Seducing Simon (12 page)

She drew away and stared up at him. She let loose a mental groan.

His lips hovered temptingly above hers. She pushed away from him before she did something stupid. Like kiss him.

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Seducing Simon

The next morning Toni slept in—the extra hours of sleep much needed. She showered and dressed then ventured into the kitchen to scrounge up breakfast.

“Morning, guys,” she called out as she saw Matt and A.J. seated at the bar shoveling down a bowl of cereal.

The both looked up and mumbled a greeting.

She poured a glass of juice and sat down across from them. “What’s on the agenda for today?”

They both gave her blank stares and she laughed. “I’ll take that as a big fat nothing.”

Matt shrugged. “Simon left early. Have no idea where he went. I don’t really have any plans to speak of.”

Toni frowned. She knew where Simon was. The juice tasted sour on her tongue and she put it down. “You not seeing Stephanie today?” He gave her an uneasy glance and shrugged again. “Probably not.” A.J. lifted a brow and put down his spoon. “Trouble in paradise?” He raised the bowl to his lips and noisily chugged the remaining milk then set the bowl back down with a bang.

Toni laughed. “You’re such a barbarian, A.J.” He gave her a wounded look.

Matt ignored A.J.’s question and the joking between Toni and A.J.

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Toni and A.J. exchanged curious glances. “I’m hitting the shower,” A.J. said, and Toni knew he was leaving so she and Matt could be alone.

“So what’s up with you and Stephanie?” she asked when A.J. ambled off.

“Uh, nothing major. Just taking some time to think about things,” he said vaguely.

“I thought maybe she was the one. You guys seemed perfect for each other.”

Matt shifted uncomfortably on the barstool and glanced away for a moment. “Well, the thing is, I think she might be the one too.” Toni leaned forward, excitement building within her. “But, Matt, that’s great!”

He leveled a hard stare at her. “Think about it, Toni. If I asked her to marry me, everything would change.
Everything
.” She didn’t try and hide her confusion. “I don’t understand.” He sighed and shoved his cereal bowl away from him. “The thing is, I’ve been thinking hard about asking her to marry me. I really love her,” he added softly.

“So what’s the but?”

“But…there’s the little issue of living arrangements. Either Stephanie and I buy a house, which neither of us can afford right now, or we make Simon and A.J. find another place to live so we can live here.”

“And I would still be a third wheel,” she said, comprehension dawning.

“No,” he said emphatically. “This is your house and there is no way I’d have you move out. Especially not with you pregnant.”

“I really screwed up didn’t I,” she whispered. “And not just for me.

But I’m screwing it up for you too.”

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“Damn it, Toni. This is why I didn’t want to say anything.” He reached across the bar and grasped her hand. “Look at me.” She stared back at him, utter seriousness reflected in his brown eyes.

“There are a lot of factors involved here. One, you need me. And,” he said effectively cutting off her forthcoming protest, “I like the setup we have here. I’m not sure I’m ready to give that up.” Toni thought back to the conversation she’d had with Simon in the park. Much of their talk had surrounded the same thing Matt has just said. No one wanted to give up the current situation.

And if she were honest, she knew she had no desire to see her brother married and moved off or the four of them separated and no longer roommates. But things had to change. They always did. And nothing lasts forever.

She sounded like a whole book of trite clichés.

She cleared her throat. “I don’t know what to say, Matt. But sooner or later things will change. You guys will eventually want to settle down, and that means we won’t always live together. But that doesn’t mean we can’t still hang out together. Get together on the weekends.”

“I know all of that,” Matt said. “I just can’t fathom being the one to mess up everything. It would be different if Simon had married Starla or A.J. decided to get married, God forbid.” Toni laughed at the image of A.J. getting married.

“I always imagined being the last one to get hitched. I figured you’d get married and move out and then the other guys would move out and when I got married, we’d live here. But I can’t push everyone out, and I’m damn sure not leaving you when you need me the most.” Tears gathered in Toni’s eyes, and she hastily brushed them away. It had never occurred to her how dedicated everyone was to keeping the arrangement that had suited them for years. The idea of change was

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abhorrent to them all, and each one was fighting against the idea. She’d done her share of cringing at the thought.

But for the first time, she allowed herself to think of just how affected they would be by her pregnancy. And aside from the fact Simon had to be told about his impending fatherhood, the situation was impossible. If she stayed, they would all feel a responsibility to both her and her baby.

She knew them well enough to know they would shove aside their own wants if they thought she needed them. She would do the same for them. It’s just the way it had always been. But it didn’t have to be.

And how would it affect the baby if after living with three father figures, one or all of them married and moved away? It could be potentially devastating. It would be far better if she moved and released them from any obligation they felt for her.

She’d let them talk her out of moving in the beginning, but even then, she knew it had been the best idea. She’d allowed her sadness over the idea of losing them to sway her when it would have been in their best interest if she had moved. Would Simon be back with Starla even now if he weren’t worried about her?

The thought sickened her. As much as she loved him, she did not want to be seen as a hindrance to his happiness. And now Matt was ready to settle down and get married, but his concern for her kept him from moving forward.

“I don’t like your expression,” Matt said with a frown. “I wish I hadn’t said anything.”

“I’m glad you did,” she said softly. “You’ve given me a lot to think about. A veritable wake up call.”

His frown deepened.

“I think it would be best if I did go ahead and move out.”

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Matt surged up from his seat, his eyes blazing. “Damn it, Toni. That is not why I brought the subject up. There is no way,
no way
, I’m going to let you move out right now. And certainly not because you think I would benefit. This is your house. Your
home
. It’s where you grew up.

You and your child deserve a home, not a shoddy apartment or trailer somewhere.”

“Sit down, Matt,” she said gently.

He stared at her for a long moment then slowly sank back onto the stool.

“Think about it for a minute. As long as I’m living here with you guys you’re all going to put off your own wants and needs because you think I’m still a little girl you have to protect and take care of.”

“But—”

“Let me finish,” she said putting her hand out. “It will only get worse when the baby is born. I don’t want any of you to sacrifice your happiness for me. I can’t stand the thought of it. For everyone’s sake, including mine, I need to find a place for me and the baby to live. Then we’ll all feel free to make decisions regarding our futures without worry.” He shook his head adamantly. “What if something happened to you while you were pregnant?”

“It’s not like I wouldn’t have a phone,” she said dryly.

“I don’t want you to move,” he said simply.

“I think it might just be time to step out from under yours and Simon’s and A.J.’s protective arms. I’ve stayed because I’ve been comfortable, but I’ve never given thought to the sacrifices you’ve made for me.”

“It’s been no sacrifice,” he said fiercely. “You’ve taken care of us far more than we’ve ever taken care of you.”

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She chuckled. “That might just be true, but maybe it’s time for that to change. I have a baby to take care of now.” Her mind began to work again. There had to be a solution. “What if I stayed until the baby is born and then moved? It would give everyone the time to get used to the idea, and it would give me the time to save up some money.”

“But is that what you want?” he asked, studying her intently.

“Because if you’re doing it because you think it would be best for us, forget it. You and the baby are more important right now.”

“I won’t lie and say I won’t miss you all terribly. But I’ll visit. Okay, I’ll visit a lot.” She grinned slightly. “And hopefully you guys will visit me.” And maybe, just maybe, if things went the way they were supposed to, Matt and Stephanie wouldn’t be the only ones to get together.

But she couldn’t think of her and Simon right now. Matt obviously wanted to make a commitment to Stephanie, and she didn’t want to keep her brother from his happiness.

“If you move, I’ll buy out your half of the house,” he said.

She shook her head. “Consider it my wedding gift to you and Stephanie.”

He shook his head just as adamantly.

“We’ll talk about it when the time comes,” she said in exasperation.

“What will we talk about?” A.J. said as he sauntered back up to the bar.

“That I’m going to move out after the baby’s born,” she said lightly.

There was no reason to keep it a secret. The sooner everyone knew, the faster it would be dealt with. She steeled herself for his protest, but then A.J. was the most easygoing of the bunch.

He merely looked at her. “Are you sure that’s what you want?” She nodded then turned back to Matt. “So, now that we got that out of the way, when do you plan to pop the question?”

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A.J.’s mouth fell open. “Seriously? You’re asking Stephanie to marry you?”

“I’m thinking about it,” Matt corrected.

“Hey man, that’s great. She’s a wonderful girl.” He slapped Matt on the back, a broad grin on his face.

“Thanks. I think so too.”

The doorknob rattled and Simon walked in the door, dumping his keys on the bar. He looked curiously between the three standing at the bar. Toni tensed, the jubilation she felt for Matt fading.

“Did I miss something? You three look like you’re celebrating.”

“Matt’s getting hitched,” A.J. said with a grin.

“Might be getting hitched,” Matt said, elbowing A.J. in the gut.

“Really? That’s great. When’s the big day?” Toni watched as the world around her began to change. No, it had been changing for a while. Ever since the fateful night she’d had sex with Simon. And there wasn’t a damn thing she could do to reverse the consequences.

She tuned out the guys who were in an animated conversation as to how best for Matt to propose to Stephanie. Somehow, she’d always imagine she would be the first to get married and move out. At this rate, she’d be the last.

“I guess we’ll all be looking for a new place to live and not just Toni,” A.J. spoke up, yanking her from her thoughts.

Simon frowned. “What? I thought we agreed she was staying here.”

“Somehow I don’t see Matt and Stephanie wanting two guys, a sister-in-law and a baby crowding in on their marriage,” she pointed out. “Matt and I have discussed it, and I’ll move out after the baby’s born.” Simon looked thunderstruck. “There’s no reason the three of us couldn’t find a place.”

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A.J. leaned back and remained silent. In fact, everyone shut up. “And what about when you and A.J. decide to get married? That means me and the tikester will be moving again. No, I’d rather find a permanent place and make a home for me and my child,” she said firmly.

Simon opened his mouth to speak then shut it again.

Matt ran a hand through his hair. “You see, Toni? This is precisely why I didn’t want to get into this yet. What we have here works. We’re a family.”

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.

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Seducing Simon

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Maya Banks

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.