CHAPTER SIX
SIMONSATINthe backseat of the town car, arms crossed, staring straight ahead at the driver. He blocked out Marianna’s glances from the other side of the car. He had fucked up royally the night before, and unless he found a way to keep his cock down when she was around, he was going to fuck up again. His plan to take off the edge with some quick, one-handed relief had gone way, way wrong. Or right, if the lower half of his body got a vote in this.
Now last night’s scene would fuel a whole week’s worth of late-night spanks every time he imagined her walking in on his shower. Of course, her outfit for today, a silky shirt and skirt, bare legs and heels, wasn’t doing much for keeping his mind out of the gutter.
“You back to ignoring me?” Marianna asked.
Simon harrumphed. “Worked so well the first time. Figured I’d give it another try.”
She gave a little snort of amusement. “Shouldn’t you be briefing me or something?”
“Not how this works.”
“Seriously, I want to know all the details.” Marianna raised an eyebrow. “I thought I made the plans and you made the rules.”
He barked out a laugh. “And look where that got us last night.”
Her eyes glazed over slightly and the corner of her mouth hitched up a little, as if she was also remembering.
Simon rubbed a hand over his eyes and shook off the surge of attraction. Then he forced himself to meet her gaze.
“Mari, I’m not fucking around with anything that has to do with your safety. We’re meeting with two of the other Blackmore Inc. principles, Derek and Max, to go over the plan.”
She frowned. “This is supposed to be discreet. Private.”
“We’re a security firm, for God’s sake. Who do you think those two will tell? Their knitting circle?”
“Don’t be an ass, Simon. What if none of this turns out to be true? I don’t want to drag Ruiz Imports through the mud. It won’t just be the company. All the programs we fund will get taken down, too.”
Simon hesitated. He had read about the Cuban American Center Marianna had set up. It was the kind of charity her father would have looked down on, but she did it anyway. Why? Maybe he’d find a way to ask later. After they got through the meeting with Goodwin.
Simon turned to her. “You need more than just my help. What if you end up in some sort of car chase again? Or what if William shows up here? I don’t want to have my hands down my goddamned pants when something happens.”
Marianna still didn’t look happy about it, but she didn’t argue.
“I’m not thinking straight around you,” he said, softer now.
“And that pisses you off?”
“It worries me.”
Simon had built a new life in Sydney to get away from the distractions of his past. Last night was a reminder of why he did that. Just a couple hours with Marianna had gotten under his skin. Again. By the time he walked out of the shower, he wasn’t even sure what had happened between them. And uncertainty was the last thing he needed right now. Still, after all these years, she was a distraction that could pull him under if he wasn’t careful.
They turned the corner, and the Blackmore Inc. building came into sight.
“What does the rest of your team know about you and me?” she asked quietly.
“Max and Derek?”
“Yes.”
“They know enough.” Simon ran his hand through his hair.
Marianna tilted her head. “I’m curious to hear what that means.”
He took a deep breath and met her gaze.
“They know I was stupid enough to fall in love with a girl I never had a chance with,” he said slowly. “That I almost let down everyone who needed me for her.”
