Page 32 of The Temptation
Simon gazed up at me for a moment, his brow furrowed in obvious confusion. But before I could clarify what I meant, his eyes widened and his lips parted slightly.
“Yes,” he whispered. He pulled his eyes away from my face to stare at the line of shops. “I mean, some. I used a few of the pages not long after you gave them to me, but I quickly stopped.”
“Why?”
Simon began walking again as he seemed to decide on our next stop. “The music I’d written wasn’t good enough. It was unoriginal and silly. Not worthy of being put on those beautiful sheets of paper. I’m saving them for something special.”
“Simon, anything you write is special. Use the sheets. I promised when I gave them to you that I’d get you more. Please use them.”
“True, but I wasn’t sure that you’d do it. We’ve barely spoken in years.”
“I promise as soon as I get to the office, I’ll order a new box of blank sheet music for you.”
“You’ll do it?”
A smile played on my lips. I couldn’t help noticing he was very much a stickler about whether I did something personally or if I handed it off to an assistant.
“I’ll handle it myself. No one else. Now, use the damn paper I gave you.”
“Fine. Don’t twist my arm or anything.” Simon led the way into a shop that had a strong floral scent and was colored as if we’d stepped into a bouquet of spring blooms.
“Pierce?”
I knew that voice, and in an instant, I remembered why I didn’t make frequent trips to Findlay Market. My stomach sank, but I pasted a stiff grin on my lips while inwardly praying for Simon to remain calm and polite. It was a shame it was too late to make a run for it.
Turning slightly, I nodded at the tall, slender blond with pale-brown eyes wearing a blue apron over his jeans and sweater. “Hello, Ash. It’s been a long time.”
“I’ll say. I never thought I’d see you in my shop.”
It nearly slipped out that I’d forgotten he owned and operated a specialty soap shop in Findlay Market, but I bit backthe words at the last second. “Yes, it’s one of my—uh…”Fuck. Was I supposed to introduce him as my boyfriend?
Naturally, Simon jumped into the breach with all the subtlety and tact of a great white shark. “Hi, I’m Simon Miller, Pierce’snewboyfriend.” He thrust his hand toward Ash. His broad smile was all teeth and threats.
Fuck. My. Life.
“Oh, hi. It’s good to meet you.”
It had taken Simon no time at all to figure out that Ash was one of my exes, and he was staking his claim.
Simon released his hand and zipped to my side. He wrapped an arm around me and snuggled close, his head resting on my chest. “Pierce offered to take a break from work today in order to take me shopping for cheese.”
That was an interesting interpretation of the facts.
“Wonderful. Was there something I could help you find?”
I opened my mouth to nudge Simon into shopping mode again, but Simon loudly sighed.
“No, I think we’re good. It’s getting late, and I need to return to the symphony.” Simon leaned forward and lowered his voice as if he were telling a secret. “Pierce is bringing his parents tomorrow night to see me perform.”
Ash blinked, and I could almost hear him wondering why the fuck he should care. “That’s wonderful. You play with the Cincinnati Symphony.”
“Simon is their resident guest artist for the season,” I bragged because I couldn’t help myself. The world needed to know how amazing Simon was, even if the imp was acting as if he were about to piss on my leg to mark his territory. “But you’re right, we should get going. We don’t want you late for rehearsal.”
We said some quick good-byes, and I practically shoved Simon in the direction of the main doors.
“How long did you date?” Simon growled as we stepped outside in the cold air.
So much for the frigid temperatures clearing his head.
