Dakota Love Me: Tiller Brothers Book 2 Read online

Breathing heavily she kept her gaze on him as she stood there with her robe now open in the front. His eyes were eating her up. God, he licked his lips. She held up her open palm to his face, took a breath and another step back.

  “Whoa there, cowboy,” she whispered in an unsettled voice. She turned and picked up her phone off the dresser. It was her dad.

  “Hey, dad, what’s up?” her voice sounded soft and slightly husky.

  Dakota smiled knowingly. She turned her back on him.

  “No dad, it’s okay. I just forgot to give him my room number. No, really we are going to lunch, walk the strip or something, maybe go to the rodeo tonight. Everything is okay.” She closed her robe and retied it.

  “Fine dad, I’ll talk with you tomorrow. Love you, too.”

  She turned back to Dakota with determination in her eyes. “You don’t take no for an answer very well,” she said to Dakota.

  “I couldn’t help it. I just came up to talk to you and when you greeted me at the door looking so…fresh and desirable, I had to kiss you again. And with you, it’s can’t just ever be one kiss. You are like potato chips. I can’t eat just one.”

  She laughed. “You hungry?”

  “Oh more than you know honey. I even ditched Cameron and lunch so I could come find you. And, no, food isn’t on my mind right now. Come here,” he demanded in a low sultry voice.

  His voice was sexy and powerfully persuasive. She caught herself taking a step toward him. She stopped and shook her head. “Wait here, I’m going to get dressed. It’s too dangerous for me to be half naked with you in the room.”

  She heard him chuckle as she closed the bathroom door.

  ***

  He couldn’t help it. He wanted her bad. He readjusted his swollen member in his pants so there was less pressure. There was a refrigerator in the room and he pulled out a beer. His head was still pounding and the only way he knew to get rid of a hangover was aspirin, which he’d already taken three of them, and a little alcohol. Of course sex with Georgia would have worked, too.

  What he really wanted to do was open the bathroom door and finish what they had started. She was like an addiction to him. Now that he had had her, he couldn’t get enough. She needed to wear a warning label. But, after her discussion with her stepmother, Dakota knew he needed to pull back and give her a little space or she was going to run. Patience wasn’t one of his strong suits. He was more a take-charge-kind-of-person. He knew what he wanted and he went for it, but with Georgia he knew he had to go slow. But God, I want her right now. He ran his hand over his cock and groaned.

  It wasn’t that she didn’t like him bossing her around a little, he smiled. He remembered Cheyenne and how her eyes had glazed with desire when he told her what he was going to do to her. And she had followed his every command. Hell, he had almost gotten her to come back to him a few minutes ago. No this was a woman who liked a strong man even if she didn’t know it herself yet.

  She came out a few minutes later with her hair in a low ponytail with a little bit of makeup on and silver dangling earrings. She was in a silk cowgirl shirt with several buttons at the top left open. Her shirt was tucked into her tight fitting jeans and she had on one of her winning barrel racing buckles. She had on turquois cowgirl boots with slight heels. As his eyes looked appreciatively over her body, he looked up and saw her blushing.

  “Honey, you look beautiful.” And he meant it. She was the most mind-fucking stunning woman he had ever met.

  “I suppose I can’t lie to my dad again. If you really want to take me to get something to eat, we can talk. I’m starved,” she smiled up at him.

  “Sounds like a plan. If we stay here any longer I’m going to have to remove your clothes again,” he smiled, reached up and took her hand. She grabbed her cowgirl hat and hand bag and he led her out the door. “They have a great buffet here or we can go somewhere else?”

  “No here is fine Dakota.”

  Chapter Three

  “That was delicious, Dakota. Thank you for lunch.”

  He just smiled that wicked sexy smile back to her, his eyes locked on her lips and she knew she was blushing. How did he do that with just a look?

  They were sitting at a back corner of the buffet where they had some privacy and were enjoying a cup of coffee. Relaxed. Her shoulders were no longer tight and she was even smiling at him.

  Finally he said in that low timbre voice of his, “It was my pleasure. Your stepmom said you didn’t make the finals. Did you race this morning? I’m sorry I missed seeing you compete. Cody and Tammy’s wedding was last night and I’ll be honest we stayed up almost all night; I’m a little hung over. We didn’t get much sleep.”

  “Well the race started out great, but then I felt Damian make a strange dipping movement and I was worried about his leg so I pulled up on the race to the exit. My horse is more important than this one race. It was an honor to get to the NFR. They’ve treated all us contestants really nice. And the vets were there immediately to check my horse. I still had a lot of young cowgirls want my autograph when it was over,” she smiled.

  “Your horse okay?” he wondered how many cowboys had wanted her autograph, too.

  She took another sip of coffee. “Yeah, they said it was strained and a good thing I had pulled up. I still have a rodeo pass to the rest of the rodeo and all the promotions they have for us, and dad paid for my room for a week so I’ll hang out and enjoy Vegas.”

  “I hope you’ll enjoy it with me.” He reached over and took her hand and caressed her fingers as he looked into her eyes. “How can your eyes be so blue?”

  She blushed, “Oh Dakota, you are so smooth. You flirt better than any guy I know. We’ll see about this week but I was serious about not repeating what we did in Cheyenne.”

  He gave her a confident smile, but to his credit didn’t say anything. Damn, he is handsome, but oh so naughty looking at the same time. He takes my breath away. She could fall for this cowboy. Fortunately she was no fool and she knew he was just out for a good time. “I’ll enjoy your company if you can behave yourself.”

  He gave her a quick kiss. “I can still kiss you though, right?”

  “Oh Dakota, you’re killing me.”

  “That’s my plan. You’ll die happy, I promise.”

  If she was honest with herself he could kiss her and do whatever else he wanted, but she just didn’t want to be another easy buckle bunny that he’d forget after this rodeo. She wanted to get to know him better, too. When she had made love with him last time her brain had turned to mush and she wanted to gain back a little control this time.

  “Georgia, will you come watch me ride the bulls on Friday, too? I could use all the support I can get.”

  “Won’t anyone from your family be there?” she asked.

  “Cameron is here writing articles for the Rodeo magazine and he’ll help me get ready for the bull ride if he’s free. Cody and Tammy will come watch, if they can get out of their honeymoon suite long enough to watch. Matt couldn’t come, he’s still in school. Mom stayed home getting ready for the wedding reception we’ll have at the ranch in a couple of weeks when Cody and Tammy come home. And Jenny, my sister, and Jared Stephens just got married and are back from their honeymoon. Jared has started his new job as our ranch foreman. I told them to come but Jared felt they had taken enough time off with their honeymoon.”

  Georgia put her lips in a laughing puckering frown, “Of course, I’ll watch you, you poor boy. Truthfully, I had already planned to do that when I saw you had qualified. It’s great having so many Wyoming cowboys and girls make the NFR. And congratulations on your brother and Tammy getting married. Is that the brother you had to go help?”

  Dakota nodded his head in the affirmative, as he stared into her eyes. She could hear him take a breath. “Wish I hadn’t had to leave you that night in Cheyenne, honey. Tammy was in real trouble with her ex-husband who was stalking her and eventually he kidnapped her and almost killed her. I never would have left you if it hadn’t be
en important. I wonder if I had stayed, if you would think differently about me today.”

  She touched his cheek. “Dakota, I knew you just wanted a one-night stand. I may be inexperienced, but I know about cowboys like you. I’ve been around them all through college and this last year. Really, you don’t have to pretend. You swept me off my feet and I admit I was caught up in the excitement of the night and it was…amazing” she said and her voice got softer, “but that’s just not who I am.”

  “That’s interesting Georgia because I want to spend more time with you. I would say that already throws your theory out the window that it was a one night stand. You can’t lump all of us rodeo cowboys into a neat little box. I’m very interested in getting to know you,” he leaned forward, put his arm around her shoulder and kissed her lips softly.

  She studied him and shook her head, quietly laughing, “Well I don’t want to be accused of discriminating against cowboys, so we’ll see how this week goes.” She folded her arms over her chest and gave him another doubtful look.

  “That’s all I’m asking for,” he ran his thumb over her bottom lip.

  Another rancher from Wyoming walked by and Dakota stood up and greeted him and shook his hand. He offered Dakota condolences on the loss of his father. And they talked about his dad for a few minutes. When the rancher left, she studied Dakota’s face. He was still standing and had turned to face the people walking in the casino and she could see his eyes were a little shinny.

  “Dakota, I haven’t had a chance to tell you how sorry I was to hear about your father. I heard you were as close to him as I am with my father. I just can’t imagine what it would be like if I lost my father, too. And you lost your father so quickly.” She stood and hugged him and pulled his face back to rest against her cheek.

  “Thank you, honey. It has been hard,” he paused. “Only trying to make the finals for him has helped me get through these last few months. I keep thinking he’ll be here to watch me, and then I remember…”

  “I know. I can’t even tell you the pain will completely go away. Every day I still miss my mom, but you just learn to go on day by day. I will always remember her love and encouragement. It makes me want to be a better person; to be like her.”

  “Thank you Georgia.”

  She looked up and saw Cody and Tammy coming toward them. “There’s your brother.”

  Watching Dakota’s face light up when he saw his brother and sister-in-law made Georgia realize how close he was to his family. She liked that. Family was important to her, too. They walked out of the buffet to the casino walk way. She watched both brothers hug each other. Dakota slapped Cody on the shoulder and leaned down and gave Tammy a quick kiss on the cheek.

  “Watch it little brother, you already had your one and only kiss from my wife last night.”

  “Hey, she’s my sister now. I can kiss her on the cheek. Nice to see you’ve let your wife out of your honeymoon suite. I didn’t think I’d see you for two weeks.”

  Cody put his arm around Tammy and smiled. “I’d like nothing better than to keep her in our suite but I’ve got to feed her to keep her strength up.” Cody turned to Georgia, “So this was the emergency that caused you to interrupt my making love to my wife? It’s Georgia right? Georgia Cooper… Justin’s daughter? I should have known,” he looked at Dakota and laughed and turned back to Georgia. “Nice to see you again, do you remember Tammy… my new bride?” His eyes glowed with so much pride Georgia admitted to herself she was a little jealous. They shook her hand.

  “Yes, we met in Cheyenne. Congratulations on your marriage. I’m so happy for you both. Tammy you look radiant.”

  Cody looked lovingly at Tammy, “She sure does.” He leaned over and gave her a quick kiss, but that wasn’t enough and he kissed her again this time Georgia saw him open his mouth and put his tongue into her welcoming mouth. She moaned and leaned into her new husband.

  “Alright you two, you better feed her before you take her back to your room.”

  Cody pulled back and laughed, “Join us. We’re just going to the grill and pub to get a quick sandwich and some coffee.”

  “We just ate but we’ll join you for a few minutes, is that alright Georgia?”

  “Absolutely, I want to see Tammy’s rings and hear about the wedding? Did you do the Elvis wedding?”

  They walked into the café laughing together as Tammy showed off her ring set and told her about the wedding at the Caesar’s wedding palace. Dakota got out his phone and showed her a picture of Tammy and Cody together. She looked beautiful in her cream colored, elegant evening dress with spaghetti straps and she was carrying a huge bouquet of red roses. Her red hair was curled around her face in her new shorter stylish haircut. She wore heirloom pearls around her neck and pearl earrings. Tammy told her they had been a gift from Cody’s mom and that she had worn them at her wedding.

  “You looked beautiful. And I like your new haircut.”

  “I can’t wait for it to grow out. I don’t want to remember why I had to have my hair cut this short. It’s going to be long hair for me from here on out.” Cody put his arms around her offering her comfort.

  “Her lunatic ex-husband chopped off her hair before we finally rescued her. I think she looks beautiful no matter how she wears her hair, but I admit I love her long hair, too,” Cody replied.

  There was a picture of Cody, Dakota and Cameron in their black tuxes with black cowboy hats and black cowboy boots. Tammy must have taken that picture.

  Georgia looked at Dakota and said, “Wow, you look great in a tux.”

  “What about me?” Cody chimed in.

  Georgia giggled, “I’m sure Tammy told you how nice you looked.”

  Cody picked up Tammy’s fingers and kissed her knuckles, “Yes, she did.” Their eyes were locked in a passionate stare.

  Georgia looked back and forth between the two brothers who looked so much alike. They were the same height and had the same devastating smiles full of easy charm. Both men eluded so much masculinity and sex appeal, Georgia felt goose bumps on her arms.

  Oh I am so in trouble with this man.

  Cody reached over and grabbed Dakota’s phone. He fiddled with it a minute and handed it to Georgia. He had opened the new contact list and he had typed in her name and it was ready for the phone number to be entered. “Georgia, please, do me and my wife a favor and enter your phone number so we don’t get any more emergency phone calls from Dakota trying to locate you.”

  She laughed and quickly entered her number.

  Dakota smiled at her and said, “Thank you.”

  “Where is Cameron?” Cody asked.

  “Hell he is going to be really busy this week. They have him attending almost every rodeo event and writing recaps. He did promise to get away to see the Toby Keith concert. I’m taking Georgia so we can party with Cameron.”

  He looked at her with a question in his eyes. She shook her head yes with a twinkle in her eye at how he had just assumed she was going, but she was no fool. She loved Toby Keith.

  “Speaking of concerts I’ve promised Tammy I would take her to see the Carey Underwood concert. You two want to go? It’s Thursday night.”

  Dakota looked at Georgia. “Do you want to go honey?”

  At least this time he asked her. “Yes but aren’t those tickets sold out? It’s at the MGM Grand right?”

  Cody assured her he would be able to get the tickets. He texted one of his rodeo sponsors and in a few minutes there was a text back that the four tickets would be waiting for them at the door. Georgia was excited to get to see two concerts. Before meeting up with Dakota again, she hadn’t known what she was going to do during the week and now it seemed to be filling up with lots of fun things and she had to admit to herself she was excited to get to spend more time with Dakota and his family.

  Dakota stood up and took Georgia’s hand. “We’ll leave you two lovebirds for your lunch. I need to walk off all the food we just gorged on at the buffet. I’m going to have to get
up early and exercise in the gym to get ready for Friday.”

  “Me, too, I think I gained five pounds,” Georgia laughed. “But how early were you thinking Dakota?”

  “Seven AM unless we’re busy doing something else?” he raised his eyebrows at her.

  “In your dreams, cowboy.” She leaned down to give Tammy another hug before they walked into the casino.

  ***

  As they walked, Georgia asked Dakota if Cody missed being in the rodeo.

  “No, he has what he wants. He’s so happy with Tammy and the ranch. Hell, even though he didn’t compete the last few months he had still made enough money to qualify for this year’s NFR, but when he retired in Cheyenne, he’s never looked back and I’ve never seen him so content.”

  Georgia smiled. “How romantic.”

  “I think we should play the twenty dollar bill from hell in a dollar machine,” Dakota said, and he pulled out the notorious bill.

  Her eyes twinkled up at him, “What a great idea.”

  “You get the honors since this money was meant for your breakfast.”

  “I’ve never gambled before… I don’t even know how.”

  Dakota took her hand and walked her over to a dollar machine. “Sit here Tammy and put the money in this slot.” She did as he told her. “Now let’s bet the maximum so all you have to do is push this red button right here.”

  The three wheels spun around and around and ended with three red sevens on the same line. There was an American flag through each seven’s middle with a ribbon with the word “triple” weaving through the flag. The machine started flashing lights and making the loudest bells and dinging noises Georgia had ever heard.

  “We won!” Georgia shouted and the dollar amount at the top of the slot machine started showing their winnings, slowly increasing by hundreds of dollars. She jumped up and threw her arms around Dakota and kissed him. She pulled back smiling and laughing, and Dakota reached down and pulled her back into her arms and resumed the kiss. The kiss went on and on with the bells and the dinging going off in the machine behind them. When the machine noise finally quieted down, everyone was applauding them but they weren’t paying any attention to anyone in the room but each other. Dakota’s tongue was inside her mouth and he was growling again. She was clinging to him.