Page 61 of Simon Says

What had they talked about in the restroom? Had Dakota admitted to caring for him? Simon wasn’t sure. “You’re basing that on what?”

“On the fact that she doesn’t want to interfere with your fight.” She held up a hand to stall any comments from him. “I’ve seen it plenty of times now, Simon. The women who really care don’t get in the way. The ones who whine and want all the attention are only in it for that—the added attention that comes with dating a well-known SBC fighter.”

“Why would Dakota think she’s interfering?”

“I’m afraid that was my fault. I told her Dean was worried. I wasn’t insinuating that he was worried about her, and when she made that jump, I corrected her.” She touched Simon’s arm. “But he is worried, and you understand why. Harley isn’t an untried rookie.”

“I wouldn’t make a comeback against a rookie.”

“Stow the ego, okay? You know exactly what I’m saying. Harley is making his way to the top by demolishing experienced fighters. You can take him, we all know that. But you have to be ready for him.”

“And I will be.” Harley was the least of Simon’s concerns right now. But then, maybe that’s what worried Dean.

“You were a trainer for a long time. I’m sure you know what you’re doing. But if you were training you—”

He smiled. “That’d be a little hard to do, Eve.” Just then, Simon spotted Dakota making her way across the floor.

She was heading straight for Barber, damn it.

Exasperated, Eve said, “You know what I’m asking.”

“Yeah.” Simon ran a hand over his head. “I’d be kicking my ass and telling me to focus.” But how could he, with Dakota filling his head?

“And you know why you’re not focusing?” Eve lifted her arms to make her point.“Dakota.”

Though he’d just pegged her as the source of his distraction, Simon chided Eve. “Don’t blame her.”

“As I told her, no one blames her.” Eve pointed her finger at him. “Everyone blames you. But Dakota put it together. She’s not a dummy.”

“No. She understands more about the sport than any woman I’ve met.” As Simon watched Dakota finally reach Barber, he thought about Dean’s wife and sisters. They liked the sport, and they tried to learn more about it, but they weren’t into it the way Dakota was. She genuinely liked it, had followed it from the beginning, and she knew as much about him and his experience in the SBC as Simon knew himself.

“Dakota told me that she shouldn’t have come here. That she should have left long ago. Then out of the blue, I could see that she’d made up her mind. She will leave, Simon.”

Still staring at her with Barber, he said, “I have to talk to her.” No way in hell was he ready to let her go.

“Let Roger convince her to take a job here first. That’ll be a good bargaining chip.”

“Maybe.” A job she loved would be a good incentive for staying. But she wasn’t talking to Roger. She was talking to that damned Barber.

“If he doesn’t convince her, you can encourage her in that regard. First, though, you have to show her that you have your priorities straight.”

With obvious annoyance, Barber caught Dakota’s arm and led her to a more private corner of the floor. “My number one priority being…?”

“The upcoming fight. As long as Dakota thinks she’s keeping you from doing your best, she won’t stick around.”

Hoping to appease Eve so he could go to Dakota, Simon said, “Right. Got it.”

“But she can also be a priority, just in a different way.”

“Okay.” Had Dakota already finished with Roger?

“Simon, listen to me. You have to resolve whatever conflict you two have going on. If Dakota knows that you’re committed to her, then seeing you with other women won’t affect her the same way.”

“Committed to her?” That got his attention off Dakota and her friend. He snorted. “I’ve only known her a week, Eve.”

“So?”

So Dakota had only come to Harmony because Barnaby hired her, which was something she hadn’t bothered to admit up front. Not a good basis for trust or commitment. But Simon didn’t want to go into that right now. “You haven’t heard the whole story, Eve.”

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