Dakota Bad Boys of Dry River, WY Book 5 Read online

  Megan had met him when he was thirty-one and he was already a wealthy young man. She fell in love hard and she had to admit that part of it was the thought of never worrying about how to pay the bills. Growing up, she had watched her parents struggle to pay the bills every month. There were times she’d come home from school to find the electric had been shut-off due to her parents not being able to pay the bill. Her father was an alcoholic and drank all the money away. Her mother never held a job since her father wouldn’t allow it. Megan snorted. Wouldn’t allow it. How antiquated.

  Ten years ago, her mother died of cancer. Not two months later, her father had passed away in his sleep. Megan and Aiden struggled on their own for years. Then she met Dakota. She knew now she’d been so wrong to think his money would make them happy. She’d been a fool and wished she could go back in time and change what she’d done. It didn’t matter if Dakota had money, it was only after he was gone that she realized it was only him she’d needed. What a crazy fool she’d been. Prince or pauper, she’d always love him either way.

  Staring at the house, she glanced around. It looked deserted. Other than her, who would be out in the snow anyway? The ranch hands were probably in the barns or at their homes. Dakota was probably in the house, unless he was still at his office in town. Nibbling on her bottom lip, she’d never thought of that.

  Sighing, she shut off the engine, opened the door, and stepped out. Just then, a man came walking out from the barn, his brown cowboy hat sitting low on his forehead. He wore a shearling coat, and work gloves. When he glanced toward her, she saw the hesitation in his step. Watching him walk toward her, she saw him shake his head. He was fifteen feet away when she caught her breath.

  Dakota.

  Stopping in front of her, he stared at her, tilting his head to the side. She couldn’t believe he was the same man she’d fallen in love with. He was...hell, she couldn’t even think of a word to describe the sexy cowboy standing in front of her.

  His hair was longer than she’d ever seen him wear it, touching the bottom of his coat’s collar, and covering the top part of his ears. In front of those ears were sideburns blending into stubble that covered the lower part of his face, strong jaw, and neck. He had never looked more attractive or sexier. He was, without a doubt...drop dead gorgeous. Gone was the slick attorney and in his place stood one hell of a sexy cowboy.

  “Can’t take a hint, huh?” Dakota asked her as he folded his arms across his chest.

  “Hint?” Megan knew she sounded breathless, and she was, but not because of the cold.

  “I would think if someone hung up on me, it would mean they had no desire to talk to me on the phone or in person.”

  Megan blushed. “I told you I needed to talk to you––”

  “And I told you we have nothing to talk about.” Glancing away from her, he swore then looked back to her. “As much as I hate to invite you in, it’s too damn cold to stand out here. Come on.”

  Spinning on his heel, he walked toward the back door leaving her to follow or leave. After a slight hesitation, she followed. Once inside, he removed his coat and walked into the laundry room off the kitchen.

  Taking her coat off, she hung it on the back of one of the chairs at the table then pulled the chair out, and took a seat. Looking around the kitchen, she smiled as she remembered being here. When he re-entered the room, she saw him frown when he saw her smiling. Good Lord, she couldn’t breathe. Her gaze ran over him. His hair looked so soft that her fingers itched to touch it. Although it was longer, it looked so good on him. His flannel shirt hugged his broad chest.

  She watched as he rolled the sleeves up to below his elbows. She’d always loved his forearms. Well-muscled and the dark hair was always a turn-on for her. Her eyes skimmed down his flat stomach to his narrow waist and hips. Closing her eyes for a second when they landed on his fly. She knew what was behind it and his jeans left little to the imagination. They hugged him just right. Her eyes took in the well-worn cowboy boots and they were even sexy to her. She shivered.

  Lifting her gaze to his face, she knew she was probably turning ten shades of red when she saw he was looking at her with a black eyebrow raised.

  “Thinking back, Nutmeg?” He smiled smugly.

  Looking away from him, she shrugged. “Don’t call me that. Do you have coffee? I’m cold.”

  He scoffed, but took the coffee down from the cupboard and made a pot while she sat there. Neither said anything while he worked then leaning a hip against the counter, he stared at her.

  “What do you want, Nutmeg?” he asked in a low tone of voice.

  “Please don’t call me that.”

  Dakota smirked. “Why not? You used to love it.”

  Glaring at him, she slowly stood. “That was a long time ago, Dakota.”

  Walking over to her, he stopped in front of her towering over her. “Not so long ago that I’ve forgotten how it was between us. I’ll call you Nutmeg because it reminds me of what a fool I was. How I believed you loved me. How you refused to come here with me.”

  “I did love you, Dakota and you know it.” She refused to look away from him.

  He grunted. “Your idea of love and mine must be very different because a woman stays with the man she loves. Something you didn’t do. You didn’t love me; you loved my money and my lifestyle in Denver. Once you knew I was giving it up to live on a ranch and work here, you ran.”

  There was no sense in trying to convince him otherwise. What he said was true. She gazed up at him. He spun away from her.

  “So, why are you here, Nutmeg?” he growled.

  Clearing her throat, she said. “Aiden’s in trouble.”

  Dakota laughed without humor. “Aiden’s always in trouble.”

  “Not like this. He’s in jail. The court set a hundred-thousand-dollar bail.”

  Dakota turned to look at her. “He must have really done something wrong to have that kind of bail ordered. What did he do?”

  “He’s accused of embezzling from...from the people he worked for.” Her knees started to shake so she sat back down.

  “He’s always been in trouble, and yet you do whatever you can to get him out of it. You’re a fool, Megan.”

  Jumping up from the chair again, she glared at him. “I am not a fool. He’s my brother! He says he’s being set up.”

  “And you believe him? Yeah, you’re a fool.” Dakota paced. When she clenched her hands into fists, he grinned at her in such a way that it sent a shiver down her spine.

  “Don’t even think about it, I might hit back. Sit down.” Walking to the table, he pulled out a chair, spun it around, and straddled it. “I still don’t know why you’re here.”

  “I need to...I want to borrow money from you for his bail.”

  Dakota jerked back as if she’d slapped him. “You’re serious? You want to borrow...what? Ten thousand dollars—from me—to get your brother out of jail. Your brother who may just be guilty? Your brother who may just cut and run?”

  “He won’t run. He wants to get out so he can find out who set him up.”

  “Good God, Megan, he really has you fooled, doesn’t he?” When she started to say something, he waved his hand at her. “What if I do let you...borrow this money. What do I get out of it?”

  “Get out of it? What do you mean?”

  “That’s a lot of money. I’m supposed to just give it to you and get nothing for it?” He shook his head. “Doesn’t seem fair. I need something in return.”

  “You’ll get it back after he goes to trial. The bail will be returned.”

  “Not if he runs,” Dakota said quietly.

  “He won’t run,” Megan said with adamant conviction while hoping her brother wouldn’t prove Dakota right.

  “If he does? Then what? How do I get my money back?”

  “I’ll...pay you back...somehow.” Tears were threatening and she refused to let him see them.

  “You have a good job?” he asked. “Better be a damn good one, Megan. I w
on’t just give that much money away.”

  “I don’t have to worry. He will not run.”

  Smirking, he leaned forward over the back of the chair. “You came all the way out here, but have no plan as to how to pay me back when Aiden runs...and he will run, Megan. I guarantee it. I’ve been an attorney for a long time now and I know a runner when I see one.”

  “He won’t! He gave me his word.”

  Dakota narrowed his eyes at her. “His word doesn’t mean shit. He has no idea what it means to give his word.” Standing, he stared down at her. “I’ll have to think about it for a few days. Meanwhile, you can stay in the spare bedroom. You know which one it is. I’ll get your suitcase from the SUV unless you’ve already gotten a motel room?”

  Shaking her head, she watched as he put his coat and hat on then head out the back door.

  ****

  What in the hell is wrong with you, Walker?

  Dakota berated himself, admitting that having her in his home was not what he wanted. What he wanted was for her to get out of his life and out of his system for good. With her in his home, it wasn’t going to do the trick. Standing outside in the cold for a few minutes, he exhaled and watched as a puff of air formed in front of him. Christ! He must be crazy. Pulling her suitcase from the backseat, he turned and stared at the house.

  Walking to the back door, he hesitated before going back in. Reaching out to the doorknob, he turned it and entered the kitchen. She wasn’t at the table. Walking to the stairs, he looked up. Sighing, he climbed the stairs, and strode to the room he knew she would be in and knocked on the door. She opened the door to him and even as he was unable to look away, he handed her the suitcase. She was still so beautiful. The long nutmeg colored hair, which he longed to bury his face in, swirled around her shoulders. Her pert little nose with freckles across it, and light green eyes completed a beautiful package. He’d always loved her eyes. From the minute he’d met her, when she’d backed into his car, he’d loved her eyes.

  Hell, he’d loved her. He’d avoided falling in love a long time but the minute he saw her, he was a goner. He hadn’t cared about the hole in his car; he just knew he had to get to know the beautiful woman standing in front of him. Shaking his head as if to clear cobwebs, he glanced away from her. She’d always been stubborn so he should’ve known she’d show up. That was how she was—push her, and she pushed back. One of the reasons he’d fallen in love with her. One of many, anyway. Now, here she was.

  “I’ll see you in the morning,” he told her.

  Looking up at him with tears in her eyes, she whispered. “Thank you.”

  “Don’t thank me yet. I haven’t said I’ll do it.” Turning away, he strode down the hallway letting his anger get the better of him. Entering his bedroom, he slammed the door then stalked more than strode to the bed where he sat on the edge of it then laid back, closing his eyes.

  The memories came roaring back.

  Dakota knocked on the door and when it opened, a young man stood on the other side.

  “I’m Aiden. Megan’s brother. Come on in.”

  Dakota nodded and entered. “Dakota Walker.”

  He glanced around the small apartment. Although sparsely furnished, it was clean. Aiden told him to have a seat.

  “Megan told me she hit your Vette. That’s a shame.”

  “It wasn’t that bad,” Dakota said, shrugging.

  Aiden laughed. “Anytime a Vette is hit, it’s bad. Are you driving it tonight? I’d like to see it.”

  “No. I have my Mercedes.” Something about the younger man didn’t sit well with Dakota. Being a good judge of character, he knew something was off with Aiden Carson.

  When Megan entered the living room, Dakota stood. She gave him a shy smile that made him grin.

  “You look beautiful, Megan,” he told her.

  “Thank you. So do you,” she told him, and then blushed. She was wearing a green cotton dress that ended just above her knees but hugged her body like a second skin. She probably had no idea how it made her eyes appear greener and her hair more red. On her feet were white high heels with peek-a-boo toes. She blushed again when he ran his eyes over her.

  “Are you ready to go?” he asked. She nodded and grabbed her purse.

  They told Aiden goodnight and left. At his vehicle, Dakota opened the door for her and she slid into the front passenger seat. Dakota walked around the front, got in, and looked at her before starting the car. She returned his gaze with an expectant expression.

  “You are so beautiful,” he said and then turned his attention from her, and started the car.

  After pulling into the parking lot of one of the most expensive places in the Denver area, he shifted the gear into Park, climbed out, and walked around the front of the car to open her door. He put his hand out for her. When she put her hand in his, he pulled her up to stand beside him.

  She was tall in her heels, close to six foot but he was still taller by quite a few inches since he stood six feet four. Holding hands, they entered the restaurant. It was crowded, but he had reserved a table. The waiter escorted them to a table in the corner. She smiled at him and gave a small laugh after they took their seats. He raised his eyebrow at her.

  “All the women are looking at you,” she said laughing.

  He shrugged. “I only want one woman looking at me. You.”

  Megan blushed again. Dakota chuckled. “You blush so easily. It must be that reddish hair.” He tilted his head. “Nutmeg. That’s what the color reminds me of...nutmeg.”

  Megan laughed. The waiter came over and took their order. Dinner was wonderful and the conversation flowed easy as if they’d always known each other. After dinner, they walked hand in hand to his car.

  “I’ve really enjoyed tonight, Dakota,” she told him.

  “It doesn’t have to end.” He couldn’t keep his eyes off her lips.

  “You said dinner. Nothing else.” She smiled at him.

  “I don’t think I said nothing else.”

  She laughed. “I meant you invited me to dinner and nothing else.”

  “Ahhh, I see. If I would have said there would be more after dinner, would you have gone out with me?”

  She blushed as she gazed up at him. “Probably.”

  Hissing in a breath, Dakota stared at her. “Damn it, Megan. Don’t say things like that.”

  “Why not? It’s true.”

  His eyes roamed over her face and settled on her lips. She licked her bottom lip. He groaned and stepped closer to her then cupped her face in his hands and leaned toward her. She tipped her face up to him. When he pressed his lips against hers, he jerked back.

  “Did you feel that?”

  “I did. Kiss me, again.”

  Pressing his lips to hers, he ran his tongue along her lower lip. She moaned. He pulled her tighter against his tall frame as his arms wrapped around her waist while her arms wound around his neck and held him tightly. The kiss deepened. She opened her mouth wider to him and his tongue moved into her mouth. When hers moved against his, he growled low in his throat. His hands moved down to her butt and pulled her tighter against him. She gasped. He lifted his lips from hers.

  “Do you feel what you do to me, Nutmeg? I want you,” he said against her lips.

  When Megan pulled his mouth back to hers, he pushed her back against the car and leaned into her, pushing his hips against her. Her moans filled his mouth and he’d never wanted a woman more.

  Dakota awoke with a start. He must have dozed off. He sat up and ran his hands down his face. Son of a bitch! He hadn’t dreamed of her in a long time. For months after he came back to Dry River, he hadn’t slept much because every time he closed his eyes, he saw her. Under him. Above him. Laughing with him and finally, yelling at him.

  With a groan, he stood and walked to the bathroom to take a shower. She had to go, and once gone, she had to stay out of his life for good. She never wanted this life before and he knew she still didn’t. It was time to move on. He used to te
ll his friends he never wanted to settle down and now he knew why. Since Megan had walked out of his life, he knew he’d always live alone. The one woman he would always love didn’t return that love anymore—if she ever had. Dakota now found it very hard to believe she’d ever really loved him. If she had, she would have followed him and supported him.

  ****

  Megan couldn’t sleep. Sitting up, she reached for the lamp on the nightstand, turned it on, and immediately thought of Dakota. He could turn her on with a look, which was dangerous enough but anytime he kissed her, she was definitely lost. Being in this house was bringing back too many memories. Good memories but there had been bad ones too. The day she’d told him she wouldn’t move here with him, they’d been in the barn. A tear rolled down her cheek. She couldn’t think about that now. It still hurt so much.

  Lying back down on the bed, she stared at the ceiling. Knowing he was just down the hall, that he was so close made her chest hurt. She wanted him, needed him, but she couldn’t have him. Closing her eyes, she finally drifted off.

  When she woke up the next morning, she felt as if she hadn’t slept at all. She probably hadn’t much because every time she closed her eyes, she started to dream about Dakota. He’d loved her so much and she’d thrown it away. Actually, she was surprised at how nice he was actually being to her...well, except for calling her Nutmeg. He’d called her that when he was making love with her or kissing her. Now he was only calling her that to remind himself of how she’d hurt him. A reminder of what a fool he’d been, he’d said. He didn’t believe she’d loved him, only his money. But she had loved him then, and she still did now.