She smiled as she looked him over in his suit. She pictured being old and wrinkly with a batch of fresh and energetic kids at her feet listening to her every word. How could she describe how handsome he looked right now? She couldn’t. That part would be just for her.
“So where are you taking me?” she asked, placing the flowers in a glass water pitcher. She had never needed a vase before now.
“There’s not a lot of options,” he said with a laugh.
“So the bar it is.” She smiled but her stomach dropped on the inside. She was at the bar every night and it was the last place that she wanted to go on her night off. But it wouldn’t be so bad with Grayson.
“No bar,” he said. He held out his hand for her. “Remember you said that you had wanted to visit Italy?”
She nodded slowly. Where was he going with this?
She walked over and placed her hand in his ready to follow him anywhere.
“We’re going to Italy.”
Dakota burst out laughing.
Grayson had led her into the woods to a private table of two set up under the stars. It looked perilously romantic. Where did he find a white table cloth?
What made her laugh was their waiter. Wyatt was standing as straight as a pencil with one hand behind his back and the other folded in front of him with a white towel draped over his forearm. He had a black suit jacket that was about three sizes too small on over a white t-shirt. He had tied a black ribbon into a makeshift bow tie and he had a mustache that curled up on the sides drawn over his lip in black marker.
“Buona sera my friends,” Wyatt said in a pathetically bad Italian accent.
“Wyatt please tell me that you didn’t use a Sharpie to put on that mustache,” Dakota said.
Wyatt’s eyes bulged out as panic flashed over his face. He almost broke character. He glanced at Grayson and then went into his, apparent, prepared speech.
“Bellisima, welcome to Naples Italy,” Wyatt said, rushing over and guiding her to the table of two.
They were in a clearing in the woods. The night sky was coming out, the final light of the day fading along with any doubt of the epicness of their first date. There were two plates with two wine glasses and shined cutlery on the table. Wyatt gestured to the chair with his open hand. He leaned in close to her as she sat down.
“Are Sharpies washable?” he whispered.
“With steel wool,” she whispered back.
He brushed his finger and thumb over the permanent mustache and gulped.
Jack stepped out of the darkness strumming a guitar. He had a large sombrero on his head.
“An Italian Mexican?” she asked Grayson with a smirk.
“It’s all that we could find,” he answered.
Jack sang softly in a jumbled, gibberish of Italian sounding words as he played the guitar.
Grayson was watching her nervously. He had no need to worry. This was the nicest thing that anyone had ever done for her.
“I couldn’t take you to Italy yet so I thought I’d bring Italy to you.”
She took his hand over the table. “I love it.”
Wyatt approached the table, holding two menus. Dakota took one and smiled. It was a piece of cardboard that Grayson had colored into a menu. It was adorable. She was going to keep this for the rest of her life.
“Arts and crafts this afternoon?” she asked with a smile.
He looked away in embarrassment. “It was a stupid idea.”
“No,” she said, squeezing his hand. “This is amazing.”
Wyatt, their Italian waiter for the night, cleared his throat. “I’ll be your vaiter for zis evening,” he said in a thick accent that Dakota guessed was supposed to be Italian. “Here in Napoli ve eat pizza and pasta ezery night.”
“Sounds delicious,” Dakota said.
“Si,” Wyatt said. “Tonight iz pasta made by the famous chef Grayson.”
Dakota smiled. “I can’t wait to try it.”
Wyatt picked the wine bottle up off the table. He presented it to Dakota and then Grayson.
“Italian?” she asked in shock. The only wine up here came in boxes and tasted slightly better than grape juice mixed with rubbing alcohol. “Where did you get that?”
Grayson grinned. “We’re in Italy remember?”
Wyatt poured the wine as Jack finished his song. Dakota clapped and cheered. “Do you know any Radiohead?”
Jack frowned. “No speaka inglese.” He started a new song, singing in gibberish again, but it sounded nice.
Dakota admired the hot shifter in front of her as he tasted the wine. He smelled it and then held the glass to his lips for a taste. His face was twisted in concentration. She licked her lips as he drank the wine, his Adam’s apple dipping in his powerful neck.
He looked up at Wyatt and nodded.
Dakota thanked him as he filled her glass. He took the menus back, there was only one dish written on it anyways, and left them alone, with Jack playing softly in the distance.
“Cheers,” Dakota said, lifting up her wine glass.
“Cheers,” he said back. “To the start of a long, long, long life together.”
They clinked glasses and Dakota moaned as she took a sip of the delicious wine. She hadn’t had a bottle like this in years.
“Do you really believe that?” she asked.
He looked shocked. “Don’t you?”
She did. But it felt weird to hear it out loud. That they would be together forever.
Dakota looked around at all of the effort he put into their date. “I do now.”
“I’m sorry. I know it’s corny,” he said, looking embarrassed again. “I just wanted it to be special.”
She cupped her hand over his. “This is perfect.”
He sighed in relief. “What brought you to Laughlin City?” he asked.
“A restless bear,” she answered. She had spent a summer traveling around, mostly by foot, sometimes hitchhiking, and ended up in southern Alberta in the beginning of the fall. She had seen an ad for a waitressing job up in Laughlin City and headed north.
They chatted until their not-so-Italian waiter interrupted. He placed a plate in front of each of them. “Spaghetti bolognese,” Wyatt said. “Buon appetito.”
Dakota and Grayson cheersed again as their waiter left. Jack was giving them some privacy and singing by the trees.
“Did you make this?” Dakota asked, swirling the noodles on her fork.
“I did,” he said. “It would’ve been better with some fresh herbs though.”
“I’m sorry,” she said, grabbing her knife. “I have to cut it.”
He let out a laugh. “Thank God,” he said, picking up his knife and cutting his pasta too. “I could never get that spinning on the spoon trick down.”
The pasta and wine was amazing but it paled in comparison to the company. Grayson had a silent, calming presence to him. He smiled easily and made her laugh quite often. He was sweet and sexy at the same time.
Wyatt cleared the plates and brought a tiramisu for desert.
“My favorite,” she squealed as she dug a spoon into it.
Grayson poured out the last drops of wine into Dakota’s glass. He smiled as he watched her eat the desert. It was so good that Dakota felt sad when it was finished.
Or was it because their date was finishing?
Wyatt cleared the plates and thanked them for eating at his Italian restaurant. Grayson stood up and Dakota followed.
“Thanks for a wonderful date,” she said.
He jerked his head back. “We’re in Italy,” he said. “You want to leave so soon? You haven’t seen Venice yet.”
Her heart raced. He had more planned?
He held out his hand.
“Come with me.”
Grayson led Dakota through the woods down to the river. So far the date was going well. He had rushed like a maniac after his shift to get everything prepared. Wyatt, Jack and Hunter had been life savers. They had helped him set up everything. And it o
nly cost a month of making their lunches for them.
Hunter had really come through when he found the bottle of Italian wine. Marcus, a foreman on the site, had been stashing it for a special occasion. He let Grayson have it for only half of his paycheck. But it had been worth it. The rosy glow on Dakota’s smiling cheeks was worth every penny.
The canoe was parked on the riverbank up ahead. Hunter was sleeping inside it.
Damn him. He’s not getting the crusts cut off his sandwiches.
Grayson kicked the side of the canoe and Hunter sprang up in a panic.
“Buona sera,” he said, trying to remember his lines. “Welcome to Venice Italy. I takea you ona gondola ride.”
Dakota squeezed Grayson’s arm as she looked around at the dark forest and smooth flowing river. “Just like in the postcards,” she said with a smile.
“It takes a little imagination,” Grayson said, “but it’s the best I could do.”
“It’s perfect,” she said. She stepped on her toes and kissed him on the cheek. He stood there, his head spinning, as Hunter helped her into the canoe.
He got in behind her and wrapped her in a big blanket that he had stored under the seat. Hunter stood in the front of the canoe and pushed off the bank with a long stick.
Dakota moaned in content as she snuggled up to Grayson. He wrapped his arms around her and breathed in the coconut scent of her hair as the easy current took them down the river.
Hunter hummed as he guided the canoe around the curves with the long pole.
“This is better than Italy,” she whispered. “Thank you.”
“One day I’ll bring you to the real place.”
“Okay,” she said. “But I’ll be telling our grandkids about this one. It’s much more special.”
Grayson hugged her and kissed the top of her head. This was going better than he had hoped. But of course it was. They were mates and were meant to be together.
They drifted down the river, admiring the stars above and just enjoying the moment when the menacing sound of a motorboat came ripping up the river ahead. A spotlight was blinding them. Hunter squeezed the branch in his hands as the boat got closer.
It was heading straight for them. Hunter tried to maneuver out of the way but he couldn’t move fast enough. The boat clipped the side of the canoe, flipping it over. The three of them tumbled into the icy cold river.
The boat circled back as they popped out of the water, the date ruined.
The men on the boat cut the light and lowered the engine to an idle. Brad was driving with the two goon shifters sitting in the back. He looked down at them treading in the cold water and smirked.
“Sorry about that,” Brad said with a grin. “I didn’t mean to ruin your date like that.”
Grayson glared at him as Hunter struggled to flip over the canoe, not an easy task in the deep water.
There was a pounding in Grayson’s ears. He wanted blood.
“Watch yourself,” Brad warned, staring at Grayson. “There’s much bigger fish than you out here.”
The engine roared back to life and they sped off leaving Grayson’s epic first date in shambles.
seven
Dakota woke up to a light tapping on her door. She rubbed her eyes and looked at the clock. The whole town was on site at the logging company. Must be Luke. She rolled her eyes and slapped the mattress. Did I not clean something to his satisfaction again?
She got up, threw her robe over her pajamas and answered the door. Leo was standing in the doorway with his body slumped and his eyes low. He was fidgeting with an envelope in his hands.
“Good morning Leo,” she said, taking a deep breath. Leo never came to her place. Ever. And by the look of him this wasn’t going to be a fun, social call.
“I tried to talk to him,” he mumbled, still not meeting her eyes. “I tried to convince him. We haven’t been the best of friends but I’ve known him for over forty years. There was nothing I could do.”
“Come in,” she said, touching his arm and guiding him in. Leo nodded and walked in. He was a small lion shifter who was way past his prime. The hair on his arms were long and thin. They were a very, light gray that matched the long hair on his head. He always wore the same black, top hat and black trench coat and the tips of his black mustache were always curled up with wax. Dakota had always seen Leo as a powerful figure, an old timer who managed the fights, hyping the patrons up with his deep voice. But seeing him shuffle into her home with his crooked fingers trembling, he was really showing his age. Whatever that was.
“What are you talking about Leo?” Dakota asked. They sat down at her little kitchen table.
He was looking around. “It’s so nice in here,” he said. “I can’t believe this is the same place.”
Dakota rested her hand on his forearm and leaned in. “You tried to convince who?”
Leo took a deep breath. “Walter wants me to fire you.”
Dakota jerked her head back. “Shit.” Walter was the head of the logging company but he basically ran the town. His word was the law. She had expected some blow back from her relationship with Grayson but she wasn’t expecting this.
“I tried to reason with him,” Leo explained. “But he wouldn’t listen. You know how stubborn rhino shifters are right? He wants you gone.”
She started to chew on her thumbnail. She had nowhere to go.
“I told him no,” Leo said. “But he said that he would prevent all of his employees from coming to the bar. And that’s all of my customers.”
Dakota was speechless. She liked her life up here. And it had only gotten better since Grayson got in town. “When does he want me gone by?”
“There’s a plane leaving the town in two days,” he said. “Walt wants you on it.”
She exhaled slowly. Two days? Only two more nights with Grayson. Will he come with me?
“Do you have family that you can go to?” Leo asked.
“Yes,” Dakota lied. “I have a big family. They’ll be thrilled to have me home again.” The truth was she hadn’t spoken to her Dad in over a decade, her mother had died six years ago and her brother was somewhere in Brazil. He had left to travel after their mother passed and never came back. He had bonded to a girl down there and Dakota hadn’t seen him since.
Leo swallowed and slid a thick envelope across the table. “I have some money that I can give you.”
“No,” Dakota said, shaking her head. She placed her hand on his and pushed the envelope back to him. “You’ve done so much for me Leo. Please keep it.”
Leo’s chin shook. He composed himself and stood up, leaving the envelope on the table. I’ll put it in his office before I leave.
Leo rubbed his eye. Dakota felt a pang in her heart. She never realized that she meant so much to the old shifter. She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him in for a hug.
“You’ve been a great boss Leo,” she said. “And an even better friend.”
“I just wish I-”
“It’s okay Leo,” she said interrupting. Walter Cash ran this town and there was nothing that they could do about it. “I’ll be fine. I’ll head somewhere warm for the winter. Maybe a beach in the Caribbean. While you’re freezing your nuts off I’ll be sipping Pina Coladas with my toes in the hot sand.”
“Thanks Dakota,” he said, as she opened the door. “Please come and visit.”
“I will Leo,” she said, giving him one last hug before closing the door.
She stumbled across the room and collapsed on the couch like she was drunk. She picked up a pillow and hugged it.
Will he come with me?
Grayson knocked on Dakota’s door when he didn’t see her at work. He had asked Luke where she was and he just shook his head. “Better go up and see her,” was all that he had said.
She opened the door and his face dropped. There were boxes in her loft. Lots of boxes. Her face matched how he felt.
“You’re leaving?” he asked.
Her chin trembled and it nearl
y broke Grayson’s heart to see his mate cry. “Mr. Cash is forcing me to go.”
Grayson’s stomach hardened. She was being forced out because of him. He had to fix it.
“I’ll talk to him,” he said.
She shook her head as the tears started coming. Grayson stepped in and hugged her. Her short breaths became long sobs in his arms.
“I’ll talk to him,” he said again. “If I can’t get your job back than I’ll quit. I’m not letting you leave without me.”
Her sobs stopped at his words. Her muscles relaxed against his body.
Grayson would leave if he had too. He would choose Dakota over everything.
But there was an uneasiness in his tight chest. Somehow he felt like Walter Cash had something planned for that too.
eight
Grayson walked up to the boss’ trailer as soon as he got to work the next morning. He took a deep breath trying to calm his angry bear. His grizzly wasn’t too happy at someone trying to separate him from his mate.
“Come in,” the deep voice commanded, echoing inside the trailer. Grayson hadn’t even knocked.
Grayson shook out his hands and walked in the trailer. The enormous rhino shifter was sitting behind the desk with a smirk wrapped around the short cigar clenched in his teeth. His jacket was off, the suspenders holding up his pants were digging into his round shoulders. He pulled the cigar out of his mouth, ashing it on the ground, and grinned.
“I’ve been waiting for you,” he said, his voice raspy and deep.
Grayson clenched and unclenched his hands trying to stay calm. He was going to try to settle this with his words rather than his fists.
“Dakota is my girl,” Grayson said. “And no one plays games with my girl.”
Grayson wanted to see blood. He wanted to unleash his bear and dominate this dead man.
“This town is mine,” Walter responded. “And no one lays a finger on my son.”
So that’s what this was about.
“You embarrassed him in front of everyone and now I’m going to embarrass you.”
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