Saving Simon (Tarnished Saints Series Book 5) by Elizabeth Rose Read Free Book Online

shadow.
    “It doesn’t matter,” he said, sounding so sad all of a sudden.
    “I didn’t mean to pry.”
    “Come here and look at this view.” He held out his hand but she was reluctant to go so close to the railing again after her fall overboard. The thought of falling again terrified her.
    “I’d rather not take the chance by getting so close to the edge,” she admitted.
    “You won’t fall because I’ll be holding you. Now come here or you’ll regret it in the long run.”
    She wasn’t sure if he meant she’d regret not seeing the view or rejecting him. She moved closer and he reached out and put his arm around her waist, turning sideways and pulling her in front of him. He wrapped both arms around her and she could feel the heat of his body against hers as well as the rapid beating of his heart against her back. She didn’t feel so afraid anymore, wrapped protectively in his arms.
    “Now look up at that moon and those wisps of clouds. The sea is special to me. I love being on a ship or on the water of any kind. I don’t think I could live being away from all this. This is my life. This is what makes life worth living. Now just look out there and tell me it isn’t the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen.”
    She did as he told her, feeling a sense of serenity pass through her.
    “You’re right, Officer Taylor. It is beautiful. It feels so peaceful.”
    “I told you to call me Simon.” His voice was a hot whisper in her ear.
    “Of course . . . Simon.” She turned and looked up to him then and wished she hadn’t. His face almost brushed against hers, and his eyes stared at her lips.
    “That’s better, Piper.” His mouth came closer and she lifted her chin and closed her eyes, anticipating feeling those strong but soft lips caressing hers again, but this time not in an act of saving her life. This time, in an act of passion. Then their lips met and she felt as if magic had passed through her body. His kiss was bold, yet gentle. He tasted of power, challenge, and the sea.
    “Piper, there you are!” Her father broke the intimate moment and she stepped away from Simon quickly, hoping he hadn’t seen them kiss. “We need to get back to the cabin and pack. Plus, there are a few things I need to go over with you about a new business deal with one of the passengers.”
    “Daddy, can’t this wait til later?” She looked down to the ground, feeling embarrassed.
    “No, sweetheart. You know work always comes first. Now stop bothering this boy and let him do his job. We need to go now.” He pulled her away from Simon, and her heart just about broke. She saw the angst in Simon’s eyes and also the disappointment. She felt it too, because she knew that after tonight, she’d never see Simon again. That thought was scarier to her than even falling overboard. Simon had touched a place in her heart that no man had ever done before.

     
     
     
     
    Chapter 5
     
     
    It had been three days since Simon returned to his home town of Sweet Water, Michigan, taking a month leave from his job on the cruise ship. He enjoyed being around his family again, but he couldn’t stop thinking of Piper and the kiss they’d shared before her father carted her away. It bothered him so much, that he’d barely gotten out of bed in the last three days.
    Simon didn’t like the way the man treated his daughter, nor the way he had referred to him as ‘boy’. He wished now that he had done something about it. Piper deserved better, and he should have been the one to tell her that.
    But there had been no opportunity to do so. The ship had docked early in the morning and when he went to her room, she had already checked out and left. Thad had told him he’d seen her father hurrying her off the ship, and Simon only wished he’d at least had the time to tell her goodbye.
    There was a knock at the lake cabin door that he was staying in, and he decided just to ignore it, rolling over and hiding his head under the pillow