Page 70 of Simon Says

“It’s possible. Or maybe they saw someone coming back downstairs. Can’t hurt to check.”

Dakota said nothing.

Simon chose to see her silence as trust. “Dean, if you’ll get rid of the cab and then let Roger know what happened, I’d appreciate it.”

“I don’t hold Roger responsible,” Dakota insisted.

“He’ll still want to know. And since you were with him right before this happened, he might have noticed someone else around the area.”

“Sure thing.” Dean gave Simon a level look. “You’ll call me in the morning to let me know how it’s going?”

Simon nodded.

“And if you need anything…,” Mallet added.

“Got it.”

One by one, the men touched Dakota—her hair, her arm, her jaw. It was their way of offering sympathy and support as they left her in Simon’s care.

Suffering their concern, Dakota thanked them and tried to hurry them on their way. To Simon, she looked like a stoic trooper ready to collapse.

As soon as the others had gone, Simon made another ice pack so that she had one for her bruised face and one for her injured thigh. “Come home with me.”

She looked mildly surprised, then very defensive. “Why would I want to do that?”

Why indeed? “I want to take care of you.”

Her face scrunched up in indignation. “What am I, an infant? You guys all get beat up worse even when you win a fight, and you don’t sit around bellyaching, waiting for someone to—”

Simon kissed the bridge of her nose, effectively cutting off her tirade. “I want to talk to you, too, Dakota. And get to know you better.”

“Get to know me better?”

“That’s right.” Simon didn’t mention any form of intimacy. She wasn’t up to it, and right then, what he wanted most was for her to be safe, comfortable, and cared for. Sex would wait.

He kissed the corner of her injured mouth, curved his hand around her nape, and gave her a direct look. “And Dakota, I want you to tell me who did this to you.”

Now that they were alone, her bottom lip trembled. She immediately firmed it. “I already told you. I didn’t see anyone.”

Her shaky voice tore at his heart. “I know you didn’t.”

Her makeup was ruined, her hair tangled, and she looked as if she’d gone the distance with a heavyweight and lost. But still, she cleared her throat and made her voice strong. “Right. So how do you expect me to—”

Simon brushed her hair away from her face. “You still have a good idea who it is, don’t you, honey?”

She didn’t deny it.

“Dakota?”

As if her bold façade had worn thin, she rested her forehead on his shoulder. “You know, I pretty much hate it when people call me honey, but all of you do it.”

“All of us?”

“You and Haggerty and Mallet.”

“I’ll tell Mallet to knock it off.” Her husky and warm laugh teased Simon’s senses. He breathed in her scent, felt her heart beating against his chest, and said again, “Come home with me. Please.”

“Yeah, all right.” She lifted her face and sighed. “But just for tonight, and only because I want to get to know you better, too.”

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