Page 27 of Simon Says

“A few months.” But he didn’t want to talk about Bonnie. “So tell me, Dakota, what do you do when you’re not hanging out at gyms waiting for men you don’t know? You mentioned that you have to travel a lot?”

A big smile brightened her expression. “Most of the time, I perform.”

“Dare I ask?”

She laughed. “I’m a singer. Sometimes I go solo, sometimes I hook up with a band. Depends on the job, and they vary a lot. I’ve done weddings and parties for a one-shot deal. And I’ve done bars and clubs where I stayed on for a few months at a time.”

Yeah, Simon could see her front and center, entertaining men. She’d be a hit. Her voice was mellow and rich, and easy on the ears. “So you do have a real job, just not an ordinary one.”

“Listen to who’s talking!” She reached over to slug him on the shoulder. “Like being a professional fighter for the SBC is in any way ordinary.”

“You’ve got me there.” Simon pried the lid off his cottage cheese and pineapple. It looked good. “You want to sing me something while I eat this?”

She laughed again. “No way.”

“Shy?”

“Nope, not even a little. But this is hardly the time or place.”

“Why not?” Simon glanced around at the interior of the truck, then the empty grounds of the park. “Eating in a truck in the rain in the cold is a first for me. We might as well top it off with live entertainment.”

Dakota shoved her empty food containers back into a bag. “I had thought we’d sit outside to eat. I was going to brave the cold for you, Simon. I’m sorry it didn’t work out.”

“Why?” He ate the rest of his meal in a few big bites. “Why go to all this trouble? You still haven’t told me what it is you want.”

“I know.” She put her hands together. “I needed to talk to you, but not in a busy diner, and not at the gym. What I have to say…well, it’s better done in private.”

Simon eyed her. “If we’d ever had sex, I’d think you were pregnant or something.” Her eyes widened. “But that sure as hell can’t be it since I haven’t touched you.”

“No.”

He watched her, and added, “Yet.”

Her mouth opened, but nothing came out.

“So what is it, Dakota?”

“Well,” she hedged. “You know, it’s ironic that you’d mention fatherhood.”

Enough was enough. Simon cleared away the empty containers with an edgy type of impatience. “Stop dancing around about it and just tell me.”

She sucked in a deep breath and, watching for his reaction, said, “Your dad wanted me to fetch you home.”

Alarm slammed into Simon. “My dad?”

“Yes. He wants…needs to see you.”

But he’d just seen both his mother and his father not that long ago. Still, fear took over. Simon dug out his cell phone from his pocket and punched in the familiar number.

Alarm brought Dakota upright. “What are you doing?”

“Calling my dad.” She started to say something, and he held up a finger to silence her. “Dad? Hey, what’s going on?”

His usual jovial self, Reid Evans laughed. “Not much, son. What’s up with you?”

As briefly as possible, Simon explained Dakota. As he spoke, she shook her head at him and kept trying to interrupt, but Simon didn’t give her a chance. Finally, she threw up her hands and slumped back in her seat with a mulish expression.

Reid Evans had never met anyone named Dakota Dream. He knew nothing about her. He had no idea who she might be or what she might want.

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