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“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.
Chapter Nineteen
Dakota
Ilace my fingers through Chance’s as I lead him toward the empty dance floor. Dinner hasn’t technically finished, but I need to get him away from the table, and dancing is the only thing I can think of. The hired DJ thankfully sees us as we make our way, and Brett Eldredge’s smooth voice comes over the speakers with his song ‘Wanna Be That Song.’
“What are you doing, sweetheart?” Chance growls in my ear as he slips his hand around my waist and pulls me close.
“I’m getting you away from those snakes. You don’t need to listen to their bullshit.”
“They’re not wrong,” he whispers, and I wonder if he meant for that to be spoken out loud. He places his head against mine as we start swaying to the music.
I stay quiet for a moment, not wanting to ruin the moment of peace that has fallen between us, but also for the moment, Chance seems to be calming as he leans on me. I might be mad at him and his arrogant attitude, but how he’s being treated tonight isn’t fair. He shouldn’t be judged how he is as a businessman just by his dating history. Anyone who has come into contact with him can see that he’s successful at what he does, and he should be judged based on that.
But sadly, that’s not the world we live in.
For whatever reason, it’s important to them that he also be a family man. They need to see that he can settle down and he can commit, even if the ones throwing insults at him don’t deserve Chance’s loyalty or attention. For the first time, I’m truly seeing the pressure that he’s under, and it makes me feel for him even more. I can’t imagine being told that I can’t get a promotion or work on a case because I’m not married with a family. Yes, there are issues that I face as a woman in the courtroom, but nothing like this.
Playing with the hair at the base of his head under his hat, I take a breath in. He smells of the woods and sunshine, and I close my eyes, wishing that this could be real. This big brute may piss me off in ways I didn’t know a person could, but I still want him to be my brute, even if it’s only for a short period of time.
“Chance?” I breathe, feeling the rising pressure in my stomach. I can’t believe I’m about to suggest what I am, but it needs to be done. Not just for the rodeo, but for Chance.
