Page 44 of Simon Says

“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.”

“I wasn’t scared!”

Simon knew fear when he saw it, but he wouldn’t push it. “Concerned, then.”

“Look, it doesn’t matter. It probably wasn’t him.” She glanced at the watch on her wrist. “It was a big mistake on my part, all of it.”

“How so?”

She flexed her hands on the wheel, struggled with her thoughts, and finally snapped, “I’m just a little jumpy where he’s concerned, okay?”

“Why?”

Her jaw worked as she calculated her next move. She turned her head toward Simon. “Are you going to go see Barnaby?”

He hated to disappoint her, but…“No. I already told you that I wasn’t.”

Her temper flared, and her voice rose. “Then get your nose out of my business, and your butt out of my truck.”

Instead, Simon crossed his arms. “We’re dealing now, is that it? What’s at stake here, Dakota? Let’s get it all clear right now.”

She didn’t back down. “All right, fine. If you want to know my private business, though I have no idea why you would, then you have to do me a damn favor and go see Barnaby.”

“What if I want to sleep with you?”

That took her by surprise and her face went blank.

Simon wondered at it. Surely Dakota knew her own appeal, and he sure as hell hadn’t been subtle about his interest. “I do, you know.”

Recovering, Dakota said, “Forget it. Ain’t happening.”

“Wanna bet?”

Her eyes widened. “You can’t be serious!”

“Why? You want me, too. We already established that.” Curious at just how desperate she might be, Simon pushed her a little more. “If I go see Barnaby, will that guarantee you in my bed?”

All the small muscles in her face pinched taut. Simon half expected her to slug him, and he braced for it.

What he got instead was her embarrassment, and an admission.

“I’d probably sleep with you either way. But no, it wouldn’t have anything to do with you seeing Barnaby.”

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