Love by Design

“It wasn’t just surprise at seeing a long-lost friend. There was more—and it had nothing to do with friendship.”

She sat forward. “Suzy, I love you…you know that, but I don’t want to talk about it. Besides, I’ve got important news. Our new client is Belle Resorts.”

“Wow. Their resorts are so beautiful. It’s a fitting name.”

“It is. Logan’s mom visited the area while on vacation and—”

Susan’s mouth dropped open. “Wait a minute…are you telling me that your friend’s family owns them?”

“Yes. It’s a family business, and Logan is the new CEO.”

“Seriously? I know about the one in Jamaica, but how many are there?”

Dakota studied her desk. “Not many.”

“Dakota,” Susan pressed.

“There’s only…three.”

Susan choked on her coffee. “Three? Are you kidding? We don’t have the manpower to—”

“I know, but we’ll start with the one in Jamaica first, and if that goes well, One Eighty will tackle the rest, one at a time.” Dakota leaned across her desk. “This is a great opportunity,” she said excitedly.

“I know, but are you sure you can handle it?”

“Of course we can.”

“Not we,” Susan corrected. “You.”

“Yes. We’ve been talking about expanding, right?”

“I’m not completely sold on this idea. It’s obvious that you and Mr. CEO have a few…issues to work out.”

“Yes, we do, but we can tackle those later. Logan assured me that he had no problems taking direction from me, and I made it clear that if we do this, I want complete autonomy. No exceptions.”

“And he agreed to that.”

“Yes. I gave him a contract, and Logan will have it couriered over when it’s ready.”

“If you think you can handle it, I’m in one hundred percent.”

Dakota jumped up and went to hug her friend. “Thanks, and don’t worry. I’ve got this. Everything will run as smooth as kookoon silk, trust me.”

She returned the hug. “I know it will. Speaking of which—” She handed Dakota a piece of paper.

“What’s this?”

“The most recent message that Norma Jean Anderson has left today. You’d better stop stalling and call Ms. Jeannie back before she comes looking for you.”

“Too late,” Norma Jean said from the doorway.

“This is getting to be a habit,” Susan joked before greeting the older woman and leaving.

Norma Jean got straight to the point. “I know you’ve gotten my messages.”

“Ms. Jeannie, I promise that I’m not avoiding you. I just got an unexpected new client, and I’m trying to work a few things out.”

“Well, there’s a development that I think you should know about,” Norma Jean began.

“No need. Logan stopped by to see me yesterday.”

“He did?” she said, astonished. “Good. I know you two don’t have the best history, but I hope you were able to clear the air.”

“Not really, but I can handle it,” Dakota assured her.

“I know things don’t always go according to plan, honey,” Norma Jean said. “There’s no denying that he messed up really bad, but I know he’s here to make things right between you. You were so close once. I’m hoping that you and my nephew can get that back.”

“I don’t know about that.”

“Have you told him what happened years ago?”

A frown creased Dakota’s forehead. “No. Did you?”

“It’s not my place. It’s your life, and if you choose not to tell him what happened after he left, I won’t be the one enlightening him. I guess you’ll fill Logan in in your own good time.”

“I…I’m not sure, Ms. Jeannie. I’ve been mad at him for so long, I honestly don’t know if things will ever be right between us, but we’ve called a temporary cease-fire for now. I won’t lie, a part of me wants to leave well enough alone, and never see him again, but he’s making me a business offer that I would be foolish to turn down. Besides, I don’t have time for a bruised heart.”

Norma Jean shook her head with displeasure. “It’s more than bruised, Dakota. You experienced a devastating event in your life. It’s completely understandable how it would alter how you view things, but you defer your personal life too much if you ask me. You need to get your house in order.”

* * *

Dakota was still mulling over Norma Jean’s words on the drive home. Norma Jean was a wonderful woman, but when she got a notion in her head, nothing was going to deter her from her goal. As far as Dakota was concerned, she had given love a shot, and got kicked in the teeth. She was happy, and then everything got stripped away. Dakota accepted that sometimes as much as you want something, there’s no guarantee that it’s meant to be.