Love by Design

“Wait, what’s going on? Did I miss something?” Logan got up and stepped back into his boxer briefs. He strode over and took hold of Dakota’s arm. “Will you stop for a minute and tell me what’s got you upset?”

“It’s not you,” she said, putting her dress on. “I’m sorry, Logan. I…I’m not trying to punish you or anything. It’s just that—”

“Punish me? For what? Dakota, this isn’t making sense. Stop and talk to me.”

“No, I’m going to go. I’m sorry for…for starting something I can’t finish. Please understand.”

“I don’t understand, Dakota,” he said impatiently. “Any of this.”

She grabbed her shoes and ran down the steps. She was out the door and running down the path when she heard Logan calling her name. She followed the path, and eventually ended up at the beach. Dakota was dismayed to find the festivities were still in full swing. She was hoping that it would be deserted, but no such luck.

Spotting the Cabana Bar, Dakota walked over and ordered a Jamaican Rum Punch. She sat on a chaise lounge away from the partyers and stared out at the water.

By the time Susan found her, Dakota had lost count of how many drinks she’d consumed.

“Having a one-man party?”

“It would seem so,” Dakota slurred.

“How’d you get here?”

“Me tek di path to di left, me stay pon it gwen buk upon di beach, mon.”

Susan sat on the bottom of Dakota’s lounger. She stared at her friend with amusement.

“You did what?”

“Di beach. Me pon di beach.”

“What’s the matter with Miss Dakota?”

Miranda hovered over them.

“Randa!” Dakota said, getting up. She weaved, but corrected herself.

Susan glanced up at Miranda. “Someone’s been drinking rum punches—lots of them.”

“Are you okay, miss?”

“Fugit it.” She took a sip of her drink. “Ev’ryting rahtid.”

Miranda’s eyes widened in surprise. “Me see Tandie’s been busy. Me goin’ have him backside. Let’s get you home, Miss Dakota.”

“No, I want to dance. Feeling hot hot hot.”

She was laughing and swaying to the imaginary music. She spun around, and landed right in Logan’s arms.

“Why is the world spinning?” she exclaimed, overly loud.

When Dakota looked up to see who caught her, her smile faded. “Backside.”

Miranda hid her smile behind her hand. “Me goin’ take Miss Dakota home.”

Logan straightened Dakota in his arms. “Thanks Miranda, but I’ll take her.”

“No, me wanna be pon di beach,” Dakota protested, but Logan did not release her arm.

“Good night, ladies. Thanks for keeping our party girl safe. Time to go, Koty.”

She let out a few unladylike expletives, but allowed Logan to guide her back down the path.

“I don’t envy her headache in the morning,” she could hear Susan say to Miranda.

“Me not envy Tandie,” Miranda replied.

Chapter 15

Logan had expected to find Dakota in her villa so they could talk about what was bothering her. What he did not expect was to find her twirling around dancing with no music within earshot, drunk and cursing him out in Jamaican slang. It was the funniest thing he had seen in quite a while, but he was also concerned about Dakota. He could not understand how they had gone from almost making love, to him holding her hair while she emptied the contents of her stomach into the toilet.

From there, he convinced her to allow him to help her take a shower.

She allowed it, but flatly refused to let him dry her off. He hovered nonetheless, just in case she spun around, lost her balance and fell. There were way too many hard surfaces in the bathroom for him to feel comfortable leaving her alone.

He let her pick out her pajamas and then helped her into bed. Dakota never ceased to amaze him.

“I’m going to make something to help settle your stomach.”

“Yeah? Oooh. I hope it’s got Ja…Ja’rum in it. I love that stuff.”

Logan did not have everything he needed, so he called Miranda, and she had an employee get the ingredients from the restaurant.

When he was done, he brought a tray in her room and sat on the bed.

“What’s this?”

“A few things to ensure you don’t feel like crap in the morning.” He handed her a piece of toast and a glass.

“That looks weird,” she said, eyeing the green beverage suspiciously.

“I know, but trust me, it’ll make you feel better.”

She followed his instructions then lay back against the pillows. “Is your head spinning? Because my head’s spinning.”