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

  Sighing in despair, she got out of bed, and then walked into the adjoining bathroom to shower. Fifteen minutes later, she walked into the kitchen to find Dakota sitting at the table drinking coffee. He glanced up when she entered.

  “Good morning,” she said.

  He gave a nod, but said nothing until she took a seat at the table.

  “Who’s the client Aiden took money from?” he asked her.

  “Allegedly took money from,” she reminded him as she stared down at her coffee cup.

  He smirked. “Yeah, sure. Who was it?”

  “The bank we work at.” She shrugged.

  Dakota sputtered. “He embezzled from a bank?”

  She nodded. “Allegedly. Why?”

  Dakota stood up and ran his hand through his hair. “Jesus, Megan. Aiden’s an idiot. Not only is it a federal offense but the bank will have him prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Christ!” He paced in obvious frustration, and perhaps anger.

  “Not if he’s innocent.”

  “You’d better be right in saying he didn’t do it.”

  Megan paled. Dear God! Aiden better be telling the truth.

  She looked at Dakota. “I have to get him out of jail. He needs to hire a private detective to find out who framed him.”

  ****

  Dakota stopped pacing and stared at her. She was so naïve when it came to her brother. He had no doubt that Aiden had embezzled the money. Being an attorney and dealing with too many bad people, he knew them too well. Aiden had never come across as an honest person to him and since Dakota could listen to someone talk and know instantly if they were lying, he hadn’t trusted Aiden for a single minute after meeting him. It didn’t matter if he was Megan’s brother, Dakota’s gut was rarely wrong. Now Aiden needed his money to get him out of jail.

  Of course, once he gave her the money, Megan could leave and she’d be out of his life forever. It was what he wanted. Wasn’t it? He mentally nodded. She’d hurt him so bad and he still hurt. Especially at night, when he lay in bed thinking of her and wanting to make love with her, it pained him. It had been so good with her. Mentally shaking his head, he knew he had to get her out of his system. Somehow. Someway.

  He looked at her and his heart ached as she sat there staring at him chewing on her bottom lip. Chewing on that lip had been a favorite thing of his. Turning from her, he swore. He had to get her out of here, off the ranch, and away from him.

  “I’ll lend you the money.” He put his hand up when she started to speak. “But if he skips, you’d better find a way to pay me back. That’s a lot of money. I’m not just giving it to you.”

  Megan nodded then blinked when her eyes teared up. Moving to the window, he stared out, seeing nothing.

  “Why are you helping me, Dakota?”

  Turning, he walked to the table then sat down and looked into her eyes. “I don’t know. I suppose because you have no one else.” He shrugged. “I wish I wasn’t helping you. I don’t want anything to do with you.”

  Pushing her chair back, she stood and looked down at him. “I’m sorry you feel that way, but you’re right. I have no one else. I was hoping I could depend on you. Thank you.”

  The chair scraped on the wooden floor when he stood quickly. Dakota clenched his fists and glared. “You could always depend on me, Megan. It was me who couldn’t depend on you.”

  He stormed out of the room then climbed the stairs to his bedroom, slamming the door behind him.

  ****

  The next day, Megan entered the living room with her suitcase to see Dakota sitting in a chair watching TV.

  He looked up at her when she stopped by his chair. “Call me with the bail bondsman’s name and number and I’ll get the money to him.”

  Megan nodded.

  So that was it. What did she think was going to happen? He’d declare his undying love for her. No, he simply turned back to the TV as if to dismiss her. Biting back a sigh, she walked through the living room to the kitchen. After one last look at the room she’d spent so much time in, she pulled her coat and gloves on then walked out and climbed into the rented SUV. Looking at the house, tears rolled down her face as she put the gear in Drive and pulled away. Once again, she was leaving Slow Creek Ranch—in tears.

  Chapter Three

  Aiden walked out of the jail smiling. Megan looked at him and gave him a slight grin, her discomfort over all that had transpired leaving her less than jubilant. Dakota had done what he said. The money was there within twenty-four hours of her calling him and giving him the information for the bail bondsman. The phone call had been brief and to the point. Like a business call instead of a discussion between two people who used to love each other. She realized now that it had been such a bad idea to contact him, but she’d had no choice. Dakota was the only person she could turn to and now all the memories of having him and losing him cut her like a knife. She could go on in her life and marry someone else, but she’d never love anyone the way she loved Dakota Walker. He was such a part of her, he was inside her head, her heart, and her soul, and he’d be there until the day she took her last breath and possibly beyond that.

  Choking back a sob, she started down the steps.

  Aiden put his hand on her arm, stopping her. “Are you all right?”

  “I’ll be fine.” She smiled in an attempt to cover her despair. “I’m so glad you’re out. Now we can get down to who did this to you. We can hire a private detective and get to the bottom of this. I’m going to check in at work and let the boss know I’ll be back tomorrow. I’m sorry you lost your job, Aiden. I’m sure you’ll find another one soon. We just need to get this trial out of the way. Then we’ll be fine” She turned to look at Aiden. He wasn’t even paying attention. “Aiden?” She shook his arm.

  Jerking around, he glanced at her and smiled. “Sorry, sis. I was thinking how good it felt to be out and feel the sunshine on my face. What were you saying?”

  After repeating what she’d said, they both climbed into her car then she dropped him off at the apartment before driving on to work. Pulling into her spot, she parked and entered the building. The receptionist smiled at her as usual. She walked toward Alison’s desk. Her friend stood and hugged her. Megan hadn’t seen her since she went to see Dakota.

  “Mr. Brooks wants to see you. He told me to tell you. I guess he didn’t think you’d be in,” Alison told her.

  Megan frowned. “He didn’t say why?”

  Alison shook her head, and then smiled at her. “How was it seeing Dakota again?”

  Megan blew out a breath. “I still love him, Alison. He looked so good, possibly better than ever. He’s a sexy cowboy now. Gone is the big attorney, but he looks fantastic. That life suits him. The ranch suits him.”

  Alison hugged her again. “Maybe you need to get him back. You’re going to have to let him know how you were feeling back then.”

  “He won’t listen. He didn’t even try to stop me when I left the other day. He just doesn’t care anymore and it hurts, Alison. Even after all this time.”

  The door to the boss’s office opened and Mr. Brooks walked out, stopping when he saw Megan. Then he signaled for her to come into his office. She walked to his office, suddenly feeling as if she was walking to the guillotine. Once inside, he asked her to take a seat. She sat down and folded her hands in her lap. She didn’t have a good feeling about this.

  “Megan...this is so hard for me, but I have to let you go.”

  She couldn’t have been more shocked than if he’d stripped naked in front of her.

  “I don’t understand. Why?”

  Mr. Brooks glanced away from her. “I know you had nothing to do with your brother’s embezzling but the big man, Ball...well, he told me he doesn’t want any of you working here. I’m so sorry, Megan.”

  “But, surely that can’t be legal.”

  “Trust me when I say Ball can do whatever he wants. His great-grandparents started this bank. He could come up with any reason for firing you. I’
m so sorry.”

  Megan knew she needed to say something, but no words would come. All she could do was stare at him. He seemed sorry. She stood and put her hand out to him.

  “I understand,” she told him, although she didn’t. “I’ll clear out my desk.”

  Mr. Brooks stood and took her hand. “I wish you luck, Megan. You’re a good loan officer. I’ll be a reference for you if you need one.”

  Nodding, she turned and left his office. This couldn’t be happening. Walking to her desk, her mind raced. She couldn’t believe this. Once she reached her office, she started clearing it out. Nothing registered as she moved on autopilot. Alison was shocked when she told her what had happened.

  “But you didn’t do anything wrong. It’s not fair,” she cried.

  Megan hugged her friend. “It’s all right. I’ll be fine. I’ll get unemployment until I find a job.”

  Everyone in the office came by to give her hugs and wish her well. They were good co-workers. She’d never had a lot of friends, but they were all close in the bank. She kept the tears at bay until she reached her car and climbed into it. Gripping the steering wheel, she leaned her forehead on her hands and let the tears fall. How in the world had this happen? She wasn’t the one charged with embezzlement. In fact, no one had been convicted of anything yet. What happened to innocent until proven guilty? Aiden was her brother. Did they seriously believe she, like her brother, would embezzle from her employer? Even though Aiden hadn’t been convicted yet. Yet? Where was her thinking going? Aiden is innocent.

  She drove home and let herself into the apartment. Aiden was going to be so shocked when he found out she’d lost her job too.

  “Aiden, I’m back. You’re not going to believe this. I lost—” Megan hesitated at the silence that greeted her. “Aiden? Where are you?”

  Megan walked through the apartment. He wasn’t there. Sighing, she flopped down on the sofa. Maybe he went out for a walk. No. She had a sick feeling as she jumped up and practically ran to his room, threw the door open, and walked in. Please, no. She reluctantly opened the closet door. Most of his clothes were gone. Megan sat on the bed in shock. He had run. Just like Dakota said he would do. He ran.

  Dear God! What was she going to do? Aiden had an appointment to see an attorney tomorrow. Megan had no idea what to do. She realized she should call the attorney. He’d know what to do.

  Going through the drawer in his nightstand, she looked for the attorney’s number and called him. She could hear the anger in his voice as he told her to wait twenty-four hours and if she didn’t hear from Aiden by then, the attorney would need to contact the FBI.

  The FBI!

  Of course, they’d look for him, find him, and then he’d really be in deep trouble. A charge of embezzling through a large bank was not to be taken lightly. It certainly wasn’t a slap on the wrist kind of offense. He was in trouble. Deep trouble.

  Megan sat down in a chair and put her hands over her face. She knew what she had to do next. She had to call Dakota and she knew he’d tell her he told her so. He’d known. She should’ve listened to him. He’d had Aiden pegged from day one. When Megan had told him that Aiden had been arrested at age sixteen for breaking and entering, Dakota told her that he’d suspected Aiden had been in trouble. He just seemed too nervous around Dakota. Aiden knew Dakota thought he was a problem.

  Megan cried into her hands. She should have listened to Dakota but she just didn’t want to believe the worst about her brother. Picking up the phone, she looked at it then set back down, and decided to wait. Maybe Aiden would call or come back. She’d wait until tomorrow to call Dakota.

  But Aiden didn't call or return the next day or two days after that. She didn't know what to do. After talking with Aiden’s attorney again, he told her he had no choice but to call the FBI. Now she really dreaded calling Dakota. She’d rather call the FBI than Dakota. He'd been so sure Aiden would run. Not only did she have to tell him that, but also she had to tell him she'd lost her job. How was she going to pay him back now? She put her hands over her face and swore. Damn you, Aiden!

  As she sat on her sofa, staring out the window and wondering how her life had come to this point, a knock on her door startled her. Creeping to the door, she peered through the peephole. A man in a suit stood staring at the door. Should she open it? Maybe he was affiliated with Aiden’s attorney.

  “Who’s there?” she called out through the door.

  “I am looking for Aiden Carson,” he said with an accent. It sounded Italian to her but she wasn’t good with that sort of thing.

  “He’s not here. Are you from his attorney’s office?”

  The man laughed. “No. Just please tell him that Vincent is looking for him and he’d better hope he finds me before I find him.”

  Megan stared through the peephole and watched as the man continued to stare at the door for a few seconds before he turned and walked away. She shivered. It was as if he could see her. She didn’t know who he was, but he was scary. God! What was she going to do? Walking back to the sofa, she sat down. Knowing the time had come, whether she liked it or not, to call Dakota.

  I’d rather face a snake.

  Taking a deep breath, she picked up her phone and dialed his number.

  “Walker,” he answered.

  She shivered at the sound of his voice. So many times, she’d heard him whisper in her ear and his voice still had the same effect. She took a deep breath. “It’s me...Megan.”

  “Do you have my money?”

  Right to the point. “Um, about that––”

  “He ran, didn’t he?”

  “Yes...”

  “Son of a bitch! I knew it,” Dakota growled. “So now what, Megan? How do you plan on paying me back?”

  “That’s another thing I have to tell you, and you’re not going to be any happier than I am. I lost my job at the bank,” she said in a low voice feeling like a whipped puppy.

  Dakota’s chuckle came over the line. “Then you’d better get your pretty little ass out there and find a job. Fast.” Then without another word, he hung up.

  Megan stared at the phone in her hand. After putting it down, she got angry more with herself than anyone else...especially Dakota. He was right; she’d just have to find a job. Picking up her laptop, she searched for jobs, and then sent in her resumes, hoping she’d get some calls back soon.

  ****

  Dakota strode angrily down the aisle of the barn, knowing he’d been right and Megan had been a fool to trust Aiden. Again. Son of a bitch! Picking up a small rock from the floor of the barn, he threw it as hard as he could, barely missing his brother as he entered the building.

  “Hell, Dakota. What the fuck?” Nathan glared at him.

  “Sorry,” Dakota muttered.

  “You’ve held that temper in check for years. What set it off?”

  Taking a deep breath, he blew it out and placed his hands on his hips then hung his head. After a few seconds, he raised his gaze to Nathan.

  “Megan.”

  “Megan? Why would she be making you angry after all this time?”

  “Come on back to the house and I’ll tell you all about it.” Dakota spun on his heel and walked to the house. He knew Nathan would follow. They entered the kitchen and both took their coats, hats, and gloves off then each took a seat at the table.

  “Do you want coffee?”

  “No. I want to know why Megan has you so upset.”

  “She showed up out of the blue to borrow money to get her brother out of jail. I told her I really didn’t want to do it because I was sure he’d run, but against my better judgement...” Dakota looked at Nathan. “And he did. I knew he would. That little prick has always been trouble. Megan never sees it. He can do no wrong as far as she’s concerned. Anyway, I asked her what happens if he does run and she told me she’d pay me back herself.” Dakota laughed without humor. “Well, she just told me she lost her job.”

  “Damn. How much did you give her?”

&nbs
p; Dakota glanced away from Nathan and then back. “Ten thousand.”

  “Holy shit! Are you nuts? She still has you by the balls.”

  “No, she––”

  “The fuck she doesn’t, Dakota. Otherwise, you would have told her no to begin with.”

  Dakota hated when his brother was right. She did have him by the balls. He’d always loved her, and he hated her because of it.

  “So now I’m out ten thousand dollars.”

  “Hell no. She can get another job. It will just take her a while to pay that much back to you. What was he arrested for?”

  “Embezzling from the bank he worked at.”

  “Son of a bitch. He’s not only a fool for doing that, but he’s an even bigger fool for running.”

  “I knew he’d run. He doesn’t care about anyone but himself. I feel like such a fucking fool.”

  “You always were when it came to Megan. I’ve always been amazed she didn’t talk you into leaving here.”

  “She almost did. But once I started thinking about working here with you and becoming the D.A., nothing was going to change my mind. I really thought she’d stay here with me, Nathan. I make more money between here and the office than I did in Denver but I guess she loved the bright lights more than she loved me.”

  “I’m sure she loved you. She just made the wrong choice is all. She chose her brother.”

  “She should have chosen me, Nathan.”

  “I know that, but it is what it is. I’m sure she regrets it. Especially now.”

  Dakota stared at him and then stood to make a pot of coffee. “It doesn’t matter anymore. I’ll probably never see or hear from her again.”

  “Do you want to?”

  Dakota shrugged. “I’ll always love her. She’s the only woman I’ve ever loved.”

  “Then why make yourself miserable? Get her back.”

  “Easy for you to say, you have Shelly. I don’t feel like going through the pain of being shot down—again.”

  Nathan laughed. “You think you could hurt more than you do now? You’ve changed since she left, Dakota. You were so much in love, and it shocked all of us. Your friends and me. You always said you’d never settle down then you met Megan. She changed your mind. Go, get her back.”