Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
Chance
“ O ver my dead body.”
Dakota’s words ring through my mind as I stare at her. Her sexy lips are tipped up in a smirk, daring me to challenge after her words.
“Dakota,” I warn, more out of her egging me on than her not agreeing to go along with Wyatt’s stupid plan. Because that’s what it is. If it weren’t for the fact that I am completely desperate to save this rodeo, I wouldn’t have even suggested it. Hell, if it wasn’t for Wyatt, I would have told the sponsors to fuck off a long time ago, but unfortunately, he’s right.
Which makes me hate it even more.
“I’m not going to let you fake propose to me, Chance.”
“Why not? It’s not like it’s real? I’ll propose, you’ll accept, and then we will still quietly end everything after the rodeo. Just like we already planned.”
Her face pales and the smirk leaves her face. Her eyes dart quickly from mine, leaving an uncomfortable tension.
“Dakota?”
“I said no, Chance.” The finality in her voice makes me pause. She’s no longer playful or challenging. This is her no-shit court voice. The one she hasn’t used on me since the first night in my kitchen.
I straighten, looking down at her as she goes back to tapping the same pile of papers against her desk for the second time since I walked into her office. “What’s really going on here?”
“Nothing,” she says, trying to remain casual, but I know better. She’s trying too hard not to make eye contact with me. Her body is too rigid. She may not think that I’m aware of the change in her, but I am. I know every inch of her body. I know the way she carries herself when she’s giving me sass. The way her body relaxes when she’s on the couch with a glass of wine. The Dakota in front of me isn’t any of those.
“Sweetheart,” I growl, hoping to coax her out of whatever funk she’s worked herself into.
“Don’t call me that,” she snaps, finally rewarding me with laying her green eyes on me.
That was not the reaction I was expecting.
“Talk to me, darling.” I change my tactic, using the nickname she prefers to use on me, even if it’s used sarcastically when she does.
I might be an asshole, but I can’t stop doing what gets a response out of her. This indifferent shit is getting on my nerves, and anything to do with ‘us’ right now seems to be doing just that.
She closes her eyes tight, almost as if she’s willing me to disappear.
But I won’t.
I can’t.
I can’t leave her like this—not knowing what’s going on with her. Yes, it is a dumbass idea to suggest proposing to her, but it’s really the only way out of this hellhole I’ve found myself in.
I silently make my way around the desk and crouch down beside her, stroking the hair away from her face and tucking it behind her ear. Her face tightens, and I wonder if she’s trying not to cry. But that doesn’t make sense. Dakota doesn’t cry, and especially over something like this.
“You need to leave,” she whispers in a shaky voice.
“Dakota…”
“Please, Chance?”
She keeps her eyes closed, and there’s something in her voice that makes me not want to push her any further.
I run my hand through her hair, feeling her soft strands as I stand.
Without thinking, I lean down and kiss her on her head, taking a moment to breathe her in. She smells like coconut and sunshine, and I want nothing more than to spend the rest of the day with her in my arms, smelling what is uniquely Dakota all day, but I can’t.
With one last breath, I leave her. If I’m not mistaken, she lets out a shuttering, unsteady breath as I close her office door behind me, putting what feels like yet another barrier between us.
“I fucking hate these things,” I can’t help but grumble to no one, pulling at my bolo tie and fidgeting with the sleeves on my dress jacket.
I feel like I’m suffocating. Like I haven’t been able to take a full breath all night. Not since Dakota texted me just before I left to pick her up that she would be finding her own way to the rodeo kick off dinner.
Pulling my phone out again, I open her texts, checking for what feels like the millionth time to see if she’s sent an update, which she hasn’t. Instead, I’m left looking at my unanswered messages from earlier.
Don’t bother picking me up tonight. I’ll find my own way there.
I’m just about to leave to come get you.
Don’t bother. I wouldn’t want to be stranded again.
You need to let that go. I’ve said sorry.
Dakota, you’re still going to show, right?
Dakota, answer me!
I’ll admit, part of me is worried that she’s going to stand me up. I’m sure I deserve it, even though I don’t know what I could have done that would have set her off so badly. Other than suggesting the proposal, I can’t think of anything else that would have done it.
This is why I don’t do relationships. I don’t need all the bullshit that comes with trying to read minds and predict moods. She agreed to be here; she should be here. But instead, the dinner is about to start and she’s nowhere to be seen.
“Declan,” Beau Campbell nods as he stands beside me, overlooking the room.
“Campbell,” I respond, tipping my hat to him.
A little shorter than me and about twenty years older, he’s been the biggest help to me since I took over the ranch for my dad. They had a mutual respect for each other that lasted past my dad’s death and included taking me under his wing for the first few months when I was struggling. I respect the man, and there’s not too many people I can say that about.
“I haven’t seen that pretty girlfriend of yours tonight. You haven’t scared her off, have you?” He takes a sip of his whiskey, acting as if he doesn’t care, but I know he wouldn’t bring it up if he didn’t.
“She’s running late. Something about a case at work.” I take a sip of my own whiskey, hating that I’m lying to him, but not knowing what else to say. That maybe I did scare her off? There’s a chance she is going to stand me up? That this is all fake just so men like him won’t let my rodeo, and my town, drown?
“That’s good. You know I’m on your side, and I’ve fought for you with the other sponsors, but there’s only so much I can do.” The older man starts before turning toward me. “Now you know I don’t give a shit what you do in your free time as long as you get your work done—which you do—but the others…they need more from you.”
“Beau…” I start, but he cuts me off.
“I know, I know. Right or wrong, it’s what it is. Now be honest with me, son. Is what you have with this lawyer real?”
I hold his gaze, but don’t say anything. I can’t say anything. My mind shouts to say yes just to placate him and everyone else, but I have this feeling that I can’t shake that it’s no longer the lie it once was. I just don’t know if it’s how Dakota feels.
“Right. Well, whatever is going on, I suggest you get it figured out, and quickly.”
Beau downs the rest of his whiskey, places his empty glass on the table next to me, and stalks off with nothing more than the tip of his hat.
I turn my back to the room and lean on the table next to me, needing a moment to figure my shit out. What happens if Dakota does stand me up? How will I smooth it over with everyone here?
Normally, I wouldn’t care. I would tell them to take their opinions and shove it, but it’s more than just my reputation on the line. I hate the position I’m in. I hate that I’ve had to rely on someone to get me out of it, especially someone like Dakota, who seems to do whatever the hell she wants, when she wants.
The thrill of that would normally excite me. Tonight? Not so much. It would be a lot easier if it were some puck bunny on my arm that would be happy just to be out and seen with me. But not Dakota. She’s an enigma that I don’t know how to solve.
“She’s cutting it pretty close,” Wyatt says as he comes up behind me, leaning against the table.
“Yup,” I answer, not knowing what else to say.
“Any word from her?”
“Nope.” I down the last of my drink, letting the burn of the whiskey leave its fiery trail down my throat.
“Chance…”
“Don’t!” I say louder than I should, knowing I am drawing the attention of the people around us. But you know what? Fuck it. They’re going to find out soon enough that I can’t even keep a fake relationship going long enough to count. “I don’t need it from you. You’re the reason I’m in this mess in the first place.”
“I’m going to let that fly because you’re under pressure, but we both know that’s not true. I’m just the one that came up with the plan to get you out of your own mess.”
“A mess that isn’t anyone’s business but my own,” I growl.
“That might be true, but it is what it is. Now, what are you going to do to make sure Dakota shows up?”
I scoff. “You haven’t figured out by now that Dakota does what she wants? You can’t make that woman do anything.”
“Trouble in paradise?”
A familiar smug voice sounds from behind me, making me wish I hadn’t just finished off my drink. If this asshole’s here, I’m going to need a lot more alcohol.
“I’m surprised they let you in here,” Wyatt says casually, but I know better. He’s on alert and faking indifference.
I turn to find the jerk smirking at me. My hand clenches, longing to repay him for the blow he dealt me at the gala. The only thing that stops me is where we are, and the fact his sister is at his side.
The pretty redhead narrows her green eyes at Wyatt, who clenches his jaw and looks everywhere but her.
What the fuck is that about?
“Nothing to say, Declan?” Todd takes a drink of his beer, clearly trying to provoke me.
“Nothing to say, Todd. She’s just running late. She’ll be here.”
She’d better be.
“Are you sure she didn’t dump your ass? She’s too good for you, anyway.”
“Now what would you know about that?” Dakota’s sweet voice rings out beside me, her hand squeezing my shoulder.
Relief washes through me, having her by my side. I know the sweetness she’s exuding right now is just for show, but I’ll take what I can get right now.
“Ah, there she is. We were thinking that maybe you weren’t going to show up,” Todd says.
Abby, Todd’s sister, is being surprisingly quiet, following the discussion with her eyes like a tennis match. I look to Wyatt, who’s still acting uninterested, but I know he’s paying close attention to everything, and everyone, in our little group.
“And miss the kick off dinner? Absolutely not.” Dakota’s smile is a little too wide, her voice a little too high pitched. “I was caught up at work, that’s all.” She flicks me a little look confirming that’s what I’d been telling everyone.
I take her hand from my shoulder and rest it in the crook of my arm, giving it a reassuring squeeze to let her know she guessed right.
“Well, then it’s a good thing you’re here. We wouldn’t want the talk of the town to be true about you two.”
“And what talk would that be?” Here we go again with the sickly-sweet voice. I inwardly cringe at the sound.
For the first time since all of this started, I feel bad for dragging her into this. I now see how much I’m asking of her, how much she’s potentially at risk of losing for being labelled just another one of my ‘buckle bunnies.’
“Oh, you know. That what you two have isn’t real, or that it’s over already. We all know that Declan here can’t keep a woman around to save his life, so the fact you’ve lasted this long is nothing short of a miracle.”
Abby’s eyes go wide, but she doesn’t say anything. Instead, her gaze darts to Wyatt, who continues to act as if the wall across the room is the most interesting thing in the world while threatening to break his teeth with how hard he’s clenching.
“Well, that’s just silly; I’m obviously still here,” Dakota jokes, tightening her hand on my arm. “Isn’t that right, darling?”
“Yup,” I grind out. Her nails digging into my arm tells me I should add more, so I give a tight smile and add, “Sweetheart.”
“You know, I’m surprised to see you here, Todd, after what happened at the gala,” Dakota croons in that fake voice of hers. “You know, Chance here is more forgiving than I would have been seeing as how you assaulted him on his own property and he certainly had a right to sue after you ruined what was a very successful fundraising event, but he’s just too kind hearted, isn’t that right, babe?” She gives me a look that tells me I need to play along, even though I don’t know what the hell she is talking about, but she continues anyway. “It took the rest of the night after getting him cleaned up to calm me down and convince me not to get the authorities involved. Isn’t that right?”
“Uh, yeah.” I answer shakily, sneaking a glance at Todd to make sure he is buying it. “All me.”
“Then he had enough forgiveness to let you in here and you still think that he’s such a horrible person that he would fake us being in love?”
Wait, love? What?
“Well, you know, I’m just saying what the other sponsors are thinking,” Todd stammers, thankfully buying what Dakota is saying.
Anyone who really knows me wouldn’t buy this shit, but thankfully Todd’s either too stupid or too much of a coward to challenge her.
“Well, then I suggest you leave the gossip alone then, hmm?” She slips her arm further around mine, coiling her hand around my bicep like a snake, holding tight. “Now, why don’t we leave this alone for tonight and enjoy the dinner? I think we should find our tables before the food comes.”
Without another word, she leads me off away from them with her head held high.
“What the fuck was that?” I whisper as we make our way through the crowd.
“That’s called saving your ass. Now sit down and make it through dinner like a good boy, hmm?” She looks up at me and gives me a fake smile. The smile I hate. The one that makes me want to kiss it off of her until she gives me a genuine one. One that I know I put on her face. Only me.
I do what she says and sit at our table, which so happens to be front and centre with the stage. I do what she tells me—for once—and make polite conversation and play the part of the doting boyfriend. I eat my dinner and smile when I am supposed to.
It is all boring as hell.
At least the steak is decent.
Throwing the white linen napkin on the table in front of me, I lean back and drape my arm across the back of Dakota’s chair, trailing my fingertips along her exposed arm. I smile when I feel the goosebumps erupt under my touch.
I didn’t notice it earlier when she walked up, thanks to my run in with Todd, but Dakota looks absolutely incredible tonight. Her deep purple dress is sleeveless and has a deep V. Glancing over, I have a perfect view of her breasts, and I immediately miss feeling the weight of them in my hands. Which makes me think of having her in my bed.
I lean over to whisper in her ear that we should get out of here and start our own party when Bryce McKinnon, owner of the local dairy farm, pipes up. “I’ll admit, Declan, I didn’t believe it when I heard you found yourself an actual girlfriend, let alone one you could keep,” he says with a laugh, making the rest of the table follow.
I clench my teeth, biting down the automatic response to tell him to fuck off, but instead, I take a breath before answering,
She grips my thigh under the table and holds tight, making me realize I’m doing the same to her arm. I heed her warning not to react right away. I should be worried that she reads me so well, but I’m too busy trying not to reach across the table and punch the guy.
“I don’t know why everyone is so shocked,” Dakota says sweetly, not taking her hand from my thigh.
“This guy here?” Bennett Smith says, taking a sip of his whiskey. He’s here representing the local steakhouse, who also catered the event, but it’s making me regret having the contract with the company and letting them have anything to do with the rodeo. “He doesn’t know how to commit, do you Chance? My money is on Dakota leaving you before the end of the rodeo. No way she’s going to outlast the season.”
Anger ranges within me as I look around the table, seeing the laughing faces at my expense. What they’re saying may be true, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to punch every one of their smug faces for bringing it up in front of Dakota.
“Dance with me,” she says, giving my leg a squeeze.
I turn to her, raising my eyebrow.
“Dance with me, Chance.” She stands, giving me a full view of her dress. The front is short, rising mid-thigh while the back trails low to her ankles, showing off her long, toned legs.
My brain immediately forgets what I’m angry about. Instead, all I can think of is the way those legs felt wrapped around my hips. The feel of her skin as I trailed my hand up from her ankles, memorizing the feel of every inch of her.
I’m snapped out of my memory when Dakota’s breasts fill my vision and her hands run through my hair. She lowers her head, her luscious, red-stained lips whispering in my ear. “Get up, now .”
Yes ma’am.