by Lori Foster
“I wasn’t scared!”
Simon knew fear when he saw it, but he wouldn’t push it. “Concerned, then.”
“Look, it doesn’t matter. It probably wasn’t him.” She glanced at the watch on her wrist. “It was a big mistake on my part, all of it.”
“How so?”
She flexed her hands on the wheel, struggled with her thoughts, and finally snapped, “I’m just a little jumpy where he’s concerned, okay?”
“Why?”
Her jaw worked as she calculated her next move. She turned her head toward Simon. “Are you going to go see Barnaby?”
He hated to disappoint her, but…“No. I already told you that I wasn’t.”
Her temper flared, and her voice rose. “Then get your nose out of my business, and your butt out of my truck.”
Instead, Simon crossed his arms. “We’re dealing now, is that it? What’s at stake here, Dakota? Let’s get it all clear right now.”
She didn’t back down. “All right, fine. If you want to know my private business, though I have no idea why you would, then you have to do me a damn favor and go see Barnaby.”
“What if I want to sleep with you?”
That took her by surprise and her face went blank.
Simon wondered at it. Surely Dakota knew her own appeal, and he sure as hell hadn’t been subtle about his interest. “I do, you know.”
Recovering, Dakota said, “Forget it. Ain’t happening.”
“Wanna bet?”
Her eyes widened. “You can’t be serious!”
“Why? You want me, too. We already established that.” Curious at just how desperate she might be, Simon pushed her a little more. “If I go see Barnaby, will that guarantee you in my bed?”
All the small muscles in her face pinched taut. Simon half expected her to slug him, and he braced for it.
What he got instead was her embarrassment, and an admission.
“I’d probably sleep with you either way. But no, it wouldn’t have anything to do with you seeing Barnaby.”
He badly wanted to believe her. A hundred questions went through his mind, but all he said was, “Probably?”
“Yeah. I can’t guarantee anything because I just don’t know.” She turned the key in the engine. “Now, unless you plan to go driving around with me today, you’d better get out.”
“Could I have a kiss good-bye?”
“No.” She stared out the front windshield.
Grinning, Simon slowly leaned in close to her. She looked worried, but she didn’t retreat. He put his mouth on her cheek for a soft, nuzzling kiss.
Her breath came a little fast.
He kissed a slow path to her neck, licked one sensitive spot, sucked gently.
She moaned.
He kissed his way up to her ear, nibbled on her earlobe—and she turned toward him in a rush, kissing him hard and fast.
Silly woman.
It wasn’t a question of “probably” as much as “when.” He’d prefer sooner to later, but she did seem concerned about it, so he’d take it slow.
Withdrawing by stages, Simon kissed the corner of her mouth, her jaw, her cheekbone. “I won’t be at the gym tomorrow.”
Eyes still closed, Dakota gulped and nodded. “Thanks for letting me know.”
“You’re welcome.” He didn’t want her to hang out all day waiting for him, when he wouldn’t be there for her to needle. Other men would be there, and though he’d never been the possessive type, he didn’t like that setup at all.
Mallet had already proven that Simon wasn’t the only man interested.
Slowly, Dakota’s lashes lifted to show him dazed eyes filled with confusion. “What is it about you?”
“What do you mean?”
She sighed. “Never mind. You’re cocky enough as it is.” Settling back against her door, she asked, “Where will you be tomorrow?”
“Just taking a day off.”
“Really? You do that?”
Simon shrugged. He trained hard, but he didn’t believe in working at it 24/7. “There’s a party tonight, and I’ll be out late.”
She thought that over. “So you’re not just avoiding me?”
“There are a lot of things I want to do with you, Dakota, but avoiding you isn’t one of them. Not anymore.”
“Good.” She looked more than a little confused. “Well then, I’ll see you the day after.”
“I’ll be there.” On impulse, Simon said, “Let me see your cell phone.”
Even as she pulled the phone from her pocket, she asked, “Why?”
“I want you to have my number.” He took the phone from her and programmed in his number. “If you see your ex, or even if you think you’ve seen him, give me a call.”
“Why should I?”
“Just do it.”
“Because Simon says? I don’t think so.”
Simon finished with the phone and handed it back to her. “Yes.”
“Your concern is so sweet, but I can take care of myself.”
She made sweet sound like a foul insult. “I’m sure you can, but—”
Her finger smashed against his mouth. “You want to do something for me, Simon? Go see Barnaby. Otherwise, I don’t need your help.”
“Is your middle name Stubborn?”
“Go see Barnaby, and I’ll tell you.”
Simon grabbed her for another smooch, this one teasing, and Dakota laughed against his mouth.
He opened the truck door and got out. “Behave yourself, woman, and if you decide you could use some help, you have my number.”
“Yeah, yeah. Got it.”
Knowing she wouldn’t call, Simon shut the door. He’d been prepared for her to ask him more about the party, to maybe wheedle an invite so she could work on him some more. But she hadn’t.
He’d miss her tomorrow.
Hell, who was he kidding? He’d only taken a few steps from her truck and he already missed her. She took up far too much of his attention; he needed to get his head into the competition, and the party tonight would help.
Not inviting her had been a deliberate decision on his part.
Roger, the owner of Roger’s Rodeo Bar, was throwing the shindig as a tribute to Dean, and to the other fighters who had flocked to Harmony to train with Dean and Simon. Roger had become a big fan and contributed financially to the gym and the SBC.
Tonight, the organization would announce the fight card via a special hookup to the Internet. Roger had it set up for a big screen. There’d be a live band, lots of laughs, talk on techniques, and good-natured ribbing.
There’d also be plenty of single women, but that didn’t interest Simon at all.
Tonight was to promote Dean’s gym and show appreciation to Roger, period. It was all part of the business.
And once the business was finished, he’d find Dakota, and take care of the pleasure.
DAKOTA waited until Simon reentered the gym, then she turned off her truck and called Barnaby at home.
He answered on the third ring. “Hello?”
“Did you send someone to watch me?”
“Dakota, honey? Is that you?”
Knowing he called her “honey” just to irk her didn’t make it any less annoying. “Stick it, Barnaby. I asked you a question.”
He tsked at her bad manners. “Why would I waste good money having you tailed when I know you’ll be doing your absolute best?”
She believed him. But if it wasn’t Barnaby, then it had to be Marvin. Or was she just being paranoid? “I am doing my best, but Simon’s still saying no.”
“You need Simon to say yes.”
“It’s not going to happen, I tell you.”
“Then I have no choice but to burn a letter. Perhaps the first one she wrote. It’s the longest.”
Bastard. “Not so fast.” What to do, what to do? Squeezing her eyes shut, Dakota said, “I’ll think of something.”
“Think of seducing him. That would work.”
God, sh
e hated the smarminess of his voice. Ignoring his suggestion, she said, “Give me a few more days to work on him.”
“Go to him tonight. Do what you have to do and then—”
“No.” Sick bastard. “He’ll be at a party tonight, so I can’t. I have to time things right.” Time things? Good grief. What kind of stupid lie was that? “He’s in the middle of a lot of stuff.”
“What stuff?”
If Barnaby hadn’t already made Simon’s connection to the SBC fighting organization (which she doubted was the case), then she didn’t want to be the one to tell him. Whatever his reasons for wanting to meet Simon now, they’d double once he knew his son was famous in certain circles.
“His job keeps him busy.”
Rather than ask what his job might be, Barnaby said, “How many days would you need?”
“Another week.”
“Seven days?” He chuckled with spiteful humor. “You only have to screw him once, Dakota, not become his live-in lover.”
Rage took hold of her and she forgot about the letters. “Take it or leave it, Barnaby, because this conversation is over.”
He took it. “One more week, Dakota. Don’t disappoint me by disappointing him.” And he hung up on her.
Slowly, Dakota lowered her hand and let her cell phone drop to the seat. She felt guilty, as if she’d betrayed Simon in some way. She was so lost in her own thoughts that when someone tapped on her window, she almost screamed.
Mallet Manchester stood there, his hair damp from a recent shower, an apologetic smile aimed her way.
Dakota rolled down her window. “You startled half my life away.”
“No kidding. You jumped a foot.” He leaned down with his forearms braced on the window frame. “Sorry about that.”
He was so close that Dakota could see the individual eyelashes of his blue eyes. She scooted back a little. “What’s up?”
“I was going to ask you that. I saw Simon inside, asked him where you were, and he said you’d just left.” His gaze dipped over her. “Yet here you are, sitting all alone and staring into space.”
“You asked Simon about me?” She couldn’t believe his nerve.
“Yeah, well, I was just going to ask him if you were going to the party.”
The same party Simon had mentioned? Why hadn’t she thought of that? It’d be the perfect opportunity to let Simon see her without her boots or frumpy extra layers. She didn’t like dressing up and seldom saw the point of it, but she could clean up as well as the next gal.
Though Dakota hated to admit it, she wanted Simon to see her at her best, to know that she could look feminine and pretty.
She wanted his admiration, damn it. And it didn’t have a single thing to do with Barnaby’s assignment.
“I don’t know yet.” Hoping she didn’t look as devious as she felt, Dakota dug for more information. “Where is it again?”
Mallet wasn’t fooled for a second. “Sublime didn’t invite you, did he?”
Well, hell, wouldn’t be much point in lying about it now. “Nope, but he did mention that he was going.”
“I don’t get it. What’s going on with you two?”
Unfortunately, not a whole lot of anything. Yet. “What do you mean?”
“The very first day you came in, Sublime warned everyone to stay away from you.”
Her back stiffened. “He did what?”
Uncomfortable, Mallet cleared his throat. “Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“Too late now.” Dakota tapped her fingers on the top of the door frame. Why would Simon do such a thing? “Do I look like a threat somehow? Did he think I’d disrupt the practice or throw off the routine?”
Amused at her assumption, Mallet grinned. “You misunderstand. Simon gave the warning so he could keep you to himself.”
Dakota just blinked at him. Keep her to himself? For what?
Seeing her confusion, Mallet clarified, “He laid claim.”
“Laid claim?” she repeated. “On me?”
“Yeah. But I’ll be damned if I can figure out why, when he doesn’t seem to be pursuing you all that hard. At first, everyone figured he was ready to get back in the game. You know, after breaking things off with Bonnie.”
Who the hell was Bonnie? “Yeah, uh, I’m not up on Simon’s personal relationships.”
“He and Bonnie had a thing going on. They’d been together something like five years, or so I’ve been told. That was before I got to know Sublime better here at Havoc’s gym.”
Dakota wondered what Bonnie might have done to cause Simon to end their relationship. Not for a second did she think to blame Simon. He wasn’t the type to cut bait and run unless he had good reason.
“Anyway,” Mallet continued, “far as I’ve heard, Bonnie’s been chasing him hard and fast, trying to get him back, but Simon’s steered clear of women since. It’s been a while, too.”
“No dating, huh?”
“He’s been in training,” Mallet said with a shrug, as if that explained it all. “But then you showed up and he spread the word that you were off-limits before you’d even been here five minutes.”
Of all the nerve. Caveman tactics had never impressed Dakota. But now, well, it was kind of sweet to think of Simon wanting her all to himself. And romantic, too.
Had her lack of fashion sense appealed to him after all?
But then maybe after getting to know her better, he’d rethought his claim. As Mallet pointed out, he hadn’t exactly been in hot pursuit. Sure, he’d kissed her a few times, but other than when she shanghaied him, he barely paid her any notice at all.
She’d have to see what she could do to get Simon a little more motivated.
Repositioning herself in her seat, Dakota leaned in closer to Mallet. “So. Are you going to the party?”
“Hell, yeah. It’s an SBC party. They’re going to announce the fight cards. I can’t wait to hear the matchups. All the guys from the gym will be there.”
Hoping she didn’t look as frumpy as Simon had indicated, Dakota smiled at Mallet. “Do you have a date yet?”
His blue eyes warmed…with laughter. “No, but I don’t have a death wish, either, so if you’re looking for a ride, forget it. Sublime would have my head.”
His humor rubbed Dakota the wrong way. “He doesn’t own me.”
“Tell him that.”
“I plan to.” She’d tell him that and more.
“Really?” Now Mallet looked alarmed. “Well, for God’s sake, don’t tell him I’m the one who squealed to you.”
“Now, Mallet, you know that Simon wouldn’t actually hurt you.”
Affronted, he drew himself up, showing off his extraordinary height. “I’m not afraid of any man in a fight. But Sublime has clout and I don’t want to get on his bad side.”
“You think he’d blackball you?”
“No.” Mallet complained to himself, and then admitted, “He’s a good guy, the best in the business.”
Dakota touched his arm. “And you want his respect?”
He scoffed at that, but said, “I deserve his respect.”
He probably did, Dakota thought. Mallet wasn’t a bad man at all. A little too much of a flirt, and far too bold at times, but he wasn’t irredeemable. “All right, Mallet. Take me to the party, and your secret will stay safe with me.”
He stepped back from the window. “You’re blackmailing me?”
“Just get me in.” Dakota stuck her head out the window to appeal to him. “I’ll tell Sublime…I mean Simon, that I twisted your arm. I’ll tell him I was going to go anyway, and you didn’t want me to have to walk in alone. He won’t blame you, I promise.”
Mallet weighed her offer while looking her over again. “You gonna dress up?”
Did he also think she looked scruffy? Men. “You betcha,” she assured him. “Dress, high heels, the whole nine yards. Hell, I’ll even throw on some makeup.” She’d do whatever she could to blow Simon’s mind.
“No kidding?”
/>
While Mallet thought about her request, Dakota thought about Simon’s audacity.
How dare he lay claim to her, but then not invite her to an important party? Did he plan to flirt with other women? Did he have a date with someone else?
Had Bonnie won her way back into his heart?
The very thought made Dakota’s stomach tighten and soured her mood. “Make up your mind, Mallet. I don’t have all day.”
At her grouchy impatience, a wide smile lifted Mallet’s ears. “Why not? If nothing else, watching Sublime watch you ought to be enough fun to make up for any trouble this causes.”
“Great!”
Before Dakota could do too much celebrating, he held up a hand. “But there’s a condition.”
“There always is. Let’s hear it.”
“Call me Michael. Mallet is fine when I’m in the ring, but it doesn’t sound right coming from such a pretty woman.”
Pretty. How sweet. “Thank you, Michael.” Dakota wrote down the name of her motel and her cell phone number, in case of any problems. “What time will you pick me up?”
“Eight o’clock.”
“I’ll meet you in the lobby.” She briefly gripped his wrist, and was stunned at the thickness and vibrant strength. No, Mallet had no reason to fear any man. “Thank you, Michael. I owe you big time.”
He said nothing to that, and so Dakota drove off. But she saw him in her rearview mirror, standing there watching after her truck, until she turned the corner and couldn’t see him anymore.
SIMON was bored and trying to hide it.
Twice now, throngs of women had ambushed him. They waited for him everywhere—near the bar, in the billiards room, even by the men’s john. He’d had more offers tonight than most men got in a year.
There used to be a time when all the female attention amused him.
Tonight wasn’t it.
Everywhere Simon looked, people laughed and joked. Men razzed each other, women flirted. The four-man band was great, and though he’d kept to his strict diet, the food and drinks looked good. Dean and his wife, Eve, danced. Gregor and his wife, Jacki, huddled in a corner, smooching. The entire lower level of the bar, including several private rooms, was at the disposal of SBC fans and fighters.
Not even the mechanical bull could hold Simon’s attention. He’d moseyed in there once, only to dodge back out before the female crowd could reach him. There didn’t seem to be enough men to occupy all the women.