Love by Design

When she mentioned that another one of her clients owned an international high-end resort chain, and might be interested in their own unique brand, that got his attention. It also didn’t hurt when Dakota assured him that his sheets would get the press that they deserved by being featured in an upcoming made-for-television movie. She had called in a serious favor to a friend of hers who was the set decorator for a well-known network, but Amadeus Rothschild did not need to know that.

Eventually he agreed, and invited her up to Kennebunkport, Maine, to tour his studio and seal the deal. They discussed the Jansons’ Bed & Breakfast, and its current color scheme and decor. It was a beautiful seaside community ninety miles north of Boston. It was idyllic and romantic, and she would have loved to share the experience with Logan, but since they still had not talked on any topic of a personal nature, that was not a possibility. She had tried repeatedly to engage him, but she was met with resistance each time.

She was packing up to head home one evening when she decided enough was enough. She grabbed her stuff and walked out to the reception area. Susan was also getting ready to leave.

“I need you,” she told her friend.

“Sure, what’s up?”

“I’ve got a project I’m working on, and I need your help.”

When she told Susan what it was, her friend grinned.

“Oh, yeah, I’m definitely in.”

* * *

Logan had just returned home after a weeklong trip to Fiji. He had met with developers to discuss a possible location for their next resort on Denarau Island. He set his briefcase by the door and placed his carryout on the kitchen counter. The first thing he wanted to do was take a shower and change out of his suit.

He was just putting on a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt when his phone rang. His eyebrow shot upward when his doorman informed him who was waiting.

“Send her up,” he replied.

He pinched the bridge of his nose. Arguing on an empty stomach was not on his list of favorite things to do. When the doorbell rang, he sighed and went to answer the door. When he opened it, his jaw dropped. Dakota stood before him in a black leather trench coat and boots. Her hair was loose around her shoulders, and her makeup was perfection.

“Dakota.”

“Hi, Logan. May I come in?”

Logan stood aside and swung his arm out in invitation.

She walked past him. He shut the door and followed her into the living room.

“This is an unexpected surprise.”

“I had to see you.”

She unbelted her coat and shrugged it off her shoulders. It landed on his floor with a loud thud to reveal a tight red dress that covered about as much skin as a towel.

It dipped low in the front to reveal her ample breasts. He stooped down to pick up the coat and went to hang it up. When he returned, he was treated to a view of the back of the dress. It had a delectable dip that stopped just above the small of her back. He smiled appreciatively, and it was taking considerable effort for other parts of his body not to chime in the appraisal of the eye candy. It appeared a plan was afoot. The question was, how far would she take it?

“Would you like something to drink?”

“I’d love a glass of wine.”

“Have a seat.”

He retrieved a bottle of 2007 Gaja Barbaresco. It was expensive, but if Dakota was pulling out all the stops, he would do his part.

“Thank you,” she replied when he handed her a glass.

Logan sat down on the couch next to her. When she crossed her legs, her dress rode even higher up her leg. He did not torture himself with thoughts of what was or was not beneath it. A smile of pure delight played at the corners of his mouth. A seduction was definitely in the making. Logan was intrigued.

“How’s work?” he inquired.

“Great. I just landed Amadeus Rothschild for my client’s bed-and-breakfast.”

“You have to be pleased. I know how much Nancy Janson coveted those sheets.”

“Apparently, they’re unlike anything she’s ever felt before. I’ve been to his studio, and I can vouch for the voracity of her claim. They are sinfully comfortable.”

“Sinfully?” he repeated. “That’s a big claim.”

“You should try them.”

His eyebrow rose. “Really?”

She nodded. “I’m thinking of having him design a brand specifically for Belle Cove.”

“That sounds like an interesting proposition. Especially since I’m looking at building a resort in Fiji. I’m toying with the idea of couples only.”

She swirled the wine around in her glass before raising it to her lips. “That sounds exciting.”

“Which part? The resort in Fiji, or the couples-only aspect?”