Seducing Simon (27 page)

Seducing Simon

A.J. stepped into the hall, and Simon immediately started from the door. A.J.’s arm caught him. “Maybe you should go home for awhile, man,” he said quietly.

Confusion then anger surged in his blood. “I’m not leaving her,” he insisted, angry that A.J. would even suggest it.

A.J. sighed as Matt and Stephanie joined them. “Look, I know how you feel, Simon. I don’t blame you, but she is walking a fine line in there.

One minute she’s looking like the weight of the world’s on her shoulders, and the next she’s sobbing her heart out.”

“She’s upset?” Simon demanded, his heart lurching at the thought of her crying.

“Let me finish,” A.J. interjected. “She’s been through a hell of an ordeal, and I’m not trying to make you feel bad, Simon, but her emotions are raw. I don’t think now is the time to hash it out between you. Let her rest. Heal. She needs it. You have all the time in the world to make it right. Just give her time.”

Simon looked away and swore. A.J. was right, but damn it, he didn’t want to leave her. He’d almost lost her, and he couldn’t stand the thought of being away from her for even a minute.

“I don’t think she should stay alone,” Matt spoke up.

“She’s not,” A.J. said. “She asked me to stay with her.” Simon’s hands curled into fists at his side. “She doesn’t want me to stay?”

“I didn’t say that,” A.J. said calmly. “If I had to guess, she doesn’t even imagine you want to stay.”

“Which is why I need to be here,” he persisted. “I won’t allow her to continue believing the horrible things I said to her.”

“Not now,” Stephanie said firmly, stepping forward, her eyes flashing.

Simon stepped back in surprise. Matt looked no less shocked.

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“You two aren’t helping with your guilt complexes,” she said scornfully. She rounded on Matt. “I can’t believe you, mister.” She stabbed her finger into his chest. “Taking sides against your own sister.

And you,” she said, whirling on Simon, “I don’t even have words for you.

This isn’t about you and absolving yourself of the awful guilt you’re feeling. If you’re miserable that’s too bad. But Toni doesn’t need this right now. She’s injured and she’s pregnant, and frankly, she needs the two of you hanging around like she needs a hole in the head.” She stood with her hands on her hips, her breath coming out in a huff.

A.J. laughed. “I knew there was a reason I liked her so much,” he drawled. “Couldn’t have said it better myself.”

“You make sure she gets rest,” she ordered, glaring A.J. down.

Simon frowned. Stephanie was right. It pained him to admit it, and it would kill him to put off pouring out his heart to Toni. But she was right.

It wasn’t the time. The most important thing was for Toni to get well.

Then he’d bring her home. To their home.

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Simon paced restlessly outside Toni’s room three days later. The nurse was in the process of discharging her, and he was going to take her home. A.J. had stayed with her the entire time as he’d promised her he would. As grateful as he was to A.J. for providing much needed support, he resented the fact that he hadn’t been the one she leaned on.

But he only had himself to blame.

The door cracked open and he heard voices inside. “Do you want to walk or do you want me to get a wheelchair?” the nurse asked.

“I’ll walk.” Toni’s soft voice filtered through the door. She still sounded weak.

He strode in the room, unable to stay away from her a moment longer. She reacted in surprise, leaning against the bed where she stood.

“I thought A.J. was coming,” she said in a shaky voice.

“I’m taking you home,” he said firmly.

Uncertainty flashed in her eyes.

“Are you ready?” the nurse asked gently.

Toni nodded, and Simon wrapped an arm around her shoulders. He could feel her shaking and he tightened his hold on her. She felt unbelievably fragile, like she would break into a million pieces with the slightest touch.

He shepherded her down the hall and punched the button for the elevator. She’d dressed in a loose fitting shirt and sweat pants. He

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frowned when he realized he had forgotten to bring her a coat.

Thankfully, he’d parked under the awning at the front entrance, and he’d left the heat running.

They walked slowly through the lobby, and as the door slid open automatically, cold air blew over them. She shivered, and he hurried her around to the passenger side. After she was belted in, he closed the door and walked around to the driver’s side.

He drove away, chewing on the inside of his lip. Everything rode on today. He’d planned meticulously, covering every angle, but the difficult part lay ahead. Convincing her to forgive him and give him another chance.

Toni stared out the window, glad to be going home, but surprised Simon had been the one to collect her. A.J. had left saying he’d return to pick her up when she was discharged. Had something come up?

To her surprise, they drove past her road. She turned to look at him.

“Where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise,” he said, glancing over her.

She sat back, not sure what to say in response. Surprise? The only surprise was that he was still speaking to her. Maybe the guys were waiting for her at the house. A welcome home party of sorts.

But then he turned into the driveway of a house a block down from the guys’ house.

“Why are we here?” she asked.

“I’ll tell you in a minute,” he said as he got out. He came around and helped her down, keeping a strong arm around her.

He unlocked the door and swung it open. She glanced around the empty house in total confusion. The house had been vacated for months, the previous owners transferred to Dallas. The house had been on the

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market nearly as long, but she didn’t remember seeing the for sale sign when they’d driven up.

He took her right hand and pulled her tightly against his chest. His hand smoothed over her hair, mindful of her bandage. “I don’t even know where to start, sweetheart.”

Her chest tightened and she closed her eyes, enjoying his arms around her.

He pulled her away and looked intently into her eyes. “But let me start by saying I love you. I love you more than anything. And I am so sorry for the awful things I said. The terrible way I treated you.” His eyes shone with regret, pain reflected deeply in their depths.

“But—”

“No buts,” he said, effectively shushing her with his lips. He kissed her gently, lingeringly.

“I was an ass. A first class jerk, and I don’t deserve you. I’ll never forgive myself for you being out on the road when you should have been safely at home waiting for me to come home to you.”

“It wasn’t your fault,” she said softly. “I lied to you.”

“Yes, you did,” he said forthrightly. “But nothing you did was worth the way I responded. I took advantage of you, just as much as you took advantage of me. You were afraid. You should have never been in that position. I
put
you in that position,” he said angrily.

She remained silent, not knowing how to respond to all he had said.

Hope beat a steady rhythm in her chest, but she didn’t dare give free rein to it yet.

“I brought you here because this is the house I was going to buy as a Christmas present,” he said. “I planned to ask you to marry me the night you told me about the baby. I wanted to give you your dream. The perfect

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house. Perfect husband—or as perfect as I could be,” he added with a grin. “Children, love, happiness. The whole shebang.” He blurred before her as tears sprang to her eyes. She wiped hastily at them not wanting to miss anything in his expression.

“I’ve put in an offer now because I want to marry you more than anything, Toni. I want to raise our children here. But most of all, I want to spend the rest of my life loving you.” She opened her mouth, but no words would come. She stared at him in shock. Wonder.

“Can you ever forgive me, Toni?” he asked softly, his eyes pleading with her.

“Oh my God,” she cried, launching herself into his arms. She began to sob noisily as his arms wrapped around her like bands of steel. He held her tightly, his face buried in her neck. She could feel warm tears slide down her neck, and her heart clenched. God, how she loved this man.

“Yes, yes, yes!” she exclaimed. “I forgive you, and more than anything I want to marry you.”

He caught her lips with his, kissing her breathlessly, passionately, as if he’d never let her go. She wrapped her arms around him and clunked him on the head with her cast. She let out a giggle. “Sorry.” He released her, his eyes roving over her possessively. “Be serious about this, Toni, because I’m never going to let you go. I’ve waited too long for you. I think I’ve loved you forever, but was too stubborn to see it.”

She smiled up at him, her heart firmly in her eyes for him to see. “I love you too, Simon. So much.”

“Want to see the house?” he asked, grinning down at her.

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Her mouth rounded in shock. “Oh my God, you really did it didn’t you?”

“We close in a month,” he said. He dipped his head to hers once more. “Merry Christmas, sweetheart. I love you.”

“I love you too,” she whispered.

Between them the baby rolled and Simon’s hand went to cup her belly. “I think our little urchin approves,” he said softly.

Toni smiled. A deliriously happy smile. All the hurt of the past week was forgotten. She’d gotten her dream. Every single nuance of it. She was going to live every day of her life laughing and loving.

He tugged her along, his eyes bright with joy. She warmed all over.

They were in their house. Home where they belonged. Together.

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Maya Banks

Maya lives in Texas with her husband, three children and assortment of cats. When she’s not writing, she can be found hunting, fishing or playing poker. A southern girl born and bred, Maya loves life below the Mason Dixon, and more importantly, loves bringing southern characters and settings to life in her stories.

To learn more about Maya, check out her website:
www.mayabanks.com

Email Maya at [email protected]

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