Suddenly he started to wonder if she was hesitant to accept his father not simply because of her own history with absent fathers. Instead, maybe Heather was worried that his father would take his attention away from her. Push a wedge between. If that was her fear, this weekend was the perfect opportunity to remind her that nothing could ever change how much he loved her.
He gave her a smile, and for the first time since his father had shown up Heather seemed to relax.
THE WORK WEEK FLEW by quickly and suddenly it was Friday morning, and Simon was helping her put her luggage in his car. They both got into the car and were off, taking the 30-minute drive down to Simon’s houseboat.
As they walked up to the houseboat, she found herself thinking of Finn. After Simon had suggested getting away for the weekend she had been a bit worried about leaving her son for a few days, but as luck would have it he had been invited to a sleepover at a classmate’s house. It was probably good for both of them to get out of the house for the weekend, especially since Finn seemed to be making new friends despite issues with his dad.
“Simon, this place is stunning,” she said excitedly as he led her through the entrance of the houseboat.
The day was mild and warm and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. From the entrance she got a terrific view of the surrounding lake as boats and kayaks passed by.
“It’s great out here, but every time I visit I’ve only done it to clear my head for work,” he admitted.
“I’m glad you’re using it for some time off,” she said.
He leaned towards her and pressed a tender kiss to her lips. Warmth spread across her skin, the gentle kiss making her stomach flutter. “And I’m glad I get to spend time here with you.” Simon set aside their bags and took her hand. “How about I show you around?”
“I’d love that,” she said with a nod. “Lead the way.”
The houseboat was absolutely lovely. The floors and the walls were made of a cheery light-colored wood that seemed to brighten up the space. Natural light and a cool lake breeze blew in through the numerous windows. The houseboat wasn’t as large as a regular house, but the fireplace and ample seating gave the entire space a cozy feel.
Heather loved the living room area the most with its nautical décor, blue accents, and a plush, expansive sofa set that was lined up against two entire walls. The sofa was so huge she could probably sleep on it comfortably and never miss having a bed.
As Simon focused on lighting the fire, she crossed into the kitchen area to see what kind of food had been stocked in the refrigerator. “Whoa, there’s so much food here we could eat for weeks.”
“There’s a caretaker here who I hired to clean the place up and stock it with food,” Simon explained as he headed towards her from the living area. “Most of the food has already been cooked, or needs minimal prep.”
She closed the fridge and started opening the kitchen cabinets. “You really have thought of everything.”
The unexpected pressure of his strong arms wrapping around her from behind was his response. “I wanted everything to be perfect for you.”
Leaning back against him, she allowed herself a smile. “I love you, Simon.”
Heather couldn’t see the look on his face, but from the way his arms tightened around her she knew that he was smiling, too. When he nibbled on her earlobe her breath hitched, the tension of the past week giving way to excitement.
As she melted against him she knew things might still be tense between them, but she was determined to enjoy every minute of this weekend with him.
Chapter 5
The sensation of Simon’s lips kissing a trail down the column of her neck already had her shivering.
“Do you want to come with me into the bedroom?” he asked, his voice a low growl.
“Yes.” She bit her lip, a blush heating her cheeks.
With his strong arms he spun her around to face him, and without even a hint of effort he hooked his arms around her thighs and lifted her up off the floor.
“Simon.” She let out a breathless giggle. “What’s going on?”
“I’m going to show you how much I love you.” His blue eyes pierced right through her, making her heart quicken at the sight of his face. No man had ever looked at her like this. Like there wasn’t anyone or anything beyond the walls of this tiny space. Like they were the only two people left in the world and nothing else mattered.
The words she wanted to use to respond to his intense declaration escaped her, so she clung to him and pressed her mouth to his. A soft groan sounded in her throat the moment their lips met and she felt him carrying her out of the kitchen to the bedroom on the far side of the houseboat.
When he carried her into the bedroom, he shut the door with his foot and let her fall down onto the soft bed. Landing on the bed was like landing on a cloud and she gazed up at him, allowing herself to marvel at the fact that someone could love her so completely.
“Could you help me out of my clothes?” she asked softly. What she wanted more than anything right now was to feel his big, strong hands on her body. She always felt so safe when he took command of her body. When he showed her without uttering a single word that he would do anything for her.
“Gladly.” Simon obliged her, reaching to unbutton her blouse.