Page 50 of Forgettable in Every Way

“All solo.”

Simon checked on Jack to make sure he wasn’t near the water before gazing at Jules. “I can’t believe that.”

She shrugged. “It’s true.”

“Do you like traveling alone, or would you mind some company on your adventures?”

“It depends on the company.” She nudged him.

“I am proficient in taking care of bee stings.” He chuckled, not able to resist bringing it up again. “That’s a skill that could come in handy on these adventures of yours.”

“Are you ever going to forget that?” she groaned.

Simon shook his head. “How is your arse by the way?” He peeked behind her. Not that he hadn’t already perused her any chance he got. She was devastating him in her swimsuit. If Jack weren’t with him, he would have already taken her in his arms and let his fingers dance over her shimmering olive skin. Assuming she was amenable. “It looks good.”

Jules cringed. “I thought we said we were never going to talk about that particular incident.”

“I don’t think we agreed on that. Besides, it’s not every day I get to play hero.”

“You’ve played my hero before,” she said quietly.

Simon stopped, taken aback. “Really? I always felt like it was you who played my hero.”

“Every day you thought of me was heroic to me.”

Simon rubbed his bare chest, feeling as if he’d been stabbed in the heart. “No wonder you hate me.”

She looked down at their clasped hands, reminding him she was there with him.

How grateful he was for that.

“I said I kind of hate you,” she replied with a teasing air, yet it still stung him, and rightly so.

He clasped her hand tighter. “I deserve that.”

“Simon, I feel like I have to say this, even though it’s a little embarrassing. Or a lot,” she breathed out. “You have to know how I feel about you. How I’ve always felt about you. You probably thought I was such a schoolgirl in New York, chasing after you.”

Simon stopped and took her face in his hands, making sure she could see the truth in his eyes when he spoke. “Jules, don’t say that. I could never think of you like that. The last thing I want is for you to be embarrassed. It’s me who’s ashamed. I didn’t know how you felt about me in New York. It didn’t dawn on me until I saw you again.”

“Oh.” Her face burned so red, he could feel the heat on her cheeks. “Now I really feel stupid.”

“Please don’t,” he begged. “I was the daft one.”

“Like the prince,” she teased.

“Very much like the dolt.”

“I don’t want you to date me or chase me or whatever this is because you feel sorry for me.” She shook where she stood.

He drew her face closer until he could breathe in the fruity scent of her lip gloss and see every shade of blue in her indigo eyes. Until everything about her called to him and he could hardly stop himself from ravishing her lips with his own. “Listen to me. The only person I feel sorry for in this situation is me. I know now that I missed out on the chance of a lifetime in New York. But I’m seeing clearly now, and all I want to do is look at you.”

Cautiously, Jules’s fingertips lightly grazed his bare chest as if she weren’t sure she should take such liberties. If she only knew the pleasure her touch erupted inside of him, she would never question herself again. “I like looking at you too. I always have.”

“This is excellent news because I find myself not being able to get enough of you.”

Her fingers braved pressing deeper into his chest. “We should probably spend more time together, then.”

His thumbs smoothed over her blushing cheeks, and he resisted the urge once again to erase the inches between them and kiss her. There would be time for that later. For now, he wanted Jules to know he wanted to take this next step with her in what could be their greatest adventure together. “How does every waking moment sound?”

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