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They must have had a lover’s spat.

“Where am I sleeping tonight?”

“I thought I’d put you in my office on the pullout couch, if that’s okay? Whitney’s friend beat you by ten minutes and got the second guest room. Sorry.”

“That’s okay. It’s what I figured. Better than a hammock,” he replied with a smirk and glanced at James trying to flirt with Yvette.

“Here she is now.”

He glanced at where Steve was looking. The French doors on the patio opened, and he almost dropped his beer when he saw who stepped onto the brick pavers.

No fucking way.

How in the hell is hippy chick here?

He had no idea, but there she was, looking hot as fuck in her black yoga pants and tan linen top with spaghetti straps. She wore makeup today, although it was subtle. Her jet-black hair was pulled back with a paisley headband in earth tones. He bit back his smirk when he noticed the turquoise in her earrings and in the brown nylon choker around her slender neck.

Their eyes met and her face lit up with a smile, then she shook her head, like she was wondering the same thing about him being there.

Whitney motioned her over and made introductions of the small group on the patio.

Gesturing to the two pretty girls next to her, she said, “This is Steven’s sister, Hope, and her best friend from California, Yvette.” She then nodded toward him and James. “And these guys work with Steve. James Rudolf, and…”

“Aiden Matthews,” Dakota finished for her; her brown eyes locked with his as her mouth twitched with the same smile she’d given him a few minutes earlier when she came through the door.

It flattered him she remembered his name.

“You two know each other?” Whitney asked.

“We’ve met,” Aiden supplied with a smirk. “Her dog almost attacked my girls when we were on a hike at World’s End.”

“Barney?” Whitney asked incredulously, as her gaze darted back and forth between the two still holding each other’s stare.

Finally, Dakota broke eye contact and glanced at Whitney.

“Yes, he was so ferocious, I think he piddled on himself when he rolled onto his back and waited for Aiden’s daughters to rub his belly,” Dakota replied, rolling her eyes.

Whitney laughed at the visual. “Now that sounds like the Barney I know.”

Aiden stepped closer to Dakota, his smirk morphing into a genuine smile. She was really there. Hopefully, for the entire weekend.

“It’s good to see you again.”

“You, too. I didn’t realize you worked in the ER.”

“I don’t. I’m a cardiologist.”

“Oh,” she cooed. “So, you fix broken hearts.”

“Only the physical ones,” he replied dismissively, then teased, “how’s my aura today?”

She narrowed her eyes and stared at a spot above his head. “Not as bright as when you were with your daughters. Your colors are much more muted and there’s more black and grey mixed in.”

He believed that. His life was much brighter when he was with his girls.

“What, you don’t think I’m excited to be at the beach this weekend?”

She considered him for a minute before shaking her head. “No, not really.”

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