Dakota Love Me: Tiller Brothers Book 2 (12 page)

“You can’t…I had her check out of her room this morning, she was going to stay with me.”

He got up and started throwing on clean clothes, albeit a little clumsily, but still getting the job done.  Cody, you go to your room and take care of Tammy.   Cameron can go with me to find her?” he looked at Cameron to see if he would. 

Cameron said, “Hell yeah, I’ll go.”

Dakota stopped and picked up his phone.  “God, let me see if she’ll answer her phone.”

It rang and rang and went to her voice mail.  “Where are you Georgia?” He ran his fingers through his hair.  He picked up the phone again and asked for her room in case she checked back in and got another room.  They told him she had checked out this morning.

Cameron said, “If she checked into another hotel, we’ll never know which one.  There were too many hotels in Vegas to check each one.”

Dakota worried that if she had really been followed as Sharon’s text implied, she could be in trouble. Then he thought, “What if Brad goes after her for revenge for busting his nose?”

Cody laughed, “Not to worry, he’s licking his wounds right now.  After he left the Mack center, I followed him.  I’m pretty sure his nose is now broken in two places and his stomach and body are going to be aching.   I told him to stay away from Georgia and if he didn’t all four of us brothers were going to beat the shit out of him.  I don’t think he’ll ever get near Georgia again.  Never did like that cocky selfish bastard.  You need to find out from Georgia the real story about him.  There was no way in hell, she wanted him.”

Dakota wanted to rip his hair out.  He should have had more faith in her.  The memories of the last few days flew through his mind.  Why could he
now
suddenly see things so clearly?  She hadn’t been faking her innocence.  Her responses to him had been honest.  He had blown it. He believed she had really started to fall in love with him.  You can’t fake the feelings that she had shared with him. “You guys just need to beat the shit out of me. I deserve to be smashed to a pulp.”

Cameron took pity on him and put his arm around his brother’s shoulder.  “We’ll find her.  We can tell she still loves you.  We just need to make sure she is safe.  Cody and I tried to get her to stay but she runs faster than any girl I know.”

“She’s the real thing,” Dakota mumbled.  He gave Cody a brotherly hug and told him to go to Tammy and they all headed out the door.

After checking a few close by casinos and eating areas, they decided that wasn’t going to get them anywhere.

Dakota watched a Vegas police man ride by on his horse.  Then it dawned on him, “I know where she is.  She must have bunked out in her truck or trailer.  Her horse is like a best friend to her and she would have gone to him.  They grabbed a taxi and had him take them to the Mack exhibitor’s parking area. 

When they got to where her truck and trailer had been parked, Dakota’s heart sunk.  She was gone.  “Damn it, she took off.  She can’t possibly get all the way home tonight.  I’m calling her dad.  I should have called him first thing.  Then I’m getting in my truck and going after her.”

“No you are not going until you sober up a little.  You’re going to eat something and give the alcohol a little time to get out of your system. There is no way in damn hell that I’m going to worry about you wrecking your truck.  After seeing what happened after Tammy crashed her car when she was drunk, I don’t want to live through that again.

Dakota just shook his head and pulled out his phone.  He sat down on a cement post and called her dad.

“Mr. Cooper, sorry to call you so late but I’ve been looking all over for Georgia and she has left with her truck and trailer.  Do you know where she is?”

“I want to know one thing, do you love her?”

“God, yes!  I haven’t even told her yet, but I will the minute I find her and I won’t quit telling her how I feel.  We had a big misunderstanding tonight and sir, it was entirely my fault.”

“Tell me what happened before I tell you where she is.”

“You know where she is…thank God,” he broke down again and started crying.  He hated that he was still so drunk he couldn’t control his emotions.  He told Justin what had transpired. When he was done he asked her father who Brad Smith was to her.

“Son, that’s for her to tell you, but if you know Brad than you know what an asshole he is.  Georgia does not want that man anywhere near her, trust me on this.”  Dakota knew in his heart, she hadn’t been with him at least not like he first thought. 

“She called about an hour ago and told me she was a couple of hours from Salt Lake City and she was going to get a hotel room there.  Her phone is turned off but when she calls me, I’ll tell you where she is staying.  As exhausted as she sounds I’m sure she’ll fall asleep the minute her head hits the pillow.  When you’re sober enough, you need to go get her.”

“That’s exactly what I’m going to do.  I’m going to eat and drink some more coffee, and when Cameron thinks I’m sober enough, he’ll give my truck keys back to me and I’ll go get her, I promise.  Just call me when she gets there.  I’m worried about someone following her.  I’m sure Sharon was just playing mind games with her, but until I see her I won’t quit worrying about her.”

“Get a nap, too.  You’ve got a little time.  You can be there before she gets up this morning once I know where she has stopped.  Don’t let me down, Dakota.  That’s my little girl and I love her.”

“I love her too.  Thank you.”

They hung up.

There was a vacancy sign at the Best Western in Salt Lake City.  She decided to stop and get a room.  She looked back over her shoulder.  Was he still following her?  She had seen the car lights behind her after she had left Mesquite.  Her nerves couldn’t take the stress anymore.  At least in a locked hotel room in a big city, she could call the front desk or a police man if she saw his car pull up in front of the hotel.  There was not a place to park behind the building and the thought of getting out of her truck in the more secluded area behind the hotel was something she wasn’t stupid enough to do.

After she was in the room with the door locked she threw herself on the bed and had a good cry.  She had lost the love of her life and she hadn’t even told him how much she loved him.  Her heart hurt.  It was like losing her mom all over again.  Except then she had been able to get on a horse and ride for miles to relieve just enough of the pressure so that she could breathe again.  The ride in the truck had been stressful and she felt so alone.  Painfully alone.

She rolled over and pulled her phone out of her pocket.  She saw a dozen messages and missed phone calls pop up from Dakota.  She couldn’t read or listen to them tonight.  She couldn’t stand to hear his accusations, even if they were only partly true.  Once he calmed down, and if he still wanted to yell at her, she’d take it like a cowgirl. Tonight, she was too raw and drained.  She should have told Dakota about Brad but she had hoped he was through harassing her.

Her father answered the phone.  “Darling, are you okay?”

“Yes,” her voice sounded shattered.  She was exhausted and her voice was raspy. “I’m in my room at the Best Western in Salt Lake.  I fed and gave Damian water before I got in my room.  I’m all locked up and I think I’ll sleep ‘til tomorrow afternoon, so don’t call me.  I’m okay, dad.  I’ll get over this,”
I hope
.  “I love you, Dad.”

He asked her which hotel in Salt Lake she was staying at and if she felt safe and she gave him the address, “Yes, I feel safe now.  I think someone in a black car was following me.  Maybe it was just my imagination but I thought staying here would be better if I really was being followed.”

“Thank God, you stopped, I’ve been so worried.  I’ll call the hotel staff and tell them to keep an eye out for anyone in a black car.  Plug in your phone before you go to bed.  You get some sleep now and don’t worry.  Things are going to be better in the morning.”

“God I’m sorry dad.  I didn’t even think about you staying up and worrying about me.  I’m such a selfish daughter.”

“No honey, you’re not.  You’re the best thing in my life.  Get some sleep.  Damian will be fine.  It’ll do him good to not use his leg. Love you pumpkin.  And Georgia, don’t give up hope.  Dakota is going to understand.”  She smiled as she listened to her always positive-thinking dad and disconnected the phone.  She rummaged in her purse and found her charger, but she also found Dakota’s buckle.  She held it to her heart.  New tears rolled down her cheek.  She removed her boots and plugged in her phone to charge.  Too exhausted to remove her clothes she dropped to her pillow with Dakota’s buckle resting against her chest.

***

When Dakota opened her door, he found her with his buckle wrapped tightly in her fingers.  He relocked the door. 
Thank God, she is safe
.  He was also thankful that her father had called the front desk and told him to give Dakota the keys when he got there.  Justin had to jump through hoops to prove to the staff that he was her father.  He faxed them a copy of his driver’s license and sent a copy of his credit card which was also the card Georgia had used. He even sent a picture of him holding his daughter at her college graduation.  He told the desk that Dakota was her fiancé and he had gotten done with his job quicker than they thought and he wanted to join her without waking her up.  The front desk clerk was a romantic and liked the idea of her fiancé surprising her.

He had been going on addrelin and driving over a hundred miles an hour.  Good thing it was late and he hadn’t gotten a ticket.  They might have dragged him to jail at the speed he had been driving.  Before he left, Cameron had put him through a sobriety test and felt Dakota had enough control to drive.  “Good luck finding your cowgirl.  Don’t speed or the highway patrol will pull you over.”

Dakota hadn’t listened to his brother and he made it to Salt Lake City in record time.  When he had pulled up and saw her trailer he almost broke down again.  He quickly checked to make sure Damian had water and grain.  Then he walked to the front desk and showed his id and they gave him the keys, and he called her dad and let him know he was there.  He’d call him again when they woke up.

He sat on the bed and lovingly brushed his fingers over her forehead.  Her eyes were swollen closed and her pillow was wet.  “Oh honey, I’m so sorry.”

She rolled toward his hand and muttered, “Dakota” in her sleep.  He knew she was exhausted.  Removing his clothes, he realized how exhausted he was, too, but first he removed her clothes.  He lifted her cold body up and slid them both under the covers with her pressed against his side.  His lips sought out her mouth and he felt her return the kiss although still in a deep sleep.  In the morning, he’d apologize and tell her how much he loved her.

When Georgia started to wake up she realized she wasn’t cold anymore.  Her skin felt lusciously warm and it comforted her.  She moved her cheek and felt his chest. 
Oh Dakota
. She wanted to wake up every morning with him by her side.  Then she remembered and her eyes flew open.  She sat up quickly in bed and looked at a naked Dakota still sound asleep.  His hands automatically reached for her and pulled her back to him.  He moved his chin on top of her head.

How had he gotten here…in her room?  She realized she was naked.  Looking around the room to see if she was dreaming, she knew she was still in the Best Western hotel room and not their luxury suite in Vegas.

She felt a sliver of hope he’d come because he still loved her.  She promised herself she would tell him the truth when he woke up.  It felt so good to be back in his arms that she drew her body as close to him as possible before she slipped back to sleep.

Her lips responded to the brush of lips.  When she opened her eyes and looked up at Dakota, her hands went to his face, her eyes held his.  He moaned and kissed her again.

“Dakota, I thought I was dreaming.  I am so sorry.  I have so much to tell you…”

He put his fingers over her mouth, “Shhhh…honey, it’s okay …I’m the one who needs to apologize.  I was a fool for leaving you without talking with you.  It didn’t take me long to clearly see that things weren’t what I first thought last night after I saw Brad kissing you… well after four shot glasses, Cody practically knocking me out and Cameron sobering me up.  What we have between us is special.  You have never once overreacted to my past lady acquaintances.  I didn’t even give you a chance to explain.”

She laid her head on his arm so she could look at him better.  “But I should have told you about Brad.  Well technically I did tell you about Brad but I never told you his name or that he has made my life a living hell every time I have seen him the last couple of years.”

“He was your first boyfriend, wasn’t he?” Dakota asked softly and he ran his hands over Georgia’s face.

“I was so young when I met him and like I told you before I was kind of shy back then and this older good looking college rodeo star was interested in me.  He made me feel pretty and I overlooked his character.  When he was rude to people, I knew it was wrong but I still couldn’t see past the fact that someone like him liked me.  Damn I was so stupid.  Then he practically raped me with no regard to my well-being.  What a wake-up call that was for me.  That’s why I was so cautious when we met.  It didn’t take me long to see what a great guy you are.  You are like my father, strong character, wonderful personality and you have showed me nothing but respect. Even the way you make love to me tells me what kind of a man you are. Dakota, I fell in love with you almost from the moment I met you.”

He smiled at her, “I wanted to tell you first how much I love you and I can’t live without you.”  He followed up his statement with a world rocking kiss that made her toes curl up and her insides turn to jelly.

She couldn’t help it, she started crying again.  “Oh Dakota, I love you so much.  My heart broke when I thought you were breaking up with me.  I felt ripped to shreds and it was physically so painful.  It hurt so bad.

“I was the fool that caused you so much pain.  If it’s of any consequence, I felt the same way.  Cameron had to physically hold me down to keep me from going to you once I found out where you were.”

She smiled at him through her tears.  “Dad told you, huh?”

“Your father is a great man.  I had to promise him never to hurt you again and I told him I loved you before I had even told you.  He made all the arrangements for me to get the key when I got here.  I don’t think Brad is going to bother you anymore.  Cody beat the shit out of him and if I see him anywhere near you again he will wish he had never been born.”

“Thank you for forgiving me and coming to me.”  She grabbed his head and pulled it down so she could kiss him again. 

After several minutes of mind blowing kisses, Dakota trailed his lips to her ears.  “I hear make up sex is the best.  You up for it?”

“Hmmm, how convenient we are naked.  How did you do that without waking me up?”

“You were exhausted honey and I freely admit to you, I took full advantage,” he whispered.

Georgia ran her hand down over his chest, past his hard pecks, to his cock, “I’ve had a good rest and I would say you are certainly up to it.”  She slid down his chest and took him in her mouth.  She just had to taste him, to assure herself she wasn’t dreaming.  Their bodies were so warm and she felt wrapped in a cocoon with the rest of the world gone, just Dakota and her.

Dakota moaned.  She smiled and brushed her tongue down the length of him.  One of her hands caressed his balls, and the other hand wrapped around him and squeezed.  Her lips found his head again, and slid lower onto his slick cock.  “Hmmm....” she hummed. 

“Georgia, that feels so good, but I want you, too.”  He sat up and spun her around so her head stayed with his cock but her wet pussy was lying directly over his mouth.  She drew in her breath when his tongue started licking her inside and then he moved up and he latched onto her clit and started sucking.  His tongue sped up and licked her so rapidly she knew she was about to come.   Her hand moved over him in rhythm to his hips jerking up and down.

At the last minute when she was ready to burst, he pulled up and grabbed her by the shoulders and slammed her back into the bed, sealing her lips with a kiss and he mounted her and started to press into her opening.  Then just as suddenly he jerked out and threw himself on his back next to her.  He put his hands over his eyes.

“What’s wrong, Dakota?” she asked startled.

“Damn, I’m sorry.  I left so quickly I forgot to bring the condoms with me.  I’m so sorry, honey.  Give me a minute and I’ll take care of you,” he breathed heavily.

She climbed on top of him and removed his hands from his eyes.  “I’m clean, are you?” He shook his head yes.  “Then the worst that can happen is the best thing that can happen.”  She kissed him before searching his eyes to see if he agreed.  His returning smile made her happier than she had ever been. 

He rolled her back to her back and entered her, thrusting as deep as he could go and held still.  “I love you Georgia, I will love you forever.”

“I love you, too.”

They started moving slowly at first while looking into each other’s eyes.  When her eyes closed and she threw her head back against the pillow, he increased the speed.  She loved the way he felt, skin to skin inside her body. There was such a deep connection between them.

It didn’t take long for the detonation of their climaxes.  That’s how it had felt, like an explosion.  She actually felt his sperm spurting inside her bouncing off the walls of her uterus; his release had been so strong.  Her hand slipped to her stomach, she smiled.  Had they made a baby tonight?

“You make me feel complete,” he whispered to her as his lips touched her lips in the most gentlest of kisses.

They spent the morning in bed, making love over and over again.  Neither of them felt totally quenched.  Their brief separation had nearly devastated them both. The need was so strong to keep giving each other love, to reassure themselves that they were where they belonged. After their last bout of love making, she laughed and said, “I’m very grateful for your remarkable recovery time.”

“It’s all you sugar.  When I look at your body, I can’t help myself.”  He kissed her again and then got up to go to the bathroom.

“Dakota see if they are still out there.”

He turned around quickly and looked at her with a surprise on his face and asked, “Who?”

“I thought dad told you about the black car that was following me.”

Dakota charged over to the window and pulled the curtains back.  He grabbed his pants and pulled them on and opened the door almost in the same breath.  She watched him through the door as he started running barefoot across the parking lot only to come to a stop.  A car’s tires screeched and she knew it was the black car and it was now gone.

Her skin felt prickly again.  She grabbed a sheet over her body and ran to the door.  “Can you check Damian to make sure he is alright?”  Neither of them paid attention to the winter chill in the air at this higher elevation.

Cody walked over and looked in the trailer and turned back to Georgia, “He’s good, but someone slashed one of your truck’s tires.”  He walked slowly back to her.

He pulled her into his arms, “Damn I’m so glad I followed you and you are with me now.  We need to call your dad.  After I get dressed I’ll fix your tire, we’ll eat and then head home to Casper.”

She liked the sound of him calling Casper home.