Simon Says (10 page)

Dakota shrugged. “He said that I failed. That you refused to see him. That I can kiss my—” She caught herself. “The thing he has that I told you I wanted? He said he's destroying it because I didn't get you to agree to see him.”

“Shit.” Simon settled fully into his seat and put his head back. “I tried, Dakota. But I don't want anything to do with him.”

“Yeah. I gather you made that much pretty clear.” Not that she blamed him. She didn't want anything to do with Barnaby, either.

Unfortunately, she didn't have the same choices that Simon had. One of the letters would already be gone, if they'd ever existed in the first place. That made it more imperative than ever that she get his cooperation—and soon.

As if he'd read her thoughts, Simon turned toward her. “I'm asking you to give up, Dakota.”

If only she could. “I'd rather you give in.”

“No.”

Guilt kept her from looking at him when she asked, “What would it hurt, really?”

Suddenly, Simon tried a new tactic. “I don't like your boots. They look clunky and mannish. Not at all attractive.”

Now
Dakota looked—stared, in fact—at him. What in the world did her boots have to do with anything? “You're kidding, right?”

“No. They're ugly.”

She affected her best snarky smile. “Good thing you don't have to wear them, huh?” Personally, she found the boots comfortable and they kept her feet warm.

If her reply insulted Simon, he hid it well as he stretched out his long, muscled arm and fingered a wind-tossed lock of hair that hung over her shoulder. “I don't like scruffy women, either.” His gaze locked on hers. “Are you ever put together?”

“Put together?”

“Polished. Groomed. Less…disheveled?”

Dakota felt like slugging him. “It's cold, Simon. If by scruffy and disheveled you mean dressed in warm layers, then tough titty, because I'm not going to be cold for anyone.”

He laughed, and when she wrenched away, freeing her hair from his teasing fingers, he laughed some more. “God, you amuse me.”

“Great. At least I'm good for something, huh?”

The laughter faded to a warm smile. “I suspect you're good for many things.” His voice went low and deep. “That's part of my problem.”

Dakota watched him warily. Did she have what it took to use an attraction to her advantage? Never in her life had she tried to use seduction to get her way. If it meant kissing, touching, being closer to Simon, then it wouldn't be a hardship.

Anything beyond that…she just didn't know.

“But,” Simon added, “as much as I want you, I refuse to upset my parents by associating with a man who has never contributed to our lives in any way.”

Still considering any unknown wiles that she might possess, Dakota asked, “Have you told your parents about Barnaby?”

“No, and I don't plan to.”

“Maybe it wouldn't be such a big deal to them.”

“I have enough respect for them both that I consider it a big deal.” His gaze pinned her in place. “I won't change my mind, Dakota, you should know that. You should also know that if you insist on hanging around, I'm not going to be able to keep my hands off you.”

Her temperature rose a few degrees. “And I don't have anything to say about it?”

“Of course you do.” Once again, he cupped her head and brought her forward for a firm, quick kiss. “But so far you've been saying yes, and we both know it.”

“Yeah,” she sighed. “I know.” If Simon meant to scare her off with his warning, it had the opposite effect. She wanted him, too, and that was about as unexpected as it could get.

His next kiss was soft, gentle, and consuming. Dakota relished every second of it.

For more than the obvious reasons, it'd be dangerous to court his attentions. If he decided to push the boundaries, she truthfully didn't know if she could follow through.

Until meeting Simon, all she'd thought about sex was how to avoid it.

But now…Dakota opened her eyes as Simon slowly released her. Feeling warm and almost liquid, she smiled and started to ask him just how far he wanted to take things.

Then she saw the black SUV pulled up along the passenger side of her truck, idling there,
watching them
.

Instinctively, Dakota lurched forward, trying to see into that other vehicle. She cursed as she half crawled over Simon, reaching for the door handle to open the door. Her heart pounded in dread, but she refused to sit inactive like a coward.

Taken off guard, Simon stared at her in concern.

Then the SUV gave one small blast of the horn and drove away. With another curse, Dakota retreated back into her seat.

Simon swiveled around to see the car driving away. He looked back at Dakota, and though she tried to wipe all expression off her face, she knew too many emotions were there for him to see.

“All right, Dakota. Who was that?”

Furious with herself, she shook her head. “How the hell should I know?”

“Who do you
think
it might have been?”

“A Peeping Tom?” She forced a scratchy laugh. “You do seem to have a propensity for public displays.”

Simon exploded. “
Damn it
, can't you ever give me a straight answer?”

She pulled back in surprise and affront. “Don't yell at me.”

He got himself under control with an effort. Jaw tight and eyes narrowed, he said, “Then try giving me a straight answer for a change.”

Insulted, troubled, and unsure what to do, Dakota tried to come up with a suitable story, but her mind felt too numbed with apprehension to think clearly. “I hope it was just someone Barnaby hired to see if I'm being successful with you or not.”

Doubtful, Simon asked, “He'd actually do that?”

“Probably.” She shrugged. “Who knows? He does seem to have plenty of money to play with these days.”

“He's well-to-do?”

“I wouldn't go that far. It's just that he's bought stuff lately, things for…his home and yard. He lives comfortably.”

Simon absorbed that. “Since he saw me kissing you, will he assume you're successful?”

She snorted. “I have no idea how Barnaby's mind works.”

Bracing one hand on the steering wheel and his other on the back of her seat, Simon caged her in. “And if it wasn't someone sent by Barnaby, then who else might it have been?”

Dakota sized him up, decided what the hell, and shrugged again. “You'll think I'm nuts, but I have an odd suspicion that it might have been my husband.”

S
IMON
went so stiff that he could have broken with just a touch. Beyond a red-hot rage, he wasn't sure what he felt, but he felt it a lot. “You're
married
?”

She flapped a hand toward him. “Divorced.” She added, “And you're yelling again. I don't like it.”

His anger deflated. So she was free for the taking. Not that it should matter, since Dakota could be no more than a fling, and as such, having her or not shouldn't have such an impact on him.

But it did matter, he realized, and that made his tone harsher than he intended. “That'd make him your
ex-husband
, woman. Get it straight.”

Anger replaced the apprehension he'd seen in her gaze, relieving Simon. “I have it straight, damn it,” Dakota snapped right back. “
He's
the one who conveniently forgets.”

Simon wanted her, and issues of Barnaby aside, he now planned to have her. Marriage would have changed everything, because honorable men did not poach.

But a disgruntled, bothersome ex he could handle. Gladly.

“Why? Is he still in love with you?”

And just that easily, Dakota's anger vanished, too. She covered her face and laughed. “God, no. Definitely not love.”

“Dakota?” Her humor seemed very out of place, alarming Simon.

She shook her head, then on a groan, dropped her hands and, for only a moment, let down her guard. “He never loved me. But he wanted to keep me.”

“What happened?”

Her smile flickered. “I didn't want to stay.”

“Why not?”

She straightened in her seat so that she faced the windshield. Bracing her arms on the steering wheel, she said, “It's getting late, Simon, and I've got a dozen things to do. If you aren't going to agree to see Barnaby, then I should get going.”

He wasn't about to go anywhere. Not yet. “You don't want to tell me about your ex?”

She slanted him a look through burning blue eyes. “Get real, Simon. No one wants to hear about someone's ex. It's boring, and it's old news.”

“Apparently it's not old enough if he's following you and it scares you.”

“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.

D
AKOTA
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, she 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.