Free Seducing Simon by Maya Banks Page B

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.
    -75-

    Maya Banks
    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?”
    -76-

    Seducing Simon
    “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 laughter ringing in his ears.
    He nearly groaned aloud when he stepped from the showers and met up with Mike in the locker room.
    “Hey, dude,” Mike called out.
    “Hey,” he said without enthusiasm.
    “How’s it going?”
    “Fine.”
    Mike studied him a moment. “You aren’t very talkative today.” Simon shrugged. He was plagued