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The black dress she is wearing, however, is.
I try to ignore her delicious curves, but I can’t. The dress molds to her body like a second skin, pushing up her lush breasts, hinting at what lay underneath. When she turned and climbed up into my truck, I couldn’t help but stare at her ass. I had to put my hands in the pockets of my jeans to stop from reaching out and grabbing her, like I would have with any of the other women I’ve been with.
But this is Dakota. She’s not mine. She’ll never be mine.
“Do you know what you’re getting?” she asks, placing her menu on the table while avoiding my gaze. “I haven’t actually been here before.”
Her tone is casual, but I don’t miss the way she holds on to the stem of her water glass tightly, or how she hasn’t looked at me directly since leaving her house. The ride was short, but tense. She didn’t speak a word, but neither did I. As far as I was concerned, everything that needed to be said was done outside of the truck.
I’m also not in the business of making friends with her. I don’t even need to like her. I just need to have her on my arm until the end of the fucking rodeo and I can be done with her and move on with my life.
Although I wouldn’t mind just one fuck. To get her out of my system. Her body is too much to ignore. Plus, if we have to spend this much time together, we might as well work up all the building tension between us.
“Steak,” I grumble, looking around for the server. I need a drink, and I need it immediately.
“Hmm,” she muses. “What about the blackened chicken? That sounds good.”
“Dunno; I’ve only had the steak.”
“Oh, the pistachio covered salmon sounds amazing,” she continues, completely ignoring what I’m saying.
I grunt, on alert for anyone that might bring me a Scotch or beer. I’d even take a wine at this point. Anything to get through her nattering of meal choices.
“What do you think?”
She finally meets my eyes, and once again, I’m struck by her beauty. My annoyance is nearly forgotten—nearly—when she looks at me.
“Get the steak,” I grind out, remembering what we were talking about.
“Is that all you eat?” She raises an eyebrow at me.
“I’m a cattle rancher. What do you think?”
“I think there’s more to life than eating the same thing over and over.”
“There’s more than one way to cook a steak.”
“Good evening. My name is Hayley, and I’ll be your server today.” The pretty blonde gives us a bright smile. She looks familiar, but I can’t place her. Maybe from when I’d come here for business meals? “Chance, it’s nice to see you again.”
“Uh, yeah, you too, Hayley,” I reply dismissively. “I’ll take a Scotch. Double. Whatever you have is fine.”
The server’s shoulders sag and a sad expression crosses her face. I have no idea why. There’s nothing I said in my order that could have upset her.
“I think what my boyfriend means,” Dakota shoots me a glare that would turn a lesser man to ice, “‘is good evening, and thank you.’ When you have a moment, he would like a double Scotch, please, and I would love a red wine.”
“Boyfriend?” Hayley asks, her blue eyes welling up with tears.
What the fuck is wrong with her?
“Yes, it’s very new.” Dakota’s expression is the perfect mimic of adoration. I know better, especially with how quickly her mood changed.
“I see.” With one last glance my way, Hayley turns her back to me and solely focuses on Dakota. Her voice taking on a firm, but kind tone. “Can I get you anything else? Maybe an appetizer?”
“Oh, the appetizers do look great. I can’t decide between the Mushrooms Neptune and the baked brie. What would you recommend?”
“The Mushrooms Neptune is a popular dish and one of my favourites.”
“We’ll get that, then. Thank you so much for your help, Hayley.” Dakota’s voice is kind. A tone she’s yet to take with me.
