He shook his head.
“That you would lump me in with money grubbers. That you didn’t think more of me, of my character. I thought we understood each other, Simon. I thought we were all part of the team, working toward the same goal but I was so wrong.”
“No, you weren’t. I failed, I get that. You have no idea how many times I’ve gone over that conversation in my head and wished I could take it all back.”
“Tyler called and told me it was his idea but you know what? You went along with it. Life isn’t that easy, is it?”
“No and you and I both know that. Yes. I could’ve argued with Tyler but we were both shell shocked, I think. Not thinking straight. But that aside, we know there’s still something between us. Something I think we’d be silly not to explore. I get I can never take back those words, Ruby. But can’t you at least give me the chance to make new ones? To tell you how much I still love you and want to be with you? And the things we can do together with our fur babies.” He stared into her eyes. “If you’d just give me a chance, I can show you what I’ve done for the community. The foundations Tyler and I’ve set up. The good things we do with our money.” He gave her a soft smile and took her hands again. “What do you want out of life Ruby?” He slipped an arm around her shoulders and walked her along the sandy shore.
“I want to be happy, to help people, help animals. I’m not saying I’ll be at the shelter forever because there are so many other things I could do, people I could help. What about you? Tell me about these great causes.”
“I always wanted to use my money for others. With my folks only barely getting by and Tyler’s mom doing it tough on her own, I figured if I ever had the money, that’s what I’d do. I don’t need millions, Ruby. I like what I can buy now but more than that I love what I can achieve for others. I figured the house would play a part in that. I’ve just been waiting for you to come back so that vision would be brought to life.”
She looked at him, her eyes wide. “What house?”
“Our house. The one we always said we wanted.”
Her mouth dropped open and she looked up the hill at the gorgeous old Victorian mansion that had been such a big part of their dreams. “You bought it?”
“Yeah, I did. And Tyler’s in the process of settling on the property next door. It’s freaking him out spending so much money. You know what he’s like. Can you imagine the balls and fundraisers we could hold there? Fund raisers that you could manage if you had the venue, money and the connections. It’s your thing, Ruby, finding good causes and fighting for them. Between us we could do so much good in the world.”
* * *
He walked her around the rocks and stood looking up at the house he’d bought with her in mind. The house they’d both dreamed about owning. The lights were on inside and a picnic basket sat on a blanket on the edge of the grass. He walked her up the stone steps and paused. “This is our home. I brought it for us, Ruby. You, me and our fur babies. Plus any real babies we might be lucky enough to have.”
She gazed at it with wonder in her eyes. “Our house. I don’t believe it.”
“Believe it. Do you want to go up and have a look?”
Ruby shook her head. “No. I want to sit down here with you and gaze at it for a while. I need to let it all sink in.”
He leaned in and placed a kiss on her forehead. “I love you, Ruby. You’re all I’ve ever wanted.” Simon dropped his mouth to hers and let the pent up emotions from the last couple of days take over. He put everything into that kiss. The years apart, the missing her every day and the pain of not being able to hold her. He ran his tongue over the seam of her lips until she opened to him. He explored her mouth, tasted her and silently thanked the stars that she was in his arms.
Ruby’s hands cupped his cheeks and she pulled her lips from his, breathing heavily. The emotion shone in her eyes. “I guess this is the part where we forgive each other. We’ve both made mistakes.”
“Part of growing up. I’m not saying we won’t make more along the way but at least we can do it together.” He pulled the bottle of champagne from the ice bucket he’d positioned near the blanket beside a bush. “I think this calls for a celebration, don’t you?”
Ruby grinned as he popped the cork and found glasses in the picnic basket. She held them while he filled them.
Simon took a glass and tipped it to hers. “To us being a team and making our dreams come true. I adore you, Ruby Costello and I never want to let you go.”
“I didn’t think we’d get a second chance, Simon. I was so scared that the dreams we’d made would never come true. I can’t believe you waited for me all this time.”
“I would’ve waited for another five years if it meant you’d forgive me.”
“I do forgive you. Just make sure you don’t keep any secrets in future.”
He kissed her, his lips moving softly over hers. Simon wound one hand through her hair, holding her close as he devoured her mouth with his.
“Hey. Hey, Simon!” The voice came from over the fence. Tyler came running down the overgrown garden waving something in his hand.
“What is going on?” Ruby laughed as he careered down the
