Seducing Simon(38)

“That would be great.” She got up and extended her hand. “Thank, Lonnie. I owe you one.”

“Hell no you don’t. If you only knew how badly I needed dispatchers. I should be down kissing your feet.”

She grinned. “I’ll see you Monday then.” Feeling a little lighter, she got into her Jeep and checked her watch.

It was only ten. Well, now that she had another job, she could go look for baby things anyway. And it sure beat going back home and facing Simon.

Tomorrow she’d run her job idea by her doctor and get his okay before she committed to the whole shebang. She needed the job. Needed the money. Needed to get away from Simon before she imploded. But she would do nothing at the expense of her baby. Their baby.

By seven, she was thoroughly exhausted. She’d hit every department store in Beaumont, not to mention every baby boutique and furniture store. Her list had been compiled of exactly what she wanted. A crib small enough to fit in her bedroom. A bassinet for the living room. Lots of must haves, according to the saleswoman, like a swing and bouncer.

Unable to avoid the inevitable any longer, she turned homeward, praying that A.J. and Matt were at home so she could avoid any conversation with Simon. All three trucks were in the driveway to her relief. She parked then trudged into the house.

Three sets of eyes stared at her when she opened the door. Her fatigue must have been evident because they immediately pounced.

“Where the hell have you been all day?” Matt demanded. “You look like hell.”

“I’m tired. I’m going to bed.” She started toward her room, avoiding Simon’s gaze when A.J. spoke up.

“Is everything okay, Toni?”

She smiled crookedly. “Yeah, just overdid it. G’night.” Not waiting for them to say anything more, she escaped to her room and locked the door behind her. No sooner had she gotten undressed and into bed a knock sounded at her door.

“Toni, it’s me Matt.”

“I’m in bed,” she called.

“I want to talk to you.”

“Can it wait? I’m really tired.”

There was a long pause. “Okay. Get some rest. We’ll talk later.” She laid back and closed her eyes. Then the tears fell.

Monday she congratulated herself on going the entire weekend without seeing Simon more than in passing. She’d work in dispatch after work and the guys were starting a forty-eight on Tuesday, so the earliest she’d see Simon would be Thursday afternoon. Provided she didn’t work that night.

She got off a little early so she went home to change before she headed in to her second job. When she let herself in, the guys were all watching TV in the living room. She called out a hello then went into her bedroom to change.

Moments later she came back out and paused in the kitchen.

Knowing she had to at least tell them where she was going, she cleared her throat. “I’ll see you guys later.”

They swiveled around to look at her. “Where you going?” A.J. asked.

“Work.” The word hung in the air a moment as they digested what she’d said.

“Work?” Matt asked. “You just got home from work.”

“I’m doing some PRN work for Lonnie over at dispatch.” Their surprise was evident. “Huh? Since when?” Matt asked.

“Since Saturday.”

“Hell, Toni, you used to tell us shit like this. What’s the deal lately?” Matt’s voice rose, and he got up to walk toward her. “You should be in bed resting. Have you forgotten what happened a few days ago?”

“Look it’s no big deal. I just haven’t seen you guys what with your schedules lately. I gotta run, or I’ll be late. I’ll talk to you later.” She blew a kiss at Matt and spun around to leave.

Simon watched her walk out and suppressed the urge to put his fist through the coffee table. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out she was avoiding him.

Matt returned to the living room a deep frown on his face. “I don’t know what the hell is going on with her, but she isn’t telling us something.”

“Oh you think?” A.J. muttered.

“What’s with her getting a second job? She’s pregnant for Christ sake.

She doesn’t need to be working two jobs,” Matt said in a raised voice. He turned to Simon. “You usually aren’t short on something to say. Do you know what’s eating Toni?”

Yeah he knew all right. But he wasn’t going to blurt out that he’d been putting the moves on Toni in her weak moment. Matt and A.J.

would use his face for a punching bag. “No, I don’t. Maybe she just needed the extra cash with the baby coming.” Matt snorted. “There’s no way in hell I’d let her work two jobs when she’s pregnant. If it’s money she needs, she only has to ask.”

“But that’s just it,” Simon said. “I don’t see her asking anyone for anything. You know as well as I do, she’d never do anything she thought would make herself a burden.”

“I think it’s something else,” A.J. popped up. “I don’t know what it is…yet. But I aim to find out.”

Nothing had changed in dispatch since she’d last worked, and she picked up the mechanics again quickly. She sat for a few hours watching and listening to Sarah and Cody, the other dispatcher.