Love by Design

“So, where are we going?” she asked, trying to lighten the mood.

“Like I’m telling you. You’ll see soon enough.”

Dakota scrunched her nose up. “Party pooper.”

She followed Logan out the door, and when she saw the red Porsche Cayenne in her driveway, she whistled. “New car?”

“No, I just don’t drive it that much.”

Dakota got in and glanced around the fully loaded SUV. “Okay, this is ridiculously nice.”

“Thanks.” He started the engine and pulled off. “Are you hungry?”

“Not really.”

“Good, it may be better if we eat later. I wouldn’t want you ruining my surprise.”

“What is it?”

“Uh-uh. You’ll have to wait, Miss Impatient.”

“Fine, and I never said patience was one of my strong suits.”

“Don’t I know it? If memory serves, you were forever jumping ahead and reading the conclusion of a book I was reading so you didn’t have to wait for me to tell you the ending.”

“That’s because you read as slow as molasses, and who’s got that kind of time?”

Logan drove them back to the city, keeping up constant chatter with Dakota. When they arrived at their destination, he grabbed a backpack out of the backseat, and then helped her out of the car. When Dakota finally realized where they were headed, she stopped short. Her jaw dropped.

“Uh…what’s that?”

“That, Miss Carson, is a balloon.”

“No, this,” she said, holding her hands in a small circle, “is a balloon. That’s a rainbow-colored death trap with a basket attached. I’m not getting in that thing.”

“Well, I am, and you’re going with me. We’ll do it together.”

Dakota was not convinced. Surprise rapidly turned to worry as they moved closer.

“Logan, I don’t like heights.”

“You rode in my plane a few weeks ago.”

“I’m allergic to hot-air balloons.”

He snickered, but then stopped to hold her hands. He squeezed them reassuringly. “Dakota Michelle Carson. I will not let anything happen to you. This is perfectly safe, I will be with you the entire time, and I promise if you don’t love it, we’ll never have to go again. This will be therapeutic—for both of us.”

Dakota did not look convinced. “Really? How so?”

“Because it’s a chance to let go of all the troubles in your life and just enjoy the moment. I’ve never ridden in a balloon, and neither have you. It’s something we can experience for the first time together. Come on, Koty…you’ve got this.”

She poked his shoulder. “If I die, I’m killing you.”

After the paperwork and safety briefing, they were on their way. Dakota had to admit that the red, green, yellow and blue stripes were beautiful. She latched on to Logan’s hand like it was a life jacket and moved as far as she could away from the edges. She glanced at the backpack he had set on the basket floor.

“What’s that, a parachute? You’d better have two.”

“No, it’s a blanket in case you get cold, and two hats in case the burners generate too much heat overhead.”

As they ascended, Dakota kept her eyes on her shoes. After a few minutes, Logan eased her into his side and whispered into her ear. “Look.”

When she tentatively lifted her head, Dakota gasped.

They were on the outskirts of Chicago, but she could see the skyline in the distance. The sun was setting, casting a lazy haze everywhere. The natural harmony of land, air and water took her breath away.

“Oh, my God…it’s so beautiful.”

“And you’re still alive,” Logan replied. He handed her a flute of champagne. “Here’s to jumping in with both feet.”

When did he have time to pour champagne?

She took the glass, and they toasted. Surveying the three-hundred and-sixty-degree panoramic view, Dakota was overcome with emotion. “Thank you for this.”

He touched her cheek. “What better way to release some baggage than by taking to the skies?”

“I admit, this is a bit…liberating, and not as cold as I thought.”

“That’s because we’re traveling with the wind, not against it.”

“Susan won’t believe I’m doing this.”

“I have a solution.” Logan took out his cell phone and pulled Dakota close. “Say cheese.”

“Turkey,” she said, grinning for the camera.

“Close enough.” He snapped several pictures of them, and then handed her the phone.

Dakota sent Susan a text from Logan’s phone with the caption, “Guess where we are?”