Dexter had never been big on talking. He was the strong and silent type who listened and observed a lot more often than he spoke. Especially around people he didn’t know. When he finally opened up to her she was delighted that she’d broken through the wall with which he seemed to surround himself. It had been a coup back then. But she wasn’t interested in whatever it was that Dexter Roberts had to say now.
“I’m kind of busy.” Dakota lifted one shoulder in a mock apology as she refilled his cup. She replaced the carafe on its warmer.
He surveyed the empty counter and dragged a hand across his forehead. “You’re not going to make this easy on me, are you?”
“Like you made things easy for me when you dumped me?” Her voice wavered and her cheeks stung.
So much for my fantasy of playing it cool, if we ever crossed paths again.
“Dakota, I…I’m sorry that I—”
“Forget it, Dex. We don’t need to talk about it. Ever.” Dakota moved to the other end of the counter, thankful that a customer had approached.
She’d made the mistake of revealing that she was still hurt by his rejection. But she wouldn’t give Dexter the satisfaction of knowing how shaken she was by seeing him.
Now, if only she could convince her hands and knees to stop wavering.
Chapter Four
Dex peered over his cup at Dakota as he sipped his coffee. His heart slammed against his chest at the sight of the woman who’d taken a huge chunk of his heart with her when she left Holly Grove Island for good.
He aimed to get it back. One way or another.
Dakota cast a nervous glance in his direction as she took another customer’s order. He lowered his cup and smiled. She returned her attention to the other customer and tucked a stray curl behind her ear.
He set his cup down, hope slowly flooding his chest.
A few minutes later, Dakota set his food in front of him. “Here you are. Waffles, sausage, bacon, and hash browns. The Dexter Roberts Special.” Her tone was matter-of-fact.
“You remembered.” He smiled. “I’m flattered.”
“Don’t be,” she replied. “I also remember exactly what Old Man Riley ordered every morning.” She folded her arms, her expression hardened.
Dexter’s eyes were trained on her mouth. He’d always loved those lips. They’d been soft and warm and always tasted of cherry cola or bubble gum.
He still vividly recalled the taste of her lips and the feel of her incredibly soft skin on that warm summer night. His pulse elevated at the memory of tugging her lower lip gently between his as he’d kissed her. He cleared his throat. “Old Man Riley died, you know. Couple years back.”
“I—I hadn’t heard,” she stammered, her defensive posture easing as she dropped her arms to her sides. “I’m surprised my dad didn’t mention it.”
“Oliver hasn’t been the same since he lost your mother.” Dex raised his eyes to hers, his heart breaking for her. She winced at the mention of her mother. The two of them had been close. “I’m sorry about your mom, Dakota. Ms. Madeline was a remarkable woman. She had such a beautiful, giving spirit. We all miss her like crazy.”
“Thanks.” She fiddled with the strings of her apron to fill the awkward silence between them. When she settled her gaze on his again, her eyes were shiny with unshed tears. “Let me know if you need anything else.”
“I heard you’re only here for a few weeks,” Dexter called to her retreating back. He’d hoped Dakota would hear him out, allow him to apologize. He’d half expected that she wouldn’t, and he’d respect that. But this was something she needed to hear. “Oliver needs you, Dakota.”
She turned back to him. “What do you mean?”
“I mean he’s lonely, and he hasn’t taken losing your mother very well. He misses your mom, but he also really misses you and Shayna,” he said, referring to her older sister.
She shifted her eyes to a woman who sat at the other end of the counter, sipping her coffee and awaiting her breakfast order. The woman, who Dex didn’t recognize, watched them as if they were a soap opera.
Dakota returned her gaze to him and leaned in, her voice hushed. “I don’t want to talk about this here. I’m off duty in a couple of hours. We can talk then. Somewhere discreet. I don’t want the whole town thinking…” She let her words trail off, then sighed.
“How about that park bench at the other end of the beach? The one where I…” He cringed when she narrowed her eyes at him and folded her arms.
Asking Dakota to meet him at the spot where he’d asked her to be his girlfriend was a truly stupid idea. But it’d been the first place that had come to mind. It was an easy walk from the booth, would have very little traffic since most of the folks on the island were at the Fourth of July festivities, and was a spot that was familiar to both of them.
Still, suggesting it as a meeting spot was a complete blunder.
Way to go, Dex. Way to go.
A little more than two hours later, Dexter watched Dakota stalk toward the bench where he sat. A trail of smoke practically billowed from her ears.
She was pissed. At him.
Why would he expect anything else after the way he’d ended things between them? It pained him even now to remember the hurt look on her face. He’d broken limbs and torn his ACL playing college football. Nothing had ever hurt him more than what he’d done to her that day. He’d broken her heart. But he’d done it for both of their sakes.
Dex doubted Dakota would see things that way, so it was a topic better left for another day. Right now he’d focus on the issue at hand: Oliver.
But focusing on anything other than how enticing Dakota looked on this hot summer day required a Herculean effort. Her warm brown skin glowed with a light sheen of perspiration. The neckline of her slim denim dress hugged her full breasts and revealed a hint of cleavage. Strappy, black platform sandals highlighted the length of her incredibly sexy legs. A black bandanna held back the beach waves that bounced behind her.
Dex swallowed hard as Dakota got closer. He needed to take it down a notch and play this cool. Starting with shutting his gaping mouth.
* * *
Dakota’s skin felt as if it were on fire beneath Dexter’s intense gaze.
Only Dex would have the nerve to ask her to meet him here. The very place where their relationship shifted from being friends to something more. If he hadn’t been such a jerk to her at the end, she might’ve considered it sweet that Dex remembered the significance of their spot at the far end of Holly Grove Island Park.
She plopped down on the bench, leaving as much physical space as possible between them. Had this bench always been this small? Maybe it only appeared so because Dexter was taller now and his shoulders were broader. Or maybe it was because her hips weren’t as narrow as they’d been the last time he’d placed his large hands on them and pulled her closer.
Dakota squeezed her eyes shut and huffed.
Why did I agree to meet with him?
She rubbed at the goose bumps popping up on her arms, partly because a cool breeze chose that moment to blow off the Atlantic Ocean. Partly because a chill ran through her when his eyes met hers. But this wasn’t about her and Dexter.