“I like being subtle.”
“Right.” He laughed. “Well, I never want to share the same thing as another man. I like to always go custom and keep my things at a far reach from others.”
I tapped my fingers against the table, wishing that Penelope would hurry the hell up and come back before this turned into a full-scale pissing match.
“I read that you like scrappy investment firms in Esquire,” Simon said. “If you’re ever interested in investing some of your money in a hedge fund with small returns but great long-term strategies, let me know. I manage three billion, which is a little more than what your company is worth, but I take on smaller clients, too.” He pulled out his business card, and I let it hang in the air for a few seconds.
Is he insinuating that he makes more money than me?
“Thank you for the offer,” I said, taking it. “I’ll be sure to check it out later this week, Simeon.”
“It’s Simon.”
“That’s what I said.”
Silence.
“Sorry I took so long.” Penelope returned to the table. “Have I missed anything exciting?”
“No,” Simon and I said in unison.
I cleared my throat and stood up from the table. “I realized that I have something to do for Lawrence tonight,” I said. It was nice meeting you, Simon. I’ll see you tomorrow morning for brunch at Wagner’s, Penelope.”
“You might see me, too.” Simon smiled. “She mentioned wanting to show me that place, and tomorrow sounds more than perfect.”
I walked away before I could say anything else.
Fourteen
Present Day
Penelope
I knocked on the front door of Wagner’s in the morning, hoping that Hayden’s security detail were the only people inside and that I’d get a few minutes alone to myself.
I fucking needed it …
The moment I saw Hayden at the theater last night, the butterflies I’d felt for Simon lost a fight to something far more powerful in my chest when I saw him.
The sight of him in a custom-black, three-piece suit had always been lethal to me when I was prepared for it. But when it caught me off guard?
There were no words to adequately describe it.
He’d ruined the rest of the play for me.
During the second act, I wasn’t witnessing the story on stage; I was envisioning Hayden pulling me into that corner all over again. Pressing his lips against mine and gripping my waist, claiming me in front of everyone and not giving a damn about any photogs that caught shots of us.
He’s your brother’s best friend, your best friend, and the ultimate playboy. Snap out of it, Penelope.
Those words were the only ones that seemed to lure some sense into my brain.
Letting out a breath, I knocked on the door again.
“Sorry about that Miss Penelope.” Hayden’s lead guard opened the door. “Happy Saturday.”
“Happy Saturday.” I took off my sunglasses and noticed Hayden sitting in the back, looking sexy as ever in jeans and a black T-shirt.
He’d already ordered my favorites—beignets and strawberries, and he was sipping a cup of coffee.
“Hey.” His eyes met mine as I approached.
“Hey.”
“Where’s Simon?”
“He had a last minute meeting.”
As I took my seat, his security guard set a rose bouquet and a note between us.
“For you, Miss Penelope,” he said. “From a Mister Gaines.” He pulled a receipt from his pocket and handed it to Hayden. “Also, he uh, prepaid for the two of you to have brunch today.”
“How very kind of him,” Hayden said, and we sat in silence for a few seconds after the guard walked away.
“How was the rest of your night with Simeon?” he asked.
“It’s Simon.” I picked up a fork. “It was good. How was the rest of yours?”
“Good … You didn’t call me when you made it home.”
“I didn’t think you were still awake. We went on a joyride in his Ferrari, and he didn’t drop me off until three.”
“Since when do I not answer late night calls from you?”
“Right.” I swallowed. “Look. About last night—”
“What about it?”
“I don’t think I ever told you that I wanted to see Wicked,” I said. “I kept thinking about it over dinner, and I feel like I should’ve. Would you have sat through it with me?”
He gave me a look that answered that rhetorical question.
“I think we should spend some time together. I feel we haven’t hung out that much lately.”
“We haven’t.” He tapped his fingers against the table. “My apology tour and gala planning has picked up, though. That’s probably why.”
“Oh, yeah.” I’d almost forgotten about the gala. “Well, Simon is taking me down to Miami this week to hang out at Sunny Isles Beach, so how about the day after we get back?”
“I took you to Sunny Isles last year.”
“He’ll never know.” I smiled. “I play dumb like you said, whenever he suggests something I’ve already done with you before. It’ll be my first with him, right?”