Chapter 12

'Not 007'

Previously in Chapter 11:

Ethan paused mid-sentence as they watched an older woman going up to their waitress. The entire restaurant couldn't help but overhear the woman as she turned to point at them and angrily complain that if they were going to continue to grope each other they should have to leave the restaurant. Ethan took a deep breath and held it for a moment before releasing it slowly. Then he sat back and closed his eyes as the waitress timidly approached them.

"I'm sorry Mis…" She began her voice soft and apologetic.

"Oh for Christ's sake! I was only holding her hand! I am not going to bloody roger her on the restaurant table!" Ethan hollered throwing down his napkin as he struggled to stand.

"I'm sorry Miss but we're out of swordfish." The waitress continued in a rush glancing at Ethan in fear and confusion, "The chef would like to substitute the Mahi-Tuna if that would be acceptable."

"Nice. I like the way you got Zach to spit his drink onto the table. Very entertaining." Simone teased. "Poor Kendall." Simone continued shaking her head, "It looks like she's going to have to order something else for dinner now."

"Great. Lovely. I'm so glad that I could amuse you." Ethan had his face buried in his hands.

"And I think you gave that nasty woman a mild heart attack too. That was an unexpected bonus." Simone teased him. "Look." Simone urged, "She's still clutching her chest."

"Everyone's staring at us aren't they?" Ethan had taken his hands from his face but his eyes were still closed.

"Oh! No. No." Simone remarked shaking her head in false reassurance, "Not at all, a lot of people are still too busy choking."

"Funny." Ethan remarked sarcastically as he sat back in his chair and glared at Simone.

"Well, on the bright side, I think your outburst helped. Now it seems that people are actually going out of their way not to look at us." Simone was struggling hard not to laugh.

"No doubt. They're probably just afraid of what I'll say next."

"Oh, you didn't say it baby. You yelled it!" Simone couldn't help laughing anymore. "Loud!"

"Did you ever notice how much time you spend laughing at me?" Ethan asked. But his question only prompted Simone to laugh harder.

"I know, I'm sorry." Simone stifling her laughter back to a giggle.

"No you aren't" Ethan accused.

"Maybe not." Simone laughed harder, "But you do make me happy."

"Couldn't I make you happy without humiliating myself?" Ethan asked.

"I'm not sure. You should give it a try sometime." Simone's face was starting to ache from trying to not to laugh. Maybe it wasn't that funny, Simone reflected, but all of her nervous tension was suddenly gone and Simone couldn't help it, she was happy. She gave up fighting and burst out laughing again. Simone's laughter was infectious and Ethan couldn't help but grin back at her. Noticing Ethan's mood lighten up Simone took a chance, a deep breath, got her laughing under control and changed the subject. "Ethan, I'm going back to my place after we've eaten."

"How long do you think it'll take us to pack up a few things and come back here?"

"Ethan," Simone began shaking her head.

"Look, before you say anything else." Ethan said taking her hand, "there is something we should really talk about. The guards aren't just for me."

"You hired a body guard for me?"

"Well, there are several of them actually. Hopefully it'll only be until this mess blows over."

"Hopefully?"

"Well…why don't we just play this by ear ok?" Harold had convinced Ethan that from now on he and the people close to him were potential victims of future harassment by the press. There was also the added possibility that all of the media attention would bring a lot of strange characters out of the woodwork, potentially dangerous people out of the woodwork. Hopefully things would dissipate but possibly not. Simone noted his sudden change of mood and to Ethan's relief she didn't make an issue of it and simply nodded. "Look, the guard and I will go with you to your place so you can pick up some things."

"For how long?"

"Pardon?"

"How long do I have to stay here?" Simone gauged Ethan's uneasy expression. "You aren't suggesting that I move in here with you permanently?"

"Well why not?" Ethan asked as he leaned back in his seat.

"Why NOT? I'm not ready for this. I don't think we're ready for this. We've never even discussed anything like this before."

"Look if you aren't sure that's understandable. We can just pretend that it's temporary until you're comfortable with the idea." Ethan shrugged.

"If we're going to 'pretend' why don't you 'temporarily' move into my place? It would be easier than bringing all of my stuff here. Besides living in a hotel had to be a temporary plan for you anyway." She was unable to tell him what she was really feeling, that they were moving too fast and she was more than a little frightened by her sudden dependence on his presence. Instead Simone softly whispered, "Ethan, I miss my place."

"Simone," Ethan shook his head, "I'm sorry but this place is easier for the guards to secure."

Simone thought of her ground floor apartment with all of her large picture windows and imagined all of the reporters that were waiting outside of the Inn. And then she suddenly imagined spending the night alone in her own bed. "All right, for now we'll do this your way." Simone reflected, "You do have that great tub."

Relieved, Ethan grinned. "I'll make it up to you I promise."

"I think you've done enough already." Simone smiled and Ethan reached across the table to lightly cradle her face in his hand as she turned and lightly kissed his palm. She sighed and looked into his soft warm eyes. Everything would be so much easier if she wasn't so in love with him. She was in so much trouble. She knew she was in deep. How could she say no to him? Simone sighed out loud. There was a freedom in letting go and allowing yourself to love someone so completely but there was danger in it too. Simone sat back and clasped Ethan's hand with hers. "Aren't we moving a little too fast? Aren't you even a little bit frightened?"

"I'm not worried." Ethan shrugged his eyes steady, "Do you trust me?"

"Oh I trust you." Simone swore holding his gaze. But less sure she asked him, "Are you sure you trust me?"

"I do." Ethan replied emphatically.

"Umm, Ethan. I shouldn't have to warn you but things do tend to happen around me." Simone sighed sadly.

"So I've noticed." Ethan almost laughed.

"Well. I haven't been arrested in a long time." Simone whispered hopefully and shrugged, "Maybe I'm getting better."

They didn't say anything more until the food came and they let their conversation switch to talk about their plans for their trip and things that had to be done before their departure.

Just as they finished their meal Ethan noticed Tad and Aidan at the bar. Wanting to talk to Tad alone Ethan had a sudden thought when he noticed Myrtle and Opal at another table. "Simone, maybe it'll be easier to pack if you just get some new things for the trip from Myrtle's. Just tell her what you need and then have them sent here. It might be easier than packing." Ethan stood and pulled Simone from her chair and gave her a brief warm kiss.

"I think it'll be easier if I just go to Myrtle's. I'm sure she has evening hours tonight."

"If you decide you need to go to the store, wait for me." Ethan insisted.

"You can't be serious? You know you don't want to go I'm shopping with me." Simone was stunned by his suggestion.

"No, I guess I don't." Ethan replied honestly.

"If I do go I'll take the guard with me. I'll be fine. Besides I'll be with Myrtle and Opal."

Ethan shuddered secretly and tried not to imagine what kind of trouble the three of them could get into together. "Maybe I will come after all. Just wait for me. My conversation with Tad shouldn't take long."

"Sure, ok." Simone shook her head a little perplexed by his sudden possessiveness. "But what do you have to talk to Tad about?"

"He knows people that can help me out with something." Ethan was unwilling to say more and he was thankful she didn't push about his need to talk to Tad. Simone was too distracted, she had turned to wave at Myrtle and Opal and they were eagerly waving back.

Myrtle saw Simone wave at her from across the room as she made her way towards their table. "Opal," Myrtle whispered, "Simone's coming to talk to us. Be nice and watch what you say."

"Have a seat girlfriend," Opal grinned, "Don't you look pretty. Look at her Myrtle the girl is glowing."

"It's been a long time since I've had a glow like that!" Myrtle added wistfully forgetting what she had just said to Opal. Once again Simone couldn't resist the urge to touch her hand to her face as she blushed.

"I was hoping that Del would get me a glowin'." Opal sighed, "Ah well a girl can dream."

"Simone's looking like she doesn't have to dream." Myrtle chuckled. Opal nudged Simone and Myrtle and Opal looked over at Ethan and laughed hard enough to attract Ethan's notice so he paused and raised his eyebrow and locked eyes with Simone. She just shook her head so Ethan turned his attention to Tad.

"Tad, Aidan." Ethan nodded at them and ordered a beer.

"Hey Porn Star!" Tad beamed, "How're things hanging?"

Ethan waited until Tad stopped laughing at his own 'joke' before replying, "I need to ask you a favor. I was wondering if you could help Simone and I…"

"It looked to me like you had things under control. I know that Simone can be a bit...Oomph." Tad gasped as he doubled over.

Bending to whispering in Tad's ear Aidan shook his head, "Sorry man but you've got to control that mouth of yours. Why don't you just keep Simone out of this?" Tad was still gasping as Aidan went on, "Just be glad that I gave you that tap instead of Ethan."

Glancing up Tad noticed Ethan standing jaw and fists clenched. "Sorry Ethan. Sometimes my mouth gets away from me," Tad finally managed to reply as he straightened up. "What do you need my help with?"

"Are you still in contact with Maria?" Uncertain Ethan expression was guarded.

"Sure." Tad replied confused by the change of direction to the conversation.

"She's well?" Ethan inquired stoically.

"She seems happy." Tad asked, "What do you want Ethan? I know you aren't asking me to arrange a date."

"I was hoping that you could speak to Maria about the possibility of my leasing Wildwind for a year, possibly a year and a half?"

Tad whistled, "I'll brooch the subject but I can't make any promises. This could get complicated. The thing is that Wildwind is being held in a trust for the kids and Brooke English is the custodian."

"I heard that. That's why I came to you. You're on good terms with everyone involved. I'd be happy to purchase it but I understand their unwillingness to part the place. I was hoping that they would at least be open to the prospect of allowing me to live in it until I can have a place of my own built. If anyone seems upset by the idea just let the matter drop. I'll simply have to come up with an alternative plan." Writing his cell number on a napkin Ethan continued, "I would like to know as soon as possible though. Simone and I are going away for at least a week and it would be nice if the estate could be opened shortly after our return." Watching Simone make her way toward them Ethan turned back to Tad, "Please keep this between us for now."

"Hey Tad, Aidan. How are things? I haven't seen you guys in a while." Simone greeted them talking Ethan by the hand.

"Yeah. It seems as if you've been too busy with 007 here." Tad laughed.

"Ethan isn't a 007." Simone replied. She imagined that Tad had been giving Ethan a hard time so she decided to give him a taste of his own medicine. "Tad you might be just a just a tad but Ethan would be…." Ethan's eyes widened and he moved fast to interrupt Simone next few words by bending down and kissing her. As always Simone forgot everything with his warm lips on her own. "Oh! Hello again Ethan." Simone smiled as she looked into his warm brown eyes.

"Well I have to get back to the office," Aidan said nervously as he drained he last of his beer, "I'll see you guys later." And with that Aidan choked on his drink. Sure they were reading his mind, his eyes darted from Ethan to Simone his face turned a bright scarlet and he began to sweat.

"Aidan are you OK?" Simone watched in fascination as Aidan's faces reddened at an alarming rate. For a moment she thought he was really choking. Stepping away from Ethan's side Simone reached out to pat Aidan on his back. Aidan eyes flew open and he backed away quickly.

"I…I'm fine. Fine." Aidan stammered face all but glowing red and grabbing his jacket to leave.

"He'll be fine once he gets back to the office." Tad laughed. "Hey Aidan! I'm thinking of installing 'Cyber Nanny' to monitor what you 'research' lately on the Internet!" Tad shook his head and laughed, "Poor guy needs to track down a real girl."

Smiling Simone watched Aidan rush out of the restaurant as Ethan quizzically watched Simone.

"Hey, take it easy on Lord Wellington here Simone. The big ones are easy to break." Tad laughed as he drained his mug and took up his jacket. Realizing the double meaning of his own joke he laugh harder, "Sometimes I surprise myself."

Chapter 13