Page 227 of One More Kiss

“At some point.” It was no secret among his friends that Simon’s parents hadn’t taken much of an interest in his military career. His dad was a dentist and had expected Simon to follow suit. His mother hadn’t talked to him for three months after he’d enlisted, and neither had written him a single letter while he’d been away.

He talked to them once every few months and hadn’t had the chance to tell them he was getting out yet. To be honest, he had no interest in telling them anything. Why should he? All they were going to do was try to pressure him to go to college, and he had no interest in going back to school, at least, not just yet. He’d spent ten years on someone’s chain. He was going to acclimate to being in charge of his own life for a while.

* * *

Bailey was just walkinginto her apartment when her phone rang. The number wasn’t in her contact list, but she answered anyway, assuming it was a new client.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Bailey.”

A wide smile spread across her face. “Well, hello, Mr. Lawson.”

“Just Brett, please.”

“Okay, Brett.” She set her briefcase down and dropped onto the couch. “What can I do for you?”

“I was wondering if you might be available tonight.”

“Have a design emergency?”

He laughed, and it stirred butterflies in her stomach. “Not exactly, dinner at seven? Just the two of us?”

“That sounds like a wonderful evening.”

“I think so.”

“Let me check my schedule.” She said easily and was silent for a moment before sighing playfully. “It looks like I have a few things, but nothing I can’t move around.”

“Good. Can I pick you up?”

“If you let me know where you want to go, I’ll meet you there. I try to not give out my address on first dates.”

“Ahh, want to make sure I’m not crazy. I get it.”

“Well, you know, single woman living in the city,” she said with a smile.

“I’m really looking forward to tonight. How about we meet at Silverado’s at six-fifty? I’ll make a seven o’clock reservation.”

“I’ll see you then.”

“See you then, Bailey.” The line went dead, and she clutched the phone to her chest, wearing a huge smile on her face. He was handsome, successful, and charming. The ultimate trifecta.

She kicked her feet in the air and scrolled through her favorites until she found the number she wanted.

“Hey, biotch, what’s up?”

“Brooklyn, you are never going to believe what happened to me today?”

“You finally get laid?”

“Hah! Not yet anyway.”

“Not yet? What happened?”

“I was leaving Gertrude’s house after showing her my designs and ran right into her son.”

“Okay, do they share the same stick?”

---