“We’ve had a security scare at Dover,” Simon responded before quickly filling the doorman in on the day’s events.
“First thing I’m going to do is call my security company and figure out how to beef up security around here,” Hank said. “You two head upstairs and I’ll call you after I get things straightened out. How does that sound?”
“Thanks, Hank,” Simon said. “My father’ll probably come over later today.”
“I heard about the mishap with your father getting in during the weekend doorman’s watch,” Hank said with a frown. “I’m going to make sure we don’t have a breach like that again”
“Good. Thanks again.” Simon gave Hank a final nod before they headed into the elevator and stepped out when its doors opened at the top floor.
When he opened the front door of his apartment for her, she headed straight for the kitchen. She needed to drink something to calm her frayed nerves. “Do you want anything to drink?”
Simon followed her into the kitchen and shrugged off his jacket. “Water is fine, thanks. Do you want to call your parents? You can use my landline while I call my dad with my cell phone.”
She didn’t want to give her parents reason to panic, but it probably was best to call them. “They’re picking up Finn later today and then I’ll be picking him up from their house.”
“I think it’s best if you have them drop him directly over here,” he said.
“Simon...” Her voice trailed off. “Earlier you suggested we stay over at your place, but you can’t actually be serious.”
“I am serious.” He folded his arms and scowled. “You heard what the head of security said. You’re supposed to do what I tell you.”
“I’m not a child.”
“Which is why you’ll agree to stay here with me,” he said, cutting her off. “You’re a reasonable person and I know you realize how dangerous these people might be. You and Finn will be safe here until we catch these clowns.”
“We don’t have our stuff here,” she said.
“You’ll have a whole apartment building to yourself,” he told her. “Just pick one of the vacant apartments in the building and it’s yours. If you need clothes and stuff, I’ll get one of the executive assistants at Dover to handle it.”
“Your father and I are going to end up fighting.” It was a hard thing to admit to him, but so far nothing had showed her that sharing a space with his father would be anything other than an extremely turbulent experience.
“I’d rather you two argued in the safety of my apartment building.” His lips thinned as he studied her. “This isn’t just about my dad, is it? What’s wrong?”
Her mouth went dry. Telling him the real reason she was starting to hesitate would only hurt him, which was something he didn’t deserve. He was offering his home to her. Opening the doors to his private sanctuary, and all she had to offer in return were arguments and hurt. “I’m nervous about staying here because it’ll feel a little like us living together.”
“We’ve spent time under the same roof before.”
“I know. But this isn’t a vacation. This is going to be me and your father in the same building.” She swallowed hard, trying to stop her throat from closing. “You’re finally going to see what it’s like to spend all your time with me, and I’m worried that you’ll only get tired of me. You see me at work. Now you’re going to see me where you live. Aren’t you worried that’ll be too much for you?”
He gazed at her, his face impossible to read. The only movement she saw was his eyes darkening momentarily. As if her words were suddenly putting a damper on all his plans. Like he was starting to realize that his suggestion was a mistake he’d soon regret if they all went through with it.
The silence grew louder, until he reached his hand out to her and cupped her chin, tilting her head back in the process. “I will never, ever, get tired of you.”
Those words sent a rush of heat across her skin. A fire blazed in his eyes and she knew he meant every single word. It wasn’t some platitude. Some nice words to placate her. Simon had said those words like they were a fact. Like he was explaining gravity or the tides of the sea. A simple fact that nothing could change or challenge. No man had ever been certain about her.
Ever since they had started officially dating, Heather had known that Simon loved her. He proved it every single day. But this was so different. So much more. Simon was saying the kind of words you said when forever was on the horizon. Like her moving in with him was so natural that he expected it.
“I...” Tears stung the back of her eyes and she blinked rapidly. There was no use in falling apart now. A death threat shadowed over them and they needed to focus. Taking a major step in their relationship could wait. Besides, she didn’t even know if they were really on the same page about taking their relationship to the next level. “I’ll stay here with you until we solve this.”
He traced his thumb over her lips, the fire in his eyes intensifying. “I want us to be together for the rest of our lives. Please don’t tell me I’ve given you reason to think that I could ever get tired of seeing you. Of having you by my side. Because you are my life, Heather. Everything revolves around you. Always.”
Warmth filled her heart and then overflowed until her body heated all over again. “I think we need to make some phone calls.”
His thumb lingered on her lips for a moment and then he pulled away to silently retrieve his phone. She took that as a cue to make her own call and stepped into the living room to use Simon’s phone.
The call to her father wasn’t easy, though he seemed to understand that what she needed right now was support, so he agreed to drop Finn off at Simon’s apartment. When she finished u
p with her call she found Simon pouring two glasses of water in the kitchen.