Page 36 of Whiskey and Wildfire

Caroline cleared her throat softly, reminding me we weren’t alone. I reluctantly pulled away from Dakota, feeling a blush creep up my cheeks.

“I should... I should get some sleep,” I mumbled, avoiding eye contact with both of them.

Dakota nodded, his hand lingering on my arm. “Of course. I’ve got things handled out here. You rest up.”

“Thanks,” I said, finally meeting his gaze. The concern in his eyes made my heart skip a beat. “I’ll... I’ll fill you in on everything later.”

He gave my arm a gentle squeeze before letting go. “Whenever you’re ready. I’m here if you need anything.”

I nodded, then turned to Caroline. But her eyes were on Dakota. She stepped up to him, punching him hard in the shoulder.

“That’s for turning me down,” she said. But before Dakota could say anything, she did it again. “And that’s a warning.”

He rubbed his shoulder, his brows furrowed. “A warning? For what?!”

“A warning should you decide not to take good care of my baby brother,” she growled, getting close. “Cuz if you don’t, you’ll have me to answer to.”

Then, without waiting for a reply, she turned on her heel and headed back toward the house. I watched Caroline stomp off, feeling a mix of embarrassment and gratitude. She may be brash, but she always had my back. I turned to Dakota, who was still rubbing his shoulder with a bemused expression.

“Sorry about that,” I mumbled, not quite meeting his eyes. “She’s just... protective.”

Dakota’s lips quirked into a small smile. “It’s alright. I can take a punch. Besides, I reckon I deserve it for how I handled things with her before.”

We stood there for a moment, an awkward silence stretching between us. There was so much I wanted to say, so much I needed to process, but exhaustion was quickly overtaking me.

“I should...” I gestured vaguely towards the house.

“Yeah, of course,” Dakota nodded. “Get some rest. I’ll take care of things out here.”

As I turned to leave, Dakota caught my arm gently. “Logan,” he said softly, his dark eyes full of concern. “I know you’ve got a lot on your plate right now. But don’t forget, I’m here if you need me. For anything.”

I nodded, feeling a lump form in my throat. “Thanks,” I managed to croak out before quickly heading towards the house. However, I only made it a few steps before I turned around. “Dakota?”

“Yeah?”

“Can… Can I sleep in your bed?”

Dakota’s eyes widened slightly, a mix of surprise and something softer flickering across his face. He hesitated for just a moment before nodding slowly.

“Of course,” he said, his voice low and gentle. “You know where everything is. Make yourself at home.”

I felt a wave of relief wash over me. The thought of being alone in my childhood bedroom, surrounded by memories of happier times with my family, suddenly felt unbearable. Dakota’s cabin, with its simple furnishings and comforting scent of pine and leather, seemed like a sanctuary.

“Thanks,” I mumbled, feeling a blush creep up my neck. “I just... I can’t...”

“You don’t have to explain,” Dakota interrupted softly. He took a step closer, his hand reaching out to squeeze my shoulder. “Go on, get some rest. I’ll check on you later.”

I nodded, too exhausted to argue. As I went to leave, his hand stayed on my shoulder, holding me in place. I glanced up at him just in time for him to lean down and place a soft, but unexpected kiss on my lips.

“Sleep well,” he said softly, letting me go.

I stood there staring as he headed back toward the barn, his simple but intimate gesture rooting me to the spot. My chest filled with warmth as my heart sped up. I’d half expected him to call things off, but that kiss… well… it meant something more.

And I couldn’t wait to find out what.

Chapter 14

Dakota

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