�Kota, you soon done in there?� came Nickolas� voice and she opened the door.
�Yeah,� Dakota said smiling and he looked at her. �What do you think?� He looked her over a
few minutes.
�Wow! You look sexier than I thought you would.� She grinned.
�I told you I don�t do dresses.�
�Well today�s a special day.�
�Why�s that?�
�Because I said it is.� He smiled and kissed her. �Something�s missing.�
�I can�t fit anything else into this dress, Nicky.�
�You�re not wearing the diamonds.� She looked at him.
�Oh that. Um��
�Don�t you like them?�
�Its not that I don�t like them, because I do. I just�I can�t accept them.�
�Why not?�
�I just can�t.�
�But I want you to have them.� She just looked at him. �Baby, it�s your birthday gift. I wanted to get you something that matched the sparkle in your eyes.�
�What sparkle?�
�That sparkle when you look at me.� He smiled. �It�s from my heart and if you don�t accept them I�m going to be highly upset. I looked everywhere for them. I want you to be happy.�
�Well you don�t have to buy me fancy gifts like that for me to be happy. I�m not Mandah and after you for your money. I�m after you for you. I�m happy with just you being in my life. I haven�t been this happy for a long time. Please don�t go and ruin it.� He looked at her. �It was a nice thought, but an expensive one.� He sighed.
�Then will you just wear them for tonight? I�ll take them back later.�
�No, cause then I�ll want to keep them.�
�Good.� He walked into the bedroom and picked up the box that held the diamond necklace. He opened it up and took the necklace out.
�Nickolas��
�I�m not taking �no� for an answer tonight.� He stood behind her and put the necklace on her. �No on will have to know you have them. It�ll be our little secret.� She left out a sigh and shook her head.
�Do you always get what ya want?�
�Only if I really want it�like you.� He got the necklace hooked then kissed her neck, as she turned around. �It looks nice on you.� He smiled. She looked down at it and sighed. �I know you�re not Mandah and I know you only want me for me. I got you the necklace, because I wanted you to have it. It�s your birthday and I wanted the necklace to be the gift I gave you. Plus I got ya a couple others also.� He smiled and Dakota grinned shaking her head. �This dress is one of them.�
�It�s nice for being picked out by a guy.�
�I actually had a little female help.�
�Oh.�
�From BJ.� She looked at him and he smiled. �I think she�s getting use to you now.� She nodded. �I was having difficulty picking something out for you. I know you don�t have any dinner dresses like this and I wanted to get you your first one.�
�Thank you.�
�So the dress is alright?�
�Yeah; cheaper than the necklace.� Nickolas grinned. �I don�t want you to keep buying me things like this. They�re thoughtful, but I don�t want people to start to think I�m just with you for you money.�
�You have nothing to worry about.�
�I hope not.�
�Not a thing.�
�Once in awhile is all right, but not constantly.�
�I understand.� He smiled. �Can I give you your next gift?�
�I guess so.�
�Good.� He grabbed her hand and walked from the bedroom. They went downstairs and to the front door. Nickolas opened the door and left Dakota walk out first. He stood behind her and pointed.
Right there.�
�Nickolas!� He jumped.
�What?�
�Wh-Wh-What are you doing?�
�Showing you your birthday present.�
�I see that.�
�Do you like it?� He smiled.
�You got me a truck.� She controlled herself from yelling at him.
�Yeah; a Dodge Ram just like you wanted.�
�Why?�
�Cause I wanted to get it for you.�
�Well you�re taking it back.� His smile faded.
�Why?�
�Because I can�t accept that.� They looked at each other. �This is just like the whole car bit, Nick. You went behind my back and got me a car after I told you repeatedly not to, because I was going to do it myself. Now you go behind my back and get me a truck. What part of �no� don�t you understand?� Her voice was a little louder.
�I just wanted to do something nice for you.� He kept his voice calm. �Is that so hard to accept? Is it so hard to accept the fact that someone actually cares for you and wants to do things for you?�
�Yes it is.� Her voice got louder. �No one has ever been so nice like this to me in my entire life and it�s kind of hard to deal with that right now. We�ve only been together four months and you�re buying me all this expensive shit.�
�It�s because I love you.� His voice was just as loud as hers.
�And I do you, but��
�Do you? I�m starting to wonder that.�
�And why�s that?�
�Because you never say it and you hardly show it. I lost count of haw many times I said it and how many times I showed it. I�m showing it right now and you�re all bitchy about it.�
�Well I�m sorry. I didn�t know I had to say it or show it for you to know it.�
�Well I�m starting to wonder if you do just want me for my money.�
�Damn you�re such a prick. How many times did I tell you and everyone else that I don�t want your damn money? I just want you. If I just wanted your money I wouldn�t be acting like this. I would�ve accepted the necklace and the truck with no problem about it. But I didn�t because I don�t want you to spend your money on me for things like this. Little things are fine, but not big expensive things.� He looked at her. �I do like it. I just�I just don�t want to fight with you on my birthday.�
�Why not?� He grinned and she just looked at him unamused. �I just wanted to do something nice for you. You said you wanted to get your own vehicles so you can stop driving mine and I just wanted to help ya out some.�
�Well you should�ve talked to me about it.�
�I was going to, but I knew what your answer was going to be and I really wanted to do this for you.�
�You could�ve just gotten me a puppy.� She smiled. �Like I asked for when you asked what I wanted for my birthday.� He grinned. �I�m not use to big expensive things.�
�Well you better start.�
�I don�t think so.�
�Well I do.�
�Why?
�Because I�m big and expensive.� He put his arms around her and pulled her close.
�Of course you are�I know.�
�That�s right you do. I forgot about that.�
�Keep forgetting.�
�Nope, cause you owe me.�
�I don�t think so.�
�Well I do.� He kissed her.
�You look nice tonight.�
�Thank you.�
�You�re welcome.�
�Should we eat?�
�Yes, I�m starving.� Nickolas laughed at her and they walked back inside. He shut the door and they walked to the parlor. �You go wait out there and I�ll bring dinner out.�
�Alright.� He kissed her and walked away. Dakota opened the patio door just as the outside lights came on. She just stood there and looked around. There were candles around the banister and on the table with party lights hanging above her, with dim lighting. There were also roses set around and she smiled at it all. She walked over to the table, as Nickolas walked out. She looked at him and he set the food on the table. �You�re very sneaky.� He looked at her and smiled. �Not that I�m complaining. It�s romantic.� He continued smiling.
�I just wanted to do something special for you today.�
�I like it. It�s nice.� She kissed him. �Thank you.�
�Anytime.� She hugged him and he picked up the stereo remote. He turned it on for it to play �When I Look Into Your Eyes� by Firehouse. It started playing and Dakota looked at him. �Shall we eat?� She nodded and he pulled out her chair. She sat down and he sat in the chair beside her smiling.
CHAPTER 41