by Maya Banks
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.
He yanked his hand away and mentally shook himself. “Get some rest, sweetheart.”
Turning away, he met A.J.’s gaze and motioned him into the kitchen. “Can you take Steve’s truck back to the barbeque and get him to run you back home? He let me borrow it to run home, and I thought I’d just get you to follow me back in mine, but I don’t want to leave Toni alone.”
“Yeah sure,” A.J. said, reaching for the keys.
Toni watched from the couch as Simon turned and walked over to her once more. She smiled tentatively up at him as he knelt by the couch. “How you doing? Any cramping?” he asked.
“You’ve been reading my pregnancy book again,” she said with a laugh. But she found it endearing he had devoted so much time to reading about something that affected her.
She reached a hand up and placed it on his chest. “Thank you,” she whispered.
“For what?” he asked, confusion clouding his eyes.
“For caring about me,” she said softly.
Not taking the time to ponder whether this was the appropriate moment, she smoothed her hand up over his shoulder and over the back of his neck. Pulling him down at the same time she raised her lips, she pressed her mouth to his.
He stiffened in surprise, but she moved her lips softly over his, seeking, almost pleading with him to respond. His mouth opened, and he took control of the kiss. His hand slid up to her neck holding her against him as his tongue darted forth.
She moaned softly, twining her fingers in his hair pulling him even closer. Heaven had nothing on Simon. His kiss was possessive, strong, everything she’d dreamed about since their first night together. Only now he knew what he was doing.
A giddy thrill shot through her body as the kiss went on, his hot breath on her face only fanning the out of control flames.
Then he jerked away leaving her struggling to catch her breath. His eyes were bright with…regret? Shock? He rocked back on his heels and ran a hand through his hair, then swore.
This wasn’t the reaction she’d envisioned.
She struggled to sit up, wrapping her arms around her chest in a protective measure. Then she waited with dread for him to speak.
“Jesus, Toni. I’m sorry. Christ, are you okay?”
She nodded, too numb to speak. He was apologizing. Humiliation edged every bit of the euphoria that had swept over her just seconds ago. Slow heat spread up her neck and over her cheeks. “I’m fine,” she finally murmured.
Not saying anything further, she rose, wrapping her dignity around her like a tattered blanket then walked through the kitchen toward her room.
“Toni, wait,” he called.
Ignoring his plea, she quietly closed the door behind her and locked it. If she didn’t get out of there soon, she was going to lose all semblance of self control.
The tears came before she got to her bed. She knew it was a long shot, but hope springs eternal. Or it did. Now she was going to have to face the music. She was pregnant and alone. Simon didn’t see her as anything more than a kid sister. The sooner she came to terms with that the sooner she could get on with her future. Single motherhood.
Her doorknob jiggled then a soft knock sounded. “Toni? Toni, open the door please. We need to talk. God, I’m sorry. I had no right to do that.”
She buried her head further into her pillow and shut out the sound of his pleading. After a few minutes, she could hear him walk away.
She rolled onto her side and gripped the pillow against her chest. What the hell was she going to do? She couldn’t face him now. Once again, she’d screwed up royally. And this time she’d probably ruined their friendship as well.
In a few months, she’d be moving out. That much was known. But what to do in the meantime? She had to start thinking of her future in terms that didn’t include Simon. As painful as it was, it was time to face the cold hard facts.
She didn’t have a college degree. She was pregnant. She wasn’t married. Three things working against her.
She had a great job considering her lack of a degree, but it wasn’t enough to foot the bill for the upcoming days. So what could she do about it? There wasn’t time to devote to going back to school. She needed the additional income now, not later.
She heard the door slam and tensed, waiting to see if anyone would come to her door. Would Simon tell Matt and A.J. what happened? Surely not. But the thought made her nauseous.
How could she face any of them? And what a complete cluster fuck she had made of her life. It would be a miracle if she managed to have a normal child.
She needed to figure out where to get a job. She could work a few nights a week and maybe weekends until the baby came. The extra money would come in handy when she had to pay for her own place and daycare for the baby.
She had some money in savings. Money she’d received when her parents died. But now it had to be reserved for her child’s future.
Who was she kidding? She was getting a job because it would keep her away from Simon. Yeah, she was a coward. And she did need the money. She had things to buy. Baby furniture. A crib and cute little clothes. And while she was at it, she had to figure out what to do about the little matter of the baby’s father.
Simon sat at the bar staring out the kitchen window. Toni had refused to open her door, and he was feeling more miserable by the minute. Having his testicles forcibly removed with a rusty knife was too good for him at the moment.
What kind of clod was he to have taken advantage of Toni at her weakest moment? She’d been spotting. She was scared to death to lose her baby, and all he could think about was how good she tasted, how smooth her skin felt beneath his touch, and how he wanted nothing more than to make love to her all night long.
He looked up as Matt and A.J. drove up, cringing at the thought of telling them what he had done. Then again, he wasn’t stupid. Better to keep his mouth shut.
Matt walked in, worry evident in his e
yes. “Where’s Toni?”
Simon gestured toward the bedroom. “She went to bed,” he muttered.
