Page 56 of Simon Says

Dakota spared him a glance. “Just hang by Simon’s side and women will find you.” Her smile taunted. “Seems like that’s where they all want to be.”

So she’d seen that, too. “Maybe if you keep me company, the rest of them will leave me alone.”

“And that’ll leave more for me,” Mallet added with good humor. “I’ll see what I can do about keeping them happy.”

Dakota nodded to him. “Have fun, Michael. I’m sure we’ll find each other later when it’s time to head home.”

“Why would you?” Simon asked.

She put her shoulders back. “I rode here with Michael.”

Simon towered over her. “But you’ll be leaving with me.”

Dakota patted his chest. “Not unless you plan to give Barnaby a visit.” And with that, she turned on her heel and sashayed away. “I need to visit the ladies’ room to freshen up.”

Mallet stood beside Simon and watched her go. “Hell of a woman.”

What an understatement.

Simon looked down the long hall where Dakota had disappeared. “You’ve been here more than me. Is there any other way out from the ladies’ room?”

“Nope. She’ll have to come back past you to leave.”

“Perfect.” Simon parked himself against the wall to wait for her. “So,Michael, do we understand each other now?”

He laughed. “She’s all yours, Sublime.” Then the humor disappeared. “But only because it’s obvious that’s the way she wants it.”

Was it obvious? “Noted.”

Rather than leave, Mallet took a position on the wall beside Simon. “Can I ask you something?”

“Depends on what it is.”

“Who’s Barnaby?”

Seeing no reason not to tell him, Simon said, “Apparently he’s the man who hired Dakota to find me.”

“Why?”

“She says he’s my father.”

Mallet went still. “You don’t know?”

“Never met the man. I was raised by my stepfather—and he’s Dad. I don’t give a shit about meeting this Barnaby character.”

“But Dakota does?”

It was odd to have Mallet as a confidant, but at least he wasn’t harping on the SBC and fights and training. “From what she’s said, Barnaby has something she wants. The only way she can get it is to trade me to him.” He slanted his gaze at Mallet. “So you see, it’s not my charm that has her here.”

Mallet stared at him. “You think she’s just working a business deal?”

Simon thought Dakota was more involved than that, but he couldn’t be sure. “You heard her. Everything hinges on me meeting her terms.”

Mallet pushed away from the wall, paced a few feet, and came back. “I don’t know her well—”

“Let’s keep it that way.”

“—but I can’t see Dakota being so mercenary.”

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