He kissed her, and then set her on her feet. “How’d you sleep?”
“Not that great,” she admitted. “How about you?”
“Well, when I did actually fall asleep, it was good.”
“You were having a hard time, too?”
“What can I say, it’s hard to fathom sleeping when all I wanted to do was be with you last night. The only thing better than seeing you this morning would’ve been waking up with you wrapped in my arms.”
Dakota hugged him. “Flattery will get you everywhere.”
“I certainly hope so,” he whispered in her ear.
They sat down and fixed their plates. Dakota filled Logan in on the work she had scheduled for the day.
“My parents want to fly down soon.”
“Can you delay them until we’re finished? I don’t want them seeing it half-baked. It’s important they get the finished results.”
“I’ll do what I can, but I can’t promise anything. They’re very excited. Incidentally, you’ve got me as free labor today. My meeting got canceled, so I’m all yours.”
“Really?” she said excitedly. “Hmm…whatever am I to do with you?”
“Several things come to mind, but none of them involve clothes…or other people.”
* * *
When they were done, they put the leftovers away and then walked up the path to the main resort to start the day’s work. Dakota’s stamina, and her ability to keep her contractors on task, was impressive. Logan knew firsthand how difficult that could be at times, but not one thing slipped through the cracks.
He worked with Dakota and her team on the first floor swapping out lighting fixtures and small furniture while the housekeeping staff worked on updating the guest rooms with the new linens and accessories she had purchased. A plumbing crew had finished up with bathroom fixtures the day before, so the only thing left to do in all the bathrooms was aesthetic.
By the time they were done that evening, Logan had a better appreciation for what renovations entailed. He and Dakota went home to shower and change, and he invited her over to his place for dinner.
When she got there, Logan was in shorts and a T-shirt, with a barbecue fork in his hand. He kissed her, and then she followed him through the house to the backyard, where the steaks were already cooking on the grill.
“You decided to cook?”
“Yes. Mostly because I was sore, and didn’t feel up to going out, or even down to the restaurant,” he joked. “That and I wanted you all to myself.”
“Thanks for helping me today. We got a lot done.”
“Yes, we did. You’re a wonderful project manager.”
“Thanks, though I feel bad putting my boss to work.”
“I was happy to help. You know, I was thinking, when the renovations are done we should fly everyone here for an unveiling party.”
“I think that’s a wonderful idea, Logan.”
“Great. I’ll get an event planner on it.”
She gave him a look.
“What? Dakota, you’ll be swamped enough with the hundreds of other things you’ve got going on. I don’t want you stressed out planning the party, too. Besides, I have completely selfish reasons for hiring someone else to do it.” He set the steaks on their plates. “Can you imagine what that might be?”
“Oh, there are a few things that come to mind. Okay,” she conceded. “Party planner it is.”
When they were done eating, Logan suggested a walk on the beach. Dakota took her shoes off and dipped her feet in the water. Logan held her hand.
“I know this very secluded spot if you want to go swimming.”
“I’m not going skinny-dipping,” she replied.
Without warning, he picked her up and ran into the water.
“Logan, stop. Put me down,” she shrieked. “People are staring.”
“I own the resort. What do I care if they stare?”
“Well, I care, now put me down.”
She was laughing so hard that she got the hiccups. That alone made Logan burst out laughing. He released her, but did not relinquish his hold on her. He twirled her around and sang his version of The Merrymen’s “Hot Hot Hot.”
“So we go rum-bum-bum-bum. Yeah we rum-bum-bum-bum.”
“Feeling hot hot hot—feeling hot hot hot,” she sang back, dancing around.
When they were finished, they received a few claps and whistles from passersby before walking hand in hand back to Logan’s villa.
“Thanks for the dance.”
“Anytime. I’ll have to go to New York the day after tomorrow. From there I’ll be doing site visits at Belle Island and Belle Key.”
“How long will you be gone?” she asked.