave him a hint of a smile, giving him some hope.

Winston decided he wanted in on some of the fun, and he waddled over to Jack and Jules on the sandy, rocky ground. Jack ran toward the sluggish dog. “Winston, it’s me, Jack. You can talk to me.” He let go of the kite and held his arms out to Winston. Unfortunately, he’d let go of the kite just when the breeze picked up.

Jules jumped into action and chased after the runaway kite, running and leaping after it.

Simon rushed to her aid, fearing the kite’s string was getting too high for her to reach. Although he enjoyed watching her try to catch it. Every time she would jump and stretch out her arms, her tank top lifted, and he couldn’t help but notice her smooth skin and the curve of her waist. More and more, he believed himself to be a prat. How could she intrigue him so now, when twelve years ago, all he saw was a friend?

Jules leaped and almost caught it, but the reel barely slipped through her fingers. “Oh no,” she lamented out loud.

Simon ran toward her, hoping to play the hero. Instead, he ran headlong into her, almost knocking her over. He had to wrap his arms around her from behind before they both fell to the ground. In the commotion, he reveled in the feel of her soft hair against his cheek and her coconut-oil scent. Had she always smelled so good? Even better was the touch of her silky skin beneath his fingers.

Jules froze in his arms, yet she didn’t pull away.

Simon braved turning her toward him, afraid she might leave his arms all together. But he needed to see her face and look into her eyes. He wanted her to see him in the here and now, and not for the foolish man he was many years ago.

When their eyes met, hers were wide and stunned.

He offered her a toothy smile. “Hello, Jules.”

“Why do you keep saying my name like that?”

“Because I fear you are under the impression I didn’t remember you.”

“You didn’t.” She pulled away.

Regrettably, he let her go. “That’s not true. I was just surprised to see you. It was out of context.”

She shrugged and walked away, back toward Jack, as the kite sailed higher and higher in the sky.

It looked like Simon would have to buy his son a new kite and talk to him about not letting go of the next one.

Jack was so enthralled with Winston, he was oblivious to the fact that he had lost his kite.

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