Page 248 of One More Kiss

Simon ran a hand through his messy hair. “She doesn’t want to be any more than friends, and I can respect that. For now.”

“There you are,” Tucker joked. “Thought I’d lost ya.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“You were never one of those ‘friend zone’ guys. Even when we were teenagers, you had the uncanny ability to stay way away from that area.”

Simon shrugged. “I’ve grown up.”

Tucker scoffed, “Whatever. I get that I haven’t known Bailey for a long time, but from what Brooklyn has told me, she’s stubborn. It may take you some time to change her mind, but, for what it’s worth, I think she will eventually.”

“Yeah, whatever. Want to braid each other's hair now?”

“Sure, you bring the hair ties?”

“See you later,” Simon said with a smile and headed out toward his bike.

The drive was short, but Simon was in a mood by the time he arrived. Seeing Bailey with papers, pens, and her laptop spread over the table didn’t help matters much.

She wore dark-rimmed glasses and was so focused on whatever it was she was doing that she didn’t even notice he had come in. He took the opportunity to watch her as she worked.

Her bottom lip was held captive between her teeth. She had a hand buried in her hair, and the other was scrolling through a spreadsheet on her computer.

Why did she have to be so damn beautiful? So fucking funny and kind? Bailey Pierce was exactly the kind of woman he could have seen himself ending up with, so why was she also against the idea of them as a couple?

Just as he was about to say something, she looked up and jumped.

“Shit, Simon! You scared the bejeezus out of me.”

“Sorry. I wasn’t expecting you to be here.”

“I quit my job.”

His mouth fell open. “You did what?”

She waved her hand, “Don’t worry. I can still pay my portion of the rent. I have money saved up, and I have a plan.”

“A plan.”

“Yep! I’m meeting with my dad tonight, and we’ll see what he says.

“Is your plan to move back home?” He tried to hide the fear that seeped into his mind at the thought of her leaving, but before it had the chance to sink in, she was smiling and shaking her head.

“No, I want to start my own design company, and I’m hoping he will invest.”

“If it’s any consolation, I would bet on you.”

She smiled and stood to grab a bottle of water from the fridge. “Thanks, Simon. That really does mean a lot.”

His face was serious. “I meant it.”

She smiled again. “I know you did.” Bailey cleared her throat. “I won’t be back tonight, but if everything goes well, I will be here bright and early with a plan.”

“It will.” He took a seat at the table when she did. “So what made you quit?”

“Ugh. You sure you want this story?”

“Absolutely.” Simon smiled and settled in while Bailey recounted her morning. He barely heard what she said because the only thing he could focus on was how beautiful she looked with the fire of determination in her eyes.

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