“I know.”
“I still hear a but in there.”
Dakota nodded. “I’m just not sure. I guess it comes down to trust. What if she does want to get back together, moves here, and then decides it’s not for her...that I’m not for her? I’d lose her all over again and I’m not sure I can take that.”
“I understand that, Dakota. I do, but life is about taking a chance every day. We never know what’s going to happen from one moment to the next. We can’t be afraid of what life is going to dish out. I love Shelly more than anything and the thought of losing her scares the hell out of me, but I have to take what I can with her. Life is way too short not to.”
“I hear what you’re saying. Megan and I do love each other. We’ll just have to see what happens with this shit with Aiden...and what happens when it’s over.”
“That would probably be best. She’s in no shape right now to even think of anything other than Aiden and getting him home safe. Although, I hope she realizes he will go to prison for the embezzling charges and probably extended, for jumping bail.”
“I hope so too. He’s not going to get a chance at bail this time either. Not since he ran. Just like I said he would,” Dakota muttered.
“Megan loves Aiden and as they say, love is blind. She can’t see his faults. Well, she might now. However, before this, he could do no wrong. She let him make her decisions for her, including not following you here. I honestly believe she would have moved here with you if he hadn’t been involved.”
Dakota ran his hand down his face. “I think so too, but the thought that he made that decision for her just floored me. He’s a grown man who needs to be on his own, not depend on his sister for everything.”
“I agree but some of that is Megan’s fault too. She babied him so much.” Nathan shrugged. “He knows how to work her and now he’s in deep. Caporale will kill him if he doesn’t get that money. We’re going to have to set it up to get it to Caporale and then hopefully, Micah can grab him.”
Dakota nodded and stood. “I’m going back home. You be careful. I’ll see you at Zellene’s in the morning.”
“All right. You be careful too. Caporale could be sending men here as we speak. He’ll do whatever he can to get his money or he’ll kill Aiden, and then go after Megan.”
“He’ll get her over my dead body,” Dakota growled.
Nathan grinned at him. “Yeah, you still love her. Go for it. You two belong together.”
“Whatever. I’ll see you later.”
As Dakota walked out of the room, he heard his brother burst out laughing. Shaking his head, he put his hat, coat, and gloves on then headed out into the blistery wind. Snow slapped him in the face as he walked to his truck and climbed in. After starting it, he drove home. The one good thing with the snow was that only those used to it, like him, would be foolish enough to be out in it. That might work in their favor.
A few minutes later, he pulled up to the back steps and climbed out. Upon entering the house, he saw Megan standing at the stove, stirring something in a big pot.
“Smells great. What are you making?”
“Beef stew.”
“Damn. I love your beef stew. I’m going to grab a shower to try to warm up. It’s damn cold out there.” He took his coat, hat, and gloves off and hung them up then strode from the kitchen to head for the shower. A hot one sounded good right now. He shivered as he walked up the stairs. Wintertime sucked in Wyoming, but he wouldn’t change it for the world. Now, if he could just convince her to stay this time, all would be right with his world.
****
Megan stared at the doorway. She loved him so much and wanted to stay but he hadn’t asked her. Did he care at all? He had said he still loved her, but she couldn’t help but wonder if there was too much between them to make things right again. This thing with Aiden stood between them now. Then again, Aiden had always stood between them. Dakota had been right. Aiden was nothing but trouble. He always had been, but he was her brother. The only family she had left.
Mentally shaking her head, she knew that wasn’t true, she’d once had Dakota and his family. His brother, by blood, was family, and his friends who were like brothers to him. They’d always been nice to her, and the ones who were married had wives who treated her great...like sisters would. She could have that again if she stayed with Dakota. If he asked, this time she knew she’d stay. Would he ask her if she told him she wanted to stay? Would he want to marry her and have children with her?
Megan pulled out a chair from the table and took a seat. She wanted all of that with him. Aiden would go to prison and not stand in her way, ever again. In fact, if he didn’t go to prison, she’d still stay with Dakota. He was the love of her life and she had captured his heart at one time, but did she still have it? He certainly had hers.
She tilted her head listening to the shower running, and groaned when she thought of him in there—naked. The man certainly had a wonderful and sexy body. He took such good care of it. She placed her hands over her face as she pictured the water gliding down over that body, running down that sculptured chest and over the ridges of his six-pack abs. She slapped her hands flat on the table, and stood. She heard the shower shut off and could picture him drying off. Damn it! She wanted to rub that towel over his hard body.
Rushing over to the stove, she shut it off and ran toward the living room then up the stairs. Pushing his bedroom door open, she entered the room just as he came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist. Water glistened on his chest and droplets ran down his chest to his hard stomach. He was rubbing his hair with a towel as he entered the bedroom but stopped when he saw her. They stared at each other.
“Megan?” he said as he walked toward her.
“I...” She shook her head. “I...”
Dakota grinned. “You said that already.”
She stepped closer to him. “Dakota.”
He stepped closer to her. She glanced down at the towel around his waist and saw his erection tenting it, and smiled knowing she caused it.
“What are you doing in here, Nutmeg?” he whispered as he ran his hands up her arms. One hand then wrapped around the nape of her neck and pulled her closer before he lowered his head. His lips hovered close, barely touching hers. “What do you want?”
Megan touched her lips to his. “You. I want you, Dakota. Always.”
With a deep growl, he picked her up and carried her to the bed then placed her in the center of it before lying down beside her. He unhooked the towel and tossed it to the floor. His hard cock jutted out and she scrambled to her knees to wrap her hand around him. His hands combed through her hair as she licked him from base to tip. When she put her mouth down over him, he groaned.
“Megan...stop.”
“No. I want this, Kota.” She moved her mouth down over him as far as she could and pumped with her hand. As he grew harder, she cupped his balls and kneaded them gently.
“Megan, I’m not going to last. I want to be inside you. Please,” he groaned.
“Next time,” she said then continued to suck on him, hard.
“God, Megan...I’m too close. Way too close—” A deep groan tore from his throat as he stiffened and clutched her hair almost to the point of pain. He jerked against her and came. Megan stared up at him as she licked him clean. Then she kissed her way up his stomach to his mouth and pressed her lips to his. He took control of the kiss and deepened it, running his tongue into her mouth. His lips moved across her cheek to her ear.
“God, what you do to me. Thank you. I’ll return the favor,” he whispered as he pushed her onto her back.
“You don’t have to,” she told him.
“You don’t want me to?”
Megan laughed. “I wouldn’t say that.”
Dakota laughed. “Then let’s get these clothes off you and I’ll show you how much I worship you.”
“Dakota?”
“Yes?” He took her shoes off and then unsnapped her jeans, lo
wered the zipper, and pulled them down her legs. He groaned when he saw her red boy-cut panties. “You do this on purpose, don’t you?”
She laughed. “How would I know you would see them?”
He stopped and raised an eyebrow at her. “You’re here, aren’t you?”
“You said you worship me. Do you, Kota?”
“With every breath I take,” he whispered as he leaned down over her.
Megan lifted her shirt off over her head and unhooked her bra freeing her breasts. She cupped them and ran her thumbs over her nipples, making them stiffen into peaks. Dakota growled as he took a nipple into his mouth. He sucked hard and then grasped her ankles. Pulling her to the edge of the bed, he dropped to his knees on the floor between her legs then ran his tongue up her leg to the juncture of her thighs and blew on her curls. He looked up at her and gave her a wicked grin.
“You’re wet, baby.”
“Only for you. Always for you,” she said then gasped when his tongue moved through her curls to her clitoris. He moved her legs over his shoulders and slowly inserted two fingers. Megan arched into his mouth. She was sure she was going to burst into a thousand pieces as she felt her orgasm rushing over her. She screamed as she came. Dakota kissed his way up her belly, to her chest, and then to her lips. She tasted herself on his lips.
“I love how you taste. How you look when you come. How you scream my name. Your scent. Your skin is so soft. I just want to bury myself in you and stay there forever.” He slowly inched into her and took them both over the edge again.
****
Dakota lay with his arms wrapped around Megan and stared at the ceiling. How in the hell was he going to let her go again? What was going to happen after Aiden’s arrest? What would happen if Caporale killed him?
Dakota jerked and Megan stirred. It would kill her if something happened to Aiden. God, he couldn’t let that happen. He’d do everything he could not to let that happen. Nathan wouldn’t want him to get involved but damn it, he was already involved. As long as Megan was involved, he was too.
He rested his cheek on the top of her head and held her tighter. If anything happened to her, he didn’t think he’d be able to go on. He loved her so much, and he always would. Nathan was right, you had to grab on while you could, and Dakota didn’t want her to go. But this shit with Aiden had to be taken care of first. Megan could just be running on adrenaline and not thinking right. Her mind was on Aiden. Dakota wished he knew what to tell her, but he didn’t know anything other than Aiden was in a lot of trouble. If they were lucky enough to get him back alive from Caporale, he was going to prison for embezzlement. There was no getting around it. That was a given. How was she going to cope with her baby brother in prison?
Christ! What a mess. Dakota ran his fingers through his hair and blew out a breath. Megan raised her head and stared at him. “What are you thinking about?”
“This mess with Aiden,” he told her. He wouldn’t lie to her.
“He’s in deep this time, isn’t he?”
“Yes, he is. I wish I could tell you he’s not, but he is. With the FBI and Caporale.
“What did Nathan say?”
“He called Micah. He’ll be here tomorrow.” He felt her stiffen against him. “I know you didn’t want them to know but they have to, Megan. If they can somehow get Caporale here, Micah can get him.”
“Do you really think Caporale will come here?”
Dakota shrugged. “The only thing we can do is tell him to come here to get his money. He’s smart though. He’ll probably know something’s up with that. He may just send one of his goons.”
“But if I tell him I’ll only give him the money if he brings Aiden here...”
“You’re not getting involved—”
“Bullshit, Dakota. I am involved. He’s my brother and I’m the one getting the money for Caporale. If it changes, he’ll know I’ve told the FBI. He has to know I’d tell you because I have to get the money from you, but—”
“No. I’ve thought about it and since he knows you’ll ask me for the money, I’m talking to him tomorrow. I’ll tell him to bring Aiden here.”
“But––”
“No buts. It’s final. I’ll tell Nathan when he comes over tomorrow with Micah.”
Megan lay back down and placed her arm over his stomach. “All right. I don’t like it but I can see your point.”
“Good God! Write that down.”
“Don’t be a smartass, Dakota,” she scolded, but he could feel her laughing.
“Can we go eat now? Someone interrupted me when I was going to go have some good beef stew.”
She snorted. “Sure. Then we’ll come back to bed.”
Dakota groaned. “Keep that up and I won’t live to see thirty-five.”
Chapter Ten
Aiden sat in the room where he’d spent a miserable night. He stared out the small window. What a mess. What the fuck is wrong with you? He should have never taken that first loan from Caporale and he sure as hell shouldn’t have embezzled from the bank. He knew he was going to prison for that. If he lived. Caporale had a reputation for making people disappear if they betrayed him, and Aiden had done just that. Big time.
It had been so stupid to gain Caporale’s trust only to deceive him. Aiden ran a hand down his face. How was he going to get out of this? He didn’t doubt that Megan would convince Dakota to give Caporale the money, but then what. Caporale could still kill them both without a second thought. Aiden, for betraying him and Megan, just for being his sister. She had never known about Aiden’s gambling habit.
It had started with online gaming, and then he visited the racetrack Vincent owned. He’ll never forget the man behind the betting window telling him he knew where he could get money to place larger bets. Aiden had fallen for it. Hook, line, and sinker. The first loan was small, just a few thousand. Then he got greedy and borrowed more but paid that back. Only this last time, he’d gone overboard and borrowed fifty thousand. When he knew he couldn’t pay it back, he started embezzling from the bank with the thought of paying Vincent back. Only once he had that money available to him, he couldn’t part with it.
When he didn’t pay Vincent back by the due date, he knew he had to get out of town but the damn bank was on to him by then, and the FBI was breathing down his neck. He had no choice but to run for the border. He hated using Megan that way and leaving her behind, but he didn’t think he had any other choice. He wondered if she’d ever forgive him for this.
He startled when the door to the room flew open and Vincent entered with two of his henchmen. Hulk and Bubba were the two men Caporale depended on for getting information from people, and then making them disappear when needed. Aiden sat up and stared at Vincent.
“It’s time to call your sister again. I want my money, Carson.” Vincent strode toward him and thrust the phone at him.
****
Megan nearly jumped out of her skin when her cell phone rang. She glanced around the table. Dakota, Nathan, Mont, and Micah sat staring at her. Micah gave her a nod to answer after he pushed the speaker button.
“Hel––” She cleared her throat and tried again. “Hello?”
“Megan. Caporale is here with me. Do you have the money?” Aiden’s voice came over the speaker.
“Aiden, are you all right?”
“He’s fine for now, Miss Carson. Answer his question,” Vincent Caporale practically growled.
Megan looked at Micah to see him give her a nod. “Yes.”
“I’m the one who has your money, Caporale. Let’s get together and do this,” Dakota told him.
Caporale’s laugh came across the line. “Dakota Walker, I presume. It may be your money, but unless you want your girlfriend pissed off at you, you’ll give it to me to save her brother.”
“I don’t care one way or another about Aiden but you’re right, I do care about Megan. Come here and get it. Bring Aiden with you. I’ll be waiting.” Dakota picked up the phone and hit the END button.
Megan jumped up from the chair and glared at him. “Are you crazy? You just hung up on him. Now he’ll kill Aiden for sure.”
“He won’t if he wants his money,” Dakota said in a low tone of voice.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Micah stand and she shifted her attention to him.
“This was my idea, Megan. Don’t blame Dakota. We need to get Caporale here somehow. Dakota is right. He won’t hurt Aiden if he wants his money.”
“Why would you hang up on him? That had to have pissed him off.” She sat back down and placed her hands over her face.
“Megan, Micah knows what he’s doing,” she heard Mont remark.
Megan nodded without looking up. “I know. It’s just that––” The ringing of the phone stopped her and made her look up.
“Put it on speaker again, Megan,” Micah told her.
She pressed the button. “Yes?”
“Don’t ever hang up on me again, Walker. Do you want Aiden dead?”
When Megan opened her mouth to speak, Dakota raised his hand to stop her.
“I told you, I don’t give a damn about Aiden, I’m doing this for Megan. You want the money you bring him here. Alone.”
“Like you’ll be alone?”
“It will be me only. She cares about her brother, so we won’t jeopardize his life by having anyone else here. Most of the ranch hands will have the day off. One or two will be here, but they won’t know what’s going on. You’ll have to trust us like we have to trust you.”
“I have to have my men with me to keep Carson in line.”
Dakota laughed without humor. “You can bring him to the ranch alone. Your goons can stay back in town. Take it or leave it.”
“I’ll make Aiden disappear, Walker. Your woman wouldn’t like that.”
“Let’s get something straight, Caporale, Megan isn’t my woman. We were over a long time ago. I simply helped her to get her brother out of jail. I really have no desire to give either of them or you more of my money.”
Dakota Bad Boys of Dry River, WY Book 5 Page 13