Love by Design
“Tell me about it. She’s on Dad’s case to start a few honey-do projects around the house. Needless to say, he’s not too happy right now, either. She got to babysit Ivan and Tiffany’s little boy, Gavin, so of course that only upped the ante on her pitch for Milán and me to start a family. Look, enough about my nightmares, what’s up with work—and Dakota?”
“So far, so good. Today was her first day of evaluations. I suspect she’ll be pretty busy the rest of the time she’s here. Which doesn’t give me much time to spend with her…outside of work.”
“Dude, you’re in one of the most beautiful and romantic places on the planet. You mean to tell me you can’t find a moment to put a log on the fire to thaw some of that ice?”
“Ha. At this point, I’d settle for a twig.” Logan tried not to let his pessimism show, but it was hard. “There’s no way she’s going to relax her guard long enough for me to make any headway.”
“Logan, I don’t mean to play Devil’s advocate here, but…are you sure you’ve thought this whole thing through?”
“I’m not following.”
“Well, you haven’t really been involved with Dakota since you two were practically kids. She’s not the same…you’re not the same. You’ve both grown up. Are you sure that your notions of her from the past will be able to meld together with the realities of how she is now—how you both are? I just don’t want you setting yourself up for failure. You have to be prepared for the fact that no matter how much you try, you two may not be able to get together. Maybe too much time has passed.”
Logan steepled his fingers as he pondered his cousin’s comments.
“I get what you’re saying, and believe me, I’m scared as hell that diving into this may not work out the way I want it to. I’m trying not to have blinders on and to be realistic that my biggest hopes may not be realized, but…I have to try, Adrian. I can’t live in fear of failure. I left before and convinced myself that the reason I stayed away was all due to bad timing, relationships and family obligations, but that’s not all true.” He paused for a moment. “Part of me was worried about what would happen if it did work out. I’ve wanted her for so long, and worshipped her from behind the safety of friendship, all while knowing just where that protective wall between friends and lovers was, and being careful not to cross it.”
“But now you want to?”
Logan felt a mixed wash of apprehension and determination. “No, now I have to.”
“I can’t lie and say that I know one hundred percent what you’re going through, but I can say that consciously deciding not to act is worse than taking no action at all. I’m here for you, man, and will help however I can.”
“I know, Adrian. Thanks, cuz.”
“My advice is to think about ways that you can mix a little pleasure with all that business. Find that happy medium that draws the two of you together. You’ll find it.”
Before he could reply, Adrian said, “Hey, I’ve got to run. Milán and I are meeting friends for dinner, and we’re late. Remember what I said, Logan. You both have to get past all the boundaries. Peel back the layers and see what you have left. The only way Miss Workaholic will relax is if you make the fun time look like work.”
Logan hung up with Adrian and pondered his advice. Adrian had a point. It was highly unlikely that Dakota would let her guard down long enough to enjoy herself, especially around him. She was wary of his motives, and he could not blame her. Still, he was determined to show her another side of himself. He was not the coldhearted, self-involved boy she remembered. He had matured and learned what was important and what was essential in his life.
There were plenty of things that were important, but fewer that were essential. Dakota definitely fell into the latter category, and Logan was determined to make amends. Though he was worried about how all of this was going to turn out, he was resigned to giving it his best shot. He was not going to lose her twice, and thanks to Adrian, he knew exactly what to do to get Dakota to lower her defenses—absolutely nothing.
* * *
“Have you met some tall, dark and incredibly handsome man yet? Preferably someone with a sexy-as-hell Jamaican accent?”
“No, I haven’t. Not that I was looking, anyway. I’m pretty tied up with work. I don’t have time to look for tall, dark and sexy-as-hell men.”
“Are you crazy? Girl, every woman has time to look for a man that fits that description,” Susan replied. “I take it all’s well with Belle Cove—and working for Logan?”