Chapter Seven

Asa slid behind the driver’s seat of her car. Deciding to drive to his house made her feel just a bit better about accepting the offer. The drive to Simeon’s house blurred into a flash of passing scenery. Asa’s thoughts raced through the conversation leading up to his invitation. The vision of Simeon standing in her front hall wouldn’t leave her brain. All the promises to remain focus, to stay away from men until after the shop opened, evaporated when his touch singed her flesh.

“Okay, Scruffy, you haven’t known me long but believe me, this is one of the dumbest things I’ve ever done. It’s right up there with marrying Eric. My whole plan to seduce him could backfire in my face.” Asa nibbled her bottom lip.

She pulled into the driveway behind Simeon.

His brick mansion secured a hill overlooking the Delaware Valley. Rose bushes cozied up to the house along both sides of the front door. His plush hillside acreage welcomed her. Staying in Simeon’s house seemed like a good idea on the way across town, but as he motioned her into the garage, she wasn’t so sure. Her stomach tightened into a hard knot. Was this visit only because she had no electricity? Or was this another opportunity to spend time with him?

Two years of celibacy and his touch had her libido in overdrive. Wanting Simeon was so natural. His intense gaze and those piercing eyes took her back in time validating her high school instincts. Everything about him exuded sex, charm, and irresistibility made her want to jump his bones. Maybe during the night she could feign sleepwalking and end up in his bedroom.

She grabbed Scruffy’s leash and stepped out of the car. “Wow, Simeon, this is a nice place, it’s huge.” She looked around. “You’re sure my dog and I aren’t imposing?”

“Come on in, Asa. There’s plenty of room.”

He ran his hand across the small of her back. This time the warmth of his touch radiated along her spine and settled in her core. Staying in his house was going to be as challenging as trying to save hers.

Asa kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”

Before she could pull away, he drew her closer, pressing her body against his steel chest. He captured her mouth and teased her tongue for a moment before beginning a full on assault. Forgetting the house, her shop, and the fashion show, she surrendered to the liquefied heat surging through her veins. His hand entangled in her hair, drawing her closer. Then he released her before she was sated.

“Let’s get inside.” His voice sounded thick with lust. He removed her bag from the trunk.

She suppressed a moan and followed him from the garage into the mud room. I just kissed Simeon and he kissed me back. He kissed me. Her brain moved at warp speed. This should not have happened. She fumbled with the leash, nearly tripping over the dog. His taste lingered in her mouth. She rolled her tongue along her lips, still feeling the pressure from his touch.

A dim light illuminated the enormous kitchen. Without turning on more lights Simeon set her bag down and walked to the refrigerator.

“My housekeeper is a very good cook, I’m sure there are some leftovers in the fridge. Care to join me.” He sat several casserole dishes on the counter and removed the lids.

“After being stood up, I went home and ate a pint of ice cream. Chocolate.”

“That hardly sounds nutritional.”

Simeon pulled two plates from the cabinet. After loading lamb chops, garlic mashed potatoes and broccoli au gratin on two separate plates he took turns heating them in the microwave.

“I wasn’t looking for healthy, I wanted yummy. This smells good though and you do owe me dinner.” Asa pulled her stool closer to the counter.

The heavy clang of cutlery as he placed it on the granite started her stomach juice churning. He slid wineglasses from the overhead grid in the butler’s pantry and with three swift moves popped the cork on a bottle of Merlot.

“You know your way around the kitchen, don’t you?” She asked.

“I had to learn at an early age. Being slow when it was time to eat could mean no dinner.” He handed her a glass of wine. “How about you, can you cook?”

“I do all right. But ask me to bake something special and I’m all over it.”

“It’s late tonight, so I won’t challenge you.” He bent his tall frame down and met her at eye level. His lips were inches from her mouth. By leaning forward she could lock lips with him, instead she grounded her hips to the stool.

“So you do the sweet thing, huh. Pies, cakes, cookies?”

“Oh, I do way more than that. I’ll have to prepare one of my specialties for you.”

Asa scooted forward, without diverting her eyes away from his mouth. One more taste of his succulent lips and the day would go down in her journal as perfect. Her lips were still warm from his earlier kiss. She couldn’t tear her eyes away his touch had fueled a desire in her that needed release.

The microwave sounded and he broke eye contact. Asa pulled in a deep breath before taking a big swallow from her glass.

He removed the plates from the microwave and sat next to her at the counter. “Dig in,” he said as he sliced the meat.

The hearty plate in front of her smelled delicious. She tasted a forkful of mashed potatoes. The pungent taste of garlic filled her mouth. “These potatoes are divine.”

“Ruthy is a good cook.” He poured more wine in her glass, tapped his glass to hers and sipped his wine. “Are you worried about your house?”

“Since I got home, the house has had one problem after the next. Nothing will surprise me now. I’ll make some calls in the morning.”

“No need. I called one of my guys to check it out in the morning.”

“You have guys? And when did you have time to make these arrangements.”

“I own a company and I made a call on the drive here. Try not to worry. If it’s something that can be fixed then he’ll make the repair.”

“But how will he get in the house?” Asa ate another forkful of potatoes.

“He’s going to stop by here on his way to your house tomorrow.”

“You got it all planned. I should thank you,” she hesitated. “Thank you.”

He nodded.

Having someone looking out for her is all she ever wanted. Most times it seemed too much to ask or to expect. Simeon’s easy-going magnetism was hypnotic. Eating dinner next to him, the causal flow of conversation, seemed about as perfect as the sun rising in the east.

After several moments of silence Asa asked, “So why does a single man need such a big house? Are there any little Simeons running around that you haven’t told me about?”

His playful smile brightened his eyes. He put his fork down turned to face her. “There are no little Simeons. Yet. Are you applying for the job?”

She ignored the tingle between her legs. Hell, yeah! “I don’t know. Does it pay well?” She teased.

“Very well.”

She tried to swallow, but her tongue wouldn’t move. “Are you trying to seduce me, Simeon?” She picked up her glass and sipped the wine.

“Only if it’s working.”

“Let’s see, good food, good wine, beautiful surrounding, one gorgeous man. I’d say that’s a recipe for the ultimate seduction.”

“I hope you find my charm as captivating as I find you.” His eyes darkened, lust sparkled in the depth of his pupils.

“Very.” She had to push words out. Warning signs buzzed in her head. She squelched her enthusiasm. Finish what you’ve started this time. The studio, the show, the house. Show your family you’re not a screw-up.

She pushed away from the counter and stood up. “I’m full. I better take the dog out and get ready for bed.”

§ § §

Simeon released a long breath and watched her disappear into the darkness with her dog close behind. Denying any attraction to her made about as much sense as denying his arousal from the moment he stepped into her house.

He placed the dishes in the dishwasher. His luck had turned. Even his skilled hand couldn’t have manipulated this situation any better. Her lights going out played right into his hands. Now all he had to do was coax her into his bed.

All those years thinking about her and not being able to tell her how he felt. He shook his head, so much wasted time. He wiped his brow and reached for his glass of wine. She looked flushed as she allowed the dog to enter the kitchen ahead of her.

“Are you okay?” Simeon crossed the room.

“Yes. But do you know you have deer in your yard? That thing scared the bejesus out of me!”

He gave her a playful hug. “Next time, I’ll go with you and Scruffy to keep you safe. It seems my new task is protecting you.”

She didn’t pull away, so he allowed his hand to roll across her shoulder and down her arm. Her skin was baby soft. He dropped his hand, returned to the table and emptied his glass of wine with one long swallow.

“Let me show you where you’re sleeping tonight,” he said after picking up her bags. He led the way upstairs and dropped her bags in the bedroom at the top of the stairs.

“Maybe it’s a good thing I hadn’t unpacked. Mim used to say every cloud has a silver lining.”

“I guess so.” He glanced over his shoulder. “I want you to feel comfortable so you can stay at one end of the hall. The master suite is on the other side of the house.”

“Is that for my benefit or yours?”

“It’s for your benefit.” He smiled and walked out. Trust me.