Page 55 of Simon Says

Was she an athlete or a femme fatale? A PI or a performer? Did she really want him, or just his cooperation with Barnaby?

Would the real Dakota please stand up?

Or better still, lie down.

In his bed.

Maybe when he had her soft and sated from an extended sexual marathon, all her defenses would be down and he’d be able to uncover her secrets. That idea appealed to Simon. A lot.

For three more songs, Dakota stayed onstage, dancing, singing, playing different instruments. When she took her last bow, Simon saw that her hair clung to her forehead and throat, and that her cheeks were dewy from her exertions and the bright lights.

He was so turned on that he hurt with it.

She exited off the back of the stage, and Simon circled around to meet her. Mallet had the same idea.

They almost ran into each other.

Mallet halted first. “Hey. What’s up, Sublime?”

Simon cut through his small talk. “You brought Dakota here?”

“She insisted.”

“Twisted your arm, did she?”

Suddenly Mallet’s reserve left him and he planted his big feet in a defiant stance. “Actually, she promised to wear a dress, and I couldn’t resist. Now that I’ve seen her, I have to say I’m glad I agreed.”

Simon was glad, too, but that wasn’t the point. “I told you to stay away from her.”

Mallet shrugged. “Yeah, you did. But then you didn’t exactly follow up with her, so I figured you’d lost interest.”

“I haven’t.”

“Can’t prove it by me.”

Shit. Would every fighter at the gym now want to challenge him for Dakota’s attention? If so, Simon supposed he’d have to cement things with her, and fast, in order to deter the others. “Stay tuned, then. But do it from a distance. Do I make myself clear?”

“I hear ya. But I’ll have to ask Dakota about it.”

Dakota came around the corner just then. With one hand she held a fistful of her hair off her neck, and with the other she straightened the hem of her dress. “Ask me about what?”

Mallet smiled while handing her shoes to her. “Whether or not you want me to keep my distance.”

She released her hair and bent to step into her shoes, but her gaze darted between both men. “We’re friends. No one tells me who I can or can’t be friends with.”

Simon crossed his arms over his chest. “You seem to have a lot of male friends.”

She shrugged. “I haven’t counted, but maybe. Men are easier to get along with than women.” With her heels back on, she sauntered over to him. “Case in point is your little lady friend who kept staring daggers at me. She doesn’t even know me, but she made it clear that she doesn’t like me.”

“Don’t worry about Bonnie.”

“Oh, I wasn’t worried. But if you care about her, keep her away from me. I’m not big on putting up with snippy bitches.”

Simon grinned. Acrimony? Jealousy? He hoped so. “She’s probably already left.”

“And you aren’t going with her? That’s not very gallant of you.”

Mallet rolled his eyes. “If you two are all made up now, I think I’ll go scope out the single women.”

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