Seducing Simon(32)

Simon nodded. Even A.J. acknowledged it by a slight inclination of his head.

“Even families have to grow up and move on,” she insisted. “And I can’t imagine Simon or A.J. either one wanting you to sacrifice your happiness just to keep us all together.” At that, both Simon and A.J. shook their heads.

She walked around the bar to where Matt sat and wrapped her arms tightly around him. “I love you,” she said fiercely. “And I want you to be happy. Sure it will suck for a while. Do you remember when I left for college?”

Matt chuckled close to her ear.

“We’ll get over it, and we’ll still be a family. Only now, Stephanie will be a part of it.”

He returned her hug, nearly squeezing the breath from her. “I love you too, little sister.”

She drew away then glanced back at Simon and A.J. “There is one catch, you know. You’ll have to have us all over on Sundays to watch football. Stephanie will just have to understand if she’s going to marry you.” She winked broadly at Matt, and his face relaxed into a huge smile.

As she looked around the kitchen, the only one not smiling was Simon.

Chapter Twelve

He’d been unable to shake his irritation ever since Toni had informed them all she was moving out and Matt had announced he was proposing to Stephanie. He felt betrayed.

Simon sat at the kitchen bar waiting for the others to get ready for the annual fire and rescue barbeque held at the firehouse. He had almost no enthusiasm to go, but neither did he want to stay at home and stew.

For the last several years, he’d lived with people he considered his family. His best friends. And now in the space of a few months things were going to change forever. It was thoroughly depressing. Almost as depressing as Toni dating Mike Sanders.

As if conjuring him up by his thoughts, he looked up to see Mike knocking on the kitchen door. With a scowl, he motioned him in. “What the hell are you doing over here? Aren’t you supposed to be working?” Simon asked.

“Yeah, I just ran over to pick Toni up for the barbeque.” Irritation surged over Simon. “You left work to pick her up when we’re all heading over there anyway? She could have ridden with us.” Mike shrugged. “Slow morning and you’re only five minutes away.

Besides, I asked Toni to go with me.”

Remembering how angry he had made Toni last time, Simon bit his tongue and turned away. “She’ll be out in a minute.”

“Mike, what you doing here?” A.J. asked as he walked into the kitchen.

“Picking Toni up.”

A.J. frowned. “She could’ve ridden with us.” Mike rolled his eyes. “Can you just get her? I have to get back to the station pretty quick.”

“Toni,” A.J. hollered toward her room. “Loverboy’s here to get you.”

“Don’t be an ass,” Mike said with a scowl.

Toni appeared seconds later, and Simon did an instant double take.

In a word, she looked fantastic. She glowed from head to toe. And her shirt. He had the insane urge to throw a jacket over her to cover the neckline. Was it all due to pregnancy or had she always looked so damn beautiful?

“Hi, Mike, you ready to go?” she asked with a smile in his direction.

Jealousy slammed hard into Simon’s chest leaving him nearly shaking. Jealousy. Good God. He was losing his ever-loving mind.

“I’ll see you guys in a bit?” she asked turning to look at him and A.J.

“Yeah, we’re coming now,” Simon said, picking up his keys.

Mike led Toni out with a hand to her back, and Simon followed behind seething the entire way. And as usual, A.J. was wearing his smug little grin.

“This isn’t working,” Toni said, as she and Mike pulled up to the firehouse.

A multitude of cars and trucks were parked at the station, and in the vacant lot adjoining the building, a large barbeque grill had been set up.

Firemen, ambulance personal and even some of the sheriff’s department were gathered, laughing and joking over cold beer.

Mike turned the engine off and slid around in his seat to face her.

“What’s not working?”

“This whole charade,” she said with a sigh. “I feel pretty stupid about it now. I don’t want to drive a wedge between me and Simon, and I think that’s precisely what I’m doing. If I can’t have him in the way I wanted, I at least want to continue our friendship.”

“That’s understandable.” His eyes softened in sympathy. “I’m sorry, Toni. I wish I could help.”

“You have helped.” She reached over and squeezed his hand. “You’ve been a great friend.”

“So does this mean you’re dumping me?” he asked, adopting a mock wounded look.

She laughed. “I doubt anyone’s ever dumped you.” Simon and A.J. pulled up beside them, and Toni turned to get out of the truck. She could feel Simon boring holes in her back as she followed Mike into the station house.

As they walked in, Matt called out a greeting. He and Stephanie were talking with the fire chief and his wife. Toni smiled and waved, feeling a quick moment of happiness that Matt had found the woman he wanted to marry.

Within moments of their arrival, a game of flag football formed and Toni was cajoled into playing. The fire crew was pitted against rescue, and Toni was recruited by ambulance since she had worked dispatch in the past.