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Authors: Maya Banks

Tags: #General, #Fiction, #Romance, #Erotica, #Man-Woman Relationships, #Christian, #Romance Contemporary, #Best Friends

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BOOK: Seducing Simon
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“Thanks,” she said, stretching up to kiss him on the cheek.

She hurried to shower, eager to start her day of doing nothing. As much as she loved her job, a day off sounded next to Heaven. And Simon was right. She needed time to think about what she was going to do.

Minutes later, she pulled on a pair of shorts and an oversize T-shirt.

She secured her hair in a clip at the base of her neck and went back into the kitchen to eat.

“Mornin’ Toni,” A.J. called from the living room.

“Hey, A.J. How was the date last night?” He scowled at her, and she stifled a giggle. “That bad huh?”

“Hmm only if you consider a blind date with Attila the Hun’s twin sister bad.”

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Maya Banks

“Ouch. That’s bad.”

Simon set a plate of toast in front of her, and poured a tall glass of juice. “Eat up.”

She ate with gusto. She was on her second piece when she suddenly regretted eating at all. Her stomach curled into a tight knot, and a fine sheen of sweat broke out on her forehead. Cautiously, she sipped at the juice, trying desperately to control the wave of nausea.

“You okay, Toni?” Simon’s concerned voice echoed beside her.

She lunged from the stool and barreled into her bathroom. She just made it to the toilet before heaves racked her body. Placing her hands on the toilet seat, she leaned heavily on it for support as she rid her stomach of its contents.

A cool cloth pressed to her forehead, and a comforting hand rubbed her back as her body shuddered. “Take it easy,” Simon murmured. “Deep breaths.”

“Go away,” she wailed. All she needed was Simon to witness her puking her guts up.

Strong arms held her up, smoothed her hair from her face. “I’m not going anywhere.”

She leaned weakly against him, taking deep, steadying breaths. This sucked. Plain and simple. How mortifying to be puking all over a guy she wanted to notice her. Yeah he’d noticed all right.

“Better?”

She nodded and walked shakily over to the sink to wash her mouth out.

“I’ll be in the kitchen. You want something to drink? Some hot tea maybe?”

She shook her head. “Nothing. I don’t think I could stomach it.” He squeezed her shoulder and walked out.

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Seducing Simon

She splashed cold water on her face and rinsed her mouth once more. Picking up the book Simon had bought for her, she walked back out of the bedroom and settled onto the couch beside A.J.

“You look like hell,” he said sympathetically.

“Gee thanks.” She punched him in the arm.

“I’ll see you guys later,” Matt called from the door. “I’m headed over to Stephanie’s.”

Toni waved. “Tell her I said hello.”

Simon finished cleaning the kitchen then headed to the bathroom for a shower. Toni leaned back and opened the pregnancy book, but her eyes followed Simon’s progress across the room.

A.J. put down the magazine he had been reading when Simon disappeared into his room. Feeling his gaze, she peered over at him. He was watching her intently. “Something wrong?” she asked.

“No, not at all. I was just wondering how long you’ve had a thing for Simon and why I’ve never seen it before now.”

-41-

Maya Banks

Chapter Four

Her heart nearly stopped. “W-what?” She quickly recovered and managed a look of scorn. “You’ve spent too much time in the sun, A.J.” He smiled knowingly. “Deny it all you want, but I’ve seen the way you look at him. And hey, if it’s any consolation, I think you guys would be great together. He’d be a fool not to realize that.”

“Your bias is appreciated, but c’mon, A.J., I’m not Simon’s type.”

“But maybe you should be.”

She rolled her eyes. “You’re forgetting one important aspect. I’m pregnant. I don’t know of too many guys who want to date a girl who’s pregnant.”

His eyes softened. “Don’t sell yourself short, Toni. Sure, there are guys who’d run screaming in the other direction, but there are a lot who’d care for you and your baby.”

“You’re sweet, A.J.,” she said with a smile.

He gave her a troubled look. “What about the father? Does he know?

Does he care?”

Her smile froze, and she looked down at her lap, avoiding his probing stare. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Did he hurt you, Toni?” His voice became steely, a thread of anger infusing his words.

“It’s complicated,” she mumbled. “Quit flexing your muscles, A.J. He doesn’t know, and I plan to keep it that way.”

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Seducing Simon

His voice moved closer as he scooted across the sofa to sit next to her. “I’m so not understanding this. I know you well enough to know it isn’t like you to just hop into bed with a guy. You must have cared about him. Problem is, I can’t imagine who it could be. And if he didn’t hurt you, why wouldn’t you tell him? He deserves to know, don’t you think?”

“It’s none of your business,” she said fiercely. She shot up off the couch and made a grab for her keys on the bar. She had to get out. She knew she was acting childishly, irrationally, but A.J.’s arguments were sound, and she knew he would drag it out of her if she stuck around.

“Toni, wait!”

She didn’t stop to listen. She didn’t have the answers to his questions. Couldn’t afford to let him continue probing.

Simon toweled his hair and walked into the living room, his hands holding the towel around his neck. “What the hell is going on? Was that Toni leaving?”

“Yeah,” A.J. said looking extremely guilty. Much like when he’d just eaten his or Matt’s food at the station.

“What did you say to her?” he demanded. “If you’ve upset her, I’ll kick your ass.”

“I asked her about the father.”

Simon swore under his breath. It wasn’t anything he didn’t want the answer to himself, but now wasn’t the time to press her, and A.J. should have known it. “Will you ever learn to keep your big mouth shut?” To A.J.’s credit, he looked contrite.

“Did you make her cry again?”

“Uh, no, I think she was more pissed.”

“Damn it, A.J. This was supposed to be a day for her to rest and relax. Use your head for once.”

He looked miserable. “Ah hell, I didn’t mean to upset her.”

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Maya Banks

Simon walked through the kitchen and looked out the front door. Her Jeep was gone. A.J. was well meaning, but could be a complete knuckle head sometime. Simon had an idea where she may have gone. If he knew her, she’d gone to the park. Her thinking spot since she was in junior high.

He headed back to his room and pulled on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. He walked back by A.J. “I’ll be back later.” As he continued on, a slow smile spread across A.J.’s face. He wasn’t even going to ask what prompted that shit eating grin.

Toni sat on the playground swing watching the children play while their mothers watched. She would be one of those soon. Mother. The thought scared her to death. She wasn’t ready to be responsible for another human being.

She loved children. Had always wanted at least four. But she’d also imagined she’d be married to the perfect guy. Live in the perfect house.

They’d sit on the couch in the evening, and he’d hold her and feel the baby kick. They’d share their hopes and dreams of the future. But most of all they’d love each other, and they’d be happy.

A single tear trailed down her cheek, and she quickly bent her face into her shoulder to wipe it away. Her feet trailed aimlessly in the dust underneath the swing. How had she gotten herself into such an irrevocable mess?

She who had never done an irresponsible thing in her life. Quiet, shy Toni would never dream of seducing the guy she had a crush on for

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Seducing Simon

years. And especially not one who hadn’t the capacity to realize what he was doing. He would die if he knew.
She
would die if he knew.

But on that night, she hadn’t been able to hold back her feelings another moment. Angry at the woman who dared to hurt Simon, she had opened her arms to him determined to make him forget the pain.

Determined to show him how she felt.

And God, it had been beautiful. It hadn’t mattered that it was her first time. She knew instinctively that she would never experience anything like it again. It was what she’d waited for. He had worshipped her body just as she worshipped his. They’d spent the night loving until he’d fallen into a deep sleep.

She’d worked out the entire scene in her head. When he woke up, he would pull her into his arms and tell her how glad he was they’d found each other. They’d make love again.

Only when she
had
snuggled into his arms, he’d called her Starla.

She’d fled from his bed, her heart shattered into a million pieces. The hardest thing she’d ever had to do was to go on like it never happened.

Accept his thanks the next morning for being such a good friend.

Realizing he had no clue what they’d done. Then continue on, aching for him, wanting so badly for him to love her as much as she loved him.

And then she found out she was pregnant.

She traced circles in the dirt with her tennis shoe as she swayed back and forth on the swing. A shadow fell over her, and she heard someone sit in the swing next to her. “Nice day,” Simon said in a nonchalant voice.

She turned her head up to see him staring ahead, watching the children play. “Did A.J. send you?” she asked with a sigh.

“No. The bonehead does feel bad though.” She smiled involuntarily.

“Now that’s better. I haven’t seen you smile in awhile.”

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Maya Banks

She expelled her breath in a long sigh, her cheeks puffing out. “I’m not ready for this, Simon.”

“Maybe not, but you’ll be a wonderful mom.”

“It’s not just that.”

“What is it then?”

“It wasn’t supposed to happen like this.” She struggled against the urge to cry. “I was supposed to find the perfect guy. Someone who was madly in love with me. We were to be married, then have children. We’d go to the appointments together. Get excited over the sonogram. Pick out baby furniture. Buy the perfect house.” She turned to look at him. “That’s all gone now. Who’s going to want to marry someone with a baby? I couldn’t get a date before. I sure as hell won’t get one now.”

He looked stunned by her outburst. She looked away again. “It all sounds horribly selfish I know. I shouldn’t be so self-absorbed now that there is a baby to consider, but I can’t get over the resentment. And more than that, I can’t get over being so angry at myself for screwing up everything I ever dreamed about.”

“I had no idea you felt that way,” he murmured. “I guess I never thought about you getting married and having kids. I always imagined you living in the same house with us and things never changing.”

“Surely you weren’t thinking that when you were dating Starla. I mean you wanted to marry her, didn’t you?”

“No, I mean yes.” He looked sheepish. “It’s going to sound bad.” She cocked her head. “What?”

“I figured I’d move out, marry Starla, but that you guys would always be there for me to go back to, you know football games, weekend cook outs. God that makes me sound like an ass.”

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Seducing Simon

She laughed. “No it doesn’t. I don’t like the idea of things changing either.” Her smiled faded. “But they will.”

“Yeah, I guess so. Glad I didn’t marry Starla though,” he said with a wink.

“Me too,” she whispered. If he only knew
how
relieved she was.

He reached out and took her hand, rubbing his thumb over her fingers. “It will get better, sweetheart. I’m sorry you’re down right now. I can’t imagine the uncertainty you must be feeling, but you aren’t alone.

Anytime you need to talk, day or night, or need a hug, I’m here, and I know Matt and A.J. feel the same.”

Her heart constricted, and she bit her lip to keep from crying. Damn but she was a weepy mess lately. She’d never cried so much in her life.

But damn it, she didn’t want a hug. Not that she’d turn down any opportunity to be in his arms, but she wanted more. She wanted him to need her every bit as much as she needed him.

Simon wiped a tear from the corner of her eye with his thumb. “You want to take a walk? Or would you prefer to go back home?”

“Nothing exciting, but I think I’ll head home and take a long nap. I’m tired. Tired of thinking.” She smiled half-heartedly at him and slipped out of the swing. “I’ll see you at home.” Simon watched as she trudged away. A.J. was right, she was beautiful. And not just on the outside. She had a beautiful heart. It made him ache to think of her hurting.

Honestly, he’d never given thought to pursuing anything more than a friendship with her. The mere thought scared the hell out of him. He frowned and rose from the swing. It wasn’t as easy as asking her out.

She was pregnant.

Running a hand through his hair, he strode back to his truck and slid into the seat. The annoying repetitive beeping of the open door

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Maya Banks

encroached on his thoughts. He swung the door closed and rested his hands on the steering wheel.

He hated the idea of her dreams being dashed. Listening to her forlornly state the things she’d wanted twisted his gut.
Perfect life, perfect
house, husband who loved her.

He couldn’t give her all that, could he? And more importantly would she want him to?

Painful memories of Starla’s betrayal weighed on him. He’d been ready to commit. Take the plunge. He’d even bought a ring.

Finding her in bed with another man had given him an overdose of reality. One he hadn’t relished. But it had given him a lot to think about.

About the kind of woman he saw himself spending the rest of his life with.

Fact was, Toni embodied a whole lot of those traits. But he wasn’t willing to risk a friendship that was extremely important to him. If it didn’t work out, things may never be the same between them again, and that wasn’t something he could stomach. Losing her was
not
an option.

The best thing he could do was remain a steady source of support. It could be dangerous to reach higher.

BOOK: Seducing Simon
2.55Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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