Page 155 of Where We Bloom

I raise an eyebrow as he opens the back door of the SUV for me. “Maybe a little?”

“Where to?”

I sigh and bite my lip. “Let’s just grab a pizza. I’ll call ahead. Do you like pepperoni?”

“Fine.” He nods and closes the door, and I place our order.

“You’re a man of few words, Simon.”

“It’s not my job to chat,” he replies, but his voice isn’t hard or angry. “I’m here to protect you.”

“What, exactly, does Connor think might harm me in Bitterroot Valley, Montana?”

“Doesn’t matter. He’s hired me to watch you, so that’s what I’m doing.”

“Miller said that he’s former military. Are you as well?”

“No.”

“For fuck’s sake,” I mutter, sitting back with an exasperated sigh. I catch Simon’s lips twitching in the mirror. “I saw that.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

After we both scarfed down a couple of slices of pizza, Simon drove us over to the dance studio and has been by my side for the entire performance.

You’d think he was my date.

It’s annoying.

“When is Connor coming home?” Dani asks.

“I don’t know. Hopefully soon.”

Birdie struts on stage and gives the performance of a lifetime, making us all cheer for her.

Even Simon claps.

Maybe he’s not a robot after all.

After the recital is over and I’ve hugged my girl, Bridger turns to me.

“Want to go get ice cream with us?” he asks.

“Please?” Birdie adds. “It’s my big night.”

I grin and run my hand down her pretty braid. “Of course, I want to celebrate with you. Let’s do it.”

Filling my evening with my family helped to get my mind off missing the hell out of my billionaire.

But now I’m home, and I miss him so much that it hurts.

This house is massive. It’s a mountain mansion, and I love everything about it. But without Connor here, I feel so …lonely.

I take a long, hot shower and wash my hair, then spend an hour drying it and styling it so it’ll be easy for work tomorrow. I go through my entire skincare routine, and while my face mask does its job, I walk into the closet and sort through some clothes I’ll take to Martha the next time I go to Big Sky.

Before leaving the closet, I stop by Connor’s suits and carefully smell them so I don’t leave mask residue on them.

“I miss you, billionaire,” I whisper before I pad into the bathroom to wash my face.

---