Page 54 of The October Arrangement

“I don’t like this.” I shook my head.

“Why?”

“Because I don’t want you thinking you have to buy me things.”

“I don’t. Listen, Bella, I want you with me Saturday night. This event is my obligation, not yours. I’m the one asking you to spend an entire evening getting dressed up, making small talk with people you don’t know, and smiling through boring as fuck conversations because you agreed to be my date. The least I can do is buy you the dress and shoes for the evening.”

When he put it that way, it was harder to argue with him. I turned the card over between my fingers.

“What happens if I lose this?”

“You won’t.”

“You don’t know that. I’m very good at losing things.”

“Then I’ll cancel it.”

“What if I go on a shopping spree and bankrupt Montclair Development Group?” I smirked.

“Now that I’d like to see.” He chuckled.

He leaned over the island and placed his hand on mine.

“Go shopping, Bella.”

“You’re bossy, Simon Montclair.”

“I’ve never claimed otherwise.” He winked. “I have to get to my meeting. Have fun today.”

Chapter Twenty-One

Simon

My meeting went better than I expected, which made me happy. I entered my office, took off my suit coat, and sat behind my desk. I glanced at my phone. No text from Bella. But why would there be? It was ten o’clock. I’d just seen her three hours ago.

I tapped my computer to wake it up. Opening an important email, I stared at the computer screen, trying to comprehend every fucking word. I leaned back in my chair and ran my hand over my jaw. This was ridiculous. I had an eleven o’clock meeting with the architects for the Madison Avenue project, with two contracts waiting for my approval, and all I could think about was her. More specifically, I was thinking about last night. I tried to ignore it and convince myself it was nothing more than attraction. She was beautiful, and I was a man. There wasn’t anything complicated about that. Except Bella had a way of making everything complicated. And last night had proven that what I felt for her wasn’t going away because I’d finally had her. If anything, it was worse now. Fuck.

I’d expected it to be good, and I knew it would be. What I hadn’t expected was everything that came after. Falling asleep with her wrapped in my arms. Waking up with her in my arms, like she’d been there for years instead of just one night. That part was fucking with my head. Sex I understood well. It was easy. What wasn’t was the morning after intimacy.

A knock at the door startled me from my thoughts.

“Come in.”

Sonia walked inside carrying a folder. “Here are the revised projections for Madison Avenue.”

“Just put them there.” I pointed to the corner of my desk.

“Harrison Ludwig called. He wants to know if you’re available for lunch today.”

“No,” I said. “Set something up for next week.”

“Okay. Is there anything you need, Simon?”

“No.”

She walked out and shut the door. My eyes glanced at my phone. I needed to fucking work, not sit here thinking about Bella Castle. This woman was going to destroy my productivity. I picked up my phone and sent her a text.

Did you buy a dress yet?