Page 18 of The Temptation (Executive Suite Secrets #4)

“Okay, I have been buying a lot of cheese, but I have also told everyone I’ve met about this place. Nearly the entire orchestra is shopping here now.”

“Not to mention several of the local opera singers,” Tisha chimed in.

“She’s getting so much business from the Cincinnati arts community that she’s started offering discounts to people if they can prove that they work at the opera, symphony, pops, ballet, or any of the museums.”

“Not surprisingly, very few members of the ballet have taken me up on that offer,” Tisha muttered.

I chuckled and followed Simon through the shop as he pointed out his favorites.

Within a few minutes, I discovered that my job had become holder of the cheeses as he picked out the small squares and wedges he wanted to purchase.

When Tisha rang up his purchase, I grabbed my wallet before Simon could get his.

“I believe it’s my job as your boyfriend to purchase your cheese for you,” I teased.

He beamed up at me. “Not your job, per se, but it is very appreciated.”

From there, we wandered through several more shops, adding to the collection of paper bags for Simon’s purchases. There was cheese, a loaf of round crusty bread, a bottle of extra virgin olive oil straight from Greece, and some spices that smelled amazing.

“Have you used the blank music sheets that I got you for your birthday?” I asked as he paused outside one shop. Foot traffic at the market was picking up as more people stopped by to grab things they would need for dinner that evening.

Simon gazed up at me for a moment, his brow furrowed in obvious confusion. But before I could clarify what I meant, his eyes widened and his lips parted slightly.

“Yes,” he whispered. He pulled his eyes away from my face to stare at the line of shops. “I mean, some. I used a few of the pages not long after you gave them to me, but I quickly stopped.”

“Why?”

Simon began walking again as he seemed to decide on our next stop. “The music I’d written wasn’t good enough. It was unoriginal and silly. Not worthy of being put on those beautiful sheets of paper. I’m saving them for something special.”

“Simon, anything you write is special. Use the sheets. I promised when I gave them to you that I’d get you more. Please use them.”

“True, but I wasn’t sure that you’d do it. We’ve barely spoken in years.”

“I promise as soon as I get to the office, I’ll order a new box of blank sheet music for you.”

“You’ll do it?”

A smile played on my lips. I couldn’t help noticing he was very much a stickler about whether I did something personally or if I handed it off to an assistant.

“I’ll handle it myself. No one else. Now, use the damn paper I gave you.”

“Fine. Don’t twist my arm or anything.” Simon led the way into a shop that had a strong floral scent and was colored as if we’d stepped into a bouquet of spring blooms.

“Pierce?”

I knew that voice, and in an instant, I remembered why I didn’t make frequent trips to Findlay Market. My stomach sank, but I pasted a stiff grin on my lips while inwardly praying for Simon to remain calm and polite. It was a shame it was too late to make a run for it.

Turning slightly, I nodded at the tall, slender blond with pale-brown eyes wearing a blue apron over his jeans and sweater. “Hello, Ash. It’s been a long time.”

“I’ll say. I never thought I’d see you in my shop.”

It nearly slipped out that I’d forgotten he owned and operated a specialty soap shop in Findlay Market, but I bit back the words at the last second. “Yes, it’s one of my—uh…” Fuck . Was I supposed to introduce him as my boyfriend?

Naturally, Simon jumped into the breach with all the subtlety and tact of a great white shark. “Hi, I’m Simon Miller, Pierce’s new boyfriend.” He thrust his hand toward Ash. His broad smile was all teeth and threats.

Fuck. My. Life.

“Oh, hi. It’s good to meet you.”

It had taken Simon no time at all to figure out that Ash was one of my exes, and he was staking his claim.

Simon released his hand and zipped to my side. He wrapped an arm around me and snuggled close, his head resting on my chest. “Pierce offered to take a break from work today in order to take me shopping for cheese.”

That was an interesting interpretation of the facts.

“Wonderful. Was there something I could help you find?”

I opened my mouth to nudge Simon into shopping mode again, but Simon loudly sighed.

“No, I think we’re good. It’s getting late, and I need to return to the symphony.” Simon leaned forward and lowered his voice as if he were telling a secret. “Pierce is bringing his parents tomorrow night to see me perform.”

Ash blinked, and I could almost hear him wondering why the fuck he should care. “That’s wonderful. You play with the Cincinnati Symphony.”

“Simon is their resident guest artist for the season,” I bragged because I couldn’t help myself.

The world needed to know how amazing Simon was, even if the imp was acting as if he were about to piss on my leg to mark his territory.

“But you’re right, we should get going. We don’t want you late for rehearsal. ”

We said some quick good-byes, and I practically shoved Simon in the direction of the main doors.

“How long did you date?” Simon growled as we stepped outside in the cold air.

So much for the frigid temperatures clearing his head.

“I think we went out five or six times. It wasn’t long.”

“Who broke up with whom?”

I rolled my eyes and led us to my car. “He broke up with me.”

“What?” Simon screeched. He hurried in front of me and stopped, blocking my path. “Is that man a moron? Were you dating a complete idiot?”

“Would you rather I said I broke up with him?”

Some of his outrage melted into a frown, his shoulders slumping.

“I’m not sure that’s better. Regardless, I’m never shopping at that store again.

Even if he had really nice, silky soaps.

And there was this one with a soft orange and honey scent.

” A wistful sigh escaped him, and I almost laughed.

“Whatever. I’m not giving your ex my money. ”

My almost-laugh turned into a groan. “He barely even counts as an ex.” I stepped past him so I could move to the trunk of my BMW.

It took some shifting of the bags between hands so I could pull the key fob from my pocket.

“We went out on a handful of dates. Not a big deal. It was years ago, and he was still trying to get over his ex, whom he’d dated for almost five years. Did you see the ring on his finger?”

“No.”

“When we broke up, I thought he said he was going to give his ex a second chance. It’s likely they got back together and even married. There’s nothing between us, especially not hard feelings. If he’s happily married, I’m glad.”

I got the trunk to pop open and settled his purchases in a safe place so they couldn’t spill as I drove. After I closed the lid, I turned to Simon and once again fiddled with his scarf, making sure that it hadn’t shifted during his outrage.

“You made a point of coming to Findlay Market because you said you wanted to support the small, independent business owners. You also like his soap. Please don’t stop buying from his store because I went out on a few dates with him.”

Simon lifted his eyes to me, a frown still lingering on his face. “Did you like him?”

I shrugged. “Ash is a nice guy, and we had some laughs, but what we had never felt like it would ever be anything more than friendship between us. We went our separate ways, and there were no hard feelings. Please don’t take your jealousy out on Ash. He doesn’t deserve it.”

The young man in front of me grunted. “Fine, but only because you said that he’s married. I guess we’re lucky he didn’t realize what a catch you are. Then I would have to do something horrible to him.”

“Enough, gremlin.” Grabbing Simon’s shoulders, I turned him and pushed him toward the passenger-side door. I opened it for him and held it as he got in, all while trying to ignore the stupid warmth that blossomed in my chest at his words. Insane. I must be going insane.

I drove him the short distance to Music Hall, but he wouldn’t let me get out of the car to help him with his bags, only had me pop the trunk. He darted to get his bags and shut the lid. Yet before he hurried into the building, he stopped by my door and knocked on the window.

As soon as I rolled it down, Simon thrust two of his small wedges of cheese at me. “You need to try these. You’ll love them.” He opened his hand, and I barely managed to catch them.

I turned my face to thank him, and the imp leaned inside the car to capture my mouth in a searing kiss. He broke it off all too quickly and grinned at me. “Thank you for taking me shopping. I had a wonderful afternoon.”

In the blink of an eye, he crossed to the sidewalk and darted inside the building, leaving me sitting in the car, dazed and very fucking confused.

That entire shopping trip, he hadn’t snapped a single picture of us together for social media.

We really hadn’t discussed my parents or how we could improve our fake-boyfriend cover. We’d just shopped and talked.

Who the fuck was conning whom in this deal?