by Reese Ryan
They sipped their drinks in contented silence, her shoulder pressed against him, as they waited for the show to begin.
* * *
It felt like Dakota had been on her feet for most of the last two days. But as the final concert of the night wound down, she couldn’t be happier to have spent this time with Dex. She had no idea what the future had in store. But she was glad that she and Dexter had made amends. He was an important part of her life, so she was grateful that they’d been given the opportunity to rewrite the ending to their story.
She wasn’t getting the happily ever after she’d hoped for as a teenage girl. But their story would have a happy ending, nevertheless.
They were rebuilding a genuine friendship. One that had the potential to endure the rest of their lives. Wasn’t that better than an intense, but short-lived, affair?
Her fists tightened and her thighs clenched.
She knew the right answer to the question. But her body’s reaction to memories of their kiss and of the sensual dreams she’d had about the two of them last night signaled dissent.
Why couldn’t the right answer be both?
But there were too many reasons that wasn’t an option for them. Their timing wasn’t right, and maybe it never would be.
The performance was winding down, and the crowd had already thinned a bit as people made their way to the parking lot and the shuttles, hoping to beat the traffic.
The band leader announced that they were playing their final song, “The Way You Look Tonight.” The artist encouraged the crowd to make use of the extra room by grabbing the hand of the person they came with and dancing.
Dakota tensed, her belly doing a flip as she remembered dancing with Dex on Sin’s balcony while he sang the same song to her.
“Care to dance?” Dex held out his open palm.
“Thought you’d never ask.” She smiled despite her nervousness.
Dex slipped an arm around her waist and held her hand. He swayed to the music, singing softly so only she could hear.
The night they’d danced on Sin’s balcony, she’d been attracted to Dexter. Had maybe even felt an inkling of something for him. But since then, the gratitude and affection she’d felt for him had grown exponentially. And that mere spark of attraction had become a blazing desire. Electricity zipped along her spine. Her knees felt unsteady. And the ache between her thighs beat as steadily as her heartbeat.
Dexter pulled her into a tighter embrace than he had that night on Sin’s balcony. They moved together, her body pressed to his.
She shut her eyes, and allowed herself to get lost in the moment. To hold on to it for as long as she could. But sadness and longing filled her chest. She’d missed the warmth of Dexter’s embrace. The security she’d always felt in his arms. The comfort she felt in his presence. The love and friendship they’d once shared.
Would it ever feel this right with anyone else?
Eyes closed, Dakota inhaled the subtle, masculine scent she’d been admiring for the past two days. Dexter’s heat enveloped her as the cool breeze blowing off the nearby bay swirled softly around them.
Finally, the song ended, and the remaining crowd applauded. But Dex still held her in his arms, seemingly as reluctant to release his hold as she was to relinquish the warmth of it. But eventually, he did let her go, and they joined in applauding the band members for their encore performance.
“Ready?” Dex shoved one hand in his pocket and extended the other elbow to her.
It had been such a perfect night. Dakota wasn’t ready for it to end. But she nodded reluctantly and accepted the gentlemanly gesture as he escorted her out of the venue and onto the festival grounds. A couple of vendors were still open and selling food. Nestled between them was an old-school, enclosed photo booth.
Dakota pointed to the small line of people waiting for their turn. “I haven’t seen one of these in forever. Remember how much we loved goofing off in them?”
The photo album she’d found at his place the day before had been filled with those little strips of photos that came from photo booths.
“I do,” he said softly. “The last time I was in one was that day we went to the arcade in Wilmington with Sin and my cousin Rett. I swear, I thought those two were going to kill each other before the night was over.”
“Same,” she said. She knew she shouldn’t care, but something about the fact that Dex hadn’t been in a photo booth with anyone else felt satisfying. It was their thing. Not some random thing they’d done with other people.
“Then it seems like fate that we happened upon one.” She grinned. “Don’t you think?”
“You sure you want to stand in that line?”
“I am.” She tugged him in the direction of the booth. “Doesn’t seem wise to ignore fate.”
He stared at her, his gaze soft and his tone wistful. “No, I don’t suppose it is.”
Dakota removed the hat Dexter bought her the day before and tousled the loose, natural curls she hadn’t worn in years. An action inspired by his sweet compliment.
She dug in her small crossbody bag for her tinted lip gloss. “I must look a mess after being out here all day.”
“Trust me,” Dex said. “You look incredible.”
She thanked him, lightly applying her lip gloss.
“One more day left of our adventure,” Dex remarked. “Are you sure you’re up to it?”
“Yes. I’ll catch up on some sleep tonight and I’ll be right as rain tomorrow. Promise. What about you? Think you’ll be able to hang in there, old man?”
“Et tu, Dakota?” He gripped his chest. “I’ve been getting enough of those jokes lately from Em and my brothers.”
“Sorry. I didn’t realize your age was a sensitive issue for you,” she teased. “Relax, buddy. I’m only a couple of years behind you. And until a few months ago, I’d been enjoying my thirties just fine.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, Dakota.” Dex frowned. “I know the last few months have been rough, but I hope you’ve enjoyed being home. Your dad, Sin, Nick, and me…we’re all grateful you came back.”
A slow smile spread across her face as a jumble of emotions welled inside her chest. Gratitude for Dex’s thoughtful remark. Thankfulness for the time she’d had to spend with her family and friends. Guilt that she hadn’t come home to see her father more often or done a better job of staying in touch with Sin. And a deep twinge of sadness at the thought of leaving them all behind again.
She thanked Dex and tucked her lip gloss back in her bag as the line surged forward. They were next. As she watched the group in front of them pile into the booth and close the curtain, she couldn’t help thinking about all of the happy times she’d had growing up on Holly Grove Island with Sin, Dex, and their friends. She had so many wonderful memories of clamming, fishing off the Fox Haven Sound pier, the town festivals, and the quirky town history reenactments. Visiting the gardens and nature preserve on the island. Getting lost in the garden’s maze and climbing the steps at the old lighthouse for the hundredth time. Then there were the lazy afternoons spent lying on the beach. Or the fun of kayaking on the sound.
Her mother had drilled it into her head that she was destined for great things that were too big for their little town. Taught her that she shouldn’t be satisfied by what Holly Grove Island had to offer. Poked holes in the bubble of contentment that Dakota had felt living there.
They’d traveled often. As a family or just Dakota, Shay, and their mother. Madeline Jones had designed each trip to show her girls that the world was so much bigger than their little town. To make them want more. That was why’d Dakota had fallen in love with New York. Why Shay preferred to be a California girl. That had always been the underlying message with their mother.
Run. Run and don’t look back.
Before their mother had gotten sick, she’d never pressured them to return to Holly Grove Island. She’d preferred traveling to visit them instead. Enjoyed crowing to the ladies back home about her eldest daugh
ter living in LA and married to a successful Hollywood executive and her youngest daughter breaking into the news industry in New York.
But being back home reminded Dakota that she’d once been very happy living there. Made her wonder if she could be again. Until the memory of her mother’s voice shook her.
Don’t let anything distract you from your path. And if you fall off the horse, a few bumps and bruises will heal. Get up, dust yourself off, and get right back at it again.
Dakota craned her neck and pressed her fingers to the tension there. Her mother was right. She’d gotten burned, and deep down she was afraid it would happen again. That was the real reason she was entertaining thoughts of an idyllic life back in her familiar small town.
This isn’t what you really want. She whispered the words in her head. You’re just scared.
Dakota released a slow, quiet breath.
“Everything okay?” Dexter placed his large hand on her back, removing it just as quickly when she startled at his touch.
“Yes, I’m fine.” She forced a smile much bigger than necessary. “Just thinking…about what pose I should strike when it’s our turn.”
“Pose?” His eyes widened with surprise. “We’re taking this all the way back to high school, huh?”
“Might as well go for the complete experience, right?” She shrugged with a silly grin. “Besides, it would be nice to have something to add to that photo album you’ve been holding on to all this time, wouldn’t it?” She turned back to face the booth. The curtain rustled and the people inside giggled. “And maybe I’m building a photo album of my own. Starting with these photos. So make it good.”
“Yes, ma’am.” The rumble of Dex’s deep chuckle made her smile. She was glad she could think of that sound now with fond memories, rather than the pain it usually conjured.
The black curtain slid open and the group of friends spilled out.
It was finally their turn in the photo booth. A sudden wave of nervousness swept over Dakota.
Dex stepped forward and swept his hand toward the inside of the booth. “Ladies first.”
Dakota slid onto the bench against the far wall, making room for Dexter’s long legs and wide shoulders. She remembered these booths being larger. But then her hips and ass were much fuller now than they’d been then. Dexter was bigger, too. His shoulders seemed wider and his chest and biceps were more developed than they’d been back then. And his thigh, pressed against hers, was thicker and more muscular now than it had been when they’d piled into one of these things with their friends ages ago.
“Okay, let’s do this.” She struck one silly pose after another as the camera flashed again and again.
Once the flashes stopped, Dexter moved to draw the curtain back and exit the booth, but Dakota grabbed his arm.
“Why do I feel like I’m the only one who’s really into this?” She shoved his shoulder. “You’re dialing it in here. I know you can do better than that. This is supposed to be fun, Mr. Serious. It isn’t going on your LinkedIn profile.”
Dexter laughed. “All right, all right. Just promise me that these photos won’t end up on some I Hate My Ex website and we’ve got a deal.”
“I wish I could claim not to believe a website like that existed,” she said. “But I’ve done revenge porn stories, so I’m honestly not surprised. And yes, you have my word. Are you ready for real now?”
He nodded. “Okay, let’s do this.”
They moved from one goofy pose to the next, laughing and giggling, until they turned in the same direction, his lips hovering just above hers. Dakota froze. Dex did, too. Both of them simply stared at the other as the flashes continued.
Her heart thumped hard against her chest. She should turn away. Pretend the moment hadn’t happened. Especially after that kiss at his place. But she couldn’t bear to be the first to pull away.
He’d been the one to put a stop to the kiss before. He would need to be the one to halt it again. Because no matter how much she knew that she shouldn’t, she desperately wanted his lips on hers. His hands roaming her skin.
She swallowed hard, her skin overheating. Her cheeks felt like they were on fire. Dakota was about to pull away when Dexter suddenly cupped her cheek, dipped his head, and ghosted his lips over hers.
Her heart beat faster and her eyes fluttered closed as he pressed his mouth to hers, his kiss gentle and tentative. Building slow and steady. She sighed softly, her lips parting. Dexter slipped his tongue inside her mouth. The taste of the Long Island iced tea she’d consumed mingled with his cranberry juice and vodka.
Dakota’s hands trembled and her body filled with heat. She lightly gripped his sides, needing his solidity to anchor her. Because she felt like she was floating away on a cloud of contentment. Like this couldn’t possibly be real.
But it was. Every touch. Every gasp. Every sensation. The feel of his sensual lips against hers. The pressure of his thumb against her cheekbone. His fingers sifting through her hair. The glide of his tongue against her own. The tightening of her nipples against his hard chest. And the insistent throb between her thighs.
Dakota wanted to straddle Dexter’s lap. To feel his steely length against her sex. To slip her hands below his waistband and stroke the velvety skin she remembered so well.
There was a hard knock against the wall, jolting them both.
“This is the photo booth, not a kissing booth. Get a room, you two,” some smart-ass called from the other side of the black curtain. A din of laughter followed.
Dex released her, his gaze studying hers as they tried to catch their collective breath.
“Dakota, I’m…sorry.” His expression was filled with regret, while she felt none.
She’d only wished that they’d been back in her hotel room, where no one would’ve bothered them. Dakota wiped the lip gloss from his mouth with her thumb, not acknowledging his apology.
Dexter groaned, adjusting himself before he slid the curtain back and stepped out. He reached for her hand and helped her out of the booth. Then he grabbed their photos out of the slot under the gazes of the long line of people waiting for their turn, many of whom flashed them knowing grins or hooted.
He took Dakota’s hand and they headed toward the parking area. Suddenly, Dexter let go of her hand as if he’d only just realized that he was holding on to it. He gave her a quick, apologetic smile before pulling out his phone and opening the ride share app.
Neither of them spoke.
It was just as well. What was there to say that they didn’t already know?
They were intensely attracted to each other. But Dexter only wanted friendship. She wanted more. Sex more, not relationship more. And yet they’d kissed again. Because she was apparently a masochist of the highest order.
“Our driver will be here in less than five minutes,” Dexter informed her in a tone that was all corporate. There was none of the playfulness and familiarity that she’d heard for the past two days. A reminder that he was her boss and this was a business trip. That they’d crossed the line and they needed to step back into their designated boxes. Where things were nice and safe.
“Okay. Good.” She nodded, acknowledging both messages.
Dakota took a subtle step away from Dexter. She folded her arms over her chest, suddenly self-conscious that the hardened tips of her breasts were visible through the fabric of the sleeveless, slate-blue knit tennis dress she wore.
There was just one more day of the festival. And two more nights at the hotel, the little voice inside her head reminded her.
She could get through one more day with Dex. This time they’d stay focused on their reason for coming to this little island in New England.
They weren’t here for a walk down memory lane or to reconnect as friends. They were professionals, here to do a job. And that’s what they would do.
Anything else would simply be a distraction, leaving one or both of them hurt.
When the vehicle arrived, Dakota slid inside first, scooting as
far toward the other door as possible. She clicked her seat belt, then pulled out her phone to scroll through her work and personal emails.
The silence between the two of them seemed to echo off the interior of the small SUV as the driver chattered on obliviously. Dexter politely engaged with the man as the two talked about the festival. The best places to eat around town. How epic the after-parties were. But Dakota kept her attention on her phone.
When she raised her head, it was only to admire the boats gliding past in the bay or to watch the people milling about.
She could swear that the skin on her shoulders was burning from the heat of Dexter’s gaze. But she couldn’t bear the awkwardness of glancing over to see if she was right.
When they arrived at the hotel, she hopped out of the car while Dexter paid. She fled toward the lobby, trying to reach the elevator before he could catch up with her.
He’d made it clear he wasn’t willing to risk his career for a tryst with her. She’d unequivocally affirmed her plans to leave Holly Grove Island.
There was no viable path for them.
What more did they need to say to each other?
“Dakota!” Dexter called her name twice more before she finally halted her steps, just before she’d reached the entrance of the hotel. She turned to him slowly.
Why does he have to look so damn good right now?
His expression was so sincere, like a hurt puppy. She couldn’t hate the man, even if she wanted to. “Dakota, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”
“You’ve made that abundantly clear. Boss plus employee equals career disaster. I get it.” She managed a barely-there smile as she ran her fingers through her hair. “Meet you for breakfast downstairs again at nine?”
“Yeah, sure. That’d be great,” he said absently, running a hand over his head.
“Good. I’ll see you then.” She turned on her heel and left. In the reflection of the glass entrance of the hotel, she saw him turn and walk away instead of following her inside.
A part of her was relieved they wouldn’t have the awkward climb together in the hotel elevator. But another part of her hated to see him leave.
