Seducing Simon(46)

“Yeah,” he muttered as he shut off the ignition.

Not waiting for him to open the door for her, she slid out of the truck and met him around the front. Hating the intense feeling of insecurity that gripped her, she wiped the palms of her hands on her jeans as they started for the door.

They didn’t get past the foyer when A.J. ambled down the hallway from the kitchen. “Thought I heard you guys.” He gestured with his thumb over his shoulder and whispered, “She’s been here all afternoon.

Poor Matt’s been stuck entertaining her.” Toni froze as Simon moved past A.J. en route to the living room.

“Why is she here?” she hissed at A.J.

He shrugged as they fell in behind Simon. “I don’t know but she wasn’t leaving until she talked to Simon. She’s been sitting here for two hours.”

“Good grief.”

“There you are,” Starla exclaimed when they all walked into the living room. She rose from the couch where Matt sat with a very relieved look on his face. “I had about given up on you. Where on earth have you been?”

She stopped in front of Simon and casually brushed her hand across his arm. Toni looked at her in disgust, recognizing the gesture from Mike’s advice to her on how to get Simon to notice her.

“Toni and I went to the beach,” Simon replied.

She laughed. “In October? I suppose Toni couldn’t get one of the other guys to go.”

“Oh please,” Toni muttered. She turned and walked back into the kitchen, unable to stomach the sight of Starla and Simon together. But then she’d never been able to before either.

“Did you need something?” Simon prompted.

Toni swung around taking interest once more in the conversation behind her.

Starla looked momentarily confused then smiled brightly. “I wanted to make sure you hadn’t forgotten about tomorrow.”

“Oh cripes, I had forgotten,” Simon said slapping his hand to his forehead.

“Forgotten what?” Toni asked walking back over.

“I promised Starla I’d drive her to Houston tomorrow,” he said in an uneasy voice.

Toni’s eyes narrowed. “Is there a reason she can’t drive herself? I’d say she drove over here just fine.”

A.J. wrapped an arm around her waist tightening his hand. He was clearly warning her not to lose her temper, but damn it, had Simon really made a date with Starla and not told her about it?

“Oh you’re so funny, Toni,” Starla said, her tinkly laughter rubbing over Toni like sandpaper. “You always did have such a superb sense of humor. It’s no wonder Simon likes you so much.” She paused a moment, and her eyes dropped down to the swell of Toni’s stomach. “And congratulations. I never did get to offer my well wishes on your pregnancy. I’m sure being a single mom will suit you perfectly.”

Toni stared at Starla’s hair, picturing it wrapped around her fingers as she yanked it all out. “Why thank you, Starla. Being single suits you as well.” She turned around in disgust and stalked to her room unable to stomach Starla’s saccharine attitude.

What had been a perfectly good day now lay in ruins. Nothing could salvage it now. Not unless a giant anvil dropped from the sky and crushed Starla in a scene reminiscent of Wylie Coyote.

She could understand why Starla was pursuing Simon. Starla would have to be nuts not to see how badly she’d screwed up. What she didn’t understand, however, was why Simon wasn’t telling Starla to go fly a kite. Could he still be in love with Starla? And if he was, where did that leave her?

Quickly disrobing, she started stepped into the shower and turned the water on full blast. As she washed the salt and grime from her skin, she agonized over what was transpiring in the living room. She didn’t even try to pretend she didn’t care.

She toweled off and hastily dressed. She refused to act like a sulky child and stay in her room in a huff. Starla would not get the satisfaction of the last word. Nor would Toni allow her to see how affected she was by her presence.

But when she returned to the living room, she found both Starla and Simon gone. She stared dumfounded for a minute then looked over at A.J. “Where’s Simon?”

“He took Starla home,” A.J. offered reluctantly.

“Have I entered the twilight zone?” She dropped onto the couch in exasperation. “I mean I could swear I just went out on a date with Simon.

Or did I imagine that part?”

A.J. stared at her clearly having no clue what to say.

“And what’s up with Miss Helpless needing Simon to take her places?

Did she not drive over here?”

“I don’t even know what to tell you,” A.J. finally said. The look of sympathy in his eyes irritated her more. Apparently Starla still had a hold on Simon. Why else would he be jumping to do her bidding? And what was with all that gibberish he’d spouted about being attracted to her if he still had a thing for Starla?

She rubbed her head in a tired gesture. What a waste of what had been a truly spectacular day. “I’m going to bed,” she muttered as she rose from the couch.

“Toni, I’m sorry,” A.J. offered.

“Not nearly as sorry as Simon’s going to be,” she said with a twist of her lips. “I’ll see you on Monday, okay? Have a good one at work tomorrow.”