Page 55 of Just a Little Tempted

“Seriously, Simon,” I said, not letting him off the hook for his extreme behavior. “What are you doing here?”

His eyes met mine, dark and intense. “I wasn’t going to let some guy from your past swoop in and try to take what’s mine.”

What’s mine.The words sent a shiver down my spine. We hadn’t defined what we were, hadn’t put labels on this thing between us, but Simon had just made his feelings abundantly clear. To Eli. To me. To anyone within earshot.

I was his. And he wasn’t willing to share.

“I didn’t realize you had such a caveman side,” I said, fighting back a smile. “Should I expect you to throw me over your shoulder and carry me back to your cave?”

“Don’t tempt me,” he said, the low rumble of his voice making my stomach flip.

“You know,” I said, leaning closer, “Eli was never a threat. I told you it was just a friendly catch-up.”

“I heard him say he’d love for you to give him another chance before I interrupted the two of you.” Simon’s jaw tightened at the memory. “That didn’t seem like a friendlycatch-upto me.”

I exhaled a breath. “He didn’t know I was seeing someone.”

“He does now.”

I laughed, shaking my head. “You’re impossible.”

“And yet, here you are.” His hand found my thigh under the table, squeezing gently. “Still sitting with me instead of chasing after yourfriend.”

I found myself smiling, despite everything. “Maybe I like yourimpossiblepersonality.”

His expression softened, something warm and genuine breaking through the possessive exterior. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.” I covered his hand with mine, threading our fingers together. “So,” I said, tilting my head with a teasing smile, “since you scared off my coffee date, I guess you’re obligated to keep me company now. What do you say, caveman? Buy me another drink?”

Simon’s lips curved into a genuine smile, rare and beautiful and just for me. “I think I can manage that.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Simon

The week followingour return from Neptune’s Kingdom had been a whirlwind of activity, but I couldn’t remember the last time work had felt this energizing.

Contract discussions with Alexander had dominated most of my days. We’d spent hours on video calls and exchanged countless emails, hammering out the details of our partnership. The negotiations had been remarkably smooth, a testament to how aligned we were in our vision for the future of Neptune’s Kingdom. Alexander wanted controlled expansion that preserved the family-friendly atmosphere he’d cultivated over two decades. I wanted a long-term investment in a company with solid foundations and genuine growth potential. Our goals dovetailed perfectly.

By Thursday, we’d reached an agreement on all major terms. Alexander’s attorney was now reviewing everything, dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s before the official signing scheduled for Monday. Barring any last-minute surprises, Powers Investment Group would soon have a new flagship partnership.

What made the process even better was having Raina by my side through all of it. She’d sat in on every call, taken meticulous notes, and offered insights I hadn’t considered.

I’d always had Liam to bounce ideas off of, and my brother remained invaluable. But Raina brought a different perspective. She understood the human element in ways that sometimes escaped me. She could read between the lines of Alexander’shesitations, anticipate his objections before he voiced them, and help me navigate the emotional undercurrents of the deal.

Having her as my assistant—and in my life in general—felt like discovering a missing piece of myself I hadn’t known I needed.

Liam, for his part, was thrilled about the Neptune’s Kingdom acquisition. He’d reviewed the preliminary numbers and declared it one of our most promising ventures in years. But his excitement about the business deal had taken a backseat to his curiosity about other developments.

“So,” he’d said yesterday, leaning against my office doorframe with a knowing smirk, “you and Raina. That’s not fake anymore, is it?”

I’d considered deflecting, but Liam knew me too well. “No. It’s not.”

His expression shifted from amused to serious. “She’s your employee, Simon.”

“I’m aware.”

“And you’re sure this is a good idea? Mixing business with…” he’d gestured vaguely, “whatever this is?”