Page 91 of Simon Says

“What am I supposed to do with her?”

“Take her home.”

Bonnie said,“Noooo…,”and Simon found himself back in her embrace.

Barber shrugged. “You see my predicament. I can’t exactly force her.”

It needed only this, Simon thought. “Start at the beginning. What do you mean that you got jumped?”

“Just that. I was unlocking her car when three guys showed up.” He rubbed his shoulder. “One was swinging a pipe.”

Holding Bonnie at bay, Simon tried to maneuver her toward Barber. She wasn’t having it. Somehow she plastered herself to him and put her face in his neck. He felt her mouth sucking at his throat, felt her nails digging into his flesh.

In disgust, Simon turned toward the couch—and found Dakota standing there. She looked both stunned and annoyed. Though she’d pulled on her jeans, she also had a blanket wrapped around herself. Her long hair hid the bruising on her face.

Perfect, Simon thought. Just freaking perfect. “I thought you were going to stay in bed.”

Barber’s head jerked up. At the sight of Dakota, his eyes widened and he looked genuinely shocked, then derisive. He tsked. “Well, well. Now I’m doubly sorry we intruded.”

“What’s going on?”

Barber snorted. “I don’t need to ask you the same thing, do I?”

Simon growled. The sound startled him as much as it did Bonnie, who levered away in surprise.

Barber just laughed—the annoying ass. “Well, Dakota darlin’, for the most part, mine is a tale of drunken revelry.”

Stepping further into the room, Dakota said, “Funny. You don’t sound drunk.” Clutching the blanket with one hand, she used the other to tuck her long hair behind her ears.

As she did so, Barber took a second look. His slouched posture was exchanged with rigid outrage. “What the hell happened to you?”

Almost as quickly, he turned on Simon with accusation.

“Don’t.” With Bonnie squeezing the breath out of him, Simon said, “Not for a second.”

Barber continued to glare, but not long. “Right.” He headed toward Dakota. “You wouldn’t be here with him if he’d done this.”

“Don’t be an idiot. Simon wouldn’t hurt me any more than you would.”

Simon watched as Barber gently held Dakota’s face, examined each hurtful mark, then bent and kissed her brow.

And Dakota let him.

“Tell me what happened,” Barber whispered.

“You first,” Dakota insisted.

“No way, doll.”

Rolling her eyes, Dakota said, “I fell down some stairs, that’s all.”

So she didn’t plan to tell Barber her suspicions? For whatever reason, that made Simon feel better.

“Uh-huh.” Barber continued to hold her in a far too familiar way. “Try again.”

Seeking his help, Dakota looked at Simon in exasperation.

He peeled Bonnie’s arms away and urged her into a chair. She fell back, sunk into the cushions, and looked ready to pass out.

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