Easy Kisses

He pushes his hand through his hair and smiles. “Good night, Charlotte.”

“Good night?” I’m shocked. “You’re not coming in?”

“No.” He shakes his head. “I told you, I’m not just here for sex.”

“Let’s be honest, Simon, we’re both adults and the chemistry is off the charts.”

“I took you out today, and I loved every minute of it. We have chemistry, yes, but it’ll still be here in the morning.”

“You’re seriously going.” It’s not a question.

“While I still can.” He reaches out to touch me, but thinks better of it, and walks down the steps toward his car.

I watch him pull away, then walk into my house. This is not what I expected at all. I thought we’d spend the night together and I’d be dead on my feet tomorrow from lack of sleep, but blissfully aware of every sore muscle in my body from the workout Simon would give me.

I’m torn between being offended and grateful.

I walk up to my bedroom and immediately shed my shoes and dress, then pull on yoga pants and a tank and wash my face.

He didn’t stay.

My body is still on fire as I crawl between the sheets and flip through the photos we took today on my phone. Selfies in the Quarter. Both of us smiling happily at the camera. In one, Simon kissed my cheek.

He’s here. He’s not staying tonight, and he’s completely knocked me off my feet.

***

My doorbell is ringing.

I come abruptly awake and wake my phone to look at the time.

Eight-thirty. Damn it, I was supposed to be up an hour ago.

I’ve also missed one call and three texts from Simon.

I pad downstairs, not in any hurry, and open the door, blinking against the sunlight and a fresh-faced Simon, smiling and holding a brown paper bag and a drink carrier full of delicious-smelling coffee.

“Good morning, love,” he says. “I was getting worried when you didn’t answer this morning.”

I yawn again and step back, giving him room to come inside. I close the door behind him and lead him back to the sunroom off the kitchen. The furniture in here is colorful and comfortable, and this is where I like to start every day.

“Are you not speaking to me?”

“Not awake yet.” I scrub my hands over my face, stretch my arms over my head toward the ceiling, then touch my toes.

“I’m beginning to get the message that you’re not a morning person.”

His voice is dry, but his eyes are warm as I stand and they leisurely travel over my body.

“I didn’t fall asleep until about three,” I reply and gratefully accept the coffee he offers me. “And then I slept so hard, I didn’t hear my alarm or your call. I’m sorry.”

“I’m the sorry one for waking you,” he replies and sits on the couch, then takes my hand and pulls me down with him. He pulls me into his arms and hugs me close, nuzzling my temple and kissing me softly there. “Waking up like that isn’t fun.”

“I’ll be okay.” But I don’t move away. It feels too damn good to be in his strong arms. “You must have gotten up early.”

“I usually do, and I’m a bit jetlagged.” He reaches for the bag of food and sets out toasted bagels with cream cheese and fruit. “I hope this is okay.”

“It looks delicious.” My stomach growls and I immediately reach for a handful of grapes. “You didn’t have to go to all of this trouble.”

I take a sip of my coffee. My head whips up to stare at him in wonder.

“You remembered how I take my coffee. And you’re British.” And we only had breakfast together once in Montana.

“British people don’t remember things?”

“No, they don’t drink coffee.”

“Some do.” He sips his tea and smiles at me. That smile kills me. “I remember just about everything about you, Charly. In case you missed it, I’m quite taken with you.”

I haven’t missed it. But it surprises me, and I want to ask why.

But instead I smile and munch on my bagel.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. I’ll drive you to work since I left you stranded here last night.”

“Thank you again.” I could argue, but why? If he wants to give me a ride to work, who am I to complain? “How is your bagel?”

“Fair. Once you’ve had bagels in New York, you get a bit spoiled.”

“True. And we’re a beignet town.”

“I’ll remember that.”

“You seem to remember everything.”

He simply smiles and sips his tea, and we settle in to enjoy the sunny morning, our food, and each other’s company.

Chapter Ten

~Simon~

“We need confirmation that you can be in LA on the twelfth of next month to appear on Kimmel and Ellen, and then on the fourteenth, we have you scheduled with Hoda and Kathy Lee.”

“That’s fine,” I reply to Todd and mark it out on my calendar. I keep a real paper agenda, mostly because I’m on the phone when I get the information, making it difficult to add to a phone calendar, and I used to forget to mark things down. “I have a deadline of September first for the next book, and my editor already gave me a three month extension, so don’t schedule me anything else in July and August.”

“Nothing?” he asks, surprised.

“I’ll still do the weekly videos and the radio show. We’ll be present on social media. But I can’t travel, Todd. I have to write the book.”