Logan was at the very end with his back to her. Figures I’d have to walk the entire length of the wooden dock. Her heels tapped out a loud cadence on the boards as she walked.
“Look at that,” he murmured, not turning around.
She followed his gaze.
“Being here…at sunset…it’s one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. Right when the sun lowers on the horizon and sets.” He pointed. “You see it? When I was little, Mom used to say that if I listened close enough, I could hear the hissing sound of boiling water right as the sun touched the water at sunset.”
Dakota’s expression grew warm. “I never knew that.”
“I’ve never told anyone about it. Nor how old I was before I quit believing it.”
After the sun dipped lower, he finally turned to face her.
“That must seem silly to you.”
“Why would it? I think it’s important for everyone to stop at some point during the day and just be still…to soak up the moment. Your time is sunset, that’s all.”
It was hard not to get caught up in the reverence of it. For a moment, she almost felt like she was intruding. She moved to take a step back and stopped. She tried again, and after a moment realized that she was stuck. Confused, Dakota glanced down and saw that her heel was stuck between two boards of the pier.
Trying not to draw attention to herself, she shifted her weight and tried to tug the leather pump free, but it wouldn’t budge. This is just great. Dakota leaned forward, and as nonchalantly as she could, tried to raise her leg.
“So, how was your day?”
She stopped tugging. “Good. I uh…got a lot done today. Everyone was so helpful and pleasant. You’ve got a great staff, Logan.”
“I know. They’re the best. They’re more like family than employees.”
“I can see that.”
“Have you eaten yet?”
“No.”
Logan turned to walk down the pier. Dakota used the opportunity to bend down to try to wrench her shoe free. She was in the process of doing so when Logan turned around. He opened his mouth to say something, but then shut it. With a look of surprise, he closed the distance between them.
“Do you need help?”
“No, thanks,” she said quickly. “I’ve got it.”
Logan stood there and watched her try in vain to free herself. Finally, he kneeled down. “Let me help you.”
“I really don’t—”
“Dakota,” Logan said softly.
She stopped tugging and gazed down at him. With a sigh, she held on to his shoulder for balance. He grasped her heel and tilted to and fro. Finally, it slipped free.
“Success,” he exclaimed. Logan grasped her hand and helped her up before handing her back her shoe.
Dakota released him in order to take her other shoe off. She held them in her hand. “Thank you.”
Logan grinned at her. “You’re welcome. Did you want to get something to eat?”
“I think I’m going to pass. I’m kind of tired, and would love to just get a shower and go over my notes.”
“Okay. If you’re hungry, just call and my staff can have dinner delivered to you.”
“I think I may take you up on that. Thanks.”
“My pleasure.”
* * *
Logan escorted her back to her place a few minutes later, and then said good-night. When she disappeared into the house, he strolled down the path to his villa. He sat down on the couch and put his feet up before running his hand over the stubble on his jaw. There had been a connection between them. He felt it the moment their fingers touched on the pier. If only he could get Dakota to acknowledge it. Most of the time she was serious and intense. It was a surprise to look down and find her toenails painted with tiny butterflies on them.
He smiled, thinking about how the whimsical design had shocked him. He wondered what else she was hiding that no one could see. A tattoo? Body piercings? Just imagining Dakota’s bare skin made him shift uncomfortably in his seat. Needing a distraction, Logan picked up his laptop and checked his email messages. Aside from work-related mail, he had received a few from his family. He picked up his cell phone and dialed his cousin to check in.
“Hey, Adrian. What’s up?”
“Hmm…let’s see. You’re out of town, so all my single friends are avoiding my house like the plague, just in case Mom stops by. There’s no one else willing to take the bait and be fixed up, so you can imagine how much she’s driving me crazy. To top it off, the deal I spent weeks working my butt off to close just fell through. Other than that, just peachy.”
“Sorry, man,” Logan said sincerely. “Your mother definitely needs a new hobby.”