Page 5 of Every Single Vow
Arizona nods, and Ivy steps in to lead her the rest of the way, knowing Dakota needs a minute.
“I’ll take you.” Ivy smiles. “I like your shoes.”
Arizona mutters something under her breath, but I don’t hear it because I’ve already turned my attention to the woman beside me.
“She doesn’t have to stay with you, Coop.” Dakota runs a hand through her hair, seconds away from a manic episode.
“She can. And you are too,” I add.
“Me?”
“She’s a kid. Not only is she a young girl, but she’ll be in a house alone with a strange man and I’d rather not make her uncomfortable.”
I reach out and press my thumb over the wrinkle of her brows. “And quite frankly I’m not sure I trust her. We don’t know her from Adam, and I don’t particularly like the idea of her being alone with you. I would rather confirm her story first.”
“Right.” She closes her eyes.
“Hey,” I whisper. Her eyes fly open. “What’s going on in there?” I lift my hand, my finger tapping her temple.
“My mom…” she pauses before shaking her head. “Can we just get her settled and talk in the morning?”
She may seem like a woman without a care in the world, but she holds more care in that wild heart than any other person I’ve met. It’s just guarded so well, that if you blink you’ll miss it.
“Take my bed.” I turn to walk across the gravel drive and to my cabin that sits just a beat away from the horse stables.
“Coop,” she starts.
“Kota.” I cut her off. “My bed. I’ll be on the couch.”
I would never put her on the couch and I’m not above admitting that I’m a sappy motherfucker and the thought of her perfume clinging to my sheets just does something to me.
“Whatever you say, boss,” she mumbles before I hear her boots following behind me.
When we enter my cabin, I can hear Ivy chatting away with Arizona in my guest room.
“Bathroom is down the hall,” she tells her. “There’s a big tile shower if you need to use it.”
“Dope,” Arizona responds.
Dakota chuckles behind me as we walk through the living room.
“Dope?” I mutter.
“She’s practically a teenager.” Dakota scoots past me in the hallway, entering the guest room. “They have their own language.”
“Do you need anything?” Dakota asks Arizona.
“This is good.” The girl twirls in a small circle. “I don’t need much.”
I can see the deep set of Dakota’s brows again. She’s thinking. Flustered. And probably pissed at her mom along with the shock of her death.
“I’ll be just down the hall.” Dakota runs her hands over the pockets of her jeans. “You can shower if you need to.”
“Towels are in the cabinet,” I chime in. “Soap and some hair stuff is under the sink.”
Arizona nods as I press a hand to Dakota’s lower back and tilt my chin to Ivy.
“Well, goodnight Ari. It’s nice to meet you,” Ivy says before we leave the room and pause in the living room.
