by Maya Banks
set it in front of Simon. He stood up and got utensils for them then retrieved the butter and syrup from the fridge. She poured glasses of milk then settled onto the barstool across from the bar from him. After all, he wouldn’t be able to see her chest if she sat beside him.
An awkward silence ensued as they ate their breakfast. From time to time she felt his gaze on her, but didn’t look up. When they’d finished he walked around and collected her plate. “I’ll wash up, you go get dressed.”
She nearly laughed at his directive. So she was getting under his skin a bit. Maybe he wasn’t as immune to her as she thought. Remembering the other part of Mike’s advice, she placed her fingertips lightly on his arm. “Thanks, Simon.”
He flinched and drew away, piling the dishes into the sink. With a secret smile, she breezed into her room for part two of her seduction plan.
Choosing a pair of sweatpants to go with her sheer white T-shirt, she discarded her nightclothes and pulled the shirt over her head. But when she looked in the mirror, she nearly changed her mind. The dark imprint of her nipples was clearly outlined against the shirt. But he’d definitely notice.
She shuffled back into the living room grateful at least she was comfortable in the sweats and T-shirt. Perfect lounging clothes. And if they happened to make Simon squirm just a bit, all the better.
Simon was still in the kitchen washing up the breakfast dishes so she decided to wander in and get a glass of juice. She watched Simon out of the corner of her eye. When he caught sight of her shirt, he did a double take. He quickly glanced away, but his eyes kept drifting back.
Hiding her smile in her glass, she tilted it back, thrusting out her chest as she drained the juice. She set the glass in the sink and walked back into the living room. “Want to see what’s on TV?” she called back to Simon.
“No, uh, that’s okay. I think I’m going to go play some more games.”
Simon walked into the computer room, frantically pulling on his collar. It was damn hot in the house. He switched the ceiling fan on, desperate for some cool air.
She was driving him crazy. When the hell had she gotten so damn sexy? The satin nighty had been torture enough, but the T-shirt that clearly outlined her perfect breasts was just too much.
Pregnancy had been good to her so far. She’d definitely filled out in all the right places. The dusky imprint of her rosy nipples had him dying to get his hands and mouth on them.
He was having insane urges to sweep her into the nearest bed and make some serious love to her. He was losing it. This was Toni, not some cheap lay. But here he sat fantasizing about kissing her in the most interesting places.
Lately he’d been having the oddest dreams about her. In his bed, writhing beneath him. It was so real he could almost taste her sweet skin, and somehow he just knew she’d taste of honeysuckle. He could feel himself inside her, instinctively knew just how she’d feel. The images bombarded him constantly. Her naked in his bed.
Oh yeah, he was falling apart. He needed to get laid. But for the moment the only woman he could picture in his bed was Toni. And that scared him to death.
The distant sound of the phone ringing broke into his vivid fantasies. A few seconds later, Toni appeared in the doorway holding out the phone to him. A frown on her face and those perfect, delectable breasts molded to every contour of that T-shirt.
“It’s Starla,” she muttered, as he took the phone from her.
He chanced one last glance at her chest before she turned and stalked out. Wonder what was eating her. He sure as hell knew what was eating him.
Sunday morning Toni got up and put on a pair of her new stretch waist maternity jeans and one of the tops she’d bought. Whether it had been bought to gain Simon’s notice or not, she loved the way it fit. It hugged her breasts and outlined their curves then flowed gently from
underneath the swells. If it was a little lower cut than her normal attire she wasn’t complaining.
After yesterday’s phone call for Simon from Starla, she wasn’t feeling nearly as confidant anyway. But she wasn’t throwing in the towel. Not yet.
Feeling confident she looked her best and maybe even a little sexy, she walked out of her room ready to take on the world. Or at least a six foot-two hunky fireman.
A series of whistles rent the air as she entered the living room where the guys were watching the football pre-game show on TV. Smiling, she struck a fake pose. “You like?”
“Damn, woman. Come here and give daddy a kiss,” A.J. teased.
She burst out laughing and blew him one instead.
“You look great,” Matt complimented. “I like the new stuff.”
She looked pointedly at Simon who looked very much like he’d swallowed his tongue. “Well?” she asked him.
“You look nice,” he mumbled.
“Nice? Hell, she looks hot,” A.J. spoke up.
Simon scowled and turned his attention back to the TV.
Feeling very pleased with herself, she grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and inserted herself on the couch between Simon and A.J. to watch the game. She made great effort to lean over Simon and reach into the chip bag he held. Finally he handed it to her mumbling something about not wanting any more.
She leaned back, munching calmly on the chips she held. She nearly laughed aloud when Simon suddenly got up from the sofa and left the room.
“What’s wrong with him?” Matt asked in a bored voice.
She shrugged and glanced over at A.J. who was looking at her in amusement. She arched an eyebrow and looked questioningly at him as if to ask what he was finding so funny.
He emitted a low chuckle and turned back to the TV. “I think Simon may have met his match,” he murmured in a voice only Toni could hear.
“Yeah, Starla’s a real bitch,” Toni said, being deliberately obtuse.
He snickered and swung a cushion at her. “You’re evil, woman. Pure evil.”
She only hoped Simon was taking a cold shower and her efforts weren’t for naught. Tomorrow he was working, and Tuesday was the only other day until Friday that she’d get to work her wiles on him.
She watched the remainder of the game with Matt and A.J. hoping Simon would reappear, but he stayed in his room. Not willing to spend her entire day waiting on him, she decided to take her and her new look out shopping. Her confidence was at an all time high, and damn it, she knew she looked good.
“What’s eating you, man?” A.J. asked Simon as they pulled off their gear after a fire call.
Simon wiped the sweat from his brow. “Don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yeah, sure. You haven’t been avoiding Toni like she’s a hooker with the clap.”
Simon shot him a dirty look and continued pulling his heavy jacket off. “Back off.”
A.J. laughed. “Getting under your skin, huh?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Hmmm is that all you can say?”
Another wave of irritation gripped Simon. “Look. I don’t know what point you’re trying to make. I’m not avoiding Toni. She’s not getting under my skin. I could care less what she wears.”
A.J. dissolved into peals of laughter. “Oh man, have you got it bad. Who said anything about what she’s been wearing?”
Simon leveled a glare at his obnoxious friend. “Shut the hell up.”
“Well at least I know you aren’t dead now,” he chortled.
Simon sighed long-sufferingly. His head was beginning to ache, and the last thing he needed was A.J. harping on how sexy Toni was looking lately. Even if she was driving his libido into overdrive.
He got up from the bench and threw his jacket over his locker. “I’m going to go grab a shower.”
“A cold one?” A.J. asked innocently.
Simon ignored him and walked out of the locker room, A.J.’s