“Nick’s being modest,” Dex said. “He was recently named director of sales and marketing for the new Holly Grove Island Resort, opening soon.”
“Congrats, Nick. You have to sit down and tell me all about it.” She pulled him into her side of the booth. A move that wasn’t lost on Dexter, based on the amused look he gave her.
“Guess I’m over here with you, Chief Jones,” he said.
“Sure thing, son.” Oliver stood. “But I need to ask Lila Gayle something.” He stepped out into the aisle and gestured for Dex to slide into the booth. “Go ahead and take the seat by the window. Too much sun for me, anyway.” He winked at Dexter and walked away.
Great.
Now she was seated directly across from Dex. That was even worse than sitting next to him. Dakota turned to Nick and forced a smile.
“So, Nick. How’d you get into marketing?” Dakota squirmed beneath Dex’s heated stare.
“That was my major in college. I interned with a Hollywood studio two of my four years at SoCal. After graduation I worked for a smaller indie film studio for a few years before Em finally talked me into moving back. Said she was sick of flying out to LA.”
“It’s great that you two remained best friends all these years. How is Em anyway?”
“Fantastic. She’s an unbelievable graphic artist. I’d love to hire her, but she’s a freelancer and she loves it. Besides, she says she’s not cut out for working for the man. Especially this one.” He poked a thumb to his chest. “She doesn’t think our friendship could survive it.”
Dakota grinned. “Em’s probably right about that.”
Oliver returned to the table, and Lila Gayle took their orders, then went to the kitchen.
“Speaking of working with friends…Have you given more thought to working for me?” Nick asked.
Dakota looked over at Dex, who was smiling, then back at Nick. “So you and Em can’t work together, but we can?”
“Hey, I can handle it, if you can deal with the guy you babysat being your boss.” Nick smirked.
“Is that a challenge?”
“It’s a genuine offer.” Nick’s expression turned serious. “We’re opening soon and I could use someone who’s done PR and knows the island and the people here. You’d be doing me a favor.”
“I was an investigative reporter, Nick,” she said.
“You were a TV personality, you minored in public relations, and I’d imagine you have press connections,” Nick said without missing a beat.
Nick was good. And honestly, she’d interned in the station’s sales and public relations departments before she’d been offered a job behind the scenes in the newsroom. She had no doubts about her qualifications for the job, but did she really want to work for a friend?
“I don’t know, Nick. I’m not moving to the island for good. I’m only here while I figure out my next move. If an opportunity comes along, I’d have to leave you high and dry.”
“We often use contract employees at our Myrtle Beach location, where Dex is assistant operations manager.” He nodded toward Dexter. “So if you’re interested, I can make it work.”
“Sounds intriguing,” she admitted, “but I’m already helping my dad out with his rental properties while I’m here. In fact, we’re doing a cleanout after breakfast.”
“I appreciate your help, Dakota,” her father interrupted. “But I’ve decided to hire a management company to deal with the day-to-day stuff. Besides, you’ve been antsy all week. You’ve already rearranged the furniture, organized the pantry, and cleaned out the linen closets. You need something to do, and you know it.”
“Dex and I will be in Myrtle Beach the next couple of days, but I’ll be back by the end of the week. Take the next few days to think about it,” Nick said. “Then swing by my office Friday afternoon at one. I’ll treat you to a late lunch and give you a tour of the place. We’ll see where things go from there. What do you say?”
Nick was as persuasive now as when he’d talked her into letting him stay up past his bedtime when he was six.
“You had me at lunch,” she said. “It’s a date, but I can’t commit to taking the job.”
“Fair enough.” Nick flashed his million-watt grin.
The food arrived and they settled into a comfortable rhythm, eating and talking. Dakota avoided conversing with Dexter, directing most of her comments to her father or Nick. But Dexter wouldn’t give up.
“Dakota, when was the last time you got down to Myrtle Beach?”
“Probably thirteen years. Right, Dad?” Dakota looked up from her meal and shrugged. “Isn’t that when we took that family trip there the summer after Shayna graduated from USC?”
“Sounds about right. Wasn’t much inclined to go back after I spent the entire week beating off half-clad men with a stick,” Oliver grumbled.
“I’ll bet you and Shay were up to all kinds of mischief.” Nick laughed.
Like her father, Dexter was not amused by the story. His brows furrowed and a small frown marred his handsome face.
Dakota found that amusing.
“We were young and single. It was the first summer it was legal for me to drink, and my sister was about to move to California for work. So, yeah, we might’ve been up to a little mischief.” Dakota smiled sweetly at her dad, who was frowning. She held up her index finger and thumb about an inch apart and peeked through them. “Just a little, Dad. Nothing serious.”
Oliver mumbled something under his breath, and Dakota and Nick snickered.
“A lot has changed since then. You should come down one weekend,” Dex said, then cleared his throat when she glared at him and her father raised one furry brow. “I meant you and Sin should come down. It’d be fun.”
“You work in Myrtle Beach, three hours away, but you still live on Holly Grove Island?”
“I have a place in Myrtle Beach, too. But I’m here most weekends. What can I say?” Dex shrugged in response to her incredulous stare. “I lived away from the island for seven or eight years. I spent most of that time homesick. I missed our little town and the beaches here. I missed the people of Holly Grove Island. And I missed”—he raised his eyes to hers—“everyone. Here is where I want to be.”
Dakota’s heart thumped in her chest and her mouth went dry. Something in his penetrating gaze warmed her chest and made her tummy flutter. Her hand drifted to a burning cheek. Dex hadn’t said that he’d missed her. She hadn’t even been living on the island until a couple of weeks ago. So why had his words felt so personal?
Dakota poked at her eggs. “Oh.”
“Heard you bought yourself a fancy new car, Nick,” Oliver said quickly.
Dakota could have kissed her father for the much-needed reprieve. He gave her a quick smile before returning his attention to Nick.
“I did.” Nick beamed. “It’s outside. You should come out and see it.”
“No time like the present.” Her father grinned.
Nick hopped up from the table, and he and her father headed for the door as Nick excitedly rattled off the features of his new muscle car.