Page 163 of Simon Says

He laughed harder, put his forehead to hers and said, “I love you, too.” Then, teasing, he added, “If your sexual energy didn’t do it, the way you fight would have tipped the scales. You really are one impressive lady.”

With that resolved, Dakota wrapped her arms around him. New worry settled on her and she wanted Simon’s support. “I haven’t read the letters yet.”

“Afraid to?”

She nodded. “Dumb, huh?”

“Not dumb at all.” He turned her face up to his. “Would you like me to look at them for you?”

Dakota bit her lip, but in the end, she gave up some of that hard-won independence. “I’d appreciate it if you did. Just in case it’s bad.”

“Come on.” He led her inside the room and shut the door. “Get dressed, okay?”

While she did that, he picked up the envelopes and pulled out the letters. Dakota could barely change her clothes with the way her heart thundered and her hands shook—until she saw Simon smile.

He laid down one letter and went on to the next. Then the next. Finally he sat in a chair and said, “Come here, Dakota.”

She went to him, and he pulled her onto his lap. “Your mother loved you a lot, honey. You have no reason to fear reading these.”

“If you say so.”

“I say so. Trust me.”

“Of course.” So with Dakota held in Simon’s arms, she read her mother’s last words to her, words of forgiveness and remorse and understanding.

Words of love.

DAKOTAtwisted out of a move, but not fast enough. Barber ended atop her in the mounted position. “Tap,” he said.

“No.”

Leaning closer, he pinned down her arms. He could feel her straining, and said again, “You’re beat, woman. Admit it.”

Trying not to laugh, Dakota shook her head. “Never.”

She looked adorable sweaty. Why had he never realized that before? Barber stared at her, she stared back.

And out of the blue, without really thinking it through, he kissed her right on the mouth.

The kiss was a revelation for him; short and light, but definitely not of the friendly sort. As he lifted his head, he knew he’d made a terrible mistake. Good God, he loved her. He wanted her happy, and she was.

With Simon.

If he’d just caused a rift in their friendship, he’d kick his own ass.

“Dakota…” He loosened his hold, saw the spark in her eyes, and suddenly she punched him.

“Damn.” Barber flinched in pain before laughing. Leave it to Dakota to react so strongly. “Well, that’s answer enough.”

Shoving him away, she sat up. Seeing his bloody mouth only made her angrier. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

He fingered his lip, licked at it, and shrugged. “I just wanted to be sure, that’s all.”

“Sure of what?”

“That I don’t have a chance.”

Her face fell. “Oh, Barber. Simon said…that is…”

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