Page 28 of Dark Horse

“Is that a threat?” I joke, and she hands me another arrangement to stuff inside a mason jar.

“Maybe.” She watches me for a moment. Long enough I start to feel a little self-conscious. “I mean, do you like being single? If you do, I don’t want to interfere. I support you however you want to do things. I just want you to be happy.”

“I… don’t know what I want.”

It’s a lie. What I want right now is for Grant Stockton to have the same sort of appetite his younger brother does. I’m imagining him giving up his stern big-brother act for good, right along with the rules he set, and bending me over the desk in his office while he whispers dirty things in my ear. He’ll never do it. It’s one thing to play games over text in secret. Another if it’s real.

“Dakota?” Hazel’s looking at me confused.

“Hmm?”

“You seemed far away there for a second.”

“Sorry. I just was thinking about what it must be like to be in the kind of relationship you and Ramsey have.”

“Would you ever get married?” Hazel asks. It seems like such a far-off concept for me. I don’t know that I’ve ever seriously considered it.

“Maybe someday? Hard to say when the men in my life have been… well… You’ve met them.” I grimace a little as I think back to some of the guys I’ve given the time of day to. I had to learn my lessons the hard way. Grant was right about that much.

“You will.” She gives me a sympathetic pat on the arm. “You just need to find the right guy. One who puts you first, and one who actually has his shit together enough to match your energy. Too many of them have been intimidated by your boss-bitch ways. We need someone who thinks that’s your best quality.”

I laugh. “Good luck to me with that. Trying to find a guy taller than me, likes my attitude, and doesn’t suck in bed? I think we’re looking for a unicorn.”

“I mean… If I can find Ramsey.”

“You think there’s more than one in this tiny little town?” I give her a cynical look.

“Doubtful, but then I think anything is possible. Maybe we just need to import some for you. Or you know… if you go on more trips. If you visited me in Cincinnati more this year. Guarantee I could work magic. There are unicorns everywhere. Just saying.” She’s gotten very optimistic in her Ramsey-reunited world. She breaks into laughter when she sees my face. “Fine. Fine. I just want to see you more. You and Bristol and Marlowe need to come out more. Have girls’ weekends with me and go to games. I miss you when I’m not here. And there are plenty of single guys in Cincinnati. Ones on the team even. You and Hayden seemed like you got along when he was here for New Year’s Eve.”

“We miss you, too, but I don’t know if Hayden is my unicorn. Or if Cincinnati even has what I’m looking for.”

“Maybe. Maybe not. You don’t know until you try. You could come with us when the season starts.” She hedges and gives me a sideways glance.

Maybe. Maybe I could run away and follow Hazel to Cincinnati for a while after they come back from their honeymoon. I might be able to escape this dangerous web that I’m willingly weaving with Grant. One I know only ends with disappointment.

Hayley and Gemma have been holding down the fort pretty well without me on nights like tonight. Getting away from the bar, truly getting away and not just being upstairs, would be huge for me to try to figure out the future.

But some small part of me keeps wishing I could find a unicorn closer to home.

TEN

GRANT

“Thanks for coming.”I greet the raven-haired woman I’ve come to call a close friend as I meet her in the hall.

“Of course. Much easier to discuss this in person than to try and talk in code over the phone. Essie and I had a pickup to do in the city anyway.” She smiles at me as she follows me into the chess room. It’s my own version of a SCIF. A place where I can oversee the bar and the casino floor but devoid of cameras and recording equipment. The perfect place for private meetings. I nod to the guard who stands outside the room to shut the door.

“Have a seat, please.” I point to one of the overstuffed leather chairs. “Can I get you anything?”

“No, thank you. I just had breakfast at a little place in town. Hotcakes? So good.”

“Ah, yeah. Marlowe’s place. She’s a good friend of my future sister-in-law.”

“Sometimes I wish I lived in a small town. Some place where everyone knows everyone. A place where you all grew up together. It must be reassuring.” A sentimental smile forms on Charlotte’s lips.

“It’s the opposite more times than you can imagine.”

“Ah well. I guess the grass is always greener.”

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