Fly with Me Page 2

  “Ma’am, it’s all right,” Simon continued soothingly. “I’m here alone, there’s no one else with me. You’re safe, I won’t hurt you.”

  She shifted her knees closer to her. Unfortunately, because of her sweetly rounded figure, she couldn’t press her knees flat to her chest. Not to mention she had an impressive bosom that also made it impossible. Slowly she lowered her hands from he forehead and tilted her head back to look up at him.

  “Here’s some water.” Simon held it out to her. “Can I call someone for you?”

  Her face appeared out of the shadows, relief filling him when her eyes appeared normal, no pin-prick of narcotics, but then he registered her features and could only lift his eyebrows in surprise. Holy cow, it was the singer from the bar.

  Her pretty face no longer shone with happiness, her lips no longer formed words that flowed so passionately. Instead those lush pillows trembled, her tip-tilted nose was pink at the tip, and her cheeks were wet with tears.

  He was still looking at her in surprise when she answered in a shaky voice, “I’m fine. Thank you.”

  Realising that he was probably unnerving her, a woman by herself in a deserted corridor with a strange man, Simon gave the bottle of water a little shake. “Ma’am, this bottle hasn’t been opened, it’s sealed and clean. I reckon a drink might be what you need right now.”

  Placing her hands by her sides, she looked from him to the bottle, another sob almost breaking free even as she finally whispered, “Thanks” and took it from him with trembling hands.

  He watched her struggle with the cap for several seconds, saw the tear slip down her cheek and shook his head. Reaching out, he gently brushed her fingers aside from the cap and twisted it open himself, cracking the seal easily before withdrawing his hand and watching her take a small sip.

  Dealing with weepy women was something he’d had experience with, being a fire fighter meant being around some heartbroken and distraught people a lot of times. Patiently he waited while she took another sip, giving her time to gather her composure.

  She shifted her legs down a little, taking a hiccuping breath before placing the water bottle by her side and plucking a tissue from her pocket. Giving her nose a hearty blow that left the tip shinier than ever, she cleared her throat and finally looked up at him out of big, brown, sad eyes. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” He held out his hand. “I’m Simon.”

  She stared at his hand for several seconds before placing her much smaller one in his. “Lis.”

  “Pleased to meet you, Lis.” He gave her hand a gentle, brief shake before resting his palm on his knee.

  “I’m sorry I disturbed you.” She wiped her eyes with her arm, using her sleeve to smooth the tears away.

  That was kind of adorable, in a sad way.

  “It’s okay.”

  Her laugh was small, unexpected, a little broken. “Gallant knight.”

  “Pardon?”

  “It’s one in the morning. Being disturbed isn’t okay.”

  “Well now.” He smiled easily. “Depends on your perception.”

  Questioningly, she looked at him.

  “I was up having a drink while looking out the window at the view.”

  “Ah.” She took another mouthful of water.

  Silence fell between them for several minutes.

  “Are you sure there isn’t anyone I can call for you, Ma’am?” Simon asked.

  “No, it’s all good. And please call me Lis.”

  “Lis.” His wrist resting on his raised knee, he dangled his water bottle by a loose grip on the top. “You’re staying in one of these rooms?”

  “What? No.” She shook her head. “I just came up here for some peace and quiet. In fact, I thought this floor was deserted.”

  “This section is, but I needed a room and this one was the only one vacant. Luckily for me it was also finished being redecorated, so the management put me in here.” He flashed her a smile. “I got the brand new room. New bed, new TV, new everything.”

  Her answering smile was watery but it was there, for which he was grateful.

  “So, Lis.” Turning himself, he sat down beside her, leaning back against the wall. The cold of the cement against his bare skin wasn’t exactly nice, but he ignored it. Just as he ignored the way she started in surprise, stiffening as he settled beside her. “Want to talk about it?” He took a mouthful of water more to show her that he wasn’t planning anything but sitting, than because he needed it.

  The way he was drinking this water he’d be busting for a leak soon, but what the hell, he couldn’t just leave her.

  Leaning his head back against the wall, Simon waited quietly. In his peripheral vision he could see her studying him. He didn’t move, just reclined against the wall, hid the shiver that went through him, waited patiently.

  Okay, he had to admit to being curious, too, but first of all he had to win her trust, even if it was just a little bit.

  Lis shifted, looking down at the bottle in her hands, picking at the label with her fingers. “No, I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “Okay.”

  More silence. She sighed, rested her head back against the wall, still picked at the label, carefully peeling it off in tiny strips.

  Time stretched between them. Now he could smell her scent, light and floral, the warmth of her body even though there was at least fifteen inches between them. He had to fight the surprising urge to slip his arm around her shoulders and pull her into his side, tell her to rest her head against his shoulder and tell him all about it.

  Jesus, the lateness of the night - or earliness of the morning, take your pick - must be messing with his head. Probably still had the remnants of her singing soothing his brain and making him a bit mushy.

  There was a conversation starter. “Heard you in the pub earlier.”

  “Is that why you’re out here?”

  Startled, he glanced sideways at her. “What?”

  “You looked out, saw who I was?” Now she was looking directly at him, her chin raised a little defensively.

  Oh, this was not happening. Turning his head fully, Simon looked her right in the eyes. “I looked out, you had your face hidden, I came anyway. I came out because there was a woman alone, crying, and I thought she might need some help.”

  She glared at him.

  He kept his gaze steady, honest.

  Suddenly her cheeks flushed. “I’m sorry. Shit.” Slumping back against the wall, Lis rolled the cold water bottle across her forehead as she closed her eyes. “I’m so sorry.”

  “It’s okay.”

  “No. I’m such a bitch at times.” There was a definite wobble in her voice. “I’m so sorry, Simon, that was lousy of me.”

  Rather than try to excuse it, he replied, “Rough night, huh?”

  He could actually hear her swallow. “Yeah.”

  “You looked happy in the bar.”

  “I like to sing.”

  “I could tell. You’ve got a beautiful voice.”

  “Thanks.” Her grip on the water bottle tightened, the plastic bending a little. “I do like to sing.”

  Something wasn’t right. Turning his head, he looked fully at her. “But?”

  “What makes you think there’s a ‘but’?”

  “You were happy tonight, you sing like an angel, and just a couple of hours later you’re sitting in front of my door crying. Boyfriend trouble?”

  The twist of her lips was a little bitter. “No.”

  “Husband trouble?”

  Her head jerked up, her gaze shooting to his. “Are you fishing to find out if I’m single?”

  “Nope. Just fishing to find out what the problem is.”

  “It’s my business.”

  “Okay,” he replied easily.

  She stared at him. “That’s it?”

  “Yep.”

  “You’re not even curious?”

  “I am, won’t lie. But you’re right, it is your business. I’m a st
ranger, why would you tell me? I don’t need to know.”

  “Oh.” Seemingly lost for words, Lis looked at him for several seconds, a myriad of emotions flickering in her eyes.

  Those beautiful, light brown eyes that were so expressive.

  Man, those brown eyes just did something to him, touched him down deep. And if she knew she’d probably run a mile, so he simply smiled at her and took another mouthful of water. At this rate his kidneys would soon start floating.

  “Sometimes…” Lis hesitated, started again. “Do you ever feel like it’s all too much?”

  “Depends.”

  “I don’t mean… Sometimes it’s like everyone wants something from you. No, not sometimes,” she added almost fiercely, “always. Always someone at you, picking and picking.”

  Okay, she’d had a really rough day.

  “It’s like I can’t do anything without someone wanting more.” A long strip of label came off the bottle, she screwed it up and dropped it onto the floor beside her hip. “In fact, I can’t do anything for myself without someone wanting more.”

  “That’d be hard,” Simon said quietly.

  “It’s like everyone is pecking at me, taking little pecks, whittling away at me, trying to take what’s me away and replace it with what they want.”

  Looking at the bottle he held in his hand, he nodded.

  “They think I should be something else, do something else, be more, do more.” There came a crackle as her hand clenched tighter around the bottle. “Be someone else. They’ll do anything to make me someone else.”

  “You can only be you.”

  “I want to be me. Need to be me. I keep telling myself to be strong, to do what I want to do, but there’re these expectations, you know?”

  He nodded.

  “People feel that…” Her voice trailed away and when he glanced at her, she muttered, “They just do.”

  Okay, now he was getting a gist of her problems.

  “But when you owe people…” She stared miserably at the bottle.

  Okay, maybe not quite the gist. Maybe he’d been barking up the wrong tree. But still, he could give her a little bit of advice. “Lis?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Are you in trouble?”

  “Am I?” Her laugh was short and despondent. “Some would think so. Some would think not.”

  “What do you think?”

  “I think I’m in a personal shit-load.”

  “Have you gone to the police?”

  She stared at him for several seconds before smiling grimly. “Not that kind of trouble, Simon.”

  “So when you say you owe people…?”

  “Not money. Nothing like that. Well, maybe like that, but…” Her head dropped forward again as she resumed picking at the now-tattered label. “But I guess everyone owes someone something, don’t they? It’s just how much we owe them, how we repay them. And worse, the deceit that changes so much.”

  Taking another thoughtful pull at the water, Simon turned her words over in his mind. This was one unhappy woman, a woman with a heap of talent and a whole lot of pressure. Never a good mix. “Maybe you need to get away from everyone for awhile.”

  “Maybe.” She nodded. “I am. I mean, I am getting away for awhile.”

  “Then maybe you need to take that time to think about what you want, what you owe, who you owe and why.”

  “Easier said than done.”

  He remained silent.

  “Tonight I was happy, but then there was the phone call and…” With a sigh, Lis tipped her head back to gaze up at the dimly lit floor of the balcony above them. “I’m not feeling better.”

  “Sorry.”

  “Not you.” For the briefest second she touched his arm, her fingertips cool, before she withdrew them to fold her arms beneath her breasts.

  Simon couldn’t help but notice how the movement made that generous bosom push up and outward even more, but manfully he dragged his attention away from the mounds to her face. “Good to know.”

  Seconds turned to minutes as time ticked past, the silence between them companionable. A week ago Simon would never have thought he’d be sitting on the chilly balcony of a hotel in the company of a sad singer at what was probably now close to two in the morning. Then again, life was like that, throwing you a curve ball now and again just to make life interesting.

  Plus she reminded him so much of someone else from his past, a memory that still had the power to pull at him deep down.

  “Simon?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Are you happy with who you are?”

  “Yep.”

  “You say that with such confidence.”

  “Yep.”

  “Must be nice to know your path.”

  “I chose it.”

  “Was it an easy choice?”

  “Didn’t matter if it was easy or not. It was my choice.”

  More silence as she mulled over his words.

  He was still waiting patiently for her next words when she abruptly pushed upright.

  Curiously, he tilted his head to look up at her, his gaze sweeping over that generously curved figure, thinking how soft she’d feel in any man’s arms. Soft and warm.

  He had an overwhelming desire to pull her into his arms and see for himself just how soft and warm she’d feel.

  “Simon?”

  Dragging his thoughts from a more nefarious path, he blinked, bringing her face into focus. At the slight, uncertain frown on her face, he smiled and pushed easily to his feet, noting how she took a step back. Still smiling, he deliberately leaned his hips back against the balcony wall, the rail a cold, hard band at his lower back. It was a stance meant to reassure her.

  It worked. She relaxed, he felt her scrutiny keenly. The whole time she studied his face, he kept his gaze steady on her.

  It did surprise him a little when she suddenly stepped forward, then another step, and finally a third that brought her up almost against him. Even though she was in high heels and he was leaning back against the wall, he was still taller than her.

  “Simon?” she said softly.

  “Yeah, Lis?” He breathed in her scent, the light floral filling his lungs.

  “Thank you.” She leaned closer. “Thank you for being here for me.”

  She leaned even closer and he knew what she was going to do. Knew it, welcomed it, stopped himself from reaching for her.

  She closed the distance between them, her thick lashes lowering to cover her eyes as she gently pressed her lips to the corner of his mouth in a light kiss.

  The kiss was soft, sweet. He couldn’t help himself, turned his head enough that her lips were full on his. Jesus, so soft, so lush, so warmly moist.

  He stilled, opening his eyes when he felt her lips lift from his, his gaze ensnaring hers.

  Surprise was reflected in the light brown depths of her eyes, surprise and something else - a yearning, a wanting. A need.

  In that second it matched his own, this time it was he who leaned forward a little, closed the minute gap between them, pressed his lips to hers, a little more firmly, a little more heatedly.

  Christ, he couldn’t help it. Nudged her lips with his tongue, pressed firmly, felt her give, and then he was inside, all that silken heat his to explore, his kiss deepening as he tasted her, inhaled her, felt her lean into him, his hand coming up to rest on her waist, rest in that sweet dip between those lush breasts and hips.

  Kissed deeper, drew her against him, spread his legs a little so that she was tucked between them, and now she was leaning into him, all those lush curves against his hard, muscular frame.

  It was she who broke the kiss, pulling her head back to look up at him, her hand on his chest, fingers spread out cool against his suddenly hot skin. “Simon…”

  His hand on her waist tightened, his gaze searching hers.

  “I - I have to go.” She stepped back. “I have - look, thanks for being here.”

  Not wanting her to leave, he straighten
ed. “Can we meet for coffee?”

  She bit her lip. “I don’t think-”

  “Give me your phone number. I’ll call you.” Give me a contact, please. “You can think about it, give me your answer then.”

  Light brown eyes gazed at him, faintly troubled, uncertain, a touch sad.

  God, he wanted to gather her close but he wasn’t silly enough to try that. In her state she’d probably take it as forcing, and from the sound of it she’d been forced enough in her life.

  “I promise I won’t harass you.” He smiled reassuringly.

  She took a deep breath, nodded. “Okay. Get your mobile and I’ll put my number in. But,” she pointed a finger at him, her eyes crinkling at the corners in amusement, “remember, you promised. No harassment.”

  “Scout’s honour.” He held two fingers to his temple. “Follow me.”

  “I’ll wait here. It’s nice. I like the scent of the rain, the lights.” Turning to the balcony, she leaned her arms against the railing and looked out.

  “I’ll be right back.”

  Simon strode across to his door, glancing back once to see that she was still in place, watching the night scenery of the city. She cut a lonely figure, but man, she also cut a mouth-watering figure. He could still feel those lush curves pressed against him.

  His mobile, which he didn’t use that much, wasn’t on the table, and he did a quick search, cursing his habit of shoving it anywhere and relying on the ring tone to alert him to its location.

  He checked the nightstand, his jacket pocket, his suitcase and finally found it on the bathroom sink. No idea why it was sitting there, but with a shrug he grabbed it and headed back out onto the balcony.

  She was gone.

  Damn it. He looked in the only direction she could have gone. He hadn’t been inside for more than three minutes but she’d taken advantage of that to leave.

  Heaving a sigh, Simon leaned on the doorframe. Okay, Lis obviously didn’t want to follow up with him. Being spurned by a woman wasn’t something that happened often, not that he had a big ego, it was just a fact. Not that he’d ever not been knocked back, but somehow he felt it more with Lis.

  And how crazy was that? He scratched the back of his head. He’d only just met the woman, given her a bottle of water, sat beside her and let her talk. That was it.