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Dakota bolted upright in bed. She gasped for air, and her body glistened with a thin layer of sweat. The pain of her heart pounding in her chest sent waves of fear careening through her body. Her hand flew to her mouth, and sobs began to rack her body. Now that the nightmare had loosened its grip, she was able to lie back against the pillow and will herself to relax. She curled up in a ball with her knees almost up to her chest. She stayed that way for countless minutes before she had the strength to get up and go to the bathroom. There was no throwing water on her face. She pulled the wet nightgown over her head and placed it in the hamper. She turned on the shower, set the temperature and slipped into the hot, relentless spray.
Dakota washed herself from head to toe, including her hair. When she got out, she wrapped a towel around her head and body. After drying off, she padded into her bedroom to put on more pajamas. It was then that she noticed it was two in the morning. She stripped the bed and put on clean sheets before going into the kitchen to make herself some hot tea.
A clap of thunder sounded overhead.
“Great,” she muttered. While waiting for her water to boil, Dakota went to get her cell phone. She took a throw off the chair and curled her feet up under her on the couch. She selected a number and then typed, Another long night.
Moments later, her phone chirped. She read the message.
I’m sure you don’t mean that in a good way.
She smiled. Leave it to Susan. She typed, Hardly. Had a nightmare.
I was hoping you’d say you had a Logan.
Almost.
Seconds later, Dakota’s cell phone rang. Startled, she answered it.
“What are you doing?”
“What does it look like I’m doing? Getting details.”
“What are you even doing up?”
“Scandal marathon,” Susan said excitedly. “I couldn’t go to sleep right now if I tried.”
“Haven’t you seen every episode already?”
“So? Exceptional television programming is exceptional no matter how many times you see it. So were you drinking earlier? Is that what brought on the nightmare?”
“No, but I feel like I’ve got a hangover.”
“Poor baby… Tell me about Logan.”
“That’s an interesting segue.”
“Stop procrastinating. Just admit he kissed you two ways to Sunday, so I can say I told you so.”
When silence ensued, Susan screeched with delight. “Oh, hang on, I’ve got to pause my show. This doesn’t beat Olivia Pope and Fitz, but it’s still newsworthy.”
“Suzy.”
“Don’t Suzy me. Get to recapping, girl.”
Dakota brought Susan up to speed while she prepared her tea.
“So you almost got butt naked with a hot, sexy-as-hell, gorgeous, single millionaire who has liked you since people were wearing revival disco halter tops, but then you stopped before the big moment, he went home, and then you had a really bad nightmare. Does that about recap the evening?”
“We had dinner, too. That was really good.”
“Okay. I’ve got a question for you. Why didn’t you call Logan instead of me?”
“That’s easy. He doesn’t know about the nightmares.”
“Do the words full disclosure mean anything to you?”
“I’m not telling him about the bad dreams. What’s the point?”
“Dakota, do you not see a pattern here? You’re afraid to be vulnerable with him since he’s come back into your life. You’re trying to hold a piece of yourself back.”
“Can you blame me?” she blurted out.
“Of course not,” Susan said softly. “I completely understand your hesitation. You don’t trust him one hundred percent yet. But I know in time, you will. Just be patient. It’ll come.”
Dakota stared at the ceiling. “I hope so.”
* * *
The next morning, Dakota was putting on makeup when her telephone rang. She walked into the bedroom and picked up the house phone.
“Hello?”
“Good morning, beautiful. How about meeting me on your patio for breakfast?”
“Are you serious?”
“Why don’t you come out here and find out?”
She hung up the phone and walked out the bedroom onto the patio. Logan was sitting at her black wrought-iron table, which was laden with food.
“Wow. How’d you do all this without me hearing you?”
“I’m very good at being stealthy.” He grinned.
“Logan, this is amazing.”
“Well, I have a confession. I know the owners, and the staff likes me.”
“Is that so?”
He got up from the table and swept her into his arms. “And I told them it would make an amazing woman I know very happy.”
