11. Dakota
Chapter 11
Dakota
N o matter how many times I tried to talk my mother out of her weird date with Lucas and Beau, she wouldn’t hear of it. She’d just flash me that mischievous smile of hers and tell me how cute she thought Logan was. She knew she was meddling, and I wasn’t happy about it. However, I did my best to swallow my anger, keeping it pressed down like I always did where she was concerned. But she didn’t understand the position she was putting me in. I could barely resist Logan as it was.
“Well, it looks like my ride is here,” my mom said as she glanced out the front window of my cabin. “That Lucas sure is a handsome fella.” Then she gasped. “Oh my god… is that Beau?”
I didn’t need to look out the window to know. Nobody else got that reaction. Blond hair, stunning blue eyes, and a physique made of marble topped with a cowboy hat always awed people. He was gorgeous, to be sure, but I couldn’t help feeling a little jealous too. No one ever reacted to me that way.
“Yeah, that’s him,” I sighed. “And remember, he’s gay and taken.” I paused. “And half your age.”
“Well, that’s not a very nice thing to say to your mother,” she shot back, face still pressed to the window.
“Doesn’t make it less true though.”
There was a knock at the door, which I had to answer because my mom had to rush to the bathroom to make sure her hair was all in the right place. Apparently, she wanted to impress those boys, though I couldn’t figure out why.
“She’s coming,” I said as I pulled the door open. Then I lowered my voice. “Keep an eye on her. She’s wily.” I glanced up at Lucas. “You didn’t have to do this, by the way.”
There was a lot more meaning in those words than just entertaining my mother. He didn’t have to force me out on a date with Logan, or get her involved, or act so damn innocent even though he knew exactly what he was doing. Logan didn’t have the guts to pull something like this off. But Lucas… well, from everything I’d heard from Beau, he had a tendency to get himself into trouble.
“It’s no big deal,” he replied, pretending not to catch my meaning. “I wanted to show her a real taste of Texas. And Beau’s family is excited to meet her.”
I looked up at Beau, who gave me an apologetic look. At least he understood.
“I’m all set,” mom called, stepping up behind me. “Take me to this barbecue.” She sidled up to Beau almost instantly, hooking her arm through his. “Care to escort a lady?”
Beau just nodded, dutiful and polite as ever. “Yes, ma’am.”
“It’s miss,” she smiled.
“The hell it is,” I shot back.
The look she gave me could have turned any other man to stone. Thankfully I had grown up with her, so I was immune.
“Have a good time,” I added sarcastically. “And behave. I have to live in this town, you know?”
She just waved, leading Beau back toward the car.
Lucas grinned from ear to ear. “Oh, I like her.”
“Yeah, well, good luck. She’s a handful.”
He gave me a wink. “Good luck yourself.”
And before I could say anything else, he was gone. A moment later they were gone, a cloud of dust billowing up behind the old truck as they left. Shutting the door, I headed to the bathroom myself. As much as I didn’t want this date in the first place, I’d be damned if I was going to look a mess in front of Logan. I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.
I stared at my reflection in the bathroom mirror, running a hand through my long dark hair. My dark brown eyes looked back at me, filled with a mixture of anticipation and dread. I couldn’t deny the flutter in my stomach at the thought of spending time alone with Logan, but I also knew how dangerous those feelings were.
A knock at the door startled me out of my thoughts. Taking a deep breath, I squared my shoulders and headed to answer it. I just had to play it cool and aloof. We both knew this was a setup and nothing would come of it. Worst-case scenario, we watched a movie and had a couple drinks. Totally innocent.
But my eyes widened as I pulled the door open and saw Logan standing on my porch, looking devastatingly handsome in a blue button-down shirt and dark jeans. His smile was shy but genuine as he held up a six-pack of root beer.
“Hey,” he said, his voice soft. “Thought we could use these.”
I chuckled, stepping aside to let him in. “You read my mind.”
As Logan moved past me, I caught a whiff of his cologne - a subtle, leathery scent with a touch of smoke and amber. It smelled expensive and decadent. But it must’ve been worth it because it sent a shiver down my spine that pooled in my cock immediately. How many guys had he lured in with that stuff?
I swallowed hard, trying to push those thoughts aside as I closed the door behind him. “So, uh, what did you have in mind for tonight?” I asked, aiming for casual but hearing the slight tremor in my voice.
Logan set the root beer down on the coffee table and turned to face me, his green eyes sparkling. “Well, I thought we could start with a movie. I brought a couple options.” He pulled out two DVDs from his back pocket. “We’ve got an action flick or a comedy. Your choice.”
“Comedy,” I said quickly. The last thing I needed was to sit through two hours of explosions and car chases with Logan right next to me. At least with a comedy, we wouldn’t have the chance to let the tension build too much. And I could use a laugh after dealing with my mom all day. I loved her, but she could be exhausting. Case and point, Logan was in my living room.
“Good call,” Logan grinned, popping the disc into the player. He settled onto the couch, patting the cushion beside him.
I hesitated for a moment before joining Logan on the couch, making sure to leave a respectable distance between us. As the opening credits rolled, I cracked open two bottles of root beer, handing one to Logan.
“Thanks,” he said, his fingers brushing mine as he took the bottle. The brief contact sent another jolt through me, and I quickly pulled my hand away.
We sat in awkward silence for a few minutes, both of us pretending to focus on the movie. I could feel the tension radiating between us, thick and palpable. Of course, that wasn’t the only thing getting thick. I shifted uncomfortably, trying not to display the growing erection in my jeans. The thing had a mind of its own and apparently all it wanted was him. Finally, Logan cleared his throat, breaking the silence.
“So, uh, how’s your mom liking Sagebrush so far?” he asked, turning slightly to face me.
I rolled my eyes. “Oh, she’s loving it. Especially now that she’s got a couple of handsome cowboys to entertain her.”
Logan chuckled. “Yeah, I can imagine. Your mom seems like quite a character.”
“You have no idea,” I muttered, taking a long swig of root beer.
We lapsed back into silence, the movie playing in the background. I could feel Logan’s eyes on me, and it was making me increasingly nervous. I fidgeted with the label on my bottle, peeling at the corners.
“Look,” Logan said suddenly, turning to face me fully. “I know this whole thing is a setup. Lucas isn’t exactly subtle.”
I snorted. “That’s an understatement. Neither is my mother, but I’m sure you noticed.”
Logan’s lips quirked up in a small smile. “Yeah, well, I just wanted you to know that I didn’t put him up to this. But...” he paused, running a hand through his hair. “I’m not exactly upset about it either.”
My heart skipped a beat. I looked at Logan, trying to read his expression. His green eyes were sincere, a hint of vulnerability in them that I hadn’t seen before.
“What do you mean?” I asked cautiously. I knew what he meant of course, there was no doubting it. But I needed to hear him say it even though I knew I shouldn’t.
Logan took a deep breath. “I mean... I like you. I’ve admired you from afar for a while until the cattle drive. But I wasn’t sure how to approach you about it. You always seemed so... guarded.”
I felt my cheeks flush. Was I that obvious? I thought I’d done a good job of hiding my attraction to him.
“I... I know,” I stammered, suddenly very aware of how close we were sitting. “But I don’t think we should?—”
“I know you’re scared,” he said, cutting me off. “And I get it. My daddy is your boss, this ranch is your home, and you don’t want to lose all that. Not to mention, I know I’m a bit of a mess right now. My life is all upside down and backwards and I’m trying to figure it all out.” He leaned close, the scent of his cologne enveloping me. “But if there’s one thing I’m certain of, it’s that I like you, Dakota.”
My eyes went wide as I stared at him. I glanced down at his full lips, the sharp edge of his jaw, and the way his dark stubble was coming through on his chin. When I found myself nearly unable to think, I only uttered a single word.
“Why?”
Logan’s eyebrow popped up and he smiled warmly, sending a shiver down my spine. “For lots of reasons,” he said softly. “You’re kind, strong, and you put up with me.” He reached out, gently caressing my cheek. “And handsome,” he said, his voice low and velvety. “My god, are you handsome.”
I froze at Logan’s touch, my heart pounding in my chest. His hand was warm against my skin, and I found myself leaning into it almost involuntarily. For a moment, I let myself get lost in those green eyes, imagining what it would be like to give in to this attraction.
But reality came crashing back, and I pulled away abruptly. “Logan, we can’t,” I said, my voice hoarse. “It’s not that simple.”
“Why not?” he asked, his hand dropping to his lap. “I know you feel it too, Dakota. I’ve seen the way you look at me when you think I’m not paying attention.”
I stood up, needing to put some distance between us. “Because it’s complicated. Your family owns this ranch. I work here. What happens if things go wrong? I can’t risk losing my job, my home.”
Logan rose to his feet, closing the distance between us once again. “Dakota, I would never let that happen. My family respects you - they know how valuable you are to this ranch. This doesn’t have to change anything professionally.”
I shook my head, backing away slightly. “It’s not just that. I’ve... I’ve been hurt before. I don’t know if I can open myself up like that again. Last time I did… I lost everything.”
Logan’s eyes softened with understanding. “I get it. Believe me, I do. But sometimes you have to take a risk to find something real.” He reached out, gently taking my hand in his. “I’m not asking for forever right now. Just a chance.”
My resolve was crumbling rapidly. The warmth of his hand, the sincerity in his eyes - it was all becoming too much to resist. “Logan, I… I can’t.”
To his credit, he didn’t push. Instead, he let go of my hand. “Alright,” he said, his eyes unable to meet mine. “I won’t force you into something you don’t want.” He turned, heading for the door. “Have a good night, Dakota.”
Before I could stop myself, my hand was on his shoulder. I spun him around, his green eyes meeting mine. They were so full of disappointment, and it nearly broke my heart. Without hesitation, I reached out, wrapping my hand around the back of his neck.
“What are you?—”
I pulled Logan close, crushing my lips against his. He let out a surprised gasp before melting into the kiss, his arms wrapping around my waist. The taste of root beer lingered on his lips as they moved against mine, soft yet insistent.
My fingers tangled in his hair as the kiss deepened, months of pent-up desire pouring out. Logan’s hands roamed over my back, pulling me flush against him. I could feel the heat of his body through our clothes, igniting a fire low in my belly.
When we finally broke apart, both of us were breathing heavily. Logan’s eyes were dark with want as he gazed at me, a small smile playing on his lips.
“I thought you said we couldn’t do this,” he murmured, his thumb tracing my jawline.
I swallowed hard. “I… I was wrong.”