I traced the steering wheel with my pinky finger, and grinned. “You know I worry about them. Why does it surprise you that I’m checking in again?”
He snorted and sighed. “The kids are doing well for now.” He paused, and his voice was slightly muffled as he spoke to someone else. “They want to say hello, Katie.”
I glanced at Simon, who’d finished with his call, and he watched me curiously with his arms folded. I smiled when the small voices sang a hello to me.
“Hi, you two,” I said while smiling at Simon. I couldn’t help myself; the kids were so cute. “Have you had a good day?”
“Jesse gave us chocolate pudding!” Samantha said.
“He gave you pudding?” I repeated. It would’ve been quite a treat for them. Their diet was very strict, but a small treat here and there wasn’t detrimental to their overall health.
Simon nudged me and pointed at the phone. “Can I say hi to them?”
I fastened my gaze on him, wondering if his request was genuine, and pressed the speaker button. Samantha was talking about the pudding, and Samuel cut in.
“I threw mine up,” he said happily. “But it was really good when I ate it.”
Simon chuckled, and I laughed quietly with him.
“Who’s that, Katie?” Samuel asked.
Simon scooted a little closer to me, leaning toward the phone. He rested an arm on the back of the seat and spoke with a smile. “My name’s Simon. What are your names?”
There was a pause, and I knew from working with a lot of kids that they might be wary of strangers. “This is my friend Simon,” I said. “Can you both say hello?”
“I’m Samuel. That kind of sounds like Simon.”
Simon beamed at the phone, and I wished suddenly we were there in person for introductions. “It does sound like Simon, doesn’t it?” He grinned. His low voice was low and smooth; I found it very soothing, and relaxed further.
“I’m Samantha, but that’s not a boy’s name. I don’t want it to sound like Simon.”
I pressed my lips in, trying not to laugh, and looked at Simon as he talked with the twins. His face was faintly lit with the dim light in the truck, and somehow, he was even more attractive in the darkness. He smiled, chuckled, and talked sweetly with the kids. I’d never seen or heard Simon with children before. It was fun to have someone special from my past meeting those special to me in the present. I hadn’t expected to feel so happy about it, but I was. And I couldn’t keep the soft smile from my face, even when Simon met my gaze as he talked.
“Jesse, I think I’m going to throw up again,” Samuel said with a faint voice.
Simon’s frown was laced with concern. “We’ll talk to you two later. Thank you for meeting me.”
“Jesse, I’ll call tomorrow to see how the night goes,” I said.
“I have to go,” he said seriously.
“Bye, Katie!” Samantha sang.
I started to say goodbye, but the phone call ended from Jesse’s end. I sighed and looked at Simon. “The poor kid. He really doesn’t do well with anything out of his diet.”
Simon nodded with a sad smile. “That’s too bad. It’d be hard not to give them a treat now and then, though.”
I laughed a little and nodded. “It’s hard to tell them no. Shoot, I forgot to ask about Bart.” I looked at my phone, turning it over in my hand, and pursed my lips.
“I remember that face,” Simon said lightly. I looked over, my face unchanging, and he chuckled. “That’s your face you make when something’s on your mind. I’m all ears if you need to talk…”
I studied his face. He was still in the middle seat beside me, and suddenly I had a reality check that Simon was here. It was strange that he was beside me, close enough to touch. How many times had I wished for this exact moment, and now we were here?
“Kate,” he said quietly with his soft gaze.
My throat was tight with emotion, and I glanced at my phone before meeting his eye. “I have pictures of the twins,” I said with a small smile. “Would you like to see them?”
His head tilted to the side. “I would, if you’re willing to share.”
I showed Simon pictures of Samantha and Samuel and wasn’t disappointed with his reaction. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but he smiled at each picture, asked questions. He seemed genuinely interested in not only the twins, but my work life in general. I told him a few stories, and he chuckled at all the appropriate times. After a few more pictures of some of my friends from work, I flicked the screen to the next picture and gasped; it was a photo of myself in a swimsuit I’d tried on in the store. I’d sent the picture to Amy for her opinion and hadn’t deleted it yet. Before I could get it off the screen, Simon swiped my phone and held it out near the other side of the truck.
“Simon!” I laughed in outrage and made a feeble attempt to reach for it.
He laughed and barred me with his free arm while looking closely at the picture.
“Stop! This is so embarrassing,” I cried halfheartedly.
Simon tossed a glance over his shoulder, and it only just occurred to me that I was leaning against him. His face was close to mine, and he had a warm, teasing smile that reached his eyes. “Give me a minute, Kate,” he murmured. “I have years that I missed of you in a swimsuit.”
I blushed fully and fought a smile while shaking my head. “I can’t believe you just said that. I don’t recall you ever being such a flirt.”
He grinned and looked at my phone, swiping to another picture. There Amy and I were in my aunt’s kitchen, making brownies.
“No, stop,” I whined.
Simon just shook his head, his eyes still on the phone he held out. “Tell me about this picture,” he said quietly.
I paused, and when he didn’t look back or say anything more, I sighed, explaining that the brownies had been for Bryce. “He’d had a bad day, and we knew how much he loves our grandma’s brownies, so we surprised him with a whole batch to himself. We didn’t even let Parker have any, and you know how he is with sneaking food.”
Simon sat back, shifting so I could see the phone better beside him. He smiled at the brownie picture again, and I had the urge to lay my head on his shoulder but refrained from the temptation.
Simon pulled up the next picture and asked again for the story behind it. He listened intently to everything I said, and when he lowered the phone to his lap, I let him keep it there, and I inched closer to see past him. He didn’t seem to mind that I was sidled up beside him, and far from being a nervous wreck, I was content. His low voice, and the heat from him had a calming effect, but it also stirred something deep within me, and the more I spoke, the more I realized I wanted this. I wanted to tell him everything about my life, past and present.
After a long time of humoring Simon, I sighed and rubbed my eyes. He looked over at me, his face so close to mine, and the rapid heartbeat I’d been able to keep under control was suddenly going haywire. Simon’s gaze roamed my face, and I waited for him to speak or move or something. He didn’t. We stared at one another with this vibration in the air and after a few moments, Simon cleared his throat and handed my phone to me at last.
“Thank you, for sharing, Kate,” he said with a soft smile.
I nodded, unable to speak just yet, and started the truck as he slid back to his seat, putting distance between us again.
That night, I lay in bed in the trailer, listening to my uncle’s snores and the low murmurings of the voices outside. Everyone but my aunt, uncle, and myself were sleeping out around the campfire; I’d decided against it. After spending time with Simon tonight, I had enough to keep me awake. I’d been in bed for an hour thinking about his return and couldn’t get his sweet smiles out of head. He’d been cute when he’d talked with the twins, and the way he’d smiled with his eyes when a new picture of me would pop up had made me want to snuggle against him. I’d had quite a day with him, and it was only day one. What would the rest of the week hold?
Chapter 10
Amy raised her eyebrows, speared a bite of fruit, and pointed it at me. “You’ve got the hots for Simon again.”
I made a dismissive noise and rolled my eyes. “I’m not a swooning teenager anymore.”
She took her bite and nodded as she chewed. “Okay,” she said lightly, though I knew her well enough to know she was just humoring me, and it irked.
“Katie, how were the kids last night?” Aunt Chantelle asked.
I gave Amy a winning smile, having been rescued from her scrutiny by my aunt. Turning my attention from Amy’s knowing grin, I told Aunt Chantelle about the twins.
Amy jumped up to meet James at a 4-wheeler, and I told my aunt about Simon meeting the kids and how sweet he was with them.
Aunt Chantelle sighed with a wistful smile. “That really is so sweet.” She gripped my forearm and shook her head. “I have to say, I chatted with him for a while yesterday, and he’s turned out to be such a nice man.” She frowned lightly, as though stumbling over a thought. “He couldn’t have gotten that from his father. Hmm.”
I snorted quietly and looked at Simon again. Even from this far away, I could see him roll his defined shoulders and his stubbled neck shifted as he stretched it from side to side. I wondered if he was stiff from his night of sleep on the hard ground.
“You know,” Aunt Chantelle began, a little too casually. “I don’t think he’s had anything to eat yet. Why don’t you take him some fruit and a bagel?”
I looked down at the fruit she spoke of. “Simon doesn’t like cantaloupe.” My head drew back after I realized I hadn’t thought of that in years. It gave me a strange thrill to think I still knew something like that about him.
Aunt Chantelle handed me a plate with a bagel and cream cheese. I smiled lightly; I also knew he ate bagels, and took the plate willingly before reaching into the cooler to get a drink for him as well.
Simon looked over his shoulder as I approached and grinned. “You read my mind, lady. I hope that’s for me.”
“Yes, it is,” I said at his side, handing over his breakfast. “And you can thank me twice, because Aunt Chantelle tried to send me with cantaloupe for you.”
Simon had just taken a bite and grimaced. He chewed for a moment and said, “I hate cantaloupe.”
I nodded with a secret smile and dipped my hands into my pockets. “I know you do.”
He looked sideways at me and winked before taking another bite. My heart turned over at that little gesture, and I looked out over the water to keep from blushing. It was ridiculous that I was being affected by him like this. I had my fair share of attention from men, and I never felt so warm and giddy about it.
I studied the surface of the water in the morning light. The mountain breeze hadn’t picked up yet, which kept the water looking smooth as glass.
“It sure is pretty,” Simon commented. “I forgot how much I love it here.”
I glanced at him and nodded. “How do you like Montana? Is it pretty where you live?”
He took a drink and set it on top of the plate near his feet. He picked up his fishing pole again and threw a cast. “Thank you for breakfast. And yes, it’s pretty there. The mountains are incredible, and the sunsets aren’t like anything I’ve ever seen.”
I tried picturing the place he spoke highly of and made a mental note to search the internet for pictures of Helena. “It has to be quite a change, though, from North Carolina to Montana. Don’t you miss the beach?”
Simon sighed with a smile and nodded. “That is something I miss, but—” he looked over at me with an eyebrow raised and a mysterious smile, “—Olivia has a house right on the beach in Florida. It’s always an open invitation.” He grinned fully, almost like a child, and said, “I even have my own room there.”
“Seriously?” I gasped.
He wagged his eyebrows, and a look of surprise stole over him. Simon gave his fishing pole a hard yank, and I let out a small squeal of excitement. He stepped beside me and shoved the pole in my hands. “Quick, before he gets away.” Simon chuckled when I fumbled with the reel.
“Simon,” I cried as I turned the reel. The pole vibrated like mad in my hands, and I was having a hard time keeping my grip. I grimaced and stole a quick glance at Simon, who was observing me, rather than the fish I was battling. I scowled at him. “I don’t think I can keep this up.” I grunted and shifted the pole to rest it on my hip. He chuckled and continued to watch me struggle for a moment, then suddenly he crowded me, placing himself behind me and his arms around mine. He helped steady the pole to keep it from quivering as I reeled, but now I was dealing with a whole new kind of trembling. Simon being this close to me was almost all I could focus on. Even as the fish crashed to the surface and flopped in the shallow water at our feet, I was caught up in the feel of Simon.
He chuckled near my ear. “See? I knew you could do it.”
I fought the pleasurable chill that ran down my spine; I wanted to squirm against it.
Simon chuckled again. “Well, look at that.”
I finally focused, looking down, and my mouth fell open in outrage. “That’s ridiculous!” I complained when I saw how little fish was. Slightly offended that I’d struggled against the small creature, I scrunched my nose at it and glanced at Simon behind me. “I can’t believe I needed help for that thing.”
Simon’s eyes were bright, and he was smiling adoringly at me. “You’re still so cute, Kate.”
I blinked, and my lips parted in surprise. Any thoughts about the fish disappeared when I met those gray eyes, so close to mine. Simon’s arms shifted slightly against me, and my heart was skipping.
Simon’s gaze was fastened to mine, and I felt a gravity toward him I never thought I’d feel again. Suddenly, something was wet on my feet. When I looked down, I shrieked as the fish flapped wildly against my foot. I backed up further until I was flush against Simon. He laughed loudly in my ear when the fish flipped again, landing on me once more.
“Simon!” I squeaked and twirled away until I was behind him, and an old habit resurfaced; I flicked the back of his ear. “Please throw it back. It keeps coming at me!”
Simon smiled over his shoulder, rubbing the sting on his ear before he unhooked the fish and tossed it lightly back into the water. He turned around with his arms folded, grin in place, and shrugged. “Now what am I going to have for lunch, Kate?”
My head drew back, and I grimaced. “You don’t eat fish,” I said confidently.
His tongue rolled between his lips and he shrugged once more. “I do now, actually. It’s not so bad.”
I frowned lightly, a little deflated. I supposed that could be the start of a list—all the things I don’t know about Simon. “Oh,” I mumbled, running a hand through my hair. I met his gaze. “Sorry about that, then.”
He stretched a finger, calling me forward. “You can catch me another.” He reached down and held the pole out toward me with a small smile. “You owe me.”
I studied him with pursed lips, hands on my hips. I thought about refusing, but his hopeful smile was like its own line being cast my way, and I was easily reeled in.
“I’m just not sure it’s a good idea,” I said to Amy as she rode with me so I could make another phone call later in the day. She was pestering me about Simon and wanted to know why I might be hesitant about him.
“I’m not saying you have to date him,” Amy argued as she studied herself in the passenger-side visor mirror, fixing her ponytail. “I just don�
�t see why you can’t have a little fun with him while he’s here, that’s all.”
I rolled my eyes at the road. “You know why. Besides, I have a million questions for him, and they’re all things I’d want answered before I got close to him.”
“So, ask them,” she said simply as she snapped the mirror on the visor shut. Amy looked at me expectantly.
I shrugged, a little worn out. “I’m hurt, Amy,” I admitted. A lump settled comfortably in my throat when I realized how true this statement was. Simon had hurt me, deeply. He may not have realized at the time, and he might not know now, but his leaving with no explanation had left me with an amount of resentment I wasn’t sure I could let go of, even if I did get answers. I sighed, unwilling to shed tears over this, over him. “It’s stupid too that I’m so unsettled about him,” I said as I parked. I looked over at Amy and shrugged. “I haven’t seen him forever. I hardly know him now.”
“Do you want to know him?” she asked in a quiet tone.
My mouth moved but no words came out. I wasn’t sure. I had days left at camp, and delving into the past might ruin the rest of my vacation. If I was already stressed just thinking about it, living it could only be worse. Right?
I rubbed my hands over my face. “I don’t know. I have enough I’m worried about right now. I don’t think I can handle it.” I reached for my phone and called Jesse again, letting Simon settle onto the back burner for the time being.
I laid awake that night, anxiety and sorrow weighing in my chest, and wiped the tears away that I could no longer control. Jesse informed me Samuel was still not well. He couldn’t keep anything down, even after the anti-nausea medicine they’d given him. Samuel’s health was in such a fragile state, he couldn’t take much more.
Aside from my worry over him, Simon was just as present on my mind. Amy hadn’t dropped the subject on the ride back to camp, insisting I get close to Simon again. I was afraid, though. I wanted answers, but I also didn’t. What if he admitted to not worrying about me back then? What if he’d never cared how his leaving would affect me?
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