Page 52 of Unbreak My Heart

“Your ex-husband was here in town yesterday mouthing off. That’s how people know. He was happily bad-mouthing both of you until a few people told him to shut his damned mouth and go back to wherever the hell he’d come from.

“And it’s only sordid and inappropriate if it was unwanted. I certainly hope it was pearl-clutching worthy. Simon’s not only a great guy, but he’s also freaking hot.”

This time Eva’s laugh was real. “You got that right.”

Cat placed her leg back down and faced Eva, her knees touching Eva’s. “Don’t let them win. What did or didn’t happen is nobody’s business but yours and Simon’s. The moral police can bugger right off. Don’t let them dictate your hearts to you. If you want to be together, that’s your choice, Vance and his nasty rumours be damned. God knows, Simon deserves a little happiness in his life right now. And I get the feeling you do, too.”

Eva watched as Cat went back into her little shop, a lightness replacing the worry in her chest.

It was up to her and Simon how far they took things and no one else.

Chapter Fourteen

April

Simon blew outa silent breath as he held the door open for Eva and Matty, who she held tight in her arms.

This was it.

He’d told his mother that he was bringing Eva and her son today and, in typical Mary Jameson style, his mother had smiled and said that she was more than welcome, and could they bring a plate?

Eva had made a killer potato salad, something he knew would go down a treat with the whole lot of them, and there he stood with his hands full, a huge, covered Pyrex bowl between them, and a large bag over his shoulder.

Matty’s bag.

The more he was around the little boy, the more relaxed he became. He and Eva had only been seeing each other for a few weeks, but he knew deep in his gut that Eva was it.

He glanced at her. Eva and that little boy in her arms had come to mean so much, so soon. And Matty had taken to him like sand at a beach. Whenever Simon was around, Matty had to be there, too. The kid pushed at all his barriers and knocked them over, one by one, refusing to allow Simon’s brain to get in the way and mess things up.

Sure, he still panicked. He had no idea what he was doing in regard to kids, but he was learning, and Eva was so damned patient with him, not insisting on familiarity beyond what hecould cope with. Matty? Not so much. He was in his space from the moment he knew Simon was nearby.

And surprisingly, he’d found he could cope with quite a lot.

Matty had been running around all morning chattering about the barbecue, excited to be going somewhere he thought was a party.

Simon stepped forward and held back the grin that wanted out. The whole damned lot of them were here today. And he knew exactly why. His mother would’ve told them all to be there for Eva’s first family barbecue. Max had his back to the doorway, bent over in front of that bloody barbecue, trying to coax it to light.

Simon shook his head and placed the bowl on the table. It was past time they bought their father a new one, but he actually thought the old guy might cry if they got rid of the ancient thing. Emma and Ryan had already seen him, big smiles on their faces. The others were currently chatting away about who-knows-what.

“Hey, everyone.”

All eyes turned their way as one. Goosebumps peppered Simon’s arms.

That’s unnerving. Do we always do that?

That was probably a bigyes.

His mother came forward, a large smile on her face. “Eva! So good to see you again. And who is this?” she asked, her voice softening as she walked up to Eva and Matty.

She already knew Matty’s name, and Simon had shown her photos.

Matty’s face fell, and he leaned backward into Eva’s shoulder, Narnas hugged tight to his chest. Uncertainty oozed from him, and he glanced at Simon. Simon’s gut twisted at how anxious he looked. Matty turned to him and held out his arms.

Simon blinked. It was the first time he’d done that. Matty had crawled all over him while sitting on the lounge, seemingly having no concept of personal space, but he’d never reached out like this.

He stepped forward and took hold of the little guy and wrapped him tight and safe in his arms.

Matty turned his face into Simon’s shoulder and side-eyed Simon’s mother, his toy crushed up tight beneath his chin, melting against his body.

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