Chapter 37

CHAPTER 37

RYLEE

A s Simon helped me undress, his touch was tender and deliberate, every movement filled with care. It was a sensual and intimate moment, one that made my heart beat a little faster. Once I was free of my clothes, I stepped into the huge soaker tub, the warm water embracing me like a comforting hug. I looked at Simon. "Join me?"

"Hell yeah." He grinned. "Let me get the champagne."

Simon uncorked the champagne with a satisfying pop that echoed in the high-ceilinged bathroom. He poured two flutes full of the golden, bubbling liquid and set them cautiously on the marble ledge of the tub. With practiced ease, he undressed and slipped into the water opposite me.

We clinked our glasses together, his eyes sparkling with mischief and warmth. "To an amazing vacation," he said.

I echoed his toast before we both took a sip. The champagne was sweet and crisp, tickling my tongue as I swallowed.

We sat facing each other, the water gently lapping around us as we sipped champagne. The atmosphere was serene, a stark contrast to the busy streets of Edinburgh just outside our window. I closed my eyes and inhaled what smelled like lavender and mint. It was heavenly.

"I could get used to this," I said with a sigh.

"Doesn't that house have a tub?" he asked.

"The Big House?" I grinned.

"It has a name?"

"Yes." I laughed. "It is a big house and it just kind of made it easier to clarify where we were going once my friends started moving out."

"Did you like living with four other women?"

"I did." I nodded. "It was fun. We all got along really well. We're all very different and there were of course the occasional arguments, but it was nice to always have someone to talk to. Although I am a loner and I craved some time alone. I think being in a busy house made me appreciate those alone moments."

"You sound like you're saying goodbye," he said.

"With Jenny, Lauren, and Mary Ellen out of the house, it feels so big and empty. Karen is very likely going to be moving to Kentucky, which means it will be just me in the house. It's going to be weird and a little sad."

"You were willing to travel to Europe on your own," he pointed out.

I laughed and took a sip of my champagne. "True, but that's different. That house holds a lot of memories. Every room, every dish, all has a memory attached to it. It's going to be like living with ghosts."

"Can you get a smaller place?" he asked.

"Depending on how things shake out with Karen, I just might," I said. "But I don't want to offend anyone. The house is paid for. It feels like I'm insulting them by not accepting their generosity."

He chuckled. "I think I know that feeling."

I slid my foot over his thigh, teasing him. "You rich guys are always looking to save a damsel in distress."

"That's not entirely true," he replied. "But you're a good person and it's just one of those things that makes guys like me happy. I enjoy helping people. I don't enjoy being taken advantage of."

"Is that what you feel your family does?"

"Yes," he answered without hesitation.

"Are you and your sister close?" I asked him.

His face grew serious as he shook his head. "Things have been strained with Marsha for a long time. She's always felt like she was second best to me when it came to our mother's affection. Marsha was our father's favorite, and after he died, things changed. There was always some competition between us, but we each had a parent, so it wasn't a big deal. It wasn't like my mom didn't love her, but there was just an obvious connection between me and my mom and my dad and Marsha."

"Does Marsha work in the company?"

"No," he answered. "She's a banker. I inherited the company."

"Ah, do you think that was a reason for her to hate you?"

"She didn't want it," he replied. "She's four years older than me. I had been groomed for the job because Marsha always said she didn't want it. She makes decent money, but she really seems to think my dad never intended for her to have it. She claims she was always less favored than me."

"Do you think she's right?" I asked softly, intrigued by the complexity of his family dynamics.

He paused, considering the question. "I've never really thought about it. I always wrote her off as being spoiled and pissy, but if I pause and really think about it? Yes, I can see how our mother gives me more grace than she does Marsha. My father skipped over her when he talked about passing down the company. Things really came to a head a couple of weeks ago."

"What happened?"

"I ruined my mother's dinner party," he said with a sigh. "It got ugly. My mother forgave me when she shouldn't have. Marsha called me an ass, and my mother gave her a tongue lashing. I guess it's not exactly equal treatment."

I thought about how hard it must be to be the sister who couldn't hold a candle to her younger brother. Simon, the wealthy definition of success, the handsome overachiever, the only son. It made my heart ache for Marsha, even though I thought she was just a little abrasive as well.

"That would definitely make things difficult." I nodded.

Simon shook his head, as if to clear the thoughts. "Forget about that. Tell me more about you. About your work."

I laughed. "My work? You mean shaking drinks and flirting with guys to get tips? Not much to tell."

He leaned forward, his gaze intense. "What are your ambitions, Rylee? If you could do something else without the confinements of money, what would you do?"

I gazed out the window near the tub and sighed. "I've always—it's silly."

"I want to know."

"I've always wanted to open a mixology school," I said softly. "I took a bartending class when I turned twenty-one, but it was lackluster. So much of my learning was done on the fly. I made a lot of mistakes, got yelled at, cost my employers money. I never had a positive experience where I could hone my craft. I think I could create something like that for people who want to mix drinks at another level and create their own recipes. That's what I love to do. I love to create new things. Tastes unlock memories." I smiled at him. "I don't want to work at a mediocre bar for the rest of my life. I want to make a mark. But people like me? That's not really our destiny. I'm not going to open my own bar and make any money. It's just not in the cards for me."

"Destiny is bullshit," Simon said firmly.

I shrugged. "Easy for a rich guy to say. You were born into money with a job secured for you the minute you took your first breath. You didn't have to worry about interviewing and begging for a job."

"If you want something, you have to make it happen, Rylee. Nobody is going to hand it to you. Nobody is going to care about it the way you do. If it's in your heart and soul, and you know regret would eat you alive when you're eighty years old looking back on your life, then you have to find a way to make it happen. Yes, I had a job dropped in my lap, but it wasn't quite as simple as it sounds. No one thought I could handle the job. No one wanted me in the role. I had to decide if I really wanted it and then I had to bust my ass proving I did want it and I was good at it."

I studied him, taking in the seriousness of his gaze, the strength of his shoulders, and the way the bubbles were disappearing from the surface of the water, revealing everything. He was so much more than the asshole I'd written him off as.

"I'll try," I said.

He lifted his champagne glass. "Cheers to that."

We soaked a bit longer before our skin started to prune. We wrapped ourselves in the cozy hotel robes and settled on the massive bed. Both of us were exhausted but in the best possible way. Simon got a craving for something sweet and ordered cheesecake from room service. We lounged in bed, eating and watching trash TV. We laughed at the ridiculousness of the shows. His company felt so easy, so natural.

I turned to him, my heart full. "Thank you, Simon. For everything. When it was all coming apart, you pulled it back together. I'm so grateful. You saved more than just my passport—you saved my whole trip. It means everything to me."

He looked at me, his eyes softening. "I'm glad I could be here for you, Rylee."

We kissed, a tender, lingering kiss that spoke of more than just attraction. It was a promise, an unspoken bond that had formed between us. I rolled out of bed and collected our plates, putting them on the room service tray before crawling back into bed with him. He pulled me against his bare chest. The warmth of his skin and the unique smell of him was comforting. We both fell asleep wrapped up together, our bodies entwined, feeling a profound sense of peace and contentment.

The next morning, I woke up first, feeling the weight of Simon's arm draped over me. I lay there for a moment, savoring the warmth of his body and the sound of his steady breathing. The trip had turned into something I didn't know I needed. Simon had turned out to be someone I didn't know I wanted or needed in my life. He made me genuinely happy. It was a feeling of contentment I had never experienced before.

Eventually, I gently extricated myself from his embrace and padded over to the window. The city of Edinburgh was slowly waking up. It was a beautiful place and I hoped I could visit again one day. It already held a lot of special memories for me.

"Good morning," I heard Simon say, his voice still husky with sleep.

"Good morning," I said with a smile. "I was just thinking about how much I love this city."

He sat up, rubbing a hand over his face. "It's pretty amazing, isn't it?"

I nodded. "I wish we had more time here."

"We'll just have to make the most of today," he said, swinging his legs over the side of the bed and standing up. "We don't leave until this afternoon."

Simon moved to the window, standing next to me. He wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me back against him. I felt the heat of his bare skin seep through the plush robe and sighed, leaning back into him.

"Hungry?" he asked.

"A little."

We got dressed and headed out for breakfast, finding a quaint little café nearby. We sat down at a small corner table, ordering scones and jam with steaming cups of tea. The aroma of freshly baked bread permeated the room, mingling with the scent of strong coffee beans and sweet pastries. It was a comforting smell, familiar and inviting.

Simon looked out the large café window, watching the rain softly fall on the cobblestone street. "It's beautiful, isn't it?" he murmured.

"Yeah," I agreed, taking in the gray morning sky which seemed to add a certain charm to the city's landscape. I wasn't fond of the rain, but here, it just seemed fitting. After our breakfast, we headed back to the hotel to collect our bags and make our way to the waiting plane. I had to admit, I was looking forward to the last leg of my trip in the lap of luxury.