by Reese Ryan
Not helpful.
He shook his head, shifting his gaze and his thoughts away from Dakota’s body.
“It’s one of those things, I guess,” he managed finally, rewarding himself with a long swig of his beer. “It reminds you of hot summers as a kid.”
“Yeah, I guess so.” Dakota suddenly sounded a little sad. “My mom made the best sweet tea. She’d make it with lemon and blueberries, or sometimes blackberries or peaches. Her sweet tea was always this happy surprise. You never knew exactly what she might throw in there, you know?” Her voice broke slightly.
Dex had the sudden urge to wrap his arms around her and tell her everything would be okay. Instead, he put a gentle hand on her shoulder. “It’s okay, Dakota, I realize how much you must miss her.”
She swiped a finger beneath her eye and sniffled. “Let’s talk about something else. Anything. Please.”
“Sure. What would you like to talk about?”
“What made you go into the hospitality industry?”
He groaned quietly, his right knee suddenly throbbing. “Got hit by a particularly aggressive cornerback on one of the last plays of the season opener during my senior year. He ended up with a lucrative NFL contract and I got two screws in my right knee. You may have noticed that it makes air travel much more fun.”
“I’m sorry, Dex. That must’ve been tough.”
“Thanks, but don’t be.” He shrugged. “It ended my NFL hopes, but that was never my dream anyway. The injury was tough, and yeah, sometimes it still hurts like hell. But in a way, it freed me. I stopped worrying about what my dad wanted for me. And for the first time, I considered what I wanted for myself.”
“And what was it that you wanted?”
You.
He swigged his beer. “I spent my summers during college as a paid intern at a hotel near campus instead of coming home for summer break. I enjoyed the work, and my manager said I was a natural. He encouraged me to pursue it as a career. Said he could easily see me working my way up in the industry. So that’s what I did. I got a job at that hotel, first at the front desk, then in group sales, and eventually on the operations team. By that time, I was really beginning to miss home. So when I learned about a small hotel group that had plans to build a luxury resort on the island, I applied to their Myrtle Beach property, so I was closer to the island. Closer to my family. Thought it gave me the best shot at eventually getting a top exec position at the Holly Grove Island Resort.”
“Looks like everything is working out for you.” She seemed genuinely happy for him.
He couldn’t help smiling, thinking of how different this conversation was from the tense one they’d had when he’d encountered her at the Fourth of July Festival.
“I’m glad you found a career you enjoy, that you get to be back home, where you want to be,” she said.
“Does being a news reporter make you happy?” he asked after they’d shown their tickets to an usher and followed her directions to find their section.
“I enjoy making a difference in people’s lives,” she said after a careful pause. “Getting justice for those who’ve been wronged. But for everyone I’ve helped, there were plenty I couldn’t. It’s heartbreaking. I remember every one of them, even now. Years later. I can’t say I enjoyed those instances, but telling their stories was important. I’m proud to have done that.”
“I’m sorry you lost your job in New York, Dakota. But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t glad that it brought you back home. Even if it’s only for a little while.”
She gazed up at him from beneath the brim of her hat. “And why is that, Dex?”
Because I want a second chance with you, Dakota.
Dex choked back the words.
“Because you’re a vital addition to our team,” he said instead. “And because I’ve been hoping to mend our friendship.”
“Oh.” The light in her eyes dimmed. She pointed toward the section listed on their tickets. “I think this is us.”
They showed their tickets to another usher, who led them to their seats. He sat beside Dakota, wishing he’d been able to tell her the truth. He wanted her in his life again, but he wanted to be much more than friends.
Chapter Twenty-One
Dakota tossed her purse on the corner of the bed and buried her face in her hands, stifling the urge to scream. The concert had been amazing, and what they’d learned from just the first day of their visit had been invaluable. It was well worth the cost of their trip. And she’d truly enjoyed Dex’s company.
So much so that when they returned to the hotel and Dex insisted on walking her up to her room, she’d hoped that he would kiss her good night. Maybe even come inside for a nightcap. But he hadn’t. Instead, he’d been a perfect gentleman. He’d ensured that no one was lingering in her room, then said good night and taken his leave. And she couldn’t help being a little hurt by it.
What are you thinking, Dakota? You’re falling for Dex all over again.
She understood why Dexter had really broken up with her back then, and they’d made amends, but what they’d shared was a lifetime ago. They were different people now. And now, just as then, they were on very different paths in their lives. He wanted to stay on Holly Grove Island. Her aspirations would take her far away from home. There was no way to reconcile those competing goals. And yet, she couldn’t help wanting him.
Dakota blew out a frustrated breath as she flopped onto the corner chair. Dexter Roberts was the king of mixed signals. And hell, maybe she was, too.
One minute she was sure he wanted to kiss her. The next he was stressing that he only wanted to be friends. Then, in a momentary lapse in judgment, she’d thrown herself at Dex in his condo that morning, only to have him politely reject her after giving her a kiss that turned her inside out and left her knees weak.
Maybe it was the vulnerability caused by the loss of her job and being shamed publicly. But she felt like the same insecure teenage girl whose heart Dexter had broken. The girl who always wondered if she was good enough, and if she ever would be.
She couldn’t allow herself to return to that dark place. Yet she could feel herself descending into that morass of insecurity, and she was weary of keeping the secret of what had really happened in New York. Of constantly wondering when someone in town would find out.
She needed a lifeline.
Dakota picked up her phone, and dialed Sinclair’s number.
“Hey, hon.” Sin’s voice was bright and cheerful. “How are things going at the festival?”
“Better than I could’ve hoped,” she said, though her voice betrayed that she was on the verge of tears.
“You don’t sound fine, Kota.” Sin’s voice was heavy with concern. “What happened?”
“Nothing, and that’s the problem.” Dakota laughed bitterly as she slid the elastic band from her hair and ran her fingers through it. “But there’s something I need to tell you first. It’s about the real reason I came home from New York.”
“Okay, shoot.” Sinclair didn’t seem surprised that there was more to the story than Dakota had indicated. “Whatever it is, I’m here for you, hon.”
Dakota sucked in a deep breath, her hands trembling and her eyes welling with tears as she told Sin the truth: She hadn’t been the victim of a random layoff. She’d sabotaged her own career through carelessness and naïvete. She told Sin about the handsome Italian director she’d fallen head over heels for, how she’d lost her job at the news station, and why she hadn’t been able to find another job in New York.
Her friend listened without interrupting, and Dakota felt as if a weight had been lifted from her chest.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you the truth when I first arrived, Sin. But I was ashamed to tell you what happened, what a fool I’d been.” She sniffled, then blew her nose.
“Dakota, you have nothing to apologize for. You didn’t do anything wrong. I’m sorry that you had to go through this. I wish I could’ve been there for you then. I wish I were t
here with you right now so I could give you a huge hug and tell you that everything is going to be okay, because it will,” Sin said. “I can only imagine how devastating it must feel right now, honey. But like every other scandal, it’ll eventually pass.”
“I wish I believed that.” Dakota tossed the tissue in a nearby trash can and then grabbed another, dabbing her wet cheeks.
“People have short memories. One celebutante will steal another’s man or some athlete or politician will say something incredibly stupid and everyone will forget about this. I promise you. You just have to be patient and wait it out. And while you do, I’m glad you decided to come home to the people who care about you,” Sin said reassuringly. “Speaking of which…how are things going with you and Dex?”
“Honestly? We had an amazing day together. In fact, things have been really good between us since that night at the club. Maybe too good.” Dakota’s heart raced at the mere prospect of saying the words aloud to someone else. “Sin, I think I’m falling for Dex again. Which is crazy after all we’ve been through, right?”
Dakota needed her friend to give her a hard dose of reality, so she could get her mind right and stop mooning over a man who clearly wasn’t into her anymore.
“No, honey, it isn’t.” Sinclair’s tone softened. “Dexter is a great guy, Dakota. He’s honorable and trustworthy. He cares about the people in his life, especially you.”
“I know. He’s been so sweet and thoughtful. Going out of his way to see after me and to make sure my dad was okay. And now that we’ve been spending time together again, it feels like he’s that same amazing guy I fell in love with, only better.” Dakota twirled a strand of hair around one finger, nervous about how her friend would take what she was about to say. “I can’t help wondering if this terrible thing that happened, if maybe there was purpose to it or, at the very least, a silver lining. Like Dex and I were meant to cross paths again at this point in our lives.”
“Serendipity,” Sin said in a breathless, awestruck voice. “I’m getting goose bumps just thinking about it. And I’m betting that he’s falling in love with you again, too.”
“That’s just it.” Dakota sighed. “Dex doesn’t feel the same way.”
“What makes you say that?” Sin asked in disbelief. “Have you seen the stars in that man’s eyes when he looks at you? My God, Dakota, the man arranged an entire show at the Foxhole in honor of your return home.”
“I know. I thought the same thing. But then this morning at Dex’s condo, I kind of…kissed him.” Dakota pulled the phone away from her ear when her friend squealed.
“Then what happened?” Sin could barely contain her excitement.
“He kissed me back and it was…intense and amazing and…” Dakota sighed. “Then it wasn’t. He made it clear that he’s my boss now and that he just wants to be friends.”
“But he didn’t say that he didn’t have feelings for you, Dakota,” Sin pointed out. “What I’m hearing is that he’s concerned that if people find out he’s dating an employee of the resort, it could jeopardize his career. Especially now that he’s got a real shot at becoming the permanent director at the Holly Grove Island Resort.”
“I can respect that. I understand how important this job is to him. How hard he’s worked for it. Besides, I’m only passing through.” A wave of sadness settled over her. “Dex wants to be home and I want to be…” Dakota sank her teeth into her lower lip and sighed. For the first time since she was ten, the answer didn’t come readily.
When she’d arrived in town, she had planned to return to New York as soon as possible. Or maybe settle in LA, where her sister, Shay, lived. Or perhaps even Chicago. But since she’d been home, things had slowly been shifting. The thought of leaving her father, Sin, and Dexter hurt. Suddenly the excitement of what she’d be running to no longer outweighed the sadness over the people she’d be leaving behind.
“Maybe Dexter isn’t the only one who wants to come home for good,” Sin said.
“I’ve invested so much time and energy into my career. I can’t give all that up,” Dakota said more to herself than to Sin. “I wish I didn’t feel this way. I already know it can’t end well, and I can’t go through this again with Dex. Not when the first time hurt so much.”
“He was your first love, Dakota. That’s hard to get over. But ask yourself if you’re closing yourself off to the possibility of a future with Dex because it really isn’t what you want anymore or because you’re afraid.”
“After what happened with Dexter the first time and then this disaster with my most recent ex, I have good reason to be gun-shy.” Dakota sat on the edge of the chair.
“What happened with Marcello Giovannetti was unfortunate, Dakota, but it wasn’t your fault. Don’t shut out the possibility of finding something special with Dexter because of what one wavy-haired, one-hit wonder did.”
“I know in my head that it isn’t my fault. But there’s a part of me that doesn’t trust myself any—wait…What did you say about Marcello?” Dakota stood suddenly and placed a hand on her hip.
“I said you can’t let what he did to you cause you to miss out on a second chance with Dex,” Sin said.
“Yes, but I never mentioned his name, Sin,” Dakota said.
“You must have.” Sin’s voice was unusually high pitched.
“I didn’t,” Dakota insisted. “Because I know you, Sin, and I didn’t want you mailing fifty pounds of fresh cow manure or something to the guy.” She sank onto the chair again, suddenly nauseous. “Tell me the truth, Sinclair Buchanan. How long have you known?”
Sin was silent for a moment; then she heaved a quiet sigh. “After you called me to say you’d be coming home, but before I picked you up at the station.”
“Oh my God.” Dakota pressed her hand to her mouth. Her skin was hot, her head was spinning, and it was suddenly harder to breathe. “Sin, why didn’t you tell me you knew instead of letting me make a fool of myself?”
“Because you’re my best friend, Dakota.” There were tears in Sin’s voice. “You were obviously already embarrassed. I didn’t want to make it worse. And we hadn’t seen each other in such a long time. We were feeling each other out. I wasn’t sure how you’d react, and I didn’t want to scare you off. I figured you’d tell me when you were ready.”
“That’s why you kept saying you were there whenever I was ready to talk.” Dakota rubbed her throbbing temple and sighed. “I should’ve realized then that you knew.”
“Have you told your dad?” Sin asked after a beat of silence between them.
“No.” Dakota whispered the word.
“Even on Gilligan’s Island, they had a transistor radio, Dakota,” Sin warned her. “Don’t let your father hear about this from someone else. He loves you, and he’ll understand. But if he hears it from someone else—”
“He’d be devastated.” It broke her heart to think of it.
“What are you going to do about your dad and about Dex?” Sin asked.
“I don’t know,” Dakota said. “But I’d better figure it out soon.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Dexter returned to his seat with Dakota, their drinks in hand. He should be exhausted. The previous long day had been capped off by a long, sleepless night. He’d tossed and turned, thoughts of Dakota filling his head. By the time he finally dozed off to sleep, the alarm on his phone woke him.
After meeting for breakfast, he and Dakota had headed over to the festival grounds, where they’d been all day. They’d spent time talking to festivalgoers, especially those who attended every year. And they’d chatted with vendors about what made the event one they looked forward to participating in.
Work aside, they’d also managed to have a good time. The festival was a great experience, but there was no mystery to why he’d enjoyed himself so much. He and Dakota had slowly been getting to know each other again since she’d returned to the island. But their weekend together had afforded them the chance to get reacquainted in a way that f
elt much more intimate.
They’d relived the happy memories of the past while avoiding the land mines of their breakup or Dakota’s plans for the future. Subjects they needed to discuss if he had any hope of convincing her to stay on the island and make a life among the friends and family who loved her.
But he couldn’t bring himself to prick a pin in the shiny bubble of contentment that surrounded them.
So instead, when they weren’t talking about the project or other hotel business, he’d updated her on his brothers Steven and Ellis and their families, showing off photos of his nieces and nephews whom he adored. Dakota recounted some of the investigative reports she was proudest of and shared photos of her travel to Europe and South America.
They’d spent a good part of the day laughing about memories from their past. And they’d joined in with the crowd, dancing during several of the musical performances.
It was the most fun Dex had had in a very long time.
Now they were waiting for the final artist of the night to perform. He should be grateful the day had almost come to an end, so he could return to the hotel, crawl into bed, and catch up on his sleep. But he didn’t want his time with Dakota to end.
“I have to admit,” Dakota said, breaking into his thoughts, “I was nervous about how this weekend would go. But it’s been amazing.”
“The festival has been outstanding,” he agreed. “But if I’m being honest, what I enjoyed most was getting to hang out with you again, Dakota.” He nudged her arm on the armrest beside his. “I’m glad we were able to move past what happened back then.”
“Same.” She nudged his arm back.
There was something in her sweet smile that made him feel as if he were floating. He clenched his fists, resisting the urge to reach out and squeeze her hand.
Dexter breathed a quiet sigh of relief, thankful that Dakota wanted to be there with him. Maybe it was the first step to something more for them. But even if all they’d ever be was friends, he was glad that Dakota was in his life again.
