Seducing Simon (9 page)

“What’s eating you, man?” A.J. asked Simon as they pulled off their gear after a fire call.

Simon wiped the sweat from his brow. “Don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Yeah, sure. You haven’t been avoiding Toni like she’s a hooker with the clap.”

Simon shot him a dirty look and continued pulling his heavy jacket off. “Back off.”

A.J. laughed. “Getting under your skin, huh?”

-76-

Seducing Simon

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Hmmm is that all you can say?”

Another wave of irritation gripped Simon. “Look. I don’t know what point you’re trying to make. I’m not avoiding Toni. She’s not getting under my skin. I could care less what she wears.” A.J. dissolved into peals of laughter. “Oh man, have you got it bad.

Who said anything about what she’s been wearing?” Simon leveled a glare at his obnoxious friend. “Shut the hell up.”

“Well at least I know you aren’t dead now,” he chortled.

Simon sighed long-sufferingly. His head was beginning to ache, and the last thing he needed was A.J. harping on how sexy Toni was looking lately. Even if she was driving his libido into overdrive.

He got up from the bench and threw his jacket over his locker. “I’m going to go grab a shower.”

“A cold one?” A.J. asked innocently.

Simon ignored him and walked out of the locker room, A.J.’s laughter ringing in his ears.

He nearly groaned aloud when he stepped from the showers and met up with Mike in the locker room.

“Hey, dude,” Mike called out.

“Hey,” he said without enthusiasm.

“How’s it going?”

“Fine.”

Mike studied him a moment. “You aren’t very talkative today.” Simon shrugged. He was plagued by irritation at the very sight of Mike, and the only explanation he could offer was because Toni had gone out with him. Not an answer he was happy with. Why should he care who Toni went out with?

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Maya Banks

Mike grinned. “Say hi to Toni for me, will ya? Tell her I’ll call her when I get the chance.”

“Why are you so interested in Toni all of a sudden anyway?” Simon demanded, staring holes through him.

Mike raised an eyebrow. “What red-blooded man wouldn’t be? She’s the bomb.”

Hoping Toni would forgive him for imparting her news, he decided to say the one thing he knew would scare Mike away. “She’s pregnant.”

“I know,” Mike said calmly.

He knew? She’d told him? He frowned and looked away. And he was still interested? He glanced back at Mike who was wearing a serene expression. “What the hell is your game, Mike?”

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t act all innocent with me. I know you too well for that. Pregnant women are definitely not your thing. For that matter, women like Toni aren’t your thing.”

“Maybe my thing has changed. That ever occur to you?”

“Stay away from her,” Simon growled. “You’ll only hurt her.”

“Don’t you think it should be her decision who she hangs with?”

“If you don’t stay away from her I’ll rearrange that pretty face of yours.”

To his surprise, Mike chuckled then turned and exited the locker room.

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Seducing Simon

Tuesday morning, Toni got up bright and early to get ready for work.

She dressed with care in one of her new tops and went into the kitchen to fix breakfast for the guys who would be coming home shortly. She wanted to get into Simon’s head first thing this morning because she wouldn’t see him again until the evening.

She hummed as she poked around the kitchen, keeping a close watch on the clock the entire time. Maybe this second trimester stuff she’d read about was true. She certainly felt like a new woman. And she was positively glowing. Her skin was radiant, her curves softer, and her breasts, to her delight, had graduated an entire cup size. Of course moving from a B to a C was no huge feat, but it was progress. She suddenly frowned, wondering if she’d have to give them back after she gave birth.

The front door rattled then opened as she heard the guys come in.

Matt was first through the kitchen doorway. “Smells good, sis.” A.J. and Simon came in close behind, and Simon scooted to the far end of the kitchen, sliding into the barstool that was the farthest away from Toni.

“Rough night?” she asked to no one in particular. “Simon looks like hell.”

His gaze shot up, and he frowned.

“He was a grumpy Gus the entire shift,” Matt said with a shrug.

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Maya Banks

“Well, here’s your breakfast. I have to leave or I’ll be late for work. I’ll see you guys this afternoon.” She set out the platter of eggs, biscuits and bacon on the bar and blew them a kiss. She made a point of leaning over in Simon’s direction one last time before backing out of the kitchen.

She slid behind the wheel of her Jeep and took a deep breath. Today marked the first time she wore maternity clothes in public. While she in no way carried an obvious bulge in front of her, the shirt was unmistakably for a pregnant woman.

Small town talk would filter through the community of Cypress like an out of control fire. Before sundown, she’d be relegated to fallen woman, brazen hussy, and that “poor girl.” Thank goodness she’d already told Doc Johnson so she could at least be at ease with him and Marnie. The patients would be another matter unfortunately.

When she glanced over the schedule for the morning she groaned aloud.

“What’s wrong?” Marnie asked.

Toni slumped in the chair behind the reception desk and held a finger to her head in a mock pistol style.

The older woman laughed. “It can’t be that bad.” Toni flipped the schedule toward her.

Marnie took the paper and quickly scanned over it. “Oh. Dear.”

“Yeah. Of all days to wear my maternity clothes. It just had to be when Mrs. Hauffrey had an appointment for her poodles’ check up.” Marnie gave her a sympathetic look. “Want me to man the front when it’s time for her to come in so you can hide out in the back?” She sighed deeply. “No, I may as well get it over with. I knew when I left this morning that I’d be all over town by tonight. This will just facilitate things a bit.”

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Seducing Simon

Marnie smiled and patted her shoulder as she walked past with a stack of papers to file.

Toni twirled on the swivel chair, closing her eyes in disgust. When she heard the door open, she opened one eye and made contact with Mrs. Hauffrey.

“Good morning, Antonia,” she sang out.

Toni gritted her teeth. Mrs. Hauffrey was the only person who insisted on calling her by her full name. Even her mother had given up by the time Toni reached Junior High.

“Good morning,” she said in resignation.

She hopped off the chair and reached over to scratch the ears of Fritz and Fifi. She was rewarded by a lick from each.

“If you’ll have a seat, I’ll go tell Doc you’re here.” As Toni turned, Mrs. Hauffrey let out a gasp. “Antonia! Dear, are you pregnant?”

She froze and rolled her eyes heavenward. Slowly, she turned back to face the excited gleam in Mrs. Hauffrey’s eyes. “Yes,” she said with calm that belied her inner angst.

“Oh my. Well, congratulations, of course.”

“Thank you.” She turned and strode down the hallway not wanting to give the old windbag any opportunity to ask further questions.

The looks of surprise were all the same. The traffic had never been so high through the downtown veterinarian practice. People wondered in to ask a variety of questions, but their purpose was all the same. To see the pregnant woman.

At first, Toni was amused, but by the afternoon, she was downright pissed. The subtle speculative stares. The overt open mouths. A few didn’t even make a pretense of their presence. They walked in, took a look, and stalked out.

-81-

Maya Banks

Hadn’t anyone in this town ever gotten pregnant out of wedlock?

Well, there
was
Amanda Jo Haney in high school. But come to think of it, she’d basically been run out of town on a rail. Not that anyone had demanded it. Far from it. Everyone made a pretense of supporting her, but made her life hell behind their hands.

She was stronger than that though. She wasn’t a shrinking violet.

Shy, yes. Doormat, no. They could all take their sanctimonious BS and stick it where the sun didn’t shine.

When four o’clock rolled around she couldn’t get out of the office fast enough. Settling behind the wheel of her jeep, she allowed herself a brief moment of melancholy before she cranked the engine and tore out the parking lot like the devil himself was on her tail.

She took the side streets to avoid driving down Main Street. Normally she’d wave to people she knew as she passed, but today her pariah status made her wish she had a paper bag to wear over her head.

When she finally drove into her driveway, she sighed in relief. She walked to the door but saw her elderly neighbors watching her out of the corner of her eye. Turning around, she waved and smiled brightly.

“I ought to sell tickets to this circus,” she muttered as she let herself in the house.

She dropped her keys on the table next to her purse and surveyed the empty living room. Only one of the trucks was gone out front, but all three must have gone together, because the house was eerily quiet.

Not looking a gift horse in the mouth, she poured a glass of juice and escaped to the back patio. She sank into one of the lawn chairs and closed her eyes wearily. For someone who spent a great deal of her time practicing obscurity, her newfound bug under a magnifying glass act was giving her a serious stomachache.

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Seducing Simon

It wasn’t the fact that everyone thought she’d screwed up. She
had
screwed up. It went way beyond just being a single pregnant woman.

She’d acted irresponsibly in a weak moment, and now not only would she have to pay for it, but Simon and their baby would suffer as well.

She had to tell him, but every time she thought of it, her tongue swelled and no words would come out of her mouth. What could she say anyway?
By the way Simon, we had unprotected sex one night when you
thought I was your girlfriend and now I’m pregnant
.

A tear slid down her cheek as she berated herself for the hundredth time since that night. She hastily wiped at her face when she heard the sliding door open. Footsteps approached, but she didn’t look up.

Simon knelt beside her chair and looked at her in concern. “What’s wrong,” he asked quietly.

He cupped her cheek and turned her to look back at him. “You’ve been crying.”

He always did have a knack for stating the obvious. She sighed deeply. “Just feeling sorry for myself.” He rose and pulled a chair next to hers. “What’s got you down?”

“I’m the new topic of gossip in Cypress. I wore a maternity shirt to work today and Mrs. Hauffrey came in with the poodles.” He winced. “Say no more.”

“Yeah.”

“Want something to eat? I’m cooking,” he said cajolingly.

She gave him a half-hearted smile. “Sure. I’ll be there in a minute.” He walked back into the house, and she closed her eyes once more.

His handsome face floated teasingly in front of her again. With a shake of her head, she sat up and strode back into the house.

-83-

Maya Banks

“Hey gorgeous,” A.J. sang out, catching her with one arm as she entered the living room. He gave her a quick hug and a kiss on the top of her head.

She grinned despite her sour mood.

“Now that’s better,” he said approvingly. “You looked like you’d swallowed a lemon when you first walked in.”

“Just a watermelon seed,” she teased.

He stuck out a hand to her belly. “Hmmm, nope not yet. When’s that kid going to pop out anyway?”

“You’re in the wrong spot.” She moved his hand lower.

“Hey, there it is! It’s cute,” he said as he massaged the slight swell.

She raised an eyebrow in amusement. “Cute?”

“Quit mauling her, bonehead,” Simon said with a scowl. “Dinner’s almost done so get your butt over here and set the table.”

“What’s your hurry, dude?”

“He’s got a date,” Matt volunteered with a roll of his eyes.

Toni’s heart lurched, but she fought to maintain a neutral expression. “Oh? Who’s the lucky girl?” A peculiar expression lit Simon’s face. “It’s not a date.”

“Starla,” Matt said in a disgusted voice.

Forgetting neutrality altogether, Toni’s mouth dropped open. “Starla?

The same Starla who cheated on you just a few months ago?”

“It’s not a date,” he said repeated.

“Are you out of your mind?” she demanded.

Matt’s eyes widened in surprise at Toni’s raised voice.

“Why on earth would you give her the time of day much less a second chance?” Toni shook her head in disbelief, her face growing hotter.

“I’m not giving her anything,” he said defensively. “She just wanted to talk.”

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Seducing Simon

She snorted. “Talk my foot. That’s fine, Simon. But I won’t be around this time to help you pick up the pieces.” She whirled around and stomped to her room.

“What was all that about?” Matt murmured.

Simon slowly turned back to the stove. What the heck did she mean help him pick up the pieces? Maybe her pregnancy hormones were raging, or maybe she was upset over the day she’d had.

“She was just saying what you and I are thinking,” A.J. said in disgust. “I don’t understand why he’d give her the time of day either.” Matt shrugged. “It’s his business, I suppose.” Simon turned around. “Thank you, Matt. You are exactly right.” He leveled a pointed stare at A.J.

A.J. shrugged. “Sometimes, Simon, you are the biggest fool. If you can’t see what’s so clearly under your nose you deserve someone like Starla.”

He turned and exited the kitchen as well.

“What the hell?” Simon demanded. He looked over at Matt. “Is there something going on I don’t know about?”

“Don’t ask me,” Matt replied. “You know I’m always the last person to know anything around here. But you know, they do have a valid point.