Dexter was still drawn to her, and he wanted to repair the damage he’d done. Knowing she was there on the island, hating his guts, tore him up inside.
Only he’d finally run into her, and he couldn’t resist shooting off his stupid mouth and scaring her off. Even after he’d razzed her, she’d nearly agreed to go back to his mother’s house. He was sure of it.
He picked up the pace and tried not to think of how beautiful Dakota looked. Her skin glistened with sweat. Her body was toned yet curvy in all the right places. And when she’d let down her natural mahogany curls and shook them, he’d practically had to rely on Jedi mind tricks to keep his body from reacting in his flimsy shorts.
Did she have any idea how such a small gesture still affected him? Maybe she did and it was her way of torturing him. If so, it was working.
Now he needed to get back to his place and take a cold shower.
Chapter Eight
Dakota and her father usually ate breakfast together at home. But this morning they would be doing a cleanout of one of his rental properties there on the island. So her father suggested that they forgo cooking in the sweltering kitchen and grab breakfast over at Lila’s Café before they got to work.
Dakota couldn’t help noticing that her father’s smile widened and his eyes shimmered as Lila Gayle approached their table at her little café on Main Street.
“Good morning, Oliver.” Lila’s eyes seemed lit from within.
“Lila.” He nodded, not taking his eyes off her.
Lila Gayle turned to Dakota, still beaming but her tone decidedly less flirtatious. “Dakota, I can’t thank you enough for helping me at the festival. It’s so good to have you back home.” She filled Dakota’s coffee cup. “I haven’t seen your father this happy in years.”
Dakota studied her father’s face. Ms. Lila was definitely flirting with her dad. Something she often did playfully with the customers. But from the look on her father’s face and the tone of his voice, it was more than just teasing to him.
Did her father have a thing for Ms. Lila?
When his eyes met Dakota’s again, he cleared his throat, shifting uncomfortably under her scrutiny. He buried his face in his menu.
“Thanks, Ms. Lila,” Dakota said. “I’ll only be here a few months, but it feels good to be home. I didn’t realize how much I missed the beach. And the people,” she added quickly.
“Well, however long you’re here, I know Oliver is thrilled to have some company while he’s rattling around that big old house. Still, I’m sorry about what happened with your job.”
A loud clang echoed through the small café when Dakota dropped her fork and it crashed against her coffee mug. Her cheeks stung and her heart beat double time. “Sorry?”
“I hope you don’t mind that your dad told us about you getting laid off. I was terribly sorry to hear it. I know how much you loved your work.”
The front door opened suddenly. A tourist couple and their two small children entered. Lila welcomed the couple before excusing herself and rushing over to seat them.
It took a full two minutes for Dakota’s heart rate to level off again.
“Everything okay?” Her father stared across the table, his expression laced with concern.
“Yes.” Dakota gripped her coffee mug with both hands, as if it were an emotional shield, but she didn’t drink from it. “Why?”
“You seem upset. Are you angry that I told Lila Gayle about you losing your job?”
“No, of course not.” She sipped some of the steaming hot coffee. “My career has always been a huge part of who I am. Now here I am, thirty-four years old, no job prospects, living back at home with my dad. Let’s just say that none of this was on my bingo card for how my life would turn out.” Dakota put the coffee cup down, her gaze not meeting her father’s. “Can you imagine what Mom would have said?”
“Work harder,” they echoed simultaneously.
Her father sighed and sipped more of his coffee. “I loved your mother, sweetheart. She was a wonderful woman, but she wasn’t always right. So stop talking as if you’re a failure.”
“Aren’t I?” Dakota frowned.
“No, you are not.” Her father’s tone was adamant. “And I don’t want you thinking that. Your mother and I were so proud of you. I am proud of you.” Her father’s voice wavered. “Losing your job because of corporate reorganization doesn’t change that. In fact, nothing could change how proud I am of you, Dakota. Don’t ever forget that.” He squeezed her hand.
Dakota bit her lower lip and nodded. Her father was a blur through the tears filling her eyes. If only he knew how badly she’d screwed up her life and her career. “Thanks, Dad. That means a lot.”
“Morning, Ms. Lila.”
Dakota’s gaze snapped toward the familiar voice.
Dex.
“Hey there, sugarplum!” Lila hugged both Dexter and the man accompanying him.
“Is that Nick Washington?” Dakota asked incredulously.
Her father turned around in his booth and looked over his shoulder. “That’s him. The boy is tall as a tree and as mischievous as ever.” He chuckled. “Not much has changed.”
“Well, I haven’t seen him in eight or nine years, Dad. So a lot has changed since then. Before he was this awkward, gangly kid. Now he looks like a freaking model. He’s not the little Nicky I used to babysit anymore.”
“Guess not,” her father said. “He moved back a few years ago.”
“Is he still best friends with—”
“Dexter’s little sister, Emerie? Yep. The two of ’em are thick as thieves.”
“Is Em still a tomboy?”
Oliver laughed. “Yes, but she’s also grown into a lovely young lady. Not that our boy Nick seems to notice.”
“Chief Jones, Dakota. How are you?” Dex stood over them in a navy-blue suit that hung so well on his athletic frame, it had to have been tailored just for him.
“Doing well, Dex,” her father said. “And you?”
“Great. Nick and I stopped in for a quick bite to eat before we hit the road.”
“Why don’t the two of you join us?” Her father slid over in the booth. “We were just about to order.”
Dakota considered kicking her father’s shin beneath the table. But nothing in the world would make him recant his offer once extended. She narrowed her eyes at him to let him know she didn’t appreciate his spontaneous invitation to Dexter.
Her father had the unmitigated gall to grin. They would have a long talk about this once they were alone.
“Sure, if we’re not imposing.” Dex’s eyes seemed to plead with hers.
“Not at all.” She shrugged, then added, “It’d be good to see Nick again.”
Dex waved Nick over, and Dakota quickly stood, blocking Dex’s entrance to her side of the booth as she raised her arms to Nick.
“Nicholas Washington, I can’t believe that’s you.” Dakota hugged him. “Gosh, look at you. All grown up now.”
“If you ask my dad, that’s still debatable.” Nick laughed, the dimples in his cheeks more pronounced with his wide grin.