His smile is big and bright. “It’s one of the first diesel engines used in America. It’s brilliant.”
Big green eyes are filled with the wonder and excitement of a little kid.
“I’m glad.”
The sound of a train from the next room have Simon grabbing my hand and pulling me through the museum.
The chugging of the locomotive on the wall across from us is the only sound in the room as videos of different trains play on a loop. Simon pulls me down on the bench next to him. It’s a zen-like experience.
“Tell me why you like trains so much.”
His fingertips trace the lines on my palm.
“It was something I did with my granddad. He did it with his granddad before, and it was something that only the two of us did together.”
“He sounds like a good guy.” My eyes stay fixed on where our hands are joined.
“He was. Whenever my mum’s boyfriend dumped her, she’d be a wreck, so I’d go stay with them for a few weeks. He’d take me to see the trains, almost as a way to distract me from the shit going on in my life.”
“This is why you started a security firm.” I rest my chin on his shoulder, running my hand through his hair. “You’re a protector.”
“I wouldn’t say that.”
Clasping his face in my hands, I turn so he’s focused solely on me. “Of course you are. That’s what brought you here. What started your company. Why you stepped in to help me. You protect the people you care about.”
“I do.” His deep-green eyes are glued to mine. “I hated how they treated Mum. Half of the time, they ignored me. Treated me like I didn’t exist. I hated it. She always thought she had to have a man to feel special. By the time the last bloke dumped her when I was starting year ten, she got fed up. That’s when we moved in with my grandparents.”
I can’t imagine anyone ignoring Simon. This sweet little boy only looking for affection, and his mom looking for it in all the wrong places. It has my heart reaching out for his. I hated that he had to go through this at all.
“Does your mom still live with them?”
“My granddad died a few years ago. She lives nearby with her new husband so Grandmum isn’t alone.”
“Do you like this new guy?” My fingers idly play with his hair. I want to know everything about this man.
He nods. “I do. He’s a good guy. Nothing like the pieces of shit she used to date.”
“You know, you’re nothing like I thought you’d be.”
Simon shifts, pulling my legs over his lap. We’re impossibly close, yet not close enough for my liking. “Oh yeah?”
Those strong hands of his run up and down my leg. Because it’s the perfect summer day, we’re the only people in here.
“You showed up with all these muscles with those dark sunglasses, dressed in all black looking like you were trying to be a super agent. I thought you’d stand on the sidelines and keep an eye on everyone from there.”
“I’d hardly call myself a super agent,” he scoffs. Of course that’s what he picks up on.
I ignore him. “But then you stepped in for me when you hardly knew me.”
“I’d step in again, love.” Simon smiles down at me, his hand sliding farther up my leg.
“I’m really glad you did. Not that we have to go through with this whole charade, because God forbid a woman sell lingerie, but still. I’m glad you’re here and that I’ve gotten to know you.”
“I’m finding I quite like you now that I know you, Layla.”
Layla.
I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to hearing him say my name. The way it rolls off his tongue in that accent. I could bottle it up and listen to it forever.
