Page 36 of The October Arrangement

“Because Simon and I just spent our entire lunch talking about you.” He grinned.

“Oh lord. I don’t even want to know what he told you.”

“Relax. It was all good.”

“I highly doubt that.” She glared at me.

“Well, it was good to see you both. We’re going to sit at our table and enjoy a fabulous lunch,” Daisy said.

“Simon.” Bella nodded.

“Bella.” I nodded back.

I paid the check, and we headed out.

“I give it two weeks,” he said.

“For what?”

“For you to break one of your rules.”

“The rules aren’t for me. They’re for her.”

“Which one of those rules says you can’t sleep with her?”

“None of them.”

His grin widened. “Interesting.”

“Shut the fuck up, Christian.” I hugged him. “I’ll catch you later. I’m happy you’re back.”

“Not as happy as I am.” He laughed and climbed into the back seat of his car.

One thing was right. There wasn’t a single rule on that list that said I couldn’t touch her.

Chapter Fifteen

Bella

Daisy and I had a wonderful lunch, and after we said goodbye, I decided to walk for a while instead of heading straight back to the penthouse. It was too beautiful a fall day not to. The air had that perfect crispness. The sun was shining, and every so often a breeze swept through, scattering fallen leaves across the sidewalk.

I was still trying to get used to the city and found my way around without constantly pulling out my phone. The one thing I learned about New York City was that everyone moved fast. People walked like they had somewhere important to be, horns blared non-stop, and everyone except me seemed to know exactly where they were going. I didn’t. And for once, I didn’t care.

After a few blocks, I stumbled onto Park Avenue. I stopped at the corner and looked around. Everything looked polished and expensive. I started walking again and stopped when a name on the side of a tall glass building caught my attention.

MONTCLAIR DEVELOPMENT GROUP

“No way,” I said, staring up at the building.

The building was tall, sleek, and expensive-looking. It practically screamed Simon. I’d bet Simon had rules there too. And a lot more than ten of them. I should have kept walking. I had absolutely no reason to go inside. I’d just seen him at lunch. He didn’t look happy when he saw me, and would probably be even unhappier if I showed up at his work. The thought made me smile, so I opened the large glass doors and stepped inside.

The lobby was enormous. Cream-colored stone covered the floors, with dark wood and metal throughout the space. Everything was spotless and sophisticated. A massive arrangement of white flowers sat on a table near the center, and several security guards stood behind a long reception desk. I walked toward the reception desk, and one of them behind it smiled.

“Good afternoon. Can I help you?”

“I’m here to see Simon Montclair.”

“Do you have an appointment with Mr. Montclair?” he asked.