Simon Says

by Lori Foster

  But really, what choice did she have?

  None.

  She straightened her shoulders and had started to push the entry door open when an odd sensation skated up her spine. Someone was watching her.

  As she glanced over her shoulder, she didn’t give it much thought—until she saw the black SUV just cruising by.

  Slowly.

  An eerie sense of déjà vu made her skin prickle. The darkened windows of the vehicle kept Dakota from seeing anyone inside.

  But she knew without a doubt that someone saw her.

  And she knew that someone was smiling at her obvious alarm.

  She stiffened and stared harder, determined not to turn tail and run. The car stopped. The tension built. Unsure what she’d do, but knowing she had to do something, Dakota took a step toward the vehicle.

  And finally, it rolled away.

  Heart pounding hard, Dakota shoved the gym door open, stormed angrily inside, and ran headlong into Mallet Manchester. It was like barreling into a brick wall.

  “Oompff.” He caught her to him as they both stumbled back.

  “Mallet!” Together, they barely regained their balance. “Sorry about that.”

  His big hands opened over her back and he smiled with awareness. “No harm, honey. I don’t mind at all.”

  Oh, good grief. Dakota gave him a droll look. “You just refuse to learn, don’t you?”

  He laughed—but released her and held up both hands. “Ah, come on now. You’re not still holding a grudge, are you? Especially after you laid me low?” His smile widened. “It wasn’t my fault really. It’s just that you’re irresistible.”

  “Uh-huh. And you want to sell me a bridge, right?”

  That made him laugh again. “This time I’m innocent. You ran into me, not the other way around.” He tipped his head. “Any reason you came charging in here?”

  Recalling the car she’d seen, Dakota frowned. “Yeah, I was distracted.”

  “With what?”

  She shook her head and said without thinking, “I thought someone was following me.”

  “Following you?” Mallet’s attention went to the glass doors and he looked toward the street. “Who?”

  “Well, not really following me, I guess. Just…” How could she explain the inexplicable alarm she’d felt? “Look, it’s nothing. Just a car that went by and it seemed like someone was looking at me—”

  “I’m sure lots of men look at you.” Going all serious on her, Mallet said, “You’re hot.”

  “Uh…thanks. I think.” Dakota gave a quick glance at the doors, but saw only the regular ebb and flow of traffic. “It was probably my imagination.”

  “Well, just in case…” He eased closer. “Why don’t you let me know when you’re ready to leave today, and I’ll walk you out.”

  Such a nice offer—a much-appreciated one, too. She could face the threats on her own, but maybe showing off Mallet would be a good deterrent. “Thanks. I just might take you up on that.”

  “Good.”

  Suddenly Dakota felt another stare, this one not the least threatening. She looked beyond Mallet and found Simon standing there, full of intimidation and strength and sex appeal. He wore no expression at all, and still he managed to look irked.

  Mallet must have felt his presence, too, because he stiffened. “Okay, then.” Pretending not to know that Simon stood right behind him, he said, “I’ll see you around.”

  He turned, hesitated only a split second in front of Simon, and strode around him as if he had someplace important to be.

  Simon let him pass without a word so that he could address Dakota. “You’ll take him up on what?”

  “Nothing important.” Simon’s nearness and the impact of his presence set Dakota’s heart to pounding. To cover that reaction, she went on the verbal attack. “I thought you were going to call me after you spoke with Barnaby. I waited up half the night for you.”

  The corners of Simon’s mouth lifted. “Most women wouldn’t admit to waiting for a man’s call.”

  Most women didn’t have Barnaby Jailer breathing down their necks. “Yeah, well, I’m unique.”

  “I noticed.” Gesturing at the door, Simon said, “Why don’t we step outside to talk in private?”

  She balked—and he wondered at it.

  “Dakota?” He scrutinized her, and given his new mood, he must have come to some conclusions. “You want to tell me what’s going on?”

  “Not really.” She wasn’t about to share her deepest darkest secrets. “Let’s talk in here instead.”

  “All right.” Simon took her arm and urged her toward the wall. There were others around them, but no one close enough to overhear. “We’ll talk—as soon as you tell me what Mallet offered to do for you, and why you don’t want to go outside.”

  “You are so pushy.”

  He laughed. “That’s the pot calling the kettle black, isn’t it?”

  Dakota had to admit that he had a point. “Look, I already told you, it’s nothing.” She tipped her face up to him and smiled. “Let’s talk instead about your conversation with Barnaby.”

  “Sure. After you answer my question.”

  Given everything she’d been through, and everything she had to lose, his stubbornness annoyed her. “What do you care, anyway?”

  Simon crossed his arms over his chest in a pose she now recognized. Instead of “Sublime,” he should have been nicknamed “Ass” for sheer stubbornness.

  “This is ridiculous, Simon. It was nothing.”

  “Probably,” he agreed. “So why not tell me?”

  “Unbelievable.” Dakota crossed her arms, too. “All right, fine. I thought someone was watching me.”

  “Who?”

  “I don’t know who,” she lied. “When I looked, all I saw was a car with darkened windows, and no, it wasn’t a car I recognized.”

  “But you suspected someone, someone you don’t like or someone you fear, otherwise it wouldn’t have worried you.”

  A likely conclusion, she supposed. “You could be right. But some things are none of your business, and this is one of those things.”

  “So you were afraid?”

  Dakota threw up her hands. “Did I say that?”

  Very gently, Simon touched her cheek. “You didn’t have to. It’s odd, but I can already read your expressions.”

  Not good. The last thing she needed was Simon poking around in her psyche. She scowled at him. “Okay, smart-ass, so what am I thinking now?”

  Simon laughed. “That you’re done with this topic. I’ll let it go—for now.” He held out a hand to her. “Let’s sit in your truck to talk, and then you can head on home.”

  She hadn’t planned to turn around and leave so soon, but he didn’t give her much choice as he led her outside. Dakota noticed that he scanned the area, and that he kept her tucked in close to his side.

  She felt safe.

  She felt…protected.

  Dangerous. She absolutely would not let herself start relying on others. She most especially would not rely on Barnaby’s son. “Did it occur to you that I might not want to go home yet?”

  Simon spotted her truck in the side lot and led her toward it. “Where is home, by the way? You’re staying in a motel?”

  “Yeah. A cheesy little place not too far from here.”

  “A friend owns the Cross Streets Motel. Dean stayed there when he first came back to Harmony. You should check it out.”

  Dakota’s heart tripped at that suggestion. She barely noticed when Simon opened her driver’s door and waited for her to get inside. As soon as he settled in on the passenger’s side, she asked, “Are you suggesting I stay in Harmony for a while?”

  Staring into her eyes, Simon hesitated only a moment before he leaned forward to kiss her.

  Dakota didn’t move out of reach, but she did groan. Against his mouth, she asked, “Why do you keep doing this to me?”

  “Hell if I know.” His breath warmed her; he caught her bottom
lip in his teeth for a gentle nip. “I can’t seem to help myself.” His hand settled in her hair, his long fingers cupping her skull and tipping her head so that he could seal the kiss, take it deeper, make it hotter.

  Even knowing she had a hundred things to discuss with him, Dakota gave in and relished the taste of him, the heated scent that clung to him, the confident way he touched and kissed her.

  When Simon finally ended the kiss, they were both breathing harder. He put his forehead to hers. “I didn’t call last night because I wanted to talk to you in person.”

  “All right.” She took a few more seconds to calm herself. “Let’s hear it.”

  “I spoke with Barnaby.”

  Still tasting him on her lips, Dakota said, “I know.”

  He leaned away to frown at her. “You do?”

  “Yeah. He called me.”

  Simon’s expression darkened. “What did he say?”

  He’d said a lot, all of it ugly and mean and, in some ways, desperately threatening. Not that Barnaby scared her. He was a worm and she despised him, but he’d never really gained that power over her.

  Dakota saw no point in sharing all that with Simon. If he found out that Barnaby was her stepfather, one thing would lead to another and eventually she’d reveal her past—a past that shamed her, a past she’d worked hard to overcome.

  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 hus
band.”

  CHAPTER 6

  SIMON 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.”