“Are you…are you jealous, Beau?” Dakota arched an eyebrow, stifling a grin.
“Does it even matter?”
She lifted a shoulder and flashed a full on lopsided smile courtesy of the two tequila shots coursing her veins. “It’s just cute, is all.”
“Not trying to be cute.”
“Haven’t had anyone get jealous over me in a long time,” she mused. “I’d forgotten what it feels like.”
Her hard exterior was bending like the wand of a willow right before my eyes, and tiny hints of the old Dakota were making their way to the surface.
“Anyway,” she said, shaking her head. “He cornered me as I left the ladies’ room. I had no intention of taking him up on his offer.”
“Smart girl.” I took a swig of beer and let out a hops-and-barley flavored sigh. Staring straight ahead, I felt the warmth of her gaze upon me. Heavy and crushing and not knowing what it meant, I basked in it.
All those years on the road, all I ever craved was to be connected with her again. About the time I was ready to call her, she’d disappeared on me. A few years back, I’d come home and ran into her mama, who told me she’d gotten married and moved to New York City.
It was as if I’d been running to catch a plane and had to stand by and watch it fly away without me.
I never wanted to feel the way I felt that day again so long as I lived.
“So, Dakota, what’s it like living in New York?” Annelise asked, pulling Dakota’s gaze away from me.
“Exciting.” Dakota let out a dreamy breath. “There’s just this buzz, like the whole city’s alive. Constantly. It’s exciting. It’s kind of magical.”
“I’ve always dreamed of moving someday. Getting out of this stupid town,” Annelise groaned. “Good for you for doing it.”
“What’s stopping you?” Dakota asked, swatting her shoulder. “You know, Addison lives in the city too. Between the two of us, we could help you get on your feet if you ever decide to move. Addison owns a realty company. She’s always hiring new agents. And I can pass your name along at the network. We’re always looking for researchers and production assistants.”
I watched from the sidelines as Annelise’s face lit up at the thought of moving to New York, and Dakota’s hand gestures were wildly animated as she rambled on and on about why she loved New York.
Maybe she was more rooted there than I’d realized.
I’d been to the city countless times. It was suffocating and gray. Crowded sidewalks and rude people hustling and bustling to get to where they needed to go. The rat race never appealed to me, but it drew people like Dakota in every day. The city was a symbol of hope and new beginnings, offering the promise of a new beginning to those in middle American who found their lives dreadfully inadequate. It pulled in all kinds of people who wanted an escape: people like Dakota.
Maybe I couldn’t compete with New York City, but I could offer her a new beginning. She could begin again – with me. Back home. Where she belonged.
“Oh, shoot,” Annelise said, staring at the neon clock behind Waylon. “I should get going. I just wanted to stop by and say hello.”
Annelise leaned in, wrapping her arms around Dakota. I was beginning to think that grin was a permanent fixture on her round face. The girls exchanged numbers and the second Annelise left, Dakota spun back around toward me.
Our eyes locked, refusing to let go until one of us gave. It wouldn’t be me. I’d never give in. As far as I was concerned, there wasn’t any other girl on God’s green earth more worth waiting for than her.
“You enjoying yourself?” I asked, breaking our silence.
“I think so,” she said, her voice sweet off her cherry lips. Her nails drummed on the counter.
“You think so?” I quoted her. “Tell me, sweetheart, what can I do ensure that you’re really enjoying yourself?”
She rubbed her lips together and cocked her head to the side. “You could kiss me again.”
Did I hear that right?
I scratched the side of my chin, throwing her a cock-eyed smile. “Baby, I’d love nothing more than to kiss the hell out of you right now, but you’re not quite in your right state of mind.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because you just downed two shots of tequila and you’re looking at me like you’re one more shot away from jumping my bones.” I smirked. “All you’ve done since you’ve been here is remind me that you’re here for work and you have no intention of entertaining any kind of physical relations with me.”
She swung her leg over the other, crossing them as she leaned into me.