“Oh yeah… I missed that this year. I can’t believe it.” I laugh. “Was it any good?”
Dakota nods. “It’s been years since I last saw it. It was fun, and Charlie enjoyed it.”
I smile. “Guess I missed all the fun.”
Violet lets out a laugh. “Yeah, you were probably out at the ranch, hiding from the crowds, weren’t you?”
I shrug, taking another drink. “The ranch is busy at the moment.”
I don’t want to get into this. I don’t want to talk about the issues at High Ridge. I don’t knowwhywe’re struggling right now, but it sucks. And I want tonight to be more fun.
“Ooh, there’s Duke Harlan,” Violet suddenly announces. “I need to talk to him about supply. I’ll be right back…”
She’s gone in a flash, leaving me alone with Dakota. The atmosphere between us shifts, that quiet electricity crackling. She doesn’t seem fazed by the sudden one-on-one, which only makes me more intrigued.
I lean back in my chair, taking a long sip from my glass, feeling the warmth spread through me. “So, Dakota… what’snext for you? What do you do when you’re not out surviving parades?”
Her lips twitch, and I catch the faintest glint in her eyes. “Surviving life, mostly.”
I laugh, appreciating the quiet, no-nonsense vibe about her. “I get that. Life can definitely throw some curveballs, but sometimes it’s about just rolling with it, right?”
She looks at me then, really looks at me. Her eyes lock on mine, searching for something. The world around us seems to fade just a little.
Her voice softens as she replies, “That’s one way to put it.”
I lean forward slightly, feeling that pull between us. “Sounds like you’ve got your hands full.”
She shrugs. “You could say that.”
I can’t help myself. I’m completely hooked. “Well, if you ever need an escape from all that… I’m not hard to find.”
Her smile curves up, just enough to show that she’s intrigued but not giving too much away. It’s the perfect balance.
“So, how’s the new life around here treating you?” I ask, genuinely curious now.
She grins, her eyes glinting with something I can’t quite place. “It’s… growing on me.”
There’s a pause, and I can feel her testing me, watching my reaction. I can’t tell if she’s amused or if she’s just keeping her cards close to her chest. Either way, it makes me want to push a little more.
“Well, Colter Creek’s definitely got a way of growing on you,” I say. “Takes some getting used to. But when you find the rhythm, it’s not so bad.”
She nods, and I can see the wheels turning in her head. I swear I can feel the tension between us. It’s tangible. It’s not just physical attraction.
It’s the kind of chemistry that’s been building from the first moment I saw her, and it’s only getting stronger now.
I lean in just a little, a bit more playful now. “So… tell me, Dakota. What’s it going to take for you to let me buy you that next drink?”
Her eyes meet mine, and the breath between us seems to crackle with something.
She takes a long pause, as if she’s weighing something in her head. Then, finally, that slow, teasing smile curls up again. “I’ll let you know.”
I let out a soft chuckle. “I think I like the sound of that.”
The conversation flows naturally after that, but all I can think about is how easy it is to talk to her, how natural this back-and-forth feels. It’s not just flirting; it’s something deeper, something that pulls at me every time she looks my way. And I’m not about to let that slip away.
As the night continues, I keep the charm turned up, but it’s not just the words or the jokes. It’s how she reacts to everything I say.
She’s not one to fall for a line. No, she’s more subtle than that. But the way she lets me in, just a little bit more with each laugh, each teasing remark, it’s a dance, and I’m enjoying every second of it.
