Chapter 32

“Let’s finish these drinks and get out of here then,” Lee suggested. I didn’t need to be told twice. I gripped my martini and downed it in one.

“I need to use the lady’s room first,” I admitted and slipped out from between them before either of them could offer to go with me. My boys had always been overly protective, especially in places like this. 16

It turned out that Dale and Lee were right to be protective of me. The moment I slipped away from them I began to feel uneasy. I wasn’t sure why but there was something about the warm spot between my shoulder blades that told me I was being watched.

I tried to shrug it off as I slipped into the lady’s room and made my way to the line of sinks. A quick glance in the mirror told me I needed to reapply my lipstick after Dale’s kissing onslaught.

Turning on the tap, I rinsed my hands and splashed a little water onto my chest to cool myself down before reaching into my clutch.

Just as I pulled my lipstick out and began to apply it to my lips, I heard the click of the door opening behind me. My ears were blasted by music before it clicked shut again.

For a moment I thought nothing of it. Another woman simply needed to use the restroom.

Yet when I saw the figure in the mirror stepping closer, I realized that it wasn’t a woman at all.

“Well, well, fancy meeting you here.” Simon’s voice grated on me and I felt my entire body go rigged with fear.

“Simon, what are you doing in here?” I asked, turning slowly towards him. I wasn’t sure what he wanted, but everything in me was screaming not to make any sudden movements.

“I wanted to come and have a little chat away from your friends and this seemed like the best place to do it.” Simon drew closer to me until the tips of our noses were almost touching. “I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind since I saw you in the store yesterday.”

“Funny, I hadn’t thought of you at all,” I replied sarcastically. The disgusted look on his face told me it had been the wrong move.

“You’ve always had a power over me, Rhea.” Simon lifted his hand and brushed a strand of hair away from my face. The way his fingers stroked my cheek caused me to cringe.

“I didn’t do anything,” I protested.

“Yes, oh yes, you did.” Simon nodded. “You were in my dreams all last night and all my thoughts this morning. You put a spell on me just like you did back in college.”

I had no idea what to say to that and so instead I stood silent and defiant.

“I really have missed you, Rhea,” Simon continued as though he hadn’t sensed my discomfort. “It would be so nice if we could pick up where we left off.”

“You mean where I dumped you?” I did my best to remind him that we hadn’t seen each other since that day when I’d left him in the cafe cradling his coffee with tears in his eyes.

“No, no, before that.” Simon shook his head. “Things were so good before that.”

“No, they weren’t,” I protested. “They were awful and that’s why I ended it.”

“Oh, come on, it wasn’t all bad. We were good together.” Simon sighed. “It was that bitch friend of yours who broke us up. I see that now.”

He was half way right. Kate had been the one to talk me into leaving him after he’d become too overbearing and clingy. She’d seen his dark side long before I had.

“Simon, I don’t know what you think you are accomplishing by coming in here but it isn’t going to happen.” I tried to step out from between the sinks and his body pressing in on me but his arm blocked the way.

My pulse quickened, and not in a good way.

“Simon,” I warned.

“That’s it, say my name.” Simon smirked down at me. “I love to hear you say my name.”

That’s when he gripped hold of my chin and forced my face up to his. Bile rose in the back of my throat when his lips touched mine.

Instinct caused my knee to fly upwards. It connected with his groin with an audible thud and he reeled backwards, cupping his balls with a squeal like none I’d ever heard before.

“Stay the hell away from me!” I snapped at him and hurried from the room completely forgetting my clutch that was still propped beside the sink.