“She’s given you some trouble this morning?”
Dakota knew he meant her car. He never once told her she should have accepted his gift on her birthday. He respected her decision to buy her own car. But it wasn’t her car that was the problem. It was Sabrina. Neil Timmons loved his daughters. He’d never favor one over the other. Every time the girls argued over the years, he’d soften the argument with a caring tone and a simple explanation of sibling rivalry. But at seventeen, Dakota could no longer accept that reasoning. Her sister would never change. She knew they’d never be close. Their morals and values were too different. And her sister was so cruel. Her words lingered in Dakota’s mind.
“Dad.”
She wondered if she should even bother to mention what Sabrina had so rudely said. She sighed and chewed on her bottom lip, a nervous habit she’d had since she was a young child.
He reached out and touched her arm. “What’s wrong, Dakota?”
She chuckled. She knew her dad noticed her habit. He’d never given her heck for it. Her mother certainly did.
“Sabrina said something horrible this morning. She can be so cruel at times. But this time she was just down-right hurtful.”
Her dad wrapped his arms around her. “She’s only fourteen. I’m sure whatever she said she didn’t mean.”
Here we go again, Dad, always the peacemaker. But Dakota couldn’t let it go.
“She said you weren’t my biological father.”
There was a long pause. Dakota released from her dad’s embrace and stood back. “Dad?”
The look in his eyes told Dakota there might be some truth to Sabrina’s remark. “Dakota, we need to talk.”
Ten years later.
Dakota’s fingers gripped the steering wheel tightly. Every time she thought of that morning when she was seventeen, emotions of hurt and anger raced through her veins. She laughed out loud as she noticed the firm grip she’d placed on the wheel. Get over it Dakota! She reminded herself that a new Chapter in her life was about to begin. She smiled, turned up the radio, and then pressed the driver’s side window button. The clean, crisp country air filled her senses. The leaves danced elegantly in the air as they fell from the trees. She felt the chilly autumn air, but she could breathe easier than she could in the city. She knew she’d made the right decision when she saw the posting at Country Hospital in Vinegrove, a quaint small town in Washington wine country she’d never heard of before. She drove through the wine country slowly. She didn’t care if she got lost in all its lushness. Each road she passed held an entrance to the best wineries and vineyards. The countryside beauty enticed her. She felt calm and at home. She knew she belonged here.
Her relaxed state suddenly ended and both hands grabbed the wheel to guide her car off to the side of the road.
“Oh No!” She cried out loud as her tires screeched when she hit the brakes and she heard the gravel on the side of the road ding against the rims. She’d managed to come to a sudden stop without landing in the ditch. She pushed the gear into Park quickly and jumped out of her car.
The truck that had just pulled out in front of her had stopped in the middle of the road.
“You scared the heck out of me! Do you not check for oncoming cars before you merge?”
Dakota’s short temper heightened. She stood with her hands on her hips in the middle of the quiet country road. She hadn’t seen another car in miles. The truck door opened and a man stepped out and stood before her. Her anger slowed as she gazed over his athletic build. His T-shirt blended with his muscles beneath it. Perfection crossed her mind as her eyes traveled across his firm, muscular body. Never before had she noticed a man look so damn good in blue jeans. She swallowed hard. Her fierce words had been replaced with an awkward silence. Slowly her eyes moved up to see him remove his Stetson and hold it against his chest. His eyes almost knocked her off her feet. Aquamarine came to her mind first. The piercing blue-green combination was striking. They reminded her of the Pacific tropical seas. And when he smiled, the sun hit his eyes and a tinge of yellow in the iris made a sparkle. She felt like she’d been hit with a touch of magic. His voice brought her back to reality.
“Afternoon, Miss. Please forgive me, my mind was elsewhere. Are you all right?”
Damn! How can I give him shit now? He’s too damn hot and nice.
Dakota smiled. He’d melted her heart instantly. No man had ever done that. She always thought she had control in that department. But for the first time she’d lost all control.
“I’m fine. My mind was elsewhere as well. Let’s call it even.”
She extended her hand for a truce. He obliged and placed his in hers.
Oh God! Not only did he look good and sound good, his rough yet gentle touch ignited fires within her she’d never experienced in her twenty-seven years.