Simon shakes his head. “No. We have rotating schedules. I will make myself available to you whenever you need. Besides, it won’t hurt to have an extra set of eyes at the wedding functions.”
“I’m glad that it will be of help to you then.”
“Just wait until Pierce hears about this,” he says on a laugh.
“No!” I bite out. “We can’t tell anyone. I know Pierce is your best friend, but he has the biggest mouth, and I don’t want this getting out.”
“Will you be able to keep it to yourself then?”
I nod with a little too much force. “It’s the only way this will work.”
Even if it means lying to my family. They’ll understand, right?
“Right. And if people ask how we met?”
“London.” I’m quick to answer. “I’ve visited my family there a few times. We can easily play it off.”
Simon gives me a soft smile. “I guess you’ve thought of everything then.”
“Mostly. Can I ask you something?”
“Considering you’ve been full of questions tonight…”
I smack him on the chest. Simon is a full head taller than I am. He has an air about him—an overwhelming presence in the very best way.
“Why are you doing this?”
There’s Simon’s laugh again. It’s the sweetest sound. Something I could get used to hearing. “Are you trying to talk me out of this? I’ve already said yes.”
“Not at all.” I shake my head. “But you’re agreeing to this after I accused you of being here to stalk my family. You could have easily told me to go to hell.”
Simon tucks a stray lock of hair behind my ear. “I have my reasons.”
“Will I ever get to hear them?”
“Maybe.”
“Shouldn’t you tell your girlfriend these things?”
“My girlfriend is awfully demanding.”
I cross my arms, standing as tall as I can. “I can’t help it if you know everything about me and I know nothing about you.”
“I like trains. Does that satisfy your need for information?”
I roll my eyes at him. “Hardly.”
“Do I get to ask you a question now?”
I fight the smile threatening to split my face wide open. If this is what the next few weeks will be like, this might not be so bad.
“Go ahead.”
“Layla, love, will you go out on a date with me?”
Oh yeah, I’m going to really enjoy these next few weeks.
ChapterEight
