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“That wasn’t my intention when I sent dinner over. I know you’ve been working hard, Dakota. It’s Friday, and I just wanted to make sure you had a great meal tonight, and that you knew someone close by was thinking about you. Well, not just someone…me.”
“Thank you, and Logan, I would be honored if you would come over and join me for dinner. There’s no way I can eat all this alone. There’s enough food to feed an entire Pee Wee Soccer team…and their parents.”
“I would love to come over for dinner. I’ll see you shortly.”
Dakota hung up and took the food into the kitchen. She placed each dish in a separate glass container, wrapped them with foil and put them in the oven on low.
She changed from her pajamas to a pair of jeans and a Betty Boop T-shirt that always made her smile. She reapplied her makeup, trying the best she could to hide the dark circles under her eyes and the perpetual look of exhaustion. Deciding that a ponytail would just draw attention to her face, Dakota used a flat iron to put a few bends in her hair so that she could wear it out, framing her face. Satisfied, she went back into the living room to wait for Logan.
He arrived thirty minutes later with a bottle of wine.
“This isn’t your last bottle, is it?”
He followed her into the kitchen. “You remembered. No, this isn’t. I’ve stocked it since your last visit.”
“Last and only,” she added. “Logan, I’m—”
He held up his hand to stop her. “Don’t apologize, Dakota. It’s not necessary.”
“Fine, I won’t. But I want to thank you again for this wonderful dinner. It was a very pleasant, much-needed surprise. Especially after the afternoon I’ve had.”
She relayed the shoe disaster while she poured wine into glasses. She handed him one.
“Now that definitely tops the day I had. I spent two hours on one conference call with a man who sounded like Elmer Fudd. It was all I could do not to burst into laughter each time he said, ‘Bewa Cove.’ You can imagine how many times I had to mute and unmute my phone.”
“Okay, you win,” she announced, and then held her glass up to his for a toast. “Here’s to those little things in life that make our days…interesting.”
Logan clinked his glass with hers. “Cheers.”
They ate dinner at the kitchen table instead of the dining room. She brought him up to speed on the contractors hired and other aspects of the renovation while they ate.
This time Dakota insisted on clearing the dishes and putting everything away. When she returned to the living room, she found Logan walking around.
“You have a great home, Dakota. Your style is elegant, yet approachable and inviting.”
“That’s exactly what I’m trying to accomplish at the resort. I want people to feel pampered, but also like they’re able to just flop down on the couch and relax. That’s why the staff shouldn’t wear uniforms. They should wear their own clothes or just a printed T-shirt with the new Belle Cove logo. If they’re comfy, that ease will result in positive energy that transfers to your guests. We’re tying the new design into your mom’s concept. When you’re at Belle Cove, you’re family.”
“It sounds awesome, and I can’t wait to see it. But no more shoptalk.” Logan stretched his legs out in front of him to get comfortable. “I’m curious why you’ve been avoiding me, and why it looks like you haven’t slept since the day at my apartment.”
Her expression turned guarded. “What are you talking about? I’m not avoiding you, I’ve just been busy, and I’m getting plenty of sleep.”
“A blind man could see that’s not true, and eye concealer wasn’t designed to work miracles, Koty.”
She went to get up, but he reached his hand out and stopped her.
“Hey, talk to me.”
She sat back down. “It’s nothing, Logan. I’ve just been working long hours trying to wrap up with another client.”
“How’s that going? Did you find the reclusive Amadeus Rothschild? I can’t imagine there are that many in the phone book.”
“Not yet, but soon.”
“So what are your plans for Thanksgiving?”
She shrugged. “I don’t really have any. It’s hard to believe the holidays are almost upon us. Before you know it, Christmas will be here.”
“How about coming to Aunt Jeannie’s for Turkey Day? She’s having a serious feast.”
“More so than usual?” she joked.
“Put it this way—all the other dinners at her house will look like snacks.”
