Simon Says Read Online Free PDF Page B

accommodating his imagination by shrugging out of the coat completely.
    A loose, oversized V-necked gray sweater layered over a black T-shirt didn’t disguise her slim figure. The jeans were low-riders, and Simon got a glimpse of taut, pale flesh above the waistband until she tugged the sweater down.
    As if she owned the place, she tossed her coat and a large, satchel-type purse toward a metal folding chair, and then stuck out her hand.
    â€œI’m Dakota Dream.”
    Simon stared; she had to be kidding.
    All types of quips came to mind. Like, Weren’t you in the last porno I saw? Or, Didn’t you use to dance at a strip club?
    But one look at her face and Simon knew she expected it. Sarcasm, sexual harassment, assumptions—she’d pegged him to have them all. So the name was for real, not a gimmick, and though she might not admit it, it bothered her.
    Despite the gloves, he took her hand in both of his. “Hello, Dakota.”
    Brief surprise flickered in her blue eyes before she smiled. “Hello.”
    Damn, that smile packed a wallop. “I take it you already know me?”
    Slender shoulders rose in a shrug. “Of you.” She propped her hands on equally slender hips. “Simon Alexander Evans. Sublime. You hung up your gloves a few years back after winning the championship belt in the light heavyweight class. You only had two losses in your record, and one of those was a bad judges’ decision.”
    Either she’d done her homework or she followed the sport as she’d said. “I agree. I got screwed on that decision.”
    â€œEveryone with any sense thinks so.” She flashed him a cheeky grin. “Most of your wins were notable knockouts with a few incredible submissions thrown in. Since retiring your gloves, you’ve gotten the reputation for being the best trainer around. Anyplace you organize a camp, fighters show up in droves.”
    To test her, Simon asked, “You have a theory on why that is?”
    â€œSure. Too many guys train with repetitive conditioning, eight hours a day, seven days a week.” She shook her head sadly. “It’s a waste of time and energy. Your motto is that they need to train for intense five-minute bouts, because that’s what they’ll be doing.”
    â€œRight.”
    Mimicking him, she said, “‘Who cares if he can ride a damn bike uphill for hours on end? When I hit him in the jaw, his bike-riding skills won’t help him at all.’”
    Simon laughed. “Yeah, I remember saying something like that.” Bonnie had soured him on involvement, but that didn’t mean he wanted to be a notch on some loony broad’s bedpost. If she was a regular groupie…well, he wasn’t quite sure how he’d handle that. “Did you drop in for an autograph?”
    Her smile slipped. “Actually…”
    Simon watched as her chest expanded on a nervous breath.
    â€œI came for you.”
    Such a sweetheart. Forcing his attention from her breasts back up to her face, Simon held her gaze and said softly, “Not yet, Dakota.”
    Confusion darkened the blue of her eyes. She tipped her head. “What?”
    â€œYou haven’t come for me…yet.” He still had a lot of work to do, so he headed back to the mat. Over his shoulder, he said, “But stick around, and I can guarantee you will.”

    W OW. Dakota watched as Simon ducked under the ropes and reentered the ring. He wore only black nylon kickboxing trunks and four-ounce gloves designed to protect his hands. He didn’t shave his body, thank God, but he did shave his head. It proved one hell of a contrast to his dark chest hair and sexy eyebrows.
    Without a doubt, Simon was the most devastating man she’d ever seen.
    And that sexual vibe…Dakota made a sound of regret. She wouldn’t mind seeing if he had reason for such bragging, but she didn’t dare get that involved with him. She