Seducing Simon(16)

Despite herself, she laughed. “No, I mean I’m pregnant now. Three months pregnant. I just thought you should know. It isn’t in most guys’

dating plan to hook up with a pregnant woman.” She twisted her fingers nervously around the ends of her hair.

“Whoa.” His face reflected utter shock. He threw out the rest of his cone and focused his attention solely on her. “Wow. Really?” She nodded.

“What about the father?”

“He isn’t an issue,” she muttered.

“Holy cow. Do Matt, A.J. and Simon know this?” Again she nodded.

“And they haven’t killed the guy yet?” He sounded incredulous.

“I haven’t told them who it is.”

He drummed his fingertips on the steering wheel. “Sooo, where does this leave us?”

“I guess you’re more qualified to answer that,” she said meeting his gaze evenly.

“Well I guess my first question is how do you feel about the father?

From what I know of you, I can’t picture you hopping into bed with him for the hell of it. Are you still hung up on him?” She fought to keep her expression neutral, but she must have given it away because his face softened. “I’ll take that as a yes.” She ducked her head. “Is it that obvious?”

“Yeah it is.”

She puffed out her cheeks and expelled a long sigh, sliding down further into her seat. “This is hopeless.”

“Is there no chance for you two?”

“It’s complicated.”

“Try me.”

She jerked her eyes back to him. “Oh no, I know how you guys gossip at the station. No way I want this all over the fire department, much less get back to Matt, A.J. or Simon.”

He frowned slightly. “I’d never say anything to the guys. Or anyone else for that matter. It might help to get it off your chest. It doesn’t sound like you have anyone you can talk to.”

She looked suspiciously at him.

He held two fingers up. “Scout’s honor.” He wasn’t the first person she’d choose to confide in, but he was right. She had no one else to talk to, and it would feel good to tell someone. Anyone.

“All right, but you tell anyone and I’ll kill you.” A few minutes later Mike sat back in his seat, a stunned expression lighting his face. “Jesus, Toni. What a mess!”

“You’re telling me,” she muttered.

“And he has no idea you two had sex?”

“No. He thought I was Starla.”

“Ouch,” he said sympathetically.

“Yeah, ouch.”

“How long have you carried a torch for him?”

“Oh pretty much forever,” she said in a low voice.

“Damn. That sucks. Well if it makes you feel better, he is a damn fool. I know one thing. If you and I ever went to bed together, you can be sure I’d remember it.”

She laughed when he winked at her. “Thanks, Mike. It did feel good to talk about it.”

“No problem. And don’t worry. I’d never say anything. I know we all tend to run off at the mouth at the station, but it’s about non important things, you know?”

“Thanks. You’re not a bad friend.”

He sighed and keyed the ignition. “Well I guess that means I won’t be getting lucky tonight,” he said mournfully.

She punched him in the arm. “You’re lucky I don’t kick your ass for that remark.”

He grinned. “You ready to go home? I wouldn’t want to keep you out too late. If I know your roommates, they’re waiting to pound me into the dirt.”

“They won’t have to. I might beat them to it.” But she grinned over at him. “You know, you’re not near as bad as Simon says you are.” He arched an eyebrow. “Don’t be so sure of that, doll. I happen to like you more than most women, and then there’s the little matter of three men who would cheerfully rearrange my face if I didn’t walk a fine line with you.”

“If you say so,” she said innocently.

Chapter Six

“So how was the date?” A.J. asked as she walked into the kitchen and laid her purse down on the counter. He was standing close to the fridge in a pair of cutoff shorts and a T-shirt. Vintage A.J. fashion. And barefooted of course. She was convinced he should have been a west coast surfer.

“It was okay,” she said with a shrug. She looked warily around, expecting Simon and Matt to appear any moment.

“Going to go out with him again?”

“Don’t know. Maybe.”

He leaned back against the cabinets and studied her. “You aren’t very talkative tonight.”

“It went okay. Really. I’m just a little tired. Where’s everyone?” she asked changing the subject.

“Matt’s over at Stephanie’s and Simon is in his room.”

“So why aren’t you out on a date? Surely it isn’t because of lack of interest,” she teased. He was one guy who never had to look far for an interested party.

A peculiar look crossed his face. “I uh, well, I cancelled at the last minute.”

She arched an eyebrow and gave him a mock look of shock. “You cancelled with Mindy Sue? The hottest chick to ever throw herself at the feet of the Adonis A.J?”