Page 41 of The Temptation (Executive Suite Secrets #4)

PIERCE SUTTON

It was becoming harder and harder to avoid Simon. Especially since he was currently living in my house.

Upon returning from Charlotte, the first thing I’d wanted to do was race to Declan’s house and beg Simon to give me a second chance after the mess I’d made of things so far. I really believed he wouldn’t hesitate to take me back and forgive all the bullshit I’d heaped on him for so long.

But he deserved better than that. He deserved to be showered with love and devotion. He needed proof that I loved him and treasured everything about him. And this evidence needed to be something he’d see every damn day when he was doing the thing he loved most.

To accomplish this task, I needed help. Lots of it.

Stage One: The Stall.

Rome made a quick call to a hungover Liam, asking his cherished love to convince Simon that he had to stay at their penthouse downtown for a couple of days because of a broken water heater at Pierce’s.

Liam and Simon had already grown close, making this a comfortable arrangement, and it would put Simon close to Music Hall if he needed to go to work.

That at least bought me some time as Edward delivered Simon’s violin and another selection of clothes to him for his stay.

I hoped Simon would need to remain with Rome and Liam only a night or two.

Stage Two: Movers

While on the plane ride home from Charlotte, Sebastian hopped on the phone to rustle up some movers who could take all the furniture and decor out of the largest room in my house and place it in short-term storage. I didn’t know what I’d do with any of it, but that was future me’s problem.

Stage Three: The Designer

At the same time, Declan was on the phone with his shopper. While she argued that her expertise was in keeping Declan and his family in fashion, that woman had also decked out Joy’s nursery in a stunning jungle theme. I needed her to work her magic on what I hoped would become Simon’s sanctuary.

Stage Four: Controlling Chaos

My job was to coordinate all these people coming and going in my house with my housekeeper while shopping for the centerpieces of Simon’s new room.

Normally, it would take me months of searching and comparing, but I told myself that if I found something better later, I could always upgrade it for Simon.

There was no time to waste. The longer we were apart, the more Simon was hurting.

After two incredibly long days of people coming and going in my house, the dust had settled and the gift was ready. Now I could only wonder if it was enough. Should I have done more? Gone grander?

Yet, when Edward brought him home, all I could do was stand on the front step wearing the suit I knew he loved me best in, trying not to wring my hands.

The little devil flashed me a smirk as he stepped out of the car, not even waiting for Edward to open the door for him.

“I can’t stay,” he announced, and my heart plummeted into my stomach.

My despair must have shown on my face, because he hurried across the short distance that separated us and grabbed my arms. “No! No! I don’t mean it like that.

I have a performance tonight. If I’m not at Music Hall in a couple of hours, the maestro will have a heart attack. ”

I pressed my forehead to his and sucked in a steadying breath. He smiled, his bright-blue eyes shining with an inner joy that soothed my soul in ways I was only beginning to understand.

“Parker, Liam, and Byron told me about the whole grand gesture bit,” Simon whispered. “You know that it’s completely unnecessary, right? I’m yours. I’ve always been yours, and I always will be.”

“It’s necessary, Simon—not because I think it will win your heart, but because I need to show you how important you are to me.

” I straightened, and my gaze fell on the red-and-gray scarf looped behind his neck.

My scarf. Ever since I’d bundled it around him, he always wore it when he stepped outside.

He’d kept a little piece of me with him.

“You know you’re never getting this back,” he taunted even as he seductively ran his hand along it.

“I don’t want it back. I was just thinking that I enjoy knowing that something of me is always with you.”

The winter wind picked up, and I shivered. Simon grabbed my hand and yanked me to the house. “I’m keeping your scarf and gloves, but I am going out this weekend to get you some new ones. No more of you freezing your ass off.”

As we stepped inside, Hilda came forward to take away Simon’s coat while Edward went to bring Simon’s bag in from the car. Only after the last of Simon’s things were hung up in my closet would I release a sigh of relief.

“So…did the water heater get fixed?” Simon inquired. Hilda hurried away, doing a horrible job of hiding her smile.

“Oh yes, the water heater works perfectly now. I’m sorry you had to stay at Rome’s. I know he can be a pain in the ass, but I didn’t want you to deal with cold showers.”

Simon shrugged. “I could have just gone home.”

My eyes narrowed, and I captured one of his hands in mine. “You’re not allowed to return there. While it might be nice if you bothered to furnish it, that place in its current state is unlivable. You’re staying here. Please?”

Simon lifted one eyebrow. “Where am I going to sleep?”

“With me,” I answered without hesitation.

“And dinner? Are we going to have dinner together?”

“Every night that our schedules will allow.”

“And nighttime cuddles?”

“You mean with cheese and the rain recording?” Simon nodded. “We’ll do that every chance we get.”

“Then, agreed. I’ll move in here with you.”

I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from grinning like a fool. What Simon didn’t know was that I’d already run over to his house and taken all his possessions. Some of it was in boxes in a spare room, while his clothes had been added to the closet in the master bedroom.

In a hopeless attempt to maintain my collected facade, I threaded our fingers together and led him through the house.

“Since this is going to be your home while you’re living in Cincinnati, I want to make sure you know how to find everything.

You’ve seen the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, dining room… ”

“I haven’t seen your study yet,” Simon chimed in playfully.

“That’s not an important room.”

“It has you in it. Of course it’s important.”

It was hard to frown at him for that. I don’t think I succeeded considering the way he giggled. “I’ll show you my study later. This room is more important.”

Simon leaned in and said in a secretive voice, “You’ve been working hard on this, haven’t you?”

Heat rose in my cheeks. “Hush. Play along.”

This was what happened when the guys’ boyfriends got together. They swapped stories, and it got that much harder for a guy to surprise his boyfriend properly.

Thankfully, we reached the closed doors on the far side of the house. Simon gasped and pulled free of my hand to touch the gold-plated sign to the left of the double doors reverently.

Simon’s Sanctuary

My lover looked over his shoulder at me, tears shimmering in his wide eyes. “I can’t believe you did this.”

“That’s just the beginning.” Butterflies took flight in my stomach, and my palms grew sweaty.

Everything hinged on this moment. Yes, he already wanted to stay with me and keep me, but this would prove that I was worthy of that honor, that I truly knew him better than anyone else. I couldn’t fail him here.

With both hands, I grabbed the handles of the doors and pushed, throwing them gently open before stepping aside to allow Simon into the room first.

He hurried a few feet and stopped again, his hands shooting up to cover his mouth as he gasped, “Oh, my God!”

I had to admit that everyone who’d been hired to accomplish this amazing feat in such a short time frame had done a marvelous job.

When I’d built the house, I’d had this two-story room made to be a flower conservatory and sitting room with huge floor-to-ceiling windows dominating one entire wall.

However, I thought this was a far better use of the space.

The remaining walls had been painted pale lilac since purple was Simon’s favorite color, and the few pieces of furniture were a warm cream.

A black grand piano gleamed in the weak winter sunlight that poured into the room.

There was also a music stand and a table nearby that held his flute.

Another station was set up for his violin.

“You created a music room for me.” Simon ventured forward, his hand trailing over this or that item as he seemed to take it all in.

He meandered around the room, inspecting the instruments and furniture. A gasp slipped from his lips as he darted to a built-in bookcase that had a small selection of books and knickknacks. However, there was one item that held a place of honor in the very center.

“It’s the statue from the charity auction! You never told me you had won it.” Simon lifted a hand and carefully slid his finger along the piece’s smooth lines.

“I technically didn’t,” I admitted.

Simon jerked his hand back, and his eyes snapped to my face. “What do you mean?”

“After a sizable donation, the charity gave me the name of the person who did win it. He was willing to trade the statue for the painting that I won.”

“Not the first one that you bid on! You liked that one.”

I shrugged. “It wasn’t as important to me as getting this statue for you was.” I strolled closer and grinned at the interesting abstract piece. “Besides, you remember that violinist statue in my office?”

“Yes, he’s adorable. I like to imagine you got that because it reminds you of me.”

“I did. And now we both possess a piece of art by the same sculptor. I like that even better than the painting.”

Simon stared up at me, his smile so big it nearly filled his entire face. “Pierce Sutton, I had no idea you were such a romantic. You’re going to make me swoon.”