“Hey, Dakota,” a male voice interrupted us. “Leaving already?”
I turned to my left just in time to see a pale, redheaded individual stroll into the shop.
“Hey, Sam,” Dakota greeted the newcomer. “Yeah, my shift is done.”
The redheaded guy stopped when he noticed me there and blushed furiously as he stared at me, which I noted by the way his cheeks reddened.
“Hi.” He lifted one hand as if was asking permission to ask a question.
Holding back the need to bust out in laughter by his reaction to me, I said, “Hello.”
“Sam, this is Janessa,” Dakota introduced us. “Janessa, this is my friend, Sam.”
We both acknowledged each other with a bow of the head.
“If you need a ride home, my sister is out in the parking lot. Waiting,” the newcomer said.
I smiled. “That won’t be necessary. I’m his ride home.”
Sam’s entire face reddened even more. “Oh, ah, you’re a lucky guy Dakota.”
Seriously, the guy was acting as if he’d never seen a girl before.
Dakota didn’t respond to Sam’s comment.
“Well, we should get going.” I glanced in Dakota’s direction briefly before turning my attention back to Sam. “It was nice meeting you, Sam,” I said to Sam.
He nodded. “It was nice to meet you too, Janessa.”
“I’m going to get my stuff from out back.” Dakota gestured to a door at the other side of the shop.
“I’ll wait for you outside.” I waved at Sam as I headed out of the shop and stood with my back to it.
As I stood there, glancing at the many rows of tables filled with people enjoying a meal a short distance away, an idea crossed my train of thought. Though it was something I hadn’t done in a while, for some reason, I was struck with a sudden urge to reawaken an old passion of mine. It was something I really wanted to do. Not just for me, but for Dakota.
The inspiration came by so suddenly that I was very much surprised by it all. Since my grandmother had passed some five years before, I had given up on a lot of things. My lack of interest over the things I’d enjoyed at one point in my life grew gradually over time and with the passing of those I had come to know and love. But a spark of renewed interest took a hold of me, and I decided right then on the spot to go with it.
Turning on my heels, I faced the shop just as Dakota exited.
“I’m ready to go.” He stuffed his cell phone into his pocket.
“Have you eaten?” I asked.
He shook his head.
Smiling, I said, “Good. Let’s go.”
“Where are we going?”
“I’m cooking dinner for us.”
The surprise in his eyes was evident by the way they rounded.
“You cook?” he asked. “You can cook?” He looked as if he could not fathom the idea of me knowing how to do such a thing as cooking. Then again, my image—or my appearance probably gave that away. I usually dressed like a young woman who lived for fashion and knew nothing about living as an ordinary young adult. Spoiled would be the best way to describe me.
“Well, I haven’t done it in a while but I doubt I’ve lost my touch,” I declared, looping my arm in his. “Don’t worry; I had the best teacher in the world.”
He looked down at me and smiled. “Oh, really? Who?”
I grinned. “My grandmother.”
I couldn’t explain a lot of things in life. The easygoing feeling I had when I was around Dakota was one of them. It was hard to say why exactly, but a simple action as looping my arm through his didn’t even feel awkward to me. It felt right somehow. As if there was nothing wrong with feeling so comfortable with a guy I’d literally met twenty-four hours ago.
Judging by his relaxed demeanor, I assumed he didn’t feel uncomfortable by my closeness either and I liked that. It wasn’t very often I enjoyed people’s company. When it came right down to it, I usually terrorized others away, which translated to I purposely pushed people away. With Dakota, I wanted to do the opposite.
Yes, I did have friends. And yes, we were close. But when it came to having a deep emotional connection, I tended to stray away from that. I was less likely to get hurt if I wasn’t emotionally connected to anyone. This could explain why my relationship with Kirk was somewhat awkward. I never gave too much of me and he probably hated that.
“Don’t drive like a maniac today,” Dakota said as we exited the mall and started for my car at the far end of the parking lot. “I want to live to see another day.” His tone of voice was a lot more relaxed than it had been the day before. I didn’t know the reason for that, but if that meant I could see another side of him, then I wasn’t much for complaining.
I laughed. “Fine. I’ll follow the speed limit this time.”
Chapter Ten
Even when I really wanted to speed all through the freeway and to my house, much like I usually did, I followed through with Dakota’s request to drive carefully. The only thing that distracted me from really putting my car to the ultimate test was my companion.
Thankfully, we made it home without a problem. However, I decided that I’d have to get my speed fix later on, when I was alone even if I risked another ticket or worse.
Unlocking the front door to my house, I stepped to the side and gestured for Dakota to go in ahead of me. He obliged, strolling in casually, glancing around the living room as he took in my living space.
“This is nice,” he commented.
When he walked into my house, he seemed a little uncomfortable, but tried to pretend as if he was okay. Though I noted his tense posture, I refrained from commenting about it.
“Thanks. I decorated it myself.”
He bobbed his head up and down. “Yeah, I can definitely see that.”
“Can you really?” I turned to close and lock the door.
“It has your touch.” He gestured around the room.
I was curious over what he meant so I asked, “How do you know it’s my touch?”
He smiled sheepishly. “Pretty, elegant, and with a certain edge to it.”
I glance around the room. He could really see all that in the décor?
“You really have an eye for observation, huh?”
He laughed. “You could say that.” He shrugged. “Sometimes you can guess how a person is like by what you see in their home.”
“Yet, you couldn’t tell I have a led foot,” I pointed out.
“Well…do you really want me to tell you what I was thinking?” He stepped closer to me. “Yesterday?”
My eyebrows arched. “When you first saw my car?”
He nodded.
“Sure, go ahead.”
He shook his head. “I was thinking that you probably enjoy showing off in it,” he started. “It’s a nice, fancy car, and with you behind the wheel, it almost looks as if you were made for each other.”
It was funny he said that because when my father took me car shopping earlier in the year, I had fallen in love with that car the moment my eyes spotted it across the dealership. I had been so adamant about buying it that I’d refused to look at any others. At that point in time I’d felt as if the car had been made for me.
I grabbed a lock of my hair and twirled my finger around it. “You’re right you know. I do like to show off in it. How do you think I’ve gotten so many speeding tickets?”
He bobbed his head up and down. “That’s what I thought.”
“But there’s a lot more to be said about me,” I added.
“There’s a lot I can’t read about you,” he remarked. “I’ll admit to that.”
That simple statement really sparked my curiosity. What exactly did he want to know? What was he so curious about?
I mean, sure, I was intrigued by him. There was a lot about his personality I wanted to decipher. In a way, he was like this giant jigsaw puzzle I looked forward to putting together.
“You’re trying to read me right now, aren’t you?”
/> He fixed his glasses again, sliding them up his nose with his index finger. “It’s just that I’ve been wondering what you’re going to get out of all this.”
I smiled. Dakota was perhaps as intrigued by me as I was by him. “A good kick. That’s all,” I said, not bothering to elaborate further. “Follow me.”
Sashaying toward the hallway, I only glanced back once to see if Dakota was following me and when I noted that he was, I continued on to the kitchen where I opened the refrigerator to take a quick inventory of what was inside.
Because Audrey and Delilah usually took care of all the cooking, I had no clue what was left or what we had in terms of food. But since I really wanted to cook a nice meal for my guest, I carefully planned a menu with what I could see.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” Dakota’s voice interrupted my careful planning.
I looked back and smiled. “Just sit and relax.” I pointed to the dining table. “This won’t take long.”
He nodded, pulled out an empty chair, and sat facing me. “So, what are you cooking?”
Turning my attention back to the fridge, I started collected the ingredients I needed.
“Tuscan pasta with tomato-basil cream,” I replied. “I hope you like Italian.”
He chuckled softly. “I’ve never tried that dish, but it sounds delicious.”
“And it tastes delicious. Just wait until you try it.” Setting the ingredients on the countertop, I sauntered over to the counter across from the stove, open a top cabinet, and removed a box of croutons I planned to add to the salad later on.
Next, I went in search for the pots and pans I would need in order to prepare the food, which were hanging from a rack just above the center island in the middle of the room. Taking several down, I rinsed them, and then placed them on top of the stove.
“Have you, by any chance, heard from Margaret?” I asked as I set the pasta to cook.
“No. Why?” His voice grew solemn all of a sudden.
I didn’t turn around to look at him. I didn’t want to see the discomfort I could already sense. “Because Kirk was here this morning.”
As I poured Alfredo sauce into a medium saucepan, I waited for him to say something, but it took him a while to respond.
“What did he want?”
I wanted to lie in order to get my way. I wanted to say that Kirk had only stopped by to gloat over his new conquest so that I could further entice him into going along with my plan, but I found that I could not. The words refused to come out.
Instead of lying, I said, “He was just upset because apparently, the rumor of us seeing each other has already spread.” Which was not a lie at all. Kirk had dropped by for that reason; I just happened to omit the part where he’d mentioned that Margaret meant nothing to him out of my response. I felt that if I were to mention this, Dakota would go and seek Margaret out, and being the selfish brat that I’d was I didn’t want him to do that.
“That was fast,” Dakota remarked.
“Well, you don’t know Michaela. She’s great and all, but the girl can’t keep a secret even if her life depended on it.” I shook my head.
“So, it’s official? According to your friends, we have something going on?”
“By tomorrow everyone else will assume the same. But how far is it from the truth?” Pouring wine into a sauce jar, I shook it thoroughly before covering it. “We do have something going on. Even if it’s not what people think.” Stirring the wine mixture into the saucepan, I then added the chopped tomatoes and 1/2 cup chopped basil, before setting it to cook over medium-low heat.
“You have a point,” he said. “What is it that we agreed on last night?”
I quickly set out to prepare a nice salad to go with our pasta.
“Well, considering that Margaret strikes me as the kind of girl that loves attention, and she’s probably assuming that no matter how big her mistake is, if she changes her mind you’ll take her back, I suggested we pretend that we’re dating,” I quickly filled him in. “What better way to get back at our cheating exes than by spending time together.”
“And you think that’ll work?” He sounded skeptical, as if he the idea was ludicrous. To be honest it probably was, but I was pretty confident of what I could accomplish.
“I know Kirk like the back of my hand. If there is one thing he’ll hate more than anything, that would be seeing me with you.” And I knew that for a fact.
“I’m not sure about Margaret.”
Deep down I knew Dakota was hoping for things to work one way or another. I don’t know why but I could almost sense just how deep his feelings for this girl were. Regardless of how much she’d hurt him, he still loved her. Five years was a long time and it was obvious he’d been completely committed to her. Up until she ruined things of course.
I wasn’t sure why or if he’d agree with me, but maybe he wanted to prove to himself that she did care for him on some deep level.
“Trust me; she’s bound to realize how stupid she is in no time at all.”
I expected for Dakota to come to her defense or to take offense because I called her stupid, but he didn’t.
Once the salad was ready, I added the croutons, and then walked over to the table where I set the bowl on top. Ambling back toward the stove, I grabbed the saucepan’s handle and removed the sauce from the heat, before tossing it over the pasta. Topping it evenly with 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese; I turned off the stove and hurried back to the table where I placed the pasta filled bowl.
Dakota eyed it appreciatively.
“That really smells amazing,” he said.
“Thanks.” I started for the fridge again. “Do you prefer wine or regular orange juice?”
“After last night, I think I’ll stick to just juice.”
I laughed. “That’s probably a good idea.”
After placing a gallon of orange juice on the table, I grabbed a couple of plates, glasses, and silverware and turned to face the table. I stumbled a bit as one of the glasses slipped and I struggled to keep it from falling on the floor and smashing into many tiny pieces.
Dakota hurried out of his chair and toward me.
“Wait, let me help you.” He took the plates and glasses from me. “I can help set up the table, you know.”
My lips curved up at the ends. “Sorry, I didn’t want to ask considering you just got off work and all.”
“I’m tired, but I’m used to work. I’ve worked all my life. Besides, helping set the table won’t kill me.” He smiled. “Sit, I’ll do this.”
I sat down as he set the table and then filled my dish with pasta before doing the same with his.
“Thanks.” Picking up the fork, I quickly plopped some food into my mouth to taste it, hoping it tasted as good as it looked and smelled. It did.
Dakota filled his mouth with food and groaned appreciatively as he chewed, which I took as a sign that he found the meal as appealing as I did.
“That is pretty damn good,” he commented once he was done chewing and swallowing. “Did your grandmother really teach you how to cook?”
I nodded. “She did.” Taking a moment to eat another mouthful of food, I topped it off with a sip of juice before adding, “When I was growing up, I used to spend my summer vacations in France with my grandmother. She owned and Italian restaurant and let’s just say I spent a lot of time in the kitchen, watching her cook and teach her recipes to me.”
“You’re French?” he asked.
I shook my head. “No. My grandmother moved to France when I was twelve. It was always her dream to live in France and when she finally had enough money to leave she did. But I spent every summer vacation with her.”
Dakota stared at me in what seemed like surprise. “She was a good teacher?”
I grinned. “The best. She was incredibly patient.”
“So, how was it?” he asked as he reached for the glass of orange juice.
“What?”
“Summers in France?” He took
a sip of juice before setting the glass back down on the table.
I picked at my food. The memories of those wonderful days by Grammy’s side now but a recollection of the happiest days of my life.
“I loved it there. I loved spending time with Grammy,” I replied with my heart in my hand almost. “Those were some of the happiest memories I have of my childhood.”
“You’re not going back to visit her?” He took another bite of pasta.
I shook my head. “My grandmother passed away five years ago.”
He swallowed hard. “I’m sorry.”
I smiled, but even when I couldn’t see my face I knew the gesture did not meet my eyes. “That’s all right.”
Probably sensing the sadness that had taken over me, Dakota opted for changing the subject. “So, how many dishes did you learn how to cook?”
“A lot more than I can count,” I replied. “It was something I used to enjoy.”
He paused, the fork half way to his mouth. “Used to?”
I shrugged. “Well, I stopped doing a lot of things I enjoyed after a while.”
Though I detected he wanted to ask me why, he stopped short of doing so, which I was grateful for. I’d opened myself too much and that made me slightly uncomfortable. One was not supposed to be so comfortable around the person I’d planned to use to make my cheating ex-boyfriend jealous.
“Can I ask you something?” Dakota looked straight at me.
“Yeah, go ahead.” I brought a mouthful of salad to my mouth, chewed, and swallowed as I waited for him to talk.
“You mentioned that Kirk stopped by earlier today, right?”
“He did.” I had no idea what was in his mind, but it was obvious he was working through something.
“Well, if he’s upset over the supposed rumors, haven’t you already gotten what you wanted?” He’d stopped eating and his entire focus was on me.
“What do you mean?”
“You wanted to get back at him. If he’s upset about us, then isn’t that what you were going for?” he asked.
“Oh, I haven’t even begun to torture that jerk,” I stated. “But I think the most important question here is, what do you want Dakota?”
Payback is Sweet Page 9