Seducing Simon(35)

“I’m spotting,” she whispered.

His eyes widened. “Let me get Simon and Matt. We need to get you to the hospital.”

She caught his arm as he turned. “No.”

“Why not?” he demanded.

“Shhh,” she hissed. “I don’t want to make a big scene. I don’t want to ruin Matt and Stephanie’s moment, and Simon is busy talking to Starla.

Can you just take me home? Simon can get a ride with either Starla or Matt.”

“I’m taking you to the hospital,” he said stubbornly.

She gritted her teeth. “First I want to go home so I can call my OB. It may be nothing. I’ve read that spotting is common with pregnant women.

I just want to be safe.”

“Then come on,” he said, taking her arm and leading her toward the truck.

They climbed into the truck and A.J. backed up and roared off. “I don’t like this,” he said. “I should be taking you to the hospital.”

“And maybe you will. I just want to see what my doctor has to say. I just didn’t want to make a big to do in front of everyone back there.”

“Was it the fall?” he demanded.

“I don’t know,” she said honestly. “I don’t know anything at all.” As if sensing how close she was to losing what semblance of control she had, he reached across and squeezed her hand tightly. “It’ll be okay, Toni.” But she could hear the uncertainty in his voice.

When they got home, A.J. ushered her in. “Sit down on the couch. I’ll bring you the phone.”

She sat down in the corner of the couch and curled her feet underneath her. Her hand smoothed over her stomach, feeling the bulge.

Tears stung her eyelids, and she blinked rapidly to keep them at bay.

She couldn’t lose her baby. She’d never even told Simon it was his.

A.J. sat down beside her and handed her the phone. He placed his hand on her back and rubbed up and down in an effort to comfort her as she punched in the number for her doctor.

After leaving a message with his answering service, she hung up and looked helplessly over at A.J. “I can’t lose this baby, A.J.”

“I know, sweetheart,” he said enfolding her in his arms. He rocked her back and forth rubbing up and down her back. “Are you sure you don’t want me to just take you in to the ER and get you checked out?”

She shook her head. “I’ll see what the doctor says first.” The sound of the kitchen door opening had Toni wiping her eyes frantically. She looked over to see Simon standing by the bar staring at her and A.J.

“What the hell is going on?” he demanded. “Toni, why are you crying?”

Simon took in Toni’s tear-stained face and fear seized him. What was wrong? Why had she and A.J. left the barbeque? The phone ringing interrupted his question, and Toni quickly snatched up the receiver.

A.J. stood up and walked over as Toni murmured in low tones to whoever it was on the phone. He strained to hear, but A.J. spoke up in a whisper. “She started spotting.”

Simon caught his breath. “Why didn’t you take her to the hospital?”

“I tried,” A.J. said shaking his head. “She wanted to come here and call her doc first.”

Simon ran a hand through his hair and blew out his breath in irritation. “Why didn’t one of you tell me? I looked up and you were driving off.”

“She didn’t want to ruin Matt and Stephanie’s moment.”

“That doesn’t explain why you didn’t come get me,” he gritted out.

“You were busy talking to Starla,” A.J. pointed out. “Toni didn’t want to make a scene so she asked me to take her home.” Anger and fear built within him as he watched Toni anxiously talk on the phone. Her fear reached out to him. He could practically feel it from here. Why hadn’t she told him? Were they getting so far apart? What in the world was happening to them?

When she put the phone down, he immediately went to her side.

“What did he say?” he demanded.

She looked questioningly up at A.J.

“I told him,” A.J. explained.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Simon asked.

“I didn’t want to worry you,” she said softly.

“Too late. Now what did the doctor tell you. Do we need to take you to the hospital?”

She looked up at him, her brown eyes filled with uncertainty. “He said to lie down and take it easy. If I continue to spot or if I start having contractions, he wants me to go into the hospital. But otherwise, he wants me on bed rest for the rest of the day.”

“Is there something I can do?” he asked helplessly.

She shook her head and started to rise. He caught her hand, feeling her tremble. “Want me to get you a pillow and blanket so you can lay down right here?”

She smiled and he felt something within him start to melt. “I’d like that. Thanks.”

He went to the closet and pulled out two pillows and a blanket then returned to the couch. He plumped the pillows and set them on the end then he patted it, gesturing for her to lie down. As she settled on the couch, he pulled the blanket up over her. He let his hand drift to her cheek to smooth the tendrils of hair from her face. Her skin felt velvety soft under his fingertips and he resisted the temptation to touch her lips.