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“I suppose it is.” She reached over and squeezed his knee. “Thank you, Carter.”
“Hey, you let me come out here and hang out on super short notice. The least I can do is keep your secrets.” He stretched then patted his stomach. “So tell me you’ve cooked something scrumptious for your best friend.”
“I did!” She popped up from her seat and dove into the task of feeding Carter. This was all going better than she’d thought it would. She hadn’t completely unraveled seeing Carter and neither had he. He truly seemed okay about her seeing someone and wasn’t going to judge her or complicate things. Hell, he’d even offered to fib a little for her and be her visiting best friend instead of her dead fiancé’s brother. A much easier introduction to make for sure.
And maybe having someone outside of Maplehaven check Dakota out wasn’t such a bad idea. Clearly everyone in town was under his spell, but maybe an objective eye on the man might reveal some flaws.
She doubted he had any, but it was possible.
****
Dakota had a full schedule, but the only appointment he cared about was his 4:30 ziplining one. An adventure booked by one Leah Greenstead. For two. Leah had been short on the details in her text to him Sunday night, but apparently her best friend from New York was visiting. Maybe this was his chance to get some information about Leah from her friend. He’d turn on the Brenton charm, and her friend wouldn’t be able to stop herself from telling him what he wanted to know. Perhaps it was wrong to use his powers that way, but he was desperate to know more about Leah. He only wanted some tidbits that would allow him to help her relax and be open to the possibilities.
Possibilities that involved more making out on park benches. He thought about Friday night constantly and it was literally cutting into his sleep. Nothing ever cut into his sleep, but he was tossing and turning, wide awake, remembering the feel of Leah’s lips on his, the press of her body against his, the smell of lavender on her skin.
He adjusted himself in his cargo pants as he sat at his desk now, awaiting his first appointment of the day. He couldn’t recall the last woman to make him hard when she wasn’t in the room with him. Probably because there had been no such woman.
Not before Leah.
“Hey, Boss.” Krista poked her head into his office. “ATVing group is here. I sent them around back to wait for you.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
Krista leaned against the doorframe. “I see that Miss Greenstead is on the schedule for later today. A little after-school snack for yourself?”
“I wish.” Dakota snapped his gaze up to meet Krista’s wide eyes. The two words had slipped out of his mouth, his cargo pants still a little snug in the crotch. “I mean…”
Krista barked out a laugh as she held up her hand. “Oh, I know what you mean, Dakota. Don’t try to explain it all away.” She folded her arms across her chest. “I didn’t think I’d see the day.”
“The day when what?”
“The day when a woman actually snagged your attention. I mean, yourfullattention. I know you’ve dated and stuff, but all those chicks had been secondary to your adventures. You never let any of them tie you down. I think this thing with Leah might be different.”
Dakota stood, his hard-on long gone with Krista’s talk of being tied down. “Look, I don’t know where this is going with Leah. Do I like her more than other women I’ve tried on for size? Sure. Am I ready to give up my travel anywhere, anytime, free-as-a-bird card yet? Hell, no.”
Krista’s brows rose. “Whatever you say, Boss.” Smirking, she sauntered out of his office with an air ofI’m rightthat Dakota didn’t appreciate.
What does Krista know?The last date she’d had was with her husband who had been gone for years.
Dakota’s shoulders rose up to his ears at that thought. Low blow. Good thing he hadn’t said that aloud. Her know-it-all attitude had gotten to him. That was all.
“Time to clear my head.” He grabbed his helmet and prepared to leave his scattered thoughts out on the ATV trail.
The day passed quickly and suddenly it was a few minutes before 4:30. Dakota freshened up after leading a hike around Brenton Mountain and waited for Leah and her friend in the front parking lot of Birch Peak Adventures. When her SUV pulled in, he had to force himself to remain leaning against the building behind him. Every instinct, however, was to race toward her vehicle and circle it like Ginger would, barking excitedly.
Down, boy.
His attention was so focused on Leah climbing out of the driver seat that he almost didn’t notice her friend getting out from the passenger side.Almost.
Her best friend was adude.
A tall dude who looked as if he played bass guitar in an alternative rock band. The kind of dude most women would probably deem attractive.
Shit.
Dakota tore his gaze off the black jeans, Pink Floyd T-shirt, and flannel shirt the guy wore and watched Leah walking toward him instead. She made a long ponytail, dark gray yoga pants, and a bright blue fleece top look amazing. Her sneakers were bright blue too, and he soon realized they had a scaled pattern on them. Like fish. Or an enchanting mermaid.
The warm expression on her face suggested she was happy to see him, but what was with the dude? Why did she have a dude? Was it too much to ask for her best friend to be a cute little teachery-looking sidekick? Someone he could have maybe set Noah up with to keep her occupied while he convinced Leah to have dinner with him tomorrow night. What was he supposed to do with The Dude?
