~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“So what are you going to do?” Dakota questioned IreLyn late the next morning as they drove to the mall to do some shopping. DeLana would be meeting them for lunch so Dakota wanted to make sure that she and IreLyn had their chat before then. Most of Dale’s guests had left, or were leaving that morning. Those who remained were being treated to a barbecue later that afternoon and evening.
“Do what about what?” IreLyn asked, knowing that she was talking about Brett, but as far as she was concerned that subject was closed. What happened between Brett and herself the night before should have never happened and she was going to treat it as such.
“You know full well what I’m talking about, Lyn.” Dakota exclaimed, not buying IreLyn’s act of innocence.
IreLyn sighed as she turned her head and looked out the window. She knew that Dakota wasn’t going to drop the subject without some kind of answer to her question. “Nothing. Last night with Brett was a mistake. It should not have happened and as far as I’m concerned it didn’t.”
Dakota remained silent for a few moments. She knew that IreLyn was only kidding herself. “What about Logan?” She asked softly. She genuinely liked Logan and didn’t want to see him hurt.
“We are going to go back home and continue to be happy as we have the last few months.” IreLyn answered, her voice and expression thick with determination. “I am so over Brett and I am completely happy with Logan.”
Dakota turned and looked at IreLyn as she brought the truck to a stop at a stoplight, not sure if she wanted to laugh or reach out and ring her friend’s neck. “You are so not over Brett, Lyn! If you were, what happened with him last night, never would have.”
“I’m trying, Kody!” IreLyn nearly cried, her frustration was so great. “I tried like hell to resist Brett, but I can’t. I know that Brett doesn’t care about me. He told me himself. And I don’t want to have to go through that hurt again. I don’t want Brett. I want to make it work with Logan.”
“What about the next time you see Brett? Are you going to be able to resist him, or is there going to be another repeat of last night?” Dakota asked, half seriously, half good naturedly.
IreLyn felt her cheeks flush as she thought about how it had been between Brett and herself. It had been the most intense, profound, deep, that she had experienced with any man…ever, apart from when she’d been with Brett in Florida. Those occasions had been just as strong. The connection between them was amazing. Deep down she knew that it was. It was just too bad that Brett hadn’t felt that way.
“I can resist him.” IreLyn finally said. She just hoped that after this weekend was over, she never saw Brett again because even she wasn’t completely convinced of that.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter Thirty Seven
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DeLana, Dakota and IreLyn walked into Dale’s house to find Kevin and Dale sitting on the couch. Dale was glaring at Kevin who was repeatedly counting his money Dale had owed him from the bet.
IreLyn grinned when she saw what he was doing. If it were anyone else, she would have been absolutely humiliated, but Kevin made it funny, and she was grateful for that. And he’d also saved her ass big time when he covered for her the night before with Logan.
“Where’s Logan?” IreLyn asked.
“He went upstairs about an hour ago, said he was going to take a nap.” Kevin grinned. “Can’t understand why he’s so tried. Now you, IreLyn, I would understand.” He teased. He ducked when she threw a pillow at his head, just barely missing him.
IreLyn rolled her eyes. “I’m never going to live this one down, am I?”
“Nope!” DeLana, Dale, Dakota and Kevin all answered in unison.
***
“Yummmm.” IreLyn closed her eyes and savored the taste of the juicy burger she had just bitten into. “Damn, Kody, you’re man really knows how to cook. You better hang on to him.”
“I plan on it.” Dakota answered with a smile before biting into her own burger. She looked around the yard, taking in all the people who were there for the barbecue. It wasn’t half the people who had been there the night before, but it was still a crowd.
It also hadn’t gone unnoticed that Brett and the other guys from the band had come. Thus far, he and IreLyn hadn’t spoken to each other.
IreLyn drained her Budweiser and looked over to the cooler, seeing it was empty. “Uh oh. Junior’s out of beer.” Dakota followed her gaze then shook her head with a laugh.
“He’s not out of beer, believe me. He’s got more in the house.” She said. IreLyn nodded then rose to her feet.
“I’ll go get some.” She said.
“Wait, I’ll help.”
“Nah, go ahead and eat. I think I can handle it.” She turned and walked towards the house, smiling at Logan who was over by the grill helping Dale and Kevin.
She walked into the house and went over to the refrigerator. “Shit.” She muttered when she didn’t see any Budweiser in there. She closed the door and headed down to the club, knowing there had to be some down there.
Sure enough, behind the bar, were cases of Budweiser. She picked one up and started up the stairs. She set the case down once she reached the top of the stairs and paused to catch her breath.
“Whew, maybe I should have let Dakota help me.” She thought to herself as she reached back down to get the case. She was surprised when the case was taken from her hands. She lifted her head to thank the person, but the words stuck in her throat when she saw whom it was.
“You look like you could use a hand.” Brett smiled down at her. He was waiting for her to lash out at him, but he didn’t care. Just having a few moments alone with her was worth it.
“I can do it myself.” IreLyn grumbled, reaching for the case. Brett easily moved it out of her way.
“Lyn, I know you don’t want to hear this, but we need to talk.” He said as he set the case down.
“You’re right.” IreLyn said. Brett’s eyes lit up at her answer.
“I am?” he questioned, not quite believing what he had just heard.
IreLyn nodded. “Yeah, I don’t want to hear this.” She snapped then moved past him. He stopped her easily.
“We’re going to talk, damn it!” he said through clenched teeth. His patience had reached the end, and although he didn’t blame her for the way she was treating him, after what he did to her, he was going to make her listen.
IreLyn jerked her arm out of his grasp and crossed them over her chest, but didn’t make a move to leave. Brett took a deep breath as he ran his fingers through his hair, trying to find the right way to start.
“I know nothing I can say will even begin to make up for the way I treated you in Florida, but will you please just hear me out?” Brett asked, his eyes pleading with her to hear him out.
IreLyn sighed. Nearly everything in her told her to run and not look back. Let him be in the past, and let Logan be her future. But one part of her didn’t. Her heart. That treacherous heart! The look in his eyes moved her more than his words could. She nodded, indicating for him to continue.
“I have no excuse for my actions. I guess I thought I was protecting myself, but I only ended up hurting myself more than you could possibly imagine with my stupidity.” He said gruffly. IreLyn’s whole body jerked at his words. She gasped, unable to believe what he was saying.
“I never meant to hurt you like I did.” He continued. “I’ve been hurt many times in the past. Used. I just couldn’t go through that…not with you. Things were so good between us, yet I didn’t know how to trust myself…or you. I convinced myself that you weren’t any different from the other women.”
IreLyn felt the tears filling her eyes as she listened to him. She could see what he was saying was the truth. It was written on his face, in his eyes, she could hear it in his voice.
“I haven’t been able to get you off my mind. You even haunt my dreams.” He confessed with a wiry smile.
“Brett.” She said softly, the tears flowing freely from her eyes, but he didn’t hear her. He was too caught up in his own misery, and trying to make her believe him.
“I was a fool, Lyn. I realized what a huge mistake I’d made even before seeing you here, but seeing you with Logan made it even worse. I’m sure a lot of people think I’m getting what I deserve, and they are probably right. But after what happened last night, I can’t believe that you really think it was just sex. It was so much more.”
“I know.”
“I know you probably don’t believe me, but…” he paused as her words sunk in. “What?”
This time, IreLyn took the deep breath. She knew she was risking her heart again, but she found that she didn’t care. If Brett was willing to admit when he was wrong, then so was she.
“Last night was more than just sex. I’m sorry for what I said. I was just afraid that I had become what you thought I was in the beginning.” She tried to explain. “I guess I was just trying to protect myself, this time.”
“I think it’s time we both stop trying to protect ourselves, and open our eyes to what is in front of us.” Brett said softly. More tears fell from her eyes at his words. Her heart swelled with love, fear, joy, and many more emotions.
She tried to stop the flow of tears, but they only fell harder. Here he was telling her everything she wanted to hear, but she was torn. She knew where her heart belonged. With Brett. But she couldn’t do this to Logan. Not here, not now.
“Can you forgive me?” Brett reached out and caressed her cheek, and she found herself leaning into his touch. With a watery smile, she nodded, deciding to follow her heart.
Brett pulled his hand back and took a deep breath. “Can we try again?”
Smiling even brighter through her tears, IreLyn was about to answer him when they both heard the back door open. They both turned, and IreLyn felt her heart drop when she saw Logan standing there.
Logan didn’t say anything, but saw the tears on IreLyn’s cheeks, and immediately assumed the worse. “What the hell is going on?” he demanded, glaring at Brett, as he walked over and pulled IreLyn to him. He was so furious and all his attention was focused on Brett, he didn’t notice that IreLyn had stiffened in his arms.
“Logan, wait.” She tried to calm him down.
“Haven’t you hurt her enough?” Logan spat at Brett, who was a little more than pissed to have such an important conversation interrupted.
“I think we were having a private talk, so if you don’t mind.” Brett said through clenched teeth.
“But I do mind.” Logan countered.
“Logan, please.” IreLyn begged as she stepped in between the two men. Brett stepped forward and put his hand of IreLyn’s arm, intending to tell her that they could just continue the conversation later, but Logan saw red when he saw Brett touching IreLyn.
He jumped forward, nearly knocking IreLyn to the ground, and pushed Brett up against the wall. “Get you’re fucking hands off her.” Logan roared.
“NO!” IreLyn yelled, trying to stop what she knew was going to happen. Brett brought his hands up in between their bodies and pushed Logan away.
“Stay the hell away from my girlfriend.” Logan glared at Brett, still ignoring IreLyn. “You had you’re chance with her and you blew it. You’ll never have her again.”
IreLyn took a startled step back not only at Logan’s words, but also at the venom in his voice.
Brett had had enough. “You sure about that?” he challenged. Before he could react, Logan threw a right punch, sending Brett reeling back against the wall. IreLyn ran forward, torn between calming Logan down and checking to make sure Brett was okay.
Brett rubbed his jaw, then looked at Logan. “You’re damn straight I’m sure. I’m not letting you anywhere near IreLyn again.” Logan swore as he advanced on him once again.
“You’re a little late, Romeo.” Brett growled, stopping Logan in his tracks.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter Thirty Eight
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
IreLyn’s eyes grew huge and she was barely able to hold back her gasp of surprise at hearing Brett’s words to Logan. She knew that Brett hadn’t said what he just had intentionally. Looking at him, she could see a hint of surprise in his own as eyes as he quickly glanced in her direction before training his eyes back on Logan, who hadn’t moved or said anything, but was glaring at Brett with murder in his eyes.
“What did you just say?” Logan finally spoke, his voice rough and filled with anger. The muscle that twitched in his jaw and his big hands clenched into tight fists at his sides further attested to the fury flowing through him.
Brett had one fleeting thought of backing down from Logan, who was twice his size, if not more. Although he himself stood an impressive six foot four, he’d always been what people considered being lanky. He weighed maybe one hundred ninety soaking wet. Logan had to be at least two hundred fifty, probably more close to three hundred though. He stood a good half-foot over him and Logan was all muscle. Not that he didn’t have any muscle… Logan just had more.
But he’d come to this weekend already knowing that he was going to fight for IreLyn. The fact that she had shown up at the party with Logan did not change that. He and IreLyn belonged together. What had happened between them the night before only further proved what he’d known deep down since the very first moment that his eyes had touched on her. IreLyn had forgiven him and he knew that she would have said that she wanted to try again had Logan not interrupted them.
“You heard me,” Brett began, his eyes locking with Logan’s to clearly present his challenge. “I said, you are too late.” Brett strongly emphasized each word as he spoke them.
Logan immediately understood what Brett was insinuating and he didn’t believe a word that the other man was saying until he glanced over at IreLyn. The instant his eyes met hers, he knew that was Brett was telling him was true. He whipped his head back around, fixing his furious glare back on Brett. “You’re dead,” He growled low in his throat as his feet quickly advanced him towards Brett.
IreLyn watched in shock, unable to move or speak to try to prevent the inevitable. Her breath left her lungs in a rush, leaving her unable to breath and feeling as if she’d been the one who had been hit as she watched Logan spear and then slam Brett into the wall behind them. A framed picture hanging on the wall fell when they hit it, raining shattered glass upon them.
Finally IreLyn’s feet took life and she ran to the back door as Logan jumped on top of Brett, not allowing him to more as he began beating him with such vigor that IreLyn was sure that Logan had every intention to kill Brett.
“Dale!” IreLyn threw the door open and yelled. He turned, as did several others and saw the frantic look on her face. “Please help!”
Dale, along with Kevin Harvick rushed past her into the house, where they knew without having to be told what was happening. They, Dakota and DeLana had seen Brett follow IreLyn into the house after she’d gone to get more beer. And minutes later they’d seen Logan go inside as well. They all hoped that a fight wouldn’t break out, but knew that it would. None of them had missed the anger firmly etched upon Logan’s handsome features.
IreLyn hurried back inside behind Dale and Kevin. Dakota followed right on IreLyn’s heels. They both froze in their tracks and watched as Dale and Kevin hurried forward to get in-between the two men. Dakota watched as Dale hauled Logan off of Brett. Wrapping his arms around his waist, Dale drug Logan away in an effort to put some distance between Brett and Logan.
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Dakota couldn’t help but admire how…well, quite frankly, how masculine he was. As he grabbed Logan off of Brett and pulled him away, she could see the muscles in his arms, back, and chest bulging against his T-shirt. She felt her heart speed up as her eyes traveled down the length of his legs, easily seeing the muscles at work there as well. Dakota was abruptly shocked out of her fantasy when she heard IreLyn gasp beside her and then race forward to Brett, whose nose was bloodied and his right eye was quickly turning a nasty shade of purple. He also had a cut on his forehead that had been caused by the broken glass hitting him.
Dakota rushed into the kitchen to get some ice and towels. She returned back with them and handed them to IreLyn, who hadn’t left Brett’s side yet or even looked up from his face.
That was until Logan walked up beside her and glared down into her eyes. “You are no better than he is.” Logan spat angrily. Beyond the anger she could hear easily the hurt in his voice and that made her feel like the biggest heel on the face of the earth. “You and him deserve each other.” With that said, Logan stalked upstairs and collected his things. Within an hour he was on his way to the airport.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter Thirty Nine
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
IreLyn turned around when she heard footsteps approaching behind her. She was relieved to see Dakota coming toward her.
“Thought I might find you out here.” Dakota commented as she sat down beside IreLyn atop the picnic table. After making sure that Brett was all right, IreLyn had slipped outside, needing time to clear her mind. Dakota and all else had become worried when she’d been gone longer than an hour.
Logan’s final words to her had stung and IreLyn couldn’t help but wonder how right he had been when he’d told her that she was no better than Brett and that they deserved each other. She felt bad for the way that he’d been hurt. That had never been her intention with him. Then again, she never intended t see Brett again or be getting back together with him. So much had happened in the last twenty-four hours that it quite literally made her head spin.
“Is Brett okay?” IreLyn asked what was foremost in her mind.
“He’ll be fine. He’s got a nice black eye, but the cut on his forehead looked much worse than it really was. Nothing much more than a scratch. I don’t think that it will even leave a scar.” Dakota said, hearing IreLyn’s relieved sigh as well as seeing the relief in her eyes. She knew that IreLyn was beating herself up over the whole situation.
When IreLyn remained silent, Dakota went on. “I know that you feel bad for the way that things turned out with Logan, but there is no use dwelling on it. What’s done is done. Get over it. You and Brett belong together and think that deep down you’ve known that all along. You just didn’t want, or couldn’t see it. You were too scared to see it after what happened with him in Florida.” Dakota told IreLyn, her tone gentle, but firm.
“I know, and you’re right. I’ve known all along that I’ve never completely gotten over Brett. I knew that if I ever saw him again that I’d be too weak to be able to resist him. And all along I’ve known that Brett is the one that I truly wanted to be with.” IreLyn paused for a moment, wiping a tear from her cheek. “I just wish that Logan didn’t have to be hurt in the process. Despite what you saw here today, he really is a nice guy. Very caring, and very gentle.”
“Well Lyn,” Dakota began, not really sure what to say to comfort her friend’s doubts. “I really don’t know what to tell you except that I know that you didn’t mean to hurt Logan. That was the furthest thing from your mind. Things just have a funny way of working out sometimes.”
“Thanks Kody.” IreLyn replied softly as she reached over and gave her friend a tight squeeze. It meant the world to her to know that Dakota understood.
“You’re welcome, and anytime.” Dakota said as she returned the hug. “I’m gonna head back inside. You coming?”
IreLyn shook her head. “Actually I think I’ll stay out here a little bit longer.” IreLyn answered as Dakota got up.
Dakota smiled at IreLyn’s words. “Taken a bit of a liking to this picnic table, haven’t ya?” She teased and laughed as IreLyn’s cheeks flamed. “Now I know what to get you for your birthday; your very own picnic table. Or maybe I’ll just have Dale put a big red bow on this one and ship it right to you. You know, since it has memories to you and all.”
“Oh, get out!” IreLyn exclaimed as she burst out laughing. She knew Dakota well enough to know that that sounded exactly like something Dakota would do. She laughed harder as she imagined a delivery truck pulling up to their house to drop the picnic table off.
“Yeah! Gonna do it, Lyn! Then when ever you and Brett get an urge like you did last night, you’ve got it right there.” Dakota told her, laughing harder still as IreLyn’s eyes grew huge, her cheeks burning a deep shade of red. “Though you might want to put some kind of padding on it to avoid those nasty splinters all the time.”
IreLyn opened her mouth to speak, but found it impossible; she was laughing way too hard. She knew that Dakota would be able to make her feel better. That was one of the things that she loved most about her friend. No matter how down she was, more often than not, Dakota could make her feel better.
“Get outta here!” IreLyn playfully shooed Dakota away.
“Hey,” Dakota called over her shoulder as she began walking back to the house. “You want me to send Brett out here?” It was a silly question really. Of course she would want Brett with her.
“Yes.” IreLyn answered with out hesitation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter Forty
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dakota opened the door and was immediately met by Brett. She couldn’t help but wince when she looked at his face. He kept saying it looked worse than it felt, but she had to wonder. She was only glad that Dale and Kevin had been able to break up the fight before Brett got hurt any farther.
“How is she?” he demanded. It was killing him to stay inside while Dakota went out to talk to IreLyn.
“She’s looking forward to seeing you.” Dakota smiled up at him. Before she could say anything else, Brett brushed past her and out the door. Dakota shook her head as she closed the door behind him. She sighed happily when she saw IreLyn launch herself into Brett’s arms.
Giving them the privacy they deserved, Dakota turned and walked into the living room where Carl, Kevin, Jeff, Dale, Kevin, and DeLana were sitting. Since the fight, all the other guests had discreetly left, not that anyone was complaining. It was good to have some peace and quiet.
“How is she?” DeLana asked when she saw Dakota walk into the room.
“Better now. Brett’s with her.” Dakota answered as she sat down next to Dale on the couch, smiling at him when he immediately pulled her closer.
“You know what this means, don’t you?” Kevin asked with a wide grin.
“What now, Happy?” Dale asked with a groan. Dakota giggled at Kevin’s nickname, but after spending the past few days with him, she fully understood why everyone called him ‘Happy Harvick’. He was forever grinning!
“You two,” he indicated to DeLana and Dale, “Owe me a hundred more.”
“What? You’re crazy!” DeLana laughed, punching him playfully in the arm. Kevin shook his head, still smiling.
“Yeah man, I already paid you.” Dale said.
“Ah, but if you two will remember we made two bets.” Kevin reminded them. “The first hundred was me betting you that they were going to…uh hook up at the party. The second bet was that they would still be together by the end of the party.”
“Shit.” Dale muttered, knowing Kevin was right and he was out another hundred dollars.
“Damn, man, I could have told you not to take that bet.” Carl laughed. “You haven’t been around Brett the past month or so.”
“Yeah, he’s been unbearable.” Jeff rolled his eyes. “Personally, I’m glad and relieved they are back together.”
Dakota nodded. “Me too.” She smiled.
Carl, Kevin and Jeff stood up and stretched. “Alright, we’re going to get going all.” Jeff said. “Killer party, Junior. It was a blast, never dull. Call us when you’re ready to party again!”
Dale stood up with them. “You know it.”
“Tell Brett he can meet us at the hotel tomorrow afternoon after he drops IreLyn off at the airport. Dakota, it was great seeing you again.” Kevin said. “Good luck with this one.” He pointed to Dale. “If he doesn’t treat you right, you just give me a call!” he said teasingly.
Dakota laughed, then got quiet after they left, feeling a wave of sadness wash over her at the thought of leaving the next day.
“So, what are we going to do tonight?” DeLana asked, looking at the clock seeing it was quarter to seven. “The night is still young.”
“I don’t know about you two, but I plan on spending some one on one time with Dakota.” Dale said, giving them a pointed look.
Kevin stood up and pulled his wife to her feet, clearly getting Dale’s message. “I see how you are. Kicking us out.” He laughed. DeLana went up on tiptoes and whispered something in his ear, causing him to smile even wider…if that was possible.
“Uh, you two have fun, we’ll be over the garage if you need us.” He said, then pulled his wife out the door.
“Ooh, that reminds me,” Dakota said suddenly looking at Dale. “IreLyn’s birthday is coming up, and I know the perfect present I want to give her.”
“What?”
“You’re picnic table…with a big red bow on it.” She grinned.
Dale burst out laughing and nodded. “I think I can arrange that.”
She surprised him when she jumped up off the couch and held her hand out to him. “Come on.” She urged, the gleam in her eyes telling him she was planning something.
“Where are we going?” he asked as he stood up.
“To the game room.”
“Oh really?” he asked with a devilish smile.
“Yeah, I want to show you what I can really do on that pool table.” She said, her face the picture of innocence.
“Oh.” Dale replied, unable to completely hide his disappointment. His heart started pounding when her innocent smile took a wicked turn.
“And then afterwards,” she said softly as she stepped closer to him and wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing fully against his body. “Maybe I’ll play you a game of pool.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter Forty One
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I wish that you didn’t have to leave tomorrow," Brett told IreLyn as they drove to the hotel that he and the rest of the band members were staying at.
IreLyn sighed as he opened the door for her and they walked into the hotel, heading for the elevators. Thanks to the late hour of the night, the lobby was deserted and Brett was able to walk through with out being mobbed. "I know Brett, I wish I didn’t have to either. But it’s only going to be a couple of weeks before you’re going to venture out to Colorado." She told him with a smile although on the inside, her heart was aching at being apart from him for that long. But there was no way that she was going to even try to attempt to hold him back from what he loved doing. She didn’t want to. The long periods of time that they were separated would just make the time that they would have together even more special. "Besides I have to be at work so I can play Fuel’s music all the time."
Her words brought a smile to Brett’s face and a light to his eyes. "Well, I guess that is a pretty good reason for you to have to get back home and to work." He paused for a moment as they walked into the elevator and waited for the doors to close before he continued. "I’m just going to miss you so much, Lyn." He finished softly, his eyes locking with hers as he reached out and stroked a finger across her cheek.
IreLyn closed her eyes as she instantly melted under his touch. She wrapped her arms around his waist, slowly backing him up until he was against the side of the elevator. She tipped her head back, her eyes still not leaving his as he slowly dropped his head down to her level.
A thick groan escaped past his lips as they came into contact with hers. The sound was cut off as IreLyn pressed closer to him, deepening the kiss in the process. Brett groaned again, as her lips left his and she lifted his T-shirt, placing light, teasing kisses across his chest. She stood up on her toes to better access the sensitive spot on the side of his neck.
Hooking a finger around her chin, Brett tipped her face up. He leaned forward, fully intending to ravish her when the elevator stopped and the doors pulled open. Taking hold of her hand, Brett pulled IreLyn out of the elevator behind him and they rushed back to his room.
They didn’t leave again until it was time for IreLyn to meet Dakota at the airport for their flight home the next day.
*****
"Well, I can’t really say that it’s good to be home." Dakota said as she and IreLyn walked through the door after arriving home.
IreLyn set her bags down with a sigh, knowing exactly how Dakota felt. And even though Dale was now in his off-season for racing, he still had a number of events and appearances scheduled. He was able though, to make a trip to Colorado in two weeks, at he same time as Brett.
"It’s only two weeks," IreLyn told Dakota, trying to cheer both of them up. "You want something to drink?" She asked as she walked into the kitchen, trying to keep her mind occupied.
"Sure, whatever you’re having. Oh, and check the messages while you’re in there."
IreLyn laughed. "I bet there’s a ton of them…all from Jean-Claud." She looked back, seeing Dakota roll her eyes, knowing that IreLyn was probably right.
"Well, I don’t officially go back to work until tomorrow so whatever is so urgent can wait until then." Dakota was not in the mood to deal with Jean-Claud. All she wanted to do was sit there and think of Dale and the weekend they’d just spent together.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter Forty Two
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dakota walked into her office building with a sigh. This was the last place she wanted to be. She went to bed the night before wishing she were still in Dale’s arms, and had woke up with the same thought. It wasn’t that she didn’t love her job, or Colorado, she just wished it were a little closer to Dale.
"Morning." She greeted her secretary Gretchen. Gretchen immediately jumped to her feet, a look of relief on her face.
"Thank god you’re here." She cried, walking into Dakota’s office behind her.
"Jean-Claude been bugging you?" Dakota asked with a small smile.
"Bugging is not the word. Something big is going on around here, and he wants you in his office…now." Gretchen told her, wringing her hands together the way she always did when she got nervous, which was anytime Jean-Claude was around or mentioned.
Dakota paused in hanging up her jacked and turned to face Gretchen. "What’s going on?" she asked, having a feeling that it was more than just Jean-Claude’s normal emergencies.
"I don’t know, but whatever it is, has Jean-Claude more upset than I have ever seen him. He’s been on the rampage! He’s called down here four times this morning, demanding that you come to his office as soon as you step foot into the building."
"Shit." Dakota muttered closing her eyes and counting to ten, hoping it would ease the tension she was already starting to feel. It didn’t, so she opened her eyes and started out of her office. "Wish me luck." She called over her shoulder.
"Good luck!" Gretchen yelled back, then said to herself. "You’re going to need it."
***
"I miss you too." IreLyn said into the phone, smiling happily as she talked to Brett.
"How was you’re first day back to work?" he asked, wanting more than anything to be with her and asking her this face to face instead of over the phone and thousands of miles apart.
"It was okay. Nothing special really happened. I did play you’re songs a couple times today." IreLyn giggled. "How was you’re day?"
"Terrible. I sat around all day and thought about you."
"You did not!" IreLyn laughed.
"Wanna bet? I’ll let you ask Junior, Kevin or DeLana." He chuckled into the phone, his voice and laughter sending shivers through her body. "The only thing that’s keeping them from getting on my case is that Junior isn’t doing much better without Dakota."
He’d been set to leave with the band earlier that day, but his agent called him an hour before the flight and told him that there had been a cancellation of a photo shoot, so he had decided to spend one more day, relaxing at Dale’s.
IreLyn heard voices in the background, then heard Brett shout "Hang on!". He sighed as he turned his attention back to the phone.
"Sorry, Junior is trying to hurry me along so he can have the phone to talk to Dakota." He explained.
"Oh, well tell him he’s out of luck anyway. She’s not home from work yet." IreLyn said, glancing at the clock, seeing Dakota should be home any minute. She glanced out the window and smiled when she saw Dakota pull into the driveway.
"Speak of the devil. She just pulled in." IreLyn told Brett.
"She just got home." Brett called to Dale. "Okay, I’m going to call you back from my cell phone, so Junior can have the phone before he looses his temper." Brett laughed, getting a classic Earnhardt glare that had most people shaking in their shoes.
"Okay, call me on my cell." IreLyn told him.
"Alright, hang on I’m going to hand the phone to Dale."
IreLyn looked up when the front door opened. "Hey Kody. There’s someone on the phone for you." She smiled at her. Her smiled quickly faded when she saw the tears on her friend’s face. Dakota held her hand up, not looking at her, and kept walking. IreLyn heard her bedroom door close. She sat stunned for a moment. For as long as she had known Dakota, she had never known her to cry. Something serious had to have happened.
"Brett, you still there?" IreLyn asked.
"Yeah, but I’m getting ready to call you on you’re cell."
"Uh, let me call you, okay? Dakota just came home, and something is wrong. I’m going to go talk to her. Tell Dale I’ll have her call him." She promised.
"What’s wrong?" Brett asked.
"I don’t know, that’s what I’m about to find out. I’ll talk to you later." She said, then hung up and hurried back to her friend’s room.
She paused outside and heard the soft sobs coming from behind the closed door. She knocked. "Kody?"
She opened the door when she didn’t get an answer and saw Dakota lying face down on her bed, her face buried in her pillow. "Kody?" she repeated.
"Leave me alone." Dakota’s voice was muffled from the pillow.
IreLyn sighed and walked over to the bed, sitting next to her friend. "No. Now tell me what’s wrong."
Dakota sat up and sniffled, wiping the tears from her face. "I think I just got fired." She whispered, her lower lip trembling.
"What?!?" IreLyn screeched, her eyes wide with shock. Surely she must have heard her wrong. Jean-Claude would never fire Dakota. She was his right hand man…or woman. He couldn’t make it through the day without calling her for her opinion, help or input. And it was usually more than once a day…more like five times!
Dakota nodded miserably. "That was my reaction." She muttered.
"Why? What happened? I don’t understand." IreLyn was flabbergasted.
Dakota sighed heavily as she stood up and started pacing around the room. "When I got in this morning, Jean-Claude wanted to see me right away. I got up to his office, and he started going off. I’ve never seen him like that before. First he was livid that I had deliberately turned off my cell phone over the weekend, and that I hadn’t called him back once I got home. But apparently we lost a huge account this weekend. And if I don’t get the account back, then to quote Jean-Claude, ‘You can look for a job elsewhere.’" She said, tears forming in her eyes again.
"Oh, honey, I’m sure he was just upset. He didn’t mean it like that…" she trailed off as Dakota started shaking her head furiously.
"No, he was as serious as a heart attack."
"Then just get the account back. It can’t be that hard." IreLyn said cheerfully, trying to cheer up her friend.
"No, not that hard. Just impossible." Dakota mumbled.
"Oh come on, Kody. I’ve seen you in action, and not many people can say no to you. Just turn up that charm of yours, and get that account." IreLyn said brightly, having all the faith in the world in her friend.
Dakota gave her a sideways glance. "It’s a little more complicated than that." She saw the confused look on IreLyn’s face. "The account that we lost, or should I say, was pulled out from under us, was Logan’s."
IreLyn gasped as her face went white. "Oh God." She whispered. Dakota easily read what was going through her head.
"Now don’t you go blaming yourself." Dakota said sternly. "What happened between you and Logan has nothing to do with this. You have nothing to do with what goes on with us professionally." She said, knowing she was lying through her teeth.
Logan had not given a reason for pulling the account, but Dakota could easily guess what it was. She had talked to him earlier in the day, and he had been completely unreasonable and unrelenting. He wanted nothing to do with her, or the company. He was smart enough not to bring up IreLyn’s name, but Dakota still found him to be completely unprofessional. She didn’t want to do business with someone like that, and had voiced her opinion to Jean-Claude. Needless to say, he wasn’t interested in hearing her opinion.
"Oh, Kody, I’m so sorry." IreLyn cried, feeling horrible, knowing no matter what Dakota said, she was the reason this was happening.
"Don’t be. You’re happy with Brett, and that is all that matters. Besides, it’s not like I can’t find another job." Dakota said, trying to sound more upbeat. She tried smiling, but it came off looking as fake as it felt.
"But you love you’re job." IreLyn said quietly. She wondered if she could possibly talk to Logan herself and try to get him to reconsider. She thought better of it, afraid she would make things worse.
Dakota shrugged. "I don’t know now if I do or not. After seeing Jean-Claude today, I’m not sure I want to work for someone like that. Besides, he’s the one who would choose Logan over me, so if I really mean that little to him and the company, screw him."
The phone next to the bed started to ring, and Dakota looked at it dreadfully. "I don’t to answer it. It might be Jean-Claude, and I just can’t talk to him right now." She whispered, her eyes filling with tears again. It wasn’t so much the fact that her job was in jeopardy, it was the fact that Jean-Claude was turning his back on her and their friendship. It hurt…badly.
IreLyn reached over and picked it up. She smiled when she heard who was on the other end, knowing it would be long until he called. "Hang on." She told them, then held the phone out to Dakota.
"It’s Dale." She said, relieved when she saw Dakota’s eyes light up. She knew right now if anyone could make Dakota feel better, it was the man on the other end of the phone.
As if on cue, IreLyn heard her cell phone ringing in the other room. She laughed as she stood up.
"Let me guess, that would be Brett." Dakota smiled for the first time all day as she took the phone.
"Yup." IreLyn said as she rushed out of the room to get her phone. Dakota smiled after her, then sat back on the bed and put the phone to her ear.
"Hey there." She said softly, already feeling one hundred percent better
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter Forty Three
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"So is everything all right there?" Brett asked just as soon as IreLyn picked up the phone.
"Yeah I guess," She started with a sigh, still feeling horrible that Dakota had lost Logan’s account and probably her job all because of her. "Kody lost a big account at work today and she’s pretty upset." IreLyn paused for a moment. "It was Logan’s account and now Jean-Claud told her that if she doesn’t get the account back, she can start looking for another job. Although he never said as much, but I know the reason Logan pulled his account is because of me and what happened this weekend. And now also thanks to me, Kody is going to be out of a job because even though she is not the one who hurt him, since she is my friend Logan will have nothing to do with her or her company as long as she is still working there. Probably the worst thing though is that Jean-Claud has literally turned his back on Kody. They used to best of friends, but now thanks to me, that is yet another thing that Kody has lost."
"Why are you blaming yourself?" Brett questioned, wishing like hell that he could be there with her to ease her emotions. "It is not your fault."
"Yes, it is!" IreLyn adamantly insisted. "If I’d just have-" Brett cut her off.
""It’s not your fault, Lyn. And I can bet that Dakota doesn’t blame you. It was very unprofessional of Logan to mix his personal feelings with his business."
"I know, but-" Again Brett interrupted.
"But nothing, Lyn. It’s not your fault." Brett said quite forcefully but only because he hated hearing her as she was. He hated hearing her put the blame on herself for something that was completely out of her control. Really, if a finger had to be pointed at anyone, it should be pointed at him. He’d been the one that let it slip about him and IreLyn having been together at the party. And that had been what had caused all of the trouble in the first place.
IreLyn sighed and gave up, knowing that there was no use fighting with Brett on the subject. That didn’t, however, stop her from thinking…and knowing that she was completely to blame.
*****
"Wow, you look a thousand times better." IreLyn commented when Dakota came out of her room long after she’d gotten off the phone with Brett. "I’m guessing Dale knows all the best ways to make you feel better." She said as Dakota sat down beside her on the couch, a happy smile curving her lips and lighting her eyes.
"He is the best…the absolute best." Dakota reply was followed by a happy, heart felt sigh. "I can’t believe that I almost missed out on my chance with him, thinking that he was nothing more than a hick…someone that I would never want to associate with. I am so incredibly lucky."
"Well trust me, you deserve all the happiness and love that he gives you, and even more." IreLyn told her, her voice filled with genuine sincerity. IreLyn hesitated for a moment and then spoke again, "Listen, about what happened with Logan and everything. Kody, I-" This time it was Dakota who cut her off. Damn! Why did everyone have to keep interrupting her. Why couldn’t they let her say what was on her mind?
"I don’t want to talk about it." Dakota held her hand up when she saw IreLyn’s look of protest. "I’ll deal with it tomorrow. Until then, I don’t want to talk about it."
When IreLyn remained silent, Dakota spoke again. "How about we have ourselves a nice girl’s night. Dinner at our favorite restaurant and then hours of dancing at the club?" She was relieved when IreLyn finally, after several minutes, nodded her head in agreement.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter Forty Four
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
IreLyn groaned when the phone rang early the next morning. Way to early after a only just getting into bed a few hours before after a night of hefty parting.
She opened one eye and glared at the phone when it rang again. Muttering a string of curses, IreLyn picked up the receiver.
"Hello." She mumbled, her voice thick with sleep.
"IreLyn, let me talk to Dakota."
IreLyn sighed when she heard the voice. She glanced at the clock. "Jean-Claud, it’s six in the morning, whatever this is, I’m sure it can wait a couple hours." She grumbled.
"I need to talk to Dakota." He restated, not his usual cheerful self. This morning it sounded as if he were all business.
"Hang on." She sighed as she put the phone down and climbed out of bed.
She walked out of her room and to Dakota’s door. She knocked then peeked her head in the room, seeing her friend fast asleep. She bit her lip, debating on whether or not to wake her. They’d had had a blast the night before, and not once had what happened at work been mentioned. When they had returned home, they were both in great spirits, and IreLyn didn’t want to change that.
She walked over and gently shook Dakota, knowing Jean-Claud would only continue to call until he finally got a hold of Dakota.
"Kody." She called. Dakota mumbled incoherently as she rolled over on her back, draping her arm across her eyes.
"Kody." IreLyn repeated a little louder. Dakota moved her arm and forced her eyes open.
"What?" she asked grouchily.
"Phone." IreLyn told her. Dakota sat up, and know who it was just by the look on IreLyn’s face. She picked up her phone and brought it up to her ear.
"Jean-Claud." She said, her voice stiff, much like her body at the moment.
"Dakota, I need you to come to my office immediately." He informed her, his voice cold and clipped.
"What for?" Dakota asked, her own tone sharp. She was getting a little tired of taking orders from him. And after the way he had talked to her the day before, she was having a little trouble not being angry.
"I want you in the office in an hour." Jean-Claud stated arrogantly, taking for granted that she had always listened to him before. But by now, she’d had enough.
Dakota took a deep breath. "No."
"What?" He asked incredibly, not believing he had heard her correctly.
"I said no." she repeated. "Besides, what’s the point. I’m fired, remember."
"I didn’t fire you, although you’re pretty damn close now. You have one chance to get Logan back with our company." Jean-Claud said through clenched teeth.
"I’m not fired?" she asked.
"No, not yet. Don’t push me Dakota." He warned.
"Well, in that case if I’m not fired, I quit!" she snapped, then slammed down the phone. She stared at the phone for a minute, then a slow satisfied smile spread across her face.
"I can’t believe you just did that." IreLyn said, standing in the doorway, grinning at her friend.
Dakota giggled as she put a hand over her mouth, her eyes huge. "I can’t either!"
"Well, I’m proud of you." IreLyn said as she came over and gave her friend a tight hug. "You know, you can always come work at the radio station with me."
Dakota made a face. "I don’t think so…I couldn’t stand to listen to Fuel all day long." She teased. "Besides, I’m sure I’ll find something soon."
She crossed her fingers, praying she was right and hadn’t just made the biggest mistake of her life.
***
A week later Dakota still hadn’t found a job, and was beginning to get depressed. She was getting close to go crawling back to Jean-Claud on her hands and knees and beg for forgiveness.
IreLyn hated seeing her friend like this, and ever day she felt more and more guilty about what happened, knowing that if things hadn’t ended so badly with her and Logan, none of this would have happened.
Dakota had insisted time and time again that it had nothing to with IreLyn, but she knew better. And she had to find some way to make it up to her. But she didn’t know how.
One afternoon, and idea hit her, and she rushed home, thankful that Dakota hadn’t returned home from an interview.
She grabbed the phone and dialed the number she now knew by heart. She waited, then put down the phone when she got an answering machine, opting not to leave a message.
"Damn." She said softly. Her eyes lit up when she saw Dakota’s cell phone sitting on the counter. It was no use to her, since Jean-Claud had deactivated the phone immediately, but it still held all of Dakota’s information and numbers.
She scrolled through the list and after finding the number she was looking for, began dialing again on the house phone.
"Hello?"
"Dale, it’s IreLyn." She said, relieved he had answered his cell phone.
"Hey, Lyn, how’s it going?" he asked. "How is Dakota?" he asked an instant later. Although they talked every night, he missed her like crazy. He was also a little worried, since every night he could hear her getting more and more down, even though she tried her best to hide it. He only hoped the surprise he had for her when he came to visit in a week would cheer her up.
"It’s going okay. Um, listen, I have a question for you." IreLyn said. "I know you aren’t scheduled to get a break to come to Colorado until next week, and although I know this is a huge favor to ask, do you think you could possibly make it any sooner?" she asked.
She knew by now the one and only thing that could snap Dakota out of the funk she was in, was Dale. And damn it, if that’s what it took, then she was going to get Dale here…or take Dakota to him. One way or the other.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter Forty Five
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Lyn! Can you get that?" Dakota called to her friend, who was in the kitchen fixing dinner. She herself was just stepping out of the shower. "Lyn!" Dakota called again when the doorbell rang for a second time and she still heard IreLyn in the kitchen and not making a move toward the door.
"Damn!" Dakota cussed softly as she slipped out of the towel that she had wrapped around her body and grabbed her robe, slipping it on as she left the bathroom and moved toward the door.
"Did you not hear the doorbell?" Dakota yelled into IreLyn as she passed the kitchen.
"Huh? Doorbell?" IreLyn replied a little too innocently for Dakota to believe that she hadn't heard her. Not to mention the evil little gleam that she'd seen twinkling in her friend's green eyes.
IreLyn smiled to herself as she listened to Dakota going through the living room towards the door. "She's in for one hell of a surprise." IreLyn thought to herself, imagining Dakota's reaction when she found Dale standing on the other side of the door. She, herself, had no idea that she was in for a hell of a surprise of her own for standing on the other side of the door along with Dale, was Brett. She wasn't expecting him for another five days.
Smiling still to herself, IreLyn went back to preparing dinner. Although she knew that it was coming, she still nearly jumped out of her skin a few seconds later when she heard Dakota's scream of surprise and delight. She knew that Dale was exactly what Dakota needed to help brighten her mood back up.
IreLyn sighed as she thought about how much she missed Brett. It had only been just over a week since she'd last seen him in North Carolina at Dale's party and she still had several more days to get through before she would see him again. She knew that it would be hard being away from him. But she never imagined it to be so difficult. She supposed that with time, she would get used to it. At least she usually talked to him on the phone every night for at least a few minutes. That was better than nothing. But still she yearned for the real thing.
"I was told that I might find you in here." IreLyn heard someone say, breaking her out of her thoughts. Her breath caught as she instantly recognized his voice.
It wasn't possible. She had to imagining it. Surely she really didn't just hear Brett behind her. IreLyn slowly turned her head and looked over her shoulder behind her. Her eyes met his. She blinked a couple of times, thinking that surely she was seeing things, but she wasn't.
With an excited scream of her own she turned and went straight to his waiting arms.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter Forty Six
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
IreLyn pulled back from the heated kiss and looked up at Brett, her eyes wide with shock, but an excited smile in place nonetheless. “What are you doing here?” she asked breathlessly.
Brett grinned down at her as he ran a finger down her cheek. “I wanted to surprise you. Junior called me and told me you had asked him to come out early and wanted to know if I could somehow rearrange my schedule also. I did, and here I am.”
IreLyn threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tight. She was so happy she felt her heart was going to burst right out of her chest. It suddenly hit her full force. She was head over heels in love. And she wasn’t afraid of it.
“No one has ever done anything like this for me before.” She said softly as she pulled back and looked into his eyes. The love that was shining brightly there nearly took Brett’s breath away. He lowered his head and captured her lips with his, tightening his arms around her.
IreLyn moaned softly as she went up on her tiptoes, increasing the pressure and deepening the already heated kiss. Brett backed her up against the refrigerator and pressed his body full against hers. His hands hungrily explored her body as hers did his, neither feeling as if they could get enough.
IreLyn’s hands slipped under his shirt, and she was about to pull it over his head when she suddenly remembered where she was and that Dale and Dakota were in the other room. She couldn’t prevent the giggle that escaped her.
Brett looked down at her, “What’s so funny?” he asked huskily as he nibbled on her earlobe, sending shivers thru her body and nearly causing her to forget everything but him again.
IreLyn tipped her head back to look up at him. “What is about you that makes me forget everything, like the fact that Dakota and Dale are in the other room?” she asked with a grin.
“Hmmm, I don’t know, but you seem to have the same effect on me.” Brett laughed as he gave her another quick kiss, before stepping away from her and taking a deep breath, trying to regain control of his body. IreLyn immediately grabbed his shirt and pulled him back to her, her smile turning wicked.
“I didn’t mean for us to stop completely. We just need to take this to another room. I can always say hi to Dale later.” She said slyly as she took his hand and led him to her room.
The instant the door was shut behind them, she was back in his arms, each in a frenzy to get the others clothes off, nearly tearing them in their haste. Once the last article of clothing was shed, they both fell on her bed, their arms and legs entwined.
IreLyn straddled him, and slowly sank down on him, closing her eyes and throwing her head back as she felt him stretching her to her limits. The deep groan that came from deep within Brett’s chest nearly sent her over the edge. She stayed still for just a moment, holding this moment close as long as she could. Her hips began moving on their own accord, and a soft gasp left her lips as she moved on him. She bit her lip, trying to keep the pace slow.
But Brett had other ideas. Grasping her hips, he moved suddenly, and IreLyn found herself lying beneath him, looking up into his amazing eyes, all the while their bodies still joined.
“I can’t go slow.” He said, almost apologetically as his hips moved, burying himself even deeper still. IreLyn’s hips moved in time with his, silently urging him on. Faster and faster they moved together, both straining for the release they both craved, yet at the same time, each trying to hold it off.
Finally, IreLyn couldn’t take it any longer and let go. Her eyes flew open and her mouth made an ‘O’, but no sound came out as she climaxed, it rocking her to the very depths of her soul. Seconds later, she felt Brett follow as his grip on her hips tightened, prolonging her own orgasm.
Awhile later they lay in each other’s arms, their breathing finally returning back to normal. IreLyn looked at him and saw the satisfied smile on his lips. “Wow.” She whispered. Brett met her gaze and grinned.
“I’ll say.” He chuckled. “Too much like that and you’re going to kill me.” He teased, cutting her laugher off with his lips.
“Nah, we’ll just have to get you’re stamina up.” She joked back. She laid her head on his chest, lazily tracing patters on his chest with her fingers. Her eyelids began to get heavy as she listened to his steady heartbeat and moved with the rise and fall of his chest.
“Lyn.” He whispered.
“Hmm?” she asked sleepily, unable to keep the content smile off her face. Brett hooked his finger under her chin and tipped her head back so he could look into her eyes.
“I love you.” He said huskily, the look in his eyes leaving her no room for doubt at his words. Tears immediately flooded her eyes, her heart filled with so much love and happiness she wasn’t sure she could handle it all.
“I love you too.” She said back as a tear slipped down her cheek. Brett gently wiped the tear away, then again rolled her over until she was on her back beneath him. He captured her lips in a soft kiss at the same instant he slid inside her body, causing her to arch against him.
This time, he did take it slow.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter Forty Seven
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dakota looked at Dale and lifted an eyebrow as they heard the door to IreLyn’s bedroom slam shut. “That didn’t take long.” She commented with a smile.
Dale smiled as well. “He is so taken with Lyn. She’s all he talked about the whole way here.” Dale purposely left out the fact that Dakota had been the sole topic of his conversation.
Dakota remained silent, knowing all too well.
“So I suppose you’re wondering what I’m doing here a week early.” Dale asked, snapping Dakota out of her thoughts.
She nodded her head and smiled. “Not that I’m complaining...not at all, but I do have to admit that I’m more than a little curious.”
“I just missed you.” Dale told her. IreLyn had begged him not to tell Dakota that she’d been the one to call him and ask him to come early. “And I have to admit that I was really beginning to worry about you after what all happened with Jean-Claude and your job.”
Dakota felt her heart beginning to pound at hearing his words. He missed her? He was worried about her? For a fleeting moment she had convinced herself that she’d only heard what she wanted to hear and that Dale hadn’t really said that. But as quickly as that thought had entered her mind, it left. She knew that she’d really heard Dale say that.
Dakota opened her mouth to tell him how much she’d missed him and how happy that she was to see him but her words were cut off as Dale leaned forward and covered her lips with his own. She moaned softly, leaning further into his touch when Dale slipped his hand inside her robe.
A thick groan rumbled through Dale’s chest and began to make its way into his throat as Dakota pulled back from the burning kiss and looked into his eyes for a moment before she leaned forward, taking the sensitive skin on his neck into her mouth and sucking gently. The rumbling sound escaped him when Dakota placed her hands against his chest and pushed him down to his back on the couch behind him.
She crawled astride him, moving her body against his in a sensuous motion causing another throaty groan to escape past Dale’s lips. Dakota leaned forward, claiming his lips in a heated kiss as she slid her hands underneath his T-shirt, running her hands over the smooth expanse of his chest. She could feel his heart racing wildly beneath her tough and it only served to inflame her desire tenfold. She moved to lift his T-shirt off ever his head, but Dale stopped her.
“Kody,” Dale began, his voice thick with passion. He didn’t want to stop this for even a second by any means, but he also didn’t want to risk IreLyn and Brett walking in and finding Dakota and himself in a compromising position.
Dakota knew what he was about to say. She knew where he was coming from, but she also knew that it would most likely be a while before Brett and IreLyn made any kind of appearance. She effectively silenced Dale’s words by once again capturing his lips in an earth moving kiss while she slid her hands between there bodies and undid his jeans, fully exposing his obvious need for her.
Moving her robe aside without fully taking it off, Dakota positioned herself and then slowly slid down on him. Her breath caught sharply, her head falling back, her eyes closing half way closed as she held still for a moment, just satisfied to savor how good he felt in her. Her eyes snapped open when she felt Dale grab her hips tightly as he thrust against her, burying himself even deeper. Unable to deny herself any longer, Dakota began moving slowly. Within seconds she felt herself teetering precariously on the edge of Heaven. She tried to hold back, but it was a futile effort.
Just the slightest whimper escaped her as she reached her peak and fell over. An instant later, Dale followed her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter Forty Eight
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
IreLyn slowly opened her eyes, blinking a couple times trying to figure out what she was looking at. She smiled when everything came in to focus and she realized that she was looking into Brett’s beautiful blue eyes.
“Good morning.” He said in a deep husky voice that had her stomach doing flips. She stretched luxuriously.
“Morning.” She said, her voice still thick with sleep. “What time is it?” she asked, unable to see the clock for Brett’s body, yet not willing to move and leave the comfy spot she was in. Brett glanced over his shoulder to check the time before turning back to her.
“It’s quarter to ten.” He answered. IreLyn’s eyes got huge and she sat straight up in bed.
“Shit! I’m late for work.” She panicked. Brett put his hand on her shoulder and pushed her back down on the bed.
“You’re fine. Dakota already took care of it for you. She called the station, pretended to be you, and right now, you are in bed with the flu.” He laughed.
“Remind me to thank her. Actually, remind me to that Dale.” She grinned as she pulled him closer to her, then giggled. “Uh, actually, I need to say hi to Dale. I haven’t seen him yet.” She blushed.
“Don’t worry about that. He was…uh…a little busy himself.” Brett chuckled, then stopped when he saw the fire dancing in IreLyn’s eyes. He leaned over her and dipped his head.
He stopped, when at that moment, IreLyn’s stomach decided to growl loudly. IreLyn put her hand over her mouth, trying not to laugh at the expression on Brett’s face. “Sorry.” She said, biting the inside of her cheek. “But what do you expect? Kinda skipped dinner last night.” She teased.
“Come on, woman.” Brett said, pulling her back up to a sitting position. “Let’s get you some food. Can’t let you starve to death. Got to make sure you eat right and keep your strength up.” He joked as he climbed out of bed and stretched, not worried about the fact that he didn’t have a stitch of clothes on.
IreLyn licked her lips as she watched him move around the room, searching for his discarded clothes. Her heart was pounding, and all thoughts of food left her mind. Her hands ached to reach out and touch him and satisfy a new hunger that was building. She pushed back the covers and got out of bed. She walked slowly towards him as he stopped his own movements and watched her as she moved across the room.
When she reached him, she pressed her body close to his as she looked up into his eyes and saw all that she was feeling mirrored in his eyes. She wrapped her arms around his neck and went up on tiptoes, gently brushing her lips across his. “You know, I’m suddenly not very hungry for food anymore.” She whispered seductively.
With a deep groan, Brett’s arms immediately went around her as he moved them both back to the bed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter Forty Nine
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
IreLyn was just stepping out of the shower when she heard a lot of yelling and commotion coming from the living room. She jumped nearly out of her skin when she heard the sound of crashing glass. Quickly pulling her robe on, IreLyn rushed out of the bathroom to investigate.
The first thing that IreLyn saw was a cat race past her, the hair on its back standing on end. She made the mistake of taking a step forward and was promptly mowed down by a very large chocolate Labrador. The dog, unfazed by the collision, took off immediately after the cat, leaving IreLyn staring up at the ceiling with stars dancing before her eyes.
"Bud!" IreLyn heard Dale yell just before he jumped over her in pursuit of the cat and dog. An instant later, Brett followed Dale.
"You okay, Lyn?" Dakota asked as she knelt down beside IreLyn. She was barely able to suppress the laughter that was threatening to erupt.
"What...in the bloody hell was that?" IreLyn demanded as Dakota helped her to sit up.
Dakota burst out laughing as she recalled the look of utter surprise on IreLyn's face just before Brown Sugar, or BS for short, ran her over.
"I'm glad that you find this amusing." IreLyn grumbled as she crossed her arms over her chest. Her eyes grew wide as she looked at the living room and saw that damage caused by the cat and dog. Small pieces of furniture were toppled over, the drapes had been ripped down from two windows, and several glass items lay shattered on the floor.
"Again I ask, what happened in here?"
"That was Bud, which is Dale's cat and Brown Sugar, who belongs to Brett." Dakota replied.
"Dale named his cat Bud? Figures." IreLyn commented with a fair amount of sarcasm as she lifted herself to her feet.
"Yeah, but what about Brown Sugar? Isn't that a kind of beer that Brett likes?" Dakota quickly pointed out.
IreLyn smiled sheepishly at Dakota. "Yeah, Bubbling Brown Sugar." IreLyn paused for a moment. "I didn't even know that Brett had a dog. And whose bright idea was it to let a cat and a dog loose in the house?" At first she'd been upset...or maybe it was more her ego being bruised after being knocked on her ass by a dog, but now that she'd calmed down a bit, IreLyn was able to laugh over the situation. But Brett was going to have to do a lot of groveling to make up for his dog running her over. A wicked smile curved her lips at that thought.
"Well, Dale brought Bud in to meet me and Brett brought BS in to meet you. As you can see, things got a little out of hand." Dakota said, followed by a giggle. "You should have seen the look on your face, Lyn. It was absolutely priceless."
"Yeah well, you'd be a little shocked if a dog that is the size of a small horse ran you over." IreLyn said with a pretty pout on her lips.
"Awww, Lyn," Dakota said as she gave her friend a little shove in the direction of her bedroom. "Why don't you go get dressed and I'll get started on breakfast. They guys should have their pets under control by then."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter Fifty
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dakota grinned to herself, remembering the look on IreLyn’s face as BS plowed into her, as she set the full plate of bacon on the table. She looked up as Dale walked into the kitchen carrying the black feline, who was still fluffier than usual, due to his run in with the huge dog.
“Where’s the dog?” Dakota asked, peering around Dale, expecting the lab to make his appearance at any time and causing more chaos trying to get to the cat nestled in Dale’s arms.
“Brett has him in the bedroom with IreLyn. He’s hoping the second impression will go better than the first.” He grinned, his blue eyes twinkling with humor. His smile, however, faded as his thoughts turned to the mess in the living room.
“Damn, I’m sorry about the other room. Brett and I will clean it up and replace everything.” He promised. Dakota smiled and shook her head as she came forward, stopping next to him to pet the cat, which immediately started purring loudly, instantly soaking up the attention.
“Don’t worry about it. I don’t think anything of great value was broken.” She said, leaning forward to give him a quick kiss, then looked back down at Bud. “But I do have to know, what on earth possessed you two to bring your animals at the same time? One at a time wouldn’t be a problem, or if they were both cats, and both dogs. But a cat and a dog?” she laughed.
Dale shook his head, grinning when Dakota took Bud from his arms and sat down on the chair, where Bud cuddled in her lap and proceeded to doze off. “That little race around the house was nothing but play. These two have been around each other many times and actually adore one another, believe it or not. But the first five minutes we get them together always ends up like that.”
“So we won’t have any more episodes like before?” Dakota asked, still scratching the cat behind the ears.
“Shouldn’t but with these two, it’s hard to say. They are a little, uh, unpredictable at times.”
“Kind of like their masters huh?” Dakota laughed. Dale turned as Brett, IreLyn and BS walked through the door. The huge dog immediately crouched as his eyes landed on Bud, who’s back arched, ears laid back and started growling low in his throat.
“No!” IreLyn and Dakota said forcefully at the same time, IreLyn to BS and Dakota to Bud. Instantly both animals calmed down, amazing the men in the process.
“Damn. How’d you do that?” Brett asked, looking from BS to Bud then to IreLyn. “I’ve been trying like hell to get him to listen to me, but he’s got too much puppy in him still. I’ve never seen anyone handle him before.”
IreLyn shrugged and laughed. “Just good I guess.” She didn’t want to admit it, but BS had won her over the instant Brett had come into the bedroom with him. He was a gorgeous dog, and took to her right away. She was more than willing to overlook the earlier incident…as long as it didn’t happen again.
After breakfast they were all sitting in the living room relaxing, with Bud and BS on the floor, playing together like children.
“So, what are we going to do today?” IreLyn asked. Although she was more than willing to spend the whole day in bed with Brett, she did want to show him around, since he’d never been to Colorado before. “Oh, didn’t you have something you needed to do today, Kody?”
Dakota nodded. “Yeah, I have to run by Mom and Dad’s in about a half hour, but it shouldn’t take more than an hour tops. Other than that I’m free.”
“Great. So what do you think, show the guys around?” she asked.
“Sounds good to me.” Dakota agreed, seeing both Brett and Dale nod in approval. She got up and stretched. “Alright, I’m going to go get ready to leave. Do you want me to come back here after I leave Mom and Dad’s or meet you somewhere?”
“Why don’t we all come with you?” IreLyn suggested, grinning wickedly at Dakota. She knew full well what Dakota’s father was like with any man Dakota was seeing. Her own father was the exact same way. She couldn’t help but enjoy watching Dakota squirm a little. She only hoped it didn’t backfire and her own parents be home, who lived next door to Dakota’s.
“Uh…” Dakota hesitated, not wanting Dale to think she didn’t want him to meet her parents, yet not wanting to have to subject him to the torture of her father. But he was going to have to meet him sometime, right? Might as well get it over with. “Okay, that’s fine.”
A few minutes IreLyn began snickering after Dale and Dakota left the room to get ready. Brett looked at her and saw the gleam in her eyes. “What?” he asked.
“You’ll see.” She grinned. “When you meet Dakota’s father.” She laughed.
“Junior’s in for it huh?” Brett chuckled. This he was going to enjoy.
“You could say that.” IreLyn nodded, still grinning. She only crossed her fingers and prayed that her own father wasn’t home, and if he was, didn’t see her next door. Otherwise both Dale and Brett would be in for a surprise.
***
Later that afternoon, the four returned home with Brett and Dale collapsing on the couch, both completely exhausted. Not only had Dakota’s father been home, but also so had IreLyn’s. The guys had spent ‘quality’ time together.
“God, I felt like a teenager.” Brett whined teasingly. In all honesty, both he and Dale had gotten along well with the girl’s fathers. Dale more so since Dakota’s father was a huge NASCAR fan.
“I can’t believe we survived.” Dale chimed in, laughing when Dakota playfully punched him in the arm.
“Aww, come on you two, it wasn’t that bad.” IreLyn shook her head at them, laughing when she caught Dakota’s eyes.
“So much for sight seeing, huh?” Dakota said, commenting on the time. They’d spend a lot more time at her parents then they had expected.
“We can do that tomorrow. I say for tonight we order in and watch a movie.” Brett suggested, more than ready to just relax. He glanced over at the TV and sat up straighter. “Hey, wait a sec. Is that Playstation2?” he demanded.
Dakota nodded. “Yeah, my cousin gave it to me, but it’s never been played.” Neither she nor IreLyn had gotten around to playing.
Brett turned towards Dale. “Hey, did you bring your racing game?” he asked. Dale nodded and Brett grinned at him. “Good. I’ve been practicing and now I’m ready to kick your ass!”
“In your dreams, boy.” Dale rolled his eyes, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Wanna put some money on it?” Brett challenged.
IreLyn and Dakota groaned and got up, headed towards the kitchen, knowing they had lost the guys for a least a few hours. “Boys and their toys.” IreLyn joked. Dakota nodded as she reached in the refrigerator, pulling out beers for the guys.
“They shouldn’t drink and drive.” IreLyn said, her tone serious, causing Dakota to laugh.
“You go in there and tell them they can’t have their beer.” Dakota pointed towards the living room. IreLyn held up her heads in defense.
“Hell no!” she said in mock horror.
“Come on.” Dakota called over her shoulder, headed out of the kitchen, beers in hand. “I want to see if we can mess them up…make them crash.”
Laughing, IreLyn followed her out of the kitchen. Suddenly, she couldn’t remember a time when she had ever been so happy and content.