by Maya Banks
He watched her every movement, how her shirt snuck up over her gently rounded abdomen when she reached to put an ornament high on the tree. A fierce wave of possessiveness stole over him with lightning speed.
She was his. Or was she? She loved him, but what about the father of her baby? Months after her shocking announcement, she remained as tight-lipped as ever about the father’s identity. Had he hurt her that bad? Or had she screwed up that bad?
His mind swirled with questions. Questions he needed answers to if he and Toni were going to have a future. He grinned as she swatted A.J. and scolded him for putting the angel on crooked. Yes, they had to have
a future. He couldn’t imagine one—his future—without her. She’d become as integral to him as breathing. He loved her.
His chest tightened. God, yes, he loved her. Hadn’t he always? He frowned. Thinking back, there wasn’t a time he hadn’t felt deeply for her. Even when he dated other women, he’d always imagined he wanted someone like Toni. And when Starla betrayed him, all he could think was that Toni would never have let him down like that.
Was he ready to put it all on the line again like he’d almost done with Starla? The answer was a resounding yes. Toni was very different than Starla. Toni loved him. Toni was the kind of girl every guy dreamed of having.
A slow smile worked the corners of his mouth upward. Soon his jaw ached from the wide smile he wore. Yeah, she was his future. He loved her, and he’d love her child. Their child. His mind went to work, pondering when the best time would be to put into action his plan.
Toni glanced over at Simon to see his face split into a silly grin. She paused hanging ornaments and arched her brow. “Are we that amusing?” she asked.
His face grew serious. “You’re gorgeous. I love watching you.”
She flushed, feeling heat creep over her skin. He’d never been very demonstrative in front of Matt and A.J., though both knew a great deal about their relationship, including keeping quiet about the number of nights Simon spent at Toni’s house.
A.J. rolled his eyes. “Could you two cut it out? I just ate.”
“Why don’t you get back to hanging ornaments?” she said, scowling at him. “A woman can never hear she’s gorgeous too many times. Especially when said woman is as big as a house.” She looked ruefully down at her full belly.
“Come here,” Simon said crooking his finger at her. His eyes were dark, his expression almost angry.
She walked over to where he sat on the couch, his feet propped up on the coffee table. He caught her around the waist and pulled her down to him. “You’re beautiful,” he murmured. “Belly and all.” He brushed his lips across hers, nibbling at the corners of her mouth.
She sighed, allowing herself to get lost in his kiss. It was easy to forget everything in his arms. Revel in the fact he was home and okay. But now she was faced with reality. She had to tell him the truth, and she had to do it now. As soon as she got the opportunity and not a minute later.
He pulled her onto his lap and held her against his chest. She smiled and cuddled further into his embrace. “I guess I get to finish this monstrosity by myself,” A.J. grumbled.
“You’re a doll, A.J.,” she said, grinning at him.
“Yeah, yeah. A regular Cabbage Patch.”
“I need to check on Matt,” she said, reluctantly pulling away from Simon. “He’s been asleep for awhile, and I want to make sure he doesn’t need more pain medication.”
“He’s fine,” Simon said, pulling her back into his arms. “I like you just where you’re at.”
“What do you say we have dinner at my place tomorrow night?” she asked lightly. Her stomach turned viciously. She’d use the opportunity to tell him her awful secret. She wiped her hands on her jeans, wanting to rid herself of the clammy feeling.
“I think that’s the best idea you’ve had all day,” he said softly. “I think there’s a few things we need to talk about.”
Her heart sped up. What did he mean? He couldn’t possibly know. Stop. Of course he couldn’t know. But he would tomorrow night because
she wasn’t going to put it off another day. She only prayed when he found out the truth he wouldn’t hate her.
Simon got up early the next morning, a sense of purpose marking his movements. He still ached a bit from the accident, but he’d been damn lucky he hadn’t been laid up for a long time. Or worse, been unable to return to work. Even Matt would be returning to the job in a few days.
“Where’s the fire?” A.J. asked, as Simon hurriedly ate a bowl of cereal. He sauntered in and sat next to Simon at the bar.
“Bad joke,” Simon said sourly.
A.J. laughed. “I guess so. So what’s up? Aren’t you supposed to be resting?”
Simon took a deep breath. “I need to go shopping for a ring. I plan to ask Toni to marry me tonight.”
A.J.’s face split into a wide grin. “Hot damn. It’s about time.”
He grinned crookedly. “Now let’s hope she says yes.”
A.J. looked at him like he’d started singing opera or something. “No way she’ll say no. That girl has it bad for you.”
Simon smiled. “Yeah well, I have it just as bad for her. I love her,” he added.
“That’s great, man. Congratulations. Looks like both you and Matt will be taking the leap.”
Simon searched A.J.’s face for any sign of animosity. “So how do you feel about that?”
A.J. looked surprised for a moment. “I’m thrilled. Especially for you and Toni. She’s a great girl. I was ready to kick your ass if you didn’t get a clue real soon.”
“Yeah, well, I can’t believe it took me this long to realize it,” he said ruefully.
“What are you going to do about…uh, you know, the baby?” A.J. asked.
“Tell me something, A.J. And level with me. Has she ever told you who the father is?”
“No, she hasn’t. I’ve asked her enough times, but the subject has been off limits.”
Simon drew in his breath. He hoped it wasn’t a case of Toni being in love with the asshole who got her pregnant. For all he knew she could have told the jerk she was pregnant, and he could have blown her off. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wished it was my baby she was carrying,” he said quietly. “It would certainly make things easier. And if I’m honest, I’m jealous as hell at the idea of another guy being with her.”
“I can understand that,” A.J. replied empathetically. “Does it bother you a lot that she’s pregnant with someone else’s baby? I mean will it affect how you feel about the baby?”
“It doesn’t matter to me, but we’re going to have to talk about it,” he said. “I need to know this guy isn’t going to be turning up in a few months.”
“Well good luck, dude. And congratulations. I don’t imagine she’ll turn you down.” He winked at Simon and got up. “I’m gonna go check in on Matt. Let me know how it goes.”
“Thanks, A.J.”
Simon collected his keys and headed for his truck. He had a lot to do before going over to Toni’s tonight.
At six, Simon pulled into Toni’s driveway and parked his truck. He felt for the ring in his pocket before getting out and heading to her front door.
When she opened it, he pulled her into his arms, loving the way she felt, the way she fit so perfectly under his chin. He tilted her head up and kissed her delectable full lips. She tasted sensational. He could spend the rest of the evening sampling her mouth.
She shivered against him, and he quickly shut the door behind him. “Sorry,” he apologized. “Didn’t mean to keep you standing in the doorway.”
She smiled up at him, nearly taking his breath away. He longed to taste her dimples. Christ. He was obsessed with tasting all over her tonight.
“It’s cold tonight.”
He nodded and shrugged out of his coat, hanging it by the door. “Yeah, weird huh. Weather said a real doozy of a cold front was heading through in the next few days.”
She s
hook her head as they walked into the living room. “Two days ago it was in the seventies.”