Country Nights

by Winter Renshaw

  “This is Dakota,” I said, gripping my arm around her tense shoulders. “She’s an old friend of mine. We go way back.”

  “You ain’t from around here, are you, darling?” Waylon asked, keeping his eyes above neck-level out of respect for me.

  “Actually, I grew up here.” She smiled politely.

  Waylon tossed her a cock-eyed smile. “Huh. Didn’t know Darlington ever made anything as pretty as you.”

  “Hey, now, Waylon.” I placed my hand in the air as if to imply she was spoken for.

  “Sorry, Beau,” Waylon laughed. “Darling, what are we drinking tonight?”

  Dakota opened her mouth to order, but I stopped her. “We’re going to start out with some shots. Three tequila shots, Waylon.”

  “You got it.” Waylon spun around and grabbed a bottle of Patron and some sliced lime wedges.

  “You seen Ivy?” I asked. “Said she was here already.”

  Waylon nodded toward the back of the bar where Ivy was cornered by Billy Loeffler, the guy who’d chased her all around in her younger days – the guy I’d chased away from her every chance I got.

  “Ivy,” I shouted out, grabbing her attention. She popped her head up, her face lighting up like a sky full of stars when she saw us. She tore herself away from a disappointed-looking Billy and ran to the bar. “What’re you doing over there with Billy?”

  “He cornered me.” She rolled her eyes before eyeing the shots Waylon lined up for us one by one. “Oh, you’re bad.”

  “Ready?” I handed the ladies their shots and sprinkled salt on the tops of their hands.

  Salt. Shoot. Suck.

  Dakota slammed her glass down on the bar and slapped her hand down, her face puckered and pinched from the tart lime.

  “One more,” Dakota said, motioning toward Waylon.

  “Your wish is my command, princess,” Waylon said as he readied another round.

  Dakota’s shoulders relaxed a bit and her face unstiffened.

  “I don’t know if I should be offended that you need to drink to have fun around me or happy that you’re finally loosening up,” I said.

  “I’m just trying to have a good time,” she said. “Don’t read anything into it.”

  We’d spent the whole morning fishing with the kids before Ivy’d come to get them. That afternoon, I’d made Dakota a late lunch of tuna salad on white with potato chips as we sat in the rocking chairs on the porch mostly in silence. She hadn’t asked me a single question, and I hadn’t offered anything other than my company as she seemed to spend most of the day lost in thought.

  The familiar deep rift of one of my older hits blasted from the speakers.

  “Aw, Beau!” Waylon said with a proud grin. “That’s what I’m talkin’ about.”

  “Tailor Made,” Ivy said, bumping into me as my own familiar voice began rumbling and twanging over the music.

  “Is this you?” Dakota asked, tilting her head toward the speaker. “It is.”

  “My first platinum hit,” I said with an air of bittersweet melancholy, recalling how fantastic yet disappointing it was to hear the big news that day. I’d achieved something most people only ever dreamed of, yet I had no one to share it with – which was my own damn fault. “This song was about you, Kota.”

  She whipped her eyes in my direction, and I nodded, watching as she pretended not to be listening intently.

  “Waylon, can I get a beer?” I called out before leaning into her. “All my songs were about you, Kota. How could they not be?”

  The jingle of the bells hanging on the door ushered our attention to the right, where a petite little platinum blonde with a mouth-gaping grin ran straight in our direction.

  “Dakota Andrews,” she said, beaming as she spread her arms wide. Dakota met her hug with a smile.

  “Annelise,” Dakota said, looking her up and down. They’d been best friends all through high school, and something told me they’d lost touch shortly after that. “How are you?”

  “I ran into Ivy earlier today. She told me you were in town,” Annelise said, her eyes sparkling. “I just had to come down here and see you.” Annelise turned toward me, leaning across Dakota and smacking me playfully on the arm. “And Beau. Gosh, it’s been too long, you guys. This feels just like old times – Dakota Andrews and Beau Mason.”

  Dakota tossed back her tequila, skipping the salt and lime that time and slamming the glass on the bar. “Will you excuse me for just a moment?”

  She hopped down from the stool and headed back toward the restroom, emerging moments later. As I nursed my beer, I caught a glimpse of her out of the corner of my eye, standing in the back and chit-chatting with Billy Loeffler.

  “Oh, look,” Ivy said with a chuckle. “Billy’s trying to sink his meat hooks into Dakota.”

  My jaw set as my gaze darted in their direction. A flash of jealousy heated my body as I pulled in a slow breath. I watched from afar as Dakota smiled at him, leaning in as he placed his hand on her arm. But when he leaned in to whisper something in her ear, that’s when I snapped.

  “Don’t do it, Beau,” Ivy muttered under her breath. I had a jealous streak a mile wide, especially when it came to watching the woman I loved smile like that at fucking Billy Loeffler.

  I stood up and worked my way to where they stood in the back of the bar. “Hey, guys. Billy, how’s it going?”

  Billy strategically leaned in closer to Dakota, edging me out.

  Wrong move, asshole.

  I placed my hand on the small of Dakota’s back before gripping a fistful of her shirt and pulling her my way.

  “So, anyway, you want to get dinner some night this week while you’re in town?” Billy asked her, ignoring my territorial stance. “It’d be great to catch up.”

  “Oh, um.” Dakota turned to me.

  “She’s busy.” I took her hand, lacing her fingers into mine, and steered her back toward the bar.

  “Hey,” she said, jerking her hand out of mine when we got back to our seats. “What was that for?”

  “You’ve got no business associating with Billy.” I hunched over the bar and pulled my beer closer. “He hasn’t changed a lick since we were younger.”

  “Are you…are you jealous, Beau?” Dakota arched an eyebrow, stifling a grin.

  “Does it even matter?”

  She lifted a shoulder and flashed a full on lopsided smile courtesy of the two tequila shots coursing her veins. “It’s just cute, is all.”

  “Not trying to be cute.”

  “Haven’t had anyone get jealous over me in a long time,” she mused. “I’d forgotten what it feels like.”

  Her hard exterior was bending like the wand of a willow right before my eyes, and tiny hints of the old Dakota were making their way to the surface.

  “Anyway,” she said, shaking her head. “He cornered me as I left the ladies’ room. I had no intention of taking him up on his offer.”

  “Smart girl.” I took a swig of beer and let out a hops-and-barley flavored sigh. Staring straight ahead, I felt the warmth of her gaze upon me. Heavy and crushing and not knowing what it meant, I basked in it.

  All those years on the road, all I ever craved was to be connected with her again. About the time I was ready to call her, she’d disappeared on me. A few years back, I’d come home and ran into her mama, who told me she’d gotten married and moved to New York City.

  It was as if I’d been running to catch a plane and had to stand by and watch it fly away without me.

  I never wanted to feel the way I felt that day again so long as I lived.

  “So, Dakota, what’s it like living in New York?” Annelise asked, pulling Dakota’s gaze away from me.

  “Exciting.” Dakota let out a dreamy breath. “There’s just this buzz, like the whole city’s alive. Constantly. It’s exciting. It’s kind of magical.”

  “I’ve always dreamed of moving someday. Getting out of this stupid town,” Annelise groaned. “Good for you for doing it.”

&nbs
p; “What’s stopping you?” Dakota asked, swatting her shoulder. “You know, Addison lives in the city too. Between the two of us, we could help you get on your feet if you ever decide to move. Addison owns a realty company. She’s always hiring new agents. And I can pass your name along at the network. We’re always looking for researchers and production assistants.”

  I watched from the sidelines as Annelise’s face lit up at the thought of moving to New York, and Dakota’s hand gestures were wildly animated as she rambled on and on about why she loved New York.

  Maybe she was more rooted there than I’d realized.

  I’d been to the city countless times. It was suffocating and gray. Crowded sidewalks and rude people hustling and bustling to get to where they needed to go. The rat race never appealed to me, but it drew people like Dakota in every day. The city was a symbol of hope and new beginnings, offering the promise of a new beginning to those in middle American who found their lives dreadfully inadequate. It pulled in all kinds of people who wanted an escape: people like Dakota.

  Maybe I couldn’t compete with New York City, but I could offer her a new beginning. She could begin again – with me. Back home. Where she belonged.

  “Oh, shoot,” Annelise said, staring at the neon clock behind Waylon. “I should get going. I just wanted to stop by and say hello.”

  Annelise leaned in, wrapping her arms around Dakota. I was beginning to think that grin was a permanent fixture on her round face. The girls exchanged numbers and the second Annelise left, Dakota spun back around toward me.

  Our eyes locked, refusing to let go until one of us gave. It wouldn’t be me. I’d never give in. As far as I was concerned, there wasn’t any other girl on God’s green earth more worth waiting for than her.

  “You enjoying yourself?” I asked, breaking our silence.

  “I think so,” she said, her voice sweet off her cherry lips. Her nails drummed on the counter.

  “You think so?” I quoted her. “Tell me, sweetheart, what can I do ensure that you’re really enjoying yourself?”

  She rubbed her lips together and cocked her head to the side. “You could kiss me again.”

  Did I hear that right?

  I scratched the side of my chin, throwing her a cock-eyed smile. “Baby, I’d love nothing more than to kiss the hell out of you right now, but you’re not quite in your right state of mind.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “Because you just downed two shots of tequila and you’re looking at me like you’re one more shot away from jumping my bones.” I smirked. “All you’ve done since you’ve been here is remind me that you’re here for work and you have no intention of entertaining any kind of physical relations with me.”

  She swung her leg over the other, crossing them as she leaned into me.

  “Waylon, another drink please,” she said, her eyes locked into mine. “Dirty martini. I’m in the mood for something classic.”

  Desire stirred inside me, tightening my ribs and sending a twitch to my palms as I forced myself to resist her a bit more. Dakota was a strong, intelligent woman who loved a good challenge, and it suddenly dawned on me that I still knew her better than anyone else did. Forget the fancy clothes and expensive hairdo. She was still the same driven, ambitious, and impossibly stubborn girl she’d always been. I should’ve known throwing myself at her wasn’t going to work.

  “You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into, Kota.” I flashed a warning smile.

  “Maybe. Maybe not.” She leaned an elbow against the bar, her dark hair falling down her shoulders. “Maybe I’m not exactly in a mood to care right now. Maybe I’m feeling…nostalgic. And maybe you should seize the opportunity while you still have a chance. You know what they say, here today, gone tomorrow.”

  “Aw, now, that’s just the booze talking.”

  She shook her head. “Not entirely.”

  Waylon sat her martini glass on a napkin and left to help another patron. She placed a single finger into the clear drink and pulled it out, slipping it into her mouth and tasting the cocktail before going after the single green olive.

  “I don’t know why you’re pretending you’re not loving this right now,” she laughed, her hand brushing against mine and sending a jolt of electricity across my skin. “You’re eating this up.”

  “I’m not pretending anything. I’m taking my time. Going to make you work for me, honey.” I finished my beer, and the second the final drop slid down my gullet, I knew I had to get her home before she changed her mind.

  We danced a fine line, power transferring back and forth between us with each exchanged look, each wicked smile, and each raised eyebrow. Second by second, her tenacious façade faded and my determination to make her mine all over again thickened.

  “I hate to interrupt, but you two are making me very uncomfortable right now.” Ivy hopped down off the bar stool, and I caught a slight flush in Dakota’s cheeks as we both realized Ivy’d been sitting there the entire time. “I’m no fortune teller, but I can see where this is headed, and a girl knows when she’s outstayed her welcome.”

  Dakota hung her head, dark hair falling into her face as she attempted to hide a smile.

  “Goodnight, sis,” I said. “Kiss those babies for me.”

  Ivy threw me a wink as she hitched her purse over her shoulder, giving me a kiss on the cheek and rubbing Dakota’s back as she headed out.

  “Waylon,” I said, turning his way. Pulling my wallet from my pocket, I slapped some bills on the counter and slid them down. “We better be on our way. Thank you kindly for the good time.”

  Dakota’s eyes widened as I took her hand and pulled her out to the car.

  “We just got here,” Dakota said.

  “Yeah, and now I’m taking you home.”

  The second she reached for the door handle, I placed my hand over hers, stopping it. With my body pinning hers to the car and her back pressed against me, I ran my fingers through her dark hair, pulling it away from her neck. Whispering into her ear, I said, “You’re mine, Dakota. You always have been. You always will be.”

  A soft sigh left her mouth as my lips burned into the flesh of her neck, just above the bend of her shoulder.

  “And I’m yours. I don’t belong to anybody else but you,” I breathed. Kissing her detonated an all-consuming animalistic passion deep within me. “I have half a mind to take you right here in the parking lot and show you exactly how much I’ve missed you, but I won’t do that because you’re a proper lady, and my daddy raised me right.”

  She melted back against me, her head resting against my shoulder. I watched as she bit her lip, waiting for me to make the next move. With my hands gripping the indentation above her hip, I spun her around to face me.

  “If I lived a hundred lifetimes, Dakota, I’d still choose you every time,” I said, crashing into her mouth and taking her full bottom lip between my teeth. The day I found her again, it was like everything I’d ever lost had come back to me. And seeing her again, though time had changed her and made parts of her barely recognizable, I could still see through to the heart of her. “You should know that.”

  Her hands lifted above my shoulders, her fingers tugging on the ends of my hair as she kissed me back. My mouth lingered in the space above hers for a moment before claiming her berry lips all over again, breathing my soul into hers and hers into mine.

  “You’re the notes,” I sighed, breathing her in. “The lyrics. The music. The paper. The ink.”

  The wind played with her long hair, wisps tossing themselves in her face. We were all trying to get a piece of this beautiful woman. Me. The earth. Her fans. Her job. Everyone who’d ever come into contact with this fascinating creature had somehow dug their claws into her, and no one had the good sense to let go.

  She pulled away from my kiss, resting her head flat against my chest. While the rest of the world saw an impeccably outfitted, successful woman with a dazzling smile who oozed grace and elegance the way most twenty
-somethings never could, I saw a sweet-natured girl who’d been stuck in survival mode her entire life.

  “Take me home, Beau,” she whispered. “I want to feel again.”

  “Feel what, darlin’?”

  “Everything at once. The way I used to when I was with you. I’ve missed that.”

  I helped her into the car before hopping in myself and heading back toward the ranch. She stayed mum in the car, leaning her head against the cool glass and staring up at the starry sky through the glass roof of the T-top.

  “You all right?” My hand found hers, resting on her thigh. I glanced over at one girl who epitomized a thousand feelings all at once.

  Her lips curled slowly upward. “I’m fine. Honest.”

  She flashed me a look – one I’d seen a hundred times before, and within minutes we’d arrived back at the ranch. Climbing the stairs to the porch, I reached for her arm, tugging her backward into me.

  “Once we get inside that house, you’re all mine,” I warned, cupping her face.

  Her blue eyes widened, locking with mine as she gave a slight nod. “You can have me, Beau. Tonight, you can have me. I won’t make any promises for tomorrow. But just for tonight, I’m all yours.”

  She looked at me as if it was just something she had to do.

  My body ached for hers as my lips found the soft flesh beneath her jaw as she tilted her head back. “I’m warning you, Dakota. Once I start, I won’t be able to stop.”

  “Okay.”

  One simple word was all it took for me to sweep her up in my arms. With her legs wrapped around my hips tight, I carried her inside with no intentions of letting her go until we were a heaving, breathless pile of naked bodies wrapped in tangled sheets.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Love is natural and organic in the way it moves. It breathes, softens, and decays. It spins and twirls, rocks and bends. It can be defined by one moment in your life or a million tiny ones. It can make your thoughts all jumbled and it can change everything you ever thought you believed about yourself.