Dakota Bad Boys of Dry River, WY Book 5
Page 16
“Megan,” Aiden groaned, interrupting her.
“I’m not leaving my brother alone in the hospital. Dakota and I will come see you tomorrow.”
“All right. I’d like to see Dakota anyway. I owe him an apology and I need to thank him for helping me.”
“I’ll go then. Rest. I love you.” Megan waved as she walked out of the room.
After calling a taxi, she stood in the lobby waiting for it. She supposed she could have called Dakota but she wanted to go home to him. Not have him come after her.
****
Dakota sat in the living room and stared into the fire. The blue and orange flames climbed up the flue and gave off the scent of burning wood. Once again, he’d lost the only woman he’d ever love. Damn it. He knew this was going to happen if he let her back in. How could he not, though? He loved her so much and when she came to him for help, he had no choice but to help her. Fuck!
Pushing himself out of the chair, he walked to the kitchen to get a cup of coffee. The back door flew open and in walked Megan. She smiled at him as she took her hat, coat, and gloves off.
“It’s snowing again.”
“What are you doing here?” he asked as he leaned back against the counter, his heart pounding and his brain fighting to keep his arms from grabbing her to him.
“Aiden is awake and Agent Turner came in to talk to him. He knows he’s going to prison and he’s ready for it. I want us to go see him tomorrow. He wants to apologize to you...what?” She stopped when he shook his head.
“You didn’t answer my question.”
Megan frowned at him. “About why I’m here?”
“Yes.”
“Where else would I go?”
Dakota pushed himself away from the counter. “I see. So you came here just because you had nowhere else to go?”
She walked to him and put her hands on his chest. “I came here for you.” She tilted her head back to look into his eyes. “Did you think I wasn’t coming back?”
He shrugged. “When you left here earlier, you made it sound like you weren’t.”
“I did?”
“You said I had done enough for you both.”
Megan laughed. “Because it was true. I didn’t want to make you go to the hospital with me and wait for Aiden to get out of surgery. It was a long enough day without you sitting around the hospital to all hours. In case you haven’t noticed, it’s nearly midnight.”
“I still would have gone with you.”
She stood on her toes and kissed his lips. “I know you would have but I didn’t know how long I was going to be. I didn’t want you to wait for me.”
Dakota pulled her into his arms. “I will always wait for you. No matter how long you’re gone. I love you, Megan. Come home.”
“I did. I am home. I’m home wherever you are. I told you I wanted to stay, you hardheaded man.”
Dakota blew out a laugh. “Well, I am a little hardheaded, but I have nothing on a certain redhead.”
“A redhead, who loves you...remember that.” She wrapped her arms around his neck.
“I will. Welcome home, baby.” He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers then deepened the kiss. He raised his head. “Let’s get married,” he whispered against her lips.
“Yes, Kota and we will raise our children in Dry River. I just hope if we have boys, they get that bad boy of Dry River reputation just like their daddy.” She laughed when he growled and picked her up to carry her upstairs.
Epilogue
August was stifling. Heatwaves rose up from the blacktop and little bubbles popped up in it. People filled the church to await the bride. Megan sat in the back room, sipping champagne from a flute. Her bridesmaids and matron of honor sat on the sofa sipping theirs.
“This stuff is so good, it’s sinful,” Roni Cole said.
“I could drink about three more, but I’d like to be able to walk down the aisle, not crawl,” Chloe Baxter said then laughed.
“I love weddings,” Kendra Lang added.
“Especially our own,” Shelly said.
Megan laughed. “You women are wonderful friends to be in my wedding. I hope we get to know each other much better.”
“You won’t have a choice. Since our husbands are all friends, we are too, by default.” Isabella laughed.
“Could you imagine if we hated each other? Ugh! The men would have fits,” Emily said.
“Shelly, thank you for being my matron of honor. I knew Dakota would have Nathan as his best man and it seemed only fitting to ask you. You’ve been so nice to me,” Megan said while blinking back tears.
“No crying! You’ll ruin your perfect makeup.” Shelly blinked her own tears back.
“I’m so glad Aiden was released early. I love that he’s giving me away.”
“I think it’s great that he only had to serve six months, do probation, and pay restitution,” Shelly said.
“Me too. They said while he was in prison awaiting trial, he was a model prisoner, and with Agent Turner testifying for him, it helped him a lot.”
“Could we not talk about Agent Turner?” This from Patsy Murphy, who, although she wasn’t in the wedding, was helping the bride get ready.
Roni almost spit her champagne out. “Oh. My. God! Patsy, just admit you think he’s hot.”
“Not gonna happen,” Isabella said laughing. “She will deny it until she takes her last breath or until he finally takes her to bed.”
“Isabella!” Patsy’s mouth fell open. “That will certainly never happen.”
“Never say never, girlfriend.”
“How come I don’t know this Agent Turner?” Chloe asked.
“I’ll introduce you to him at the reception. I believe he told Dakota he would be here for the wedding.” Megan grinned as Patsy muttered and flounced down on the sofa. “Who knows? Maybe you and he will get along great, Chloe.”
The women looked at Patsy when she huffed out a loud breath, and burst out in what seemed like a feigned laugh. “Ha ha...very funny...Chloe is more than welcome to him.”
“Really? Is he hot?” Chloe grinned wanting to know.
“Very,” Megan, Roni, and Isabella said at the same time.
Patsy stood up and glared at all of them. “I hate you all.” But then, she joined their laughter.
****
“You seriously need to sit your ass down,” Lucas muttered.
“Lucas Taggert, didn’t I tell you once before, no swearing in my church?” the reverend said as he passed through the room.
“Where the hell...”
“You too, Storm Bateman,” the reverend called out.
“I think he sneaks around waiting to catch us,” Mont said.
“I can’t sit down. I’m nervous as hel-heck,” Dakota said with a hard swallow.
“Why?” Nathan asked him.
“What if she’s changed her mind?”
Nathan laughed. “Not a chance. She loves you and you know that.”
“Yeah, I know, but...”
“No buts. She’ll be here,” Linc told him.
Storm slapped him on the shoulder. “It’ll all be over soon, my friend.”
“Your time’s coming.” Dakota glared at him.
Storm laughed. “Nope. Not gonna happen again.”
“His chance is leaving town,” Cooper said grinning.
“Would you get off this shit about Chloe,” Storm growled.
“Again, Storm. No swearing in my church.”
“What do you do, Rev? Stand behind doors just waiting for us to mess up?”
The reverend grinned. “I don’t have to hide to know how you boys talk. Let’s get you married, Dakota. Your bride is ready.”
Dakota took a deep breath and blew it out. He walked out of the room with his brothers following him and they all took their places at the altar. He watched as each beautiful woman made her way down the aisle. Then the music changed to the bridal march and Aiden led Megan to him.
His breath left his body
when he saw her. She was radiant. Her cheeks were pink, the smile on her face was ear to ear, and he’d never seen a more beautiful sight. This was actually happening.
Aiden kissed her cheek and handed her off to Dakota. “I know you’ll take care of my sister.”
“Count on it.” Dakota grinned.
“You look awfully handsome in your tux, Kota,” Megan told him.
“And you look stunning, Nutmeg. Let’s do this and start the honeymoon.” He winked at her and smiled when she blushed.
The reverend cleared his throat and shook his head. “You boys just have no respect in my church,” he said making them laugh.
“It won’t happen again, Rev. The last bad boy is getting hitched,” Storm said.
“Don’t believe it, Rev. As we’ve all said, your time’s coming, Bateman,” Lucas told him.
“Don’t even think of saying what you’re thinking, Storm,” the reverend said. “Shall we get on with this wedding?”
Dakota and Megan nodded. They repeated their vows in clear, calm voices. When they were pronounced husband and wife, Dakota lifted her veil, cupped her face in his hands, and leaned down to press his lips to hers.
“So glad you came home, baby. I’ve missed you,” he whispered against her lips.
“I missed you too, and I’m never leaving you again,” she whispered back.
Dakota smiled against her lips, kissed her again, and then together, they turned to face the guests. Everyone applauded as the couple walked down the aisle and out into the sunshine.
****
Chloe sat at the table and glanced around the room. Everyone was having fun. Everyone, it seemed, except her. She smiled when she spotted Dakota and Megan on the dance floor but barely moving, their arms wrapped around each other. She saw Emily and Lucas, and Mont and Isabella out there too. She was happy for her friends. She truly was, but this was to be her last night in Dry River. Tomorrow, she was heading back to San Diego, and her parents. To marry a man she thought of as a brother. She sighed at the thought. It was so unfair. If she could get out of it, she would and say to hell with them.
She jerked when she felt someone take the seat next to her. She looked over to see her best friend, Kendra sitting beside her with a sad expression.
“Don’t start on me, Kennie.”
“I don’t want you to go,” Kendra told her.
“I don’t want to go, but I don’t have a choice. If I could figure out a way to stay here and not lose the home and restaurant my grandmother left me, I’d do it. This is the only way I can keep them. My parents knew this. There is no doubt in my mind.”
“I think so too. I wish I could help you.”
“I know you do, but don’t worry about it. I’ll do as they ask.” Chloe shrugged. “I don’t have any choice. I’ll lose my monthly allowance, if I don’t. An allowance they intended to rip from me all along to get me to marry David. I don’t know why they just don’t merge the two hotel chains.”
“That’s something I don’t get either.” Kendra nibbled on her bottom lip.
“Some bullshit nonsense about keeping them separate business entities. The idea is all about being able to make money from both.” Chloe sighed when she spotted Storm talking with a woman she didn’t recognize. “There’s the one big regret I have about leaving. I won’t get another shot at that tall drink of water.” She jerked her chin in Storm’s direction.
Kendra looked in the direction of Chloe’s attention. “Another shot?”
Chloe waved her hand. “I meant a shot at him.”
“Now why don’t I believe you?”
“Don’t look now, but here comes your sexy husband.” Chloe silently thanked Cooper for showing up when he did. Some things she couldn’t even share with her best friend.
Kendra glanced over her shoulder. She stood and hugged Chloe. “Do not leave without talking to me tonight.”
“I won’t. I promise. Hey Coop,” she said as Cooper put his arm around Kendra.
“Hey Chloe, I’m going to steal my wife for a dance, if that’s okay.”
“You go right ahead, I’ll just sit here, and people watch for a while longer.”
Kendra smiled at her and walked to the dance floor with Cooper. Chloe sighed. She’d miss this small town. She’d made a lot of good friends here. As she glanced around the room, she smiled when she spotted Micah Turner. That man was hot with his dark brown hair and eyes, the color of dark chocolate. She followed his gaze and spotted Patsy. Chloe shook her head. She wasn’t sure what Patsy’s problem was with the man, but she thought she should seriously go for it. He was definitely interested in her. Stubborn people.
Speaking of stubborn people, she sat up a bit straighter when she saw Storm walking toward her. Shit! He pulled out a chair, spun it around, and straddled it.
“So you’re leaving tomorrow, huh?”
“Seems that way.”
“I bet Kennie hates that.” Storm took a pull on his beer.
“She does. But we’ll keep in touch.”
“You know that won’t be the same thing. She’ll miss you.”
“What about you, Storm? Will you miss me?”
He glanced away from her and back then shrugged. “Sure.”
Chloe laughed softly. “Sure you will.”
“We’re friends, Chloe—”
“Oh come on, Storm. You and I were more than friends and you know it. You may be able to forget what happened between us, but I haven’t.”
“It happened once and it was a mistake,” he growled.
Hearing that hurt much more than she’d expected. Of course, he considered it a mistake. Storm never got involved with any woman more than once.
“Is that what you tell every woman you fuck? It was a mistake.”
“Shit, Chloe. Don’t do this, all right? You’re leaving and nothing would come of it anyway. I don’t do––”
“Relationships. Yeah, I get it.” She pushed her chair back, stood, and stared down at him. “Goodbye, Storm.”
She had to get out of here or he’d see her fall apart, and she refused to let that happen. Walking outside, she took a deep breath of the evening air and gazed up at the star filled sky as a tear rolled down her cheek. Damn Storm Bateman for making her hurt like this and damn her parents for making her leave him.
**The End**
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