Page 38 of Falling for the Unexpected

Chapter 10

Kyle

Simone was sitting in my office having just received the dissolution papers for her marriage.

I watched her as she reviewed the documents carefully. Ever since the night of Stella’s birthday, I had kept my distance. I clearly could not control myself around her and I was lucky she hadn’t told Trent or Jim about my out-of-line behavior. I could just see Trent now, thinking I was taking advantage of her. Simone, thankfully, hadn’t mentioned it again. Her bewildered, silent response had told me enough about what I’d done. The fact that she’d kissed me back was likely reactionary since I’d taken her by surprise, but I’d had spent plenty of time thinking otherwise and wondering ‘what if’. I was worried about upsetting how things were, the way they had been for me. She deserved so much more, and since I didn’t know what I had to offer her and Stella, I’d stayed away.

It appeared she had forgiven me, and I appreciated that, but I missed seeing her and talking to her. The past six months had been a rollercoaster for me, on many levels. Things we talked about in those months, I’d find myself dialing her number or starting a text, only to remind myself that I couldn’t—shouldn’t—do that until I was in the right headspace, and knew the full repercussions of my decisions. I would not hurt Simone. She’d had a lifetime of hurt and I wouldn’t bring more to her doorstep.

When I did text her with updates on her case and to check in occasionally, I tried to keep everything professional.

But now that the judgment was in I couldn’t put off seeing her. She had been through a lot these past six months, but it was finally over. Brad’s mandated drug test had come back negative, which, honestly, was more than a little surprising. Not that he needed drugs to continue acting like an ass. Thankfully, his behavior didn’t deter Simone from making a better future for herself and Stella.

Once Brad realized that the MSA required him to pay child support, he’d quit his job at Erik’s auto shop. We tried to keep tabs on where he was working so Simone could get the money she was entitled to, but if he was working, it appeared he was getting paid under the table.

Simone was granted full custody and Brad had supervised visitation every Saturday. The judge agreed it was best for all visitations to take place at his parents’ home since he didn’t have a permanent residence. Truthfully, if the past few months were any indication, he probably wouldn’t make these visitations a priority. He’d even missed her birthday two months ago. While Brad was missing out on time with his daughter, it appeared Stella wasn’t suffering too much. She had a wonderful mother; doting grandparents, and Trent couldn’t go more than a week without spending time with his niece. All things considered, they were all doing well.

“I can’t believe it’s actually done,” she whispered. She exhaled loudly and leaned back in her chair. “I’m no longer Mrs. Bradley Thompson…”

“You plan on changing your name?” I asked. She hadn’t made a decision on this when we first filed her petition so I was curious.

She thought about it. “Yeah, I think I’ll go back to my maiden name—Clark. Really make it official that Brad and I are over.” I smiled at her when she looked up at me, her gorgeous eyes brimming with happy tears. “I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done. I wish I could repay you somehow.”

For a moment, very lewd thoughts of exactly how she could pay me back rushed through my mind. I was such an asshole! I didn’t want her gratitude. I wanted… hell, I didn’t know what I wanted from her. That was why I really needed to stay away until I could get my head straight and feelings sorted out about Simone. I gathered up the papers and placed them in a folder for her. “You don’t owe me anything, Simone. I’m just happy you can move forward,” I said politely.

Simone stood up to leave and I walked over to open my office door for her. Automatically, I reached out and gave her a hug before she could leave. I knew I was probably sending her mixed signals because I was sending them to myself. But what my body wanted and what my mind thought was best were at war with each other. I couldn’t control my desire to reach for her when she was this close and so touchable. I sighed when she instantly wrapped her slender arms around my waist and the feel of her body against mine again felt so right.

“I’ll see you around, Kyle,” she said with a bright smile and pulled back. She went up on her tiptoes and gave me a quick peck on my cheek. My heart rate sped up at the unexpected gesture and she smiled again before walking out. She wore tight jeans that hugged her lower body and a teal-colored tank top. Even though it was October, the weather was still warm. Another perk to living in San Diego. I tried real hard to not stare at her ass as she left since Linda was eyeing me suspiciously with a smile on her lips.

I gave her a quick smile and ducked back into my office. I still felt the pressure of Simone’s lips on my cheek and I was slightly dumbfounded by my horny teenaged boy response. I’d felt that way after our kiss a couple months ago, which was understandable. But this… this was just a chaste kiss, and it was affecting me just as much as that other one. Once I sat back down behind my desk, I stared at my computer screen still thinking about Simone’s jean-clad ass. If she had known even one of the thoughts I’d had about her in the past six months, she probably would have fired me. Never mind I was doing this pro bono. At least now, I felt less guilty considering she was a single woman. Still, I needed to stop.

A very random thought about asking her out startled me out of my daydream because that was completely out of the question.

Or was it?

I rubbed my eyes, constantly going back and forth about the pros and cons of pursuing Simone. Was it just an attraction due to the situation? No, I decided instantly. I was physically attracted to her, had been for a while, but I knew that once Brad had faded out of the picture, feelings and thoughts had started to creep in, and I had started to see her in a different way. Was this just about sex? Yes, and no. I wanted more than just a few nights and some dates with Simone. That’s where I got stuck. I wasn’t a long-term type of guy. And Stella came with the package, and I knew how protective everyone was of her well-being and happiness because I felt the same exact way.

Other than her now being divorced, nothing had changed.

My conversation with Addie back in June came back to haunt me again. What the hell did I want? I had no clue, and that was the problem. What I needed to do was stop thinking about it or I’d lose my mind. I shook my head; I needed to focus on work.

I eyed the small pile of folders Linda and Addie had dropped off this morning and after lunch. It was Friday afternoon and I wanted to wrap up some paperwork so I could get out of here at a decent time. The guys and I were meeting up tonight. After eight years in the military, Ian was finally home so we had plans to go out and celebrate. The four of us had spent most of our lives together so his absence had been hard on all of us, as we hadn’t been able to see him nearly as much as we wanted. Having him home was going to be a great thing.

“Hey, are you heading out?" Addie asked, popping her head in through my door.

“Yeah, as soon as I finish a few things, I’m out,” I said, a little distracted. “Are you going to join us in welcoming Ian home tonight?”

At the mention of Ian’s name, something passed over Addie’s face. Something had happened between them but I’d never figured out what, exactly. Over the years, I had attempted to ask both of them what caused their apparent falling out, but they both acted like they had no idea what I was talking about. After a while I let the subject drop, but now I was wondering how they’d act around each other since they were living in the same town again.

“Well?” I prompted when she continued standing there, zoned out. “You coming, or not?”

Her expression was shuttered and she shrugged. “It really should be a boys’ night out,” she said too casually. She was also looking down at her nails like they were the most interesting things in the world. Addie dressed well and took care of herself, but she was no fashionista and could not care less about how pretty her nails looked.

I narrowed my gaze at her, suspicious. “What happened between you and Ian?” Now she looked nervous. I took my glasses off, glad to have my mind off a certain curvy woman with brown eyes and black hair. “You’ve always told me it was nothing, but you and he used to be so close and then all of a sudden you both stopped talking.” Saying it out loud made me pause. “Wait! Did he do something to you? You better tell me right now because I will give him a totally different welcome home if he hurt you.”

“What? No!” Her eyes bugged out a little. “It was nothing like that. He and Brad just didn’t get along. Once I started dating Brad I sort of stopped talking to Ian…” she said, trailing off and back to acting casual. She gave a one-shouldered shrug for emphasis. “And we never got back to that level of friendship even after I broke things off with Brad.”

Fucking Brad Thompson. That guy could ruin anything just by existing. I was so glad he was no longer Simone’s problem, and that he was barely around at all. Marla and Jim seemed okay without seeing their youngest son as often, which had to be hard for Marla, especially, but everyone’s lives were much better without the negative energy that seemed to follow him.