Seducing Simon(24)

“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.”

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.

Why are you going out with Starla?”

“I just want some answers.” That and he wanted to get his mind off of Toni. It was getting ridiculous. He was dreaming about her. Fantasizing about her. If he didn’t get himself in control soon, he’d do something he’d regret.

What he’d done is pissed her off, though he couldn’t quite understand why. But then she’d always been a little overprotective of him and the other guys. Like a mama lion protecting her cubs. Heaven help the girl that ever trod on them.

He grinned. Perhaps he ought to explain to her why he was even speaking to Starla. But then it wouldn’t be as fun to see her all riled up.

And he couldn’t exactly tell her the main reason he was getting out of the house with another woman. He could well envision the shock on her face if he told her about the vivid fantasies he was having about her…naked.

Why was he seeing Starla again? Was he a masochist? Or maybe he wasn’t as torn up about her betrayal as he’d let on. It had obviously upset him enough that he indulged in something he never did—drinking.

Toni flopped onto her bed in disgust. Contending with Starla was not a kink she’d planned on having to deal with. It was hard enough just to try and get him to notice her without having to compete with another woman. A woman who had held Simon’s heart before.

Her hopes sank a bit further. Starla was everything she wasn’t.

Beautiful, confident, and most importantly, she wasn’t pregnant.

She glanced down at her belly and rubbed absently. If it came down to it, she’d have to confess to Simon. She couldn’t allow him to commit to another woman without knowing he had a child.

Chapter Nine

Wednesday and Thursday, Toni stewed about Simon’s non-date with Starla. She avoided going to the station even though she normally was a regular visitor during their forty-eight hour shifts. In a way, she didn’t want to know anything about his relationship with Starla, but on the other hand, she was going to die if she didn’t find out.

Friday morning, she left the house before the guys got home anxious to get the day over with so she could feel Simon out that evening. She fidgeted all day, watching the clock in a sick vigil. She hadn’t had an appetite ever since skipping dinner the night of Simon’s date.

At three forty-five she was ready to bang her head on the desk in front of her. She tapped her pencil in a steady staccato and watched the seconds tick by.

“Why don’t you go on home before you drive me insane,” Doc Johnson muttered from behind her.

She whirled around, a guilty flush on her face. “Sorry.” He gave her an indulgent smile. “Go on home. You’ve been antsy all day. I only have one more animal to see, and Marnie can help me with that one.”

Her lips split into a wide grin as she hopped down from the stool. She kissed his wrinkled cheek. “Thanks, doc. I’ll see you Monday.” He waved her out the door, and she made a beeline for her jeep. A few minutes later she pulled into her driveway, and to her disappointment saw Simon’s truck was gone. If he was out again with Starla, she was going to hurt someone.

“You’re early,” A.J. remarked, as she walked into the living room.

“Hello to you, too.”

He patted the spot beside him on the couch. “Wanna sit?” She slid onto the sofa. “Where’s Matt and Simon?”

“Simon’s running errands, and Matt is getting ready to go over to Stephanie’s.”

She barely controlled the sigh of relief.

“Something bothering you?”

“No, not at all,” she said airily. “Just glad to be home.” She sat in silence for a moment not concentrating on the cop show A.J. was watching. Glancing sideways at him, she said nonchalantly, “So what was the deal with Simon’s date with Starla?”