by Reese Ryan
“Of course, she will need extensive training, but she catches on quickly,” Mike added, clearing his throat when Dexter raised an eyebrow in response.
“You want me to do this job and run the new resort.” It wasn’t a question.
“Just until Marla is comfortable in her new role.” The man shifted in his seat, like he couldn’t get comfortable. “I’m sure you wouldn’t have to pull double duty for long.”
“And what if, in the end, the higher-ups decide to go with another outside candidate for the position at the HGI Resort?”
Mike’s cheeks flushed, and he glanced down at his hands for a moment before returning his attention to Dex.
“It wouldn’t be fair to displace Marla from the position,” he managed to say with a straight face. “So your current position would no longer be available. But we’d find you a spot comparable to your current one at one of our five resorts. Florida maybe.”
A knot tightened in Dexter’s gut. He was trying to get closer to home, not move farther away. Despite what his mother and sister might think, they needed him. And he cherished his role as Uncle Dex, so he liked living an easy distance from his brother Steven and his family in Wilmington and his brother Ellis and his family who made their home in Carolina Beach.
Dexter wanted the position. He’d worked his way up through the company with this very opportunity in mind. And he was anxious to move back to the island full-time. But there were two issues that gave him pause. One: He’d be taking a big risk if they decided to go with someone else. Then he’d end up with a lesser position or he’d have to relocate. Either situation would be a devastating setback. Two: As the director of operations at the Holly Grove Island Resort, he would be prohibited from dating an employee. Despite how Dakota had left things between them at the diner, he was holding onto the hope that she would stay on Holly Grove Island and that she’d eventually give him another chance. But if she accepted Nick’s job offer, Dakota would be strictly off-limits.
He sighed. Since Dakota clearly wanted nothing to do with him, a second chance with her was more of a delusion than a probability. Was he really going to pass up an opportunity like this for a relationship that had little chance of ever becoming a reality?
“I’d essentially be running both locations. That’s a lot to ask of one person,” Dexter said.
“For which the company is prepared to compensate you handsomely.” The man had the decency not to object to the fact that Dexter effectively ran the Myrtle Beach Resort. “But there’s something else you should know.”
Dexter leaned forward, hands folded on the desk. Mike had already dropped the other shoe, so would this new bit of information qualify as an ax?
“There’s another reason I was able to convince the board to give you a shot.” Mike’s lip curled and he wrinkled his nose, as if he suddenly had a bad taste in his mouth. “Some of the locals are up in arms because they’ll have to share the beach and endure more traffic. They’re afraid that the resort is going to mean the end of their precious way of life.”
The muscles in Dexter’s neck tensed. Did Mike realize that he sounded like an ass and that his resentment of the locals was obvious? He doubted it. But now wasn’t the time to point it out. He’d put that in his back pocket for another day. A day on which they weren’t discussing his future with the company.
“We’ve had pushback from some of the diehards on the island since before we broke ground.” Dex shrugged. “We’re two weeks to open now. So why the concern?”
“There was a brawl at one of the events over at the Pleasure Cove Resort. It’s fired up resistance to the Holly Grove Island Resort. We figured—”
“That bringing in a local boy who knows the island and the people will help squash any opposition.”
“You know how this game goes, Dex,” Mike admitted begrudgingly. “But this provides you with the perfect leverage to show them what you’ve got.”
And double—maybe even triple—my workload.
“Opening a new resort is quite an undertaking,” Dexter reminded the man.
“It is. And I can think of no one better prepared to handle it. I’ll be honest, Dex. We desperately need your help. You’ve got us over a barrel.”
He’d have to endure even more commuting between the properties for now. But if he was named the permanent HGI director of operations, he’d eventually be able to settle in back on the island full-time.
He’d be closer to his family. And to Dakota. At least for as long as she decided to stay on Holly Grove Island. She hadn’t seemed inclined to take Nick up on his job offer, but even if she did, maybe they could still forge a friendship. He’d rather have her back in his life as a friend than not at all.
“So…what do you say?” Mike asked.
Dexter rubbed his chin and studied the man silently as Mike shifted in his seat again.
Mike chuckled and straightened his tie again. “Maybe we should talk about the compensation package first.”
Now the man had Dexter’s full attention.
* * *
Dakota followed Nick back into his office following a delicious lunch at the resort’s four-star restaurant and an impressive tour of the new Holly Grove Island Resort on Friday afternoon. He’d shown her the resort’s rooms and palatial suites, two swimming pools, a state-of-the-art fitness facility, the luxury spa, and two on-site restaurants. The resort’s decor featured a muted, beach-inspired color scheme, accented by vibrant seascape murals, teak tables, and lighting and decorative accents that incorporated sea glass or pieces of coral. It was a lovely place to work, and everyone on Nick’s team seemed genuinely excited to be a part of the new resort.
Dakota checked her watch as she returned to the comfy leather chair in front of Nick’s desk, where their meeting had begun nearly two hours earlier. She’d been so enamored with the resort that time had gotten away from her. Sin had badgered her into getting dressed up and going for a girls’ night out later that evening, and she would need to change.
“So what do you think?” Nick practically beamed, like a man at a poker table who was confident he held the winning hand.
“The resort is stunning, and you seem to have a fantastic team in place.”
It was still hard to believe that the boy who’d once been a hell-on-wheels practical joker who would give Dennis the Menace a run for his money had grown into a competent, responsible human being. And possibly her boss. At least temporarily.
“I agree. But I’ll admit that after two false starts, I’m a little nervous about who will be chosen as the new director of operations. Hopefully, whoever they select will be a good fit.” Nick took his seat behind the desk. “Now, in terms of the corporate and community relations manager position, as we discussed, the job would entail coordinating the hotel’s marketing efforts, managing and establishing community and media relations, and developing community and corporate partnerships to maximize the resort’s exposure. You’ve seen our facility. There’s nothing like it around here. The place practically sells itself. Our soft opening is in a couple of weeks, but bookings have been steady.”
“And you’d really be okay with me taking the position on a temporary, contract basis?” Dakota leaned forward in her chair.
“Obviously, I’d prefer that you take the position permanently. But I need the help now and I’d rather have a competent, experienced professional I trust at this critical stage. From where I’m sitting, that’s definitely you.” Nick leaned forward, his forearms pressed into the leather blotter on his desk.
“And you’re willing to meet my salary requirements?” The job seemed almost too perfect. And whether it was a job or a man, nothing that had seemed too perfect at first blush ever really was. There had to be a catch, and it was better she know now what that was.
“It’s a little more than I’d budgeted, but I’ve got some leeway,” Nick said.
“And would I have the flexibility to work from home a few days a week while my dad is recovering from his knee
-replacement surgery?”
“Absolutely. I’ll want to meet up sometimes, but as long as the work is getting done and everyone is being kept in the loop, I’m fine with it.” Nick shrugged.
“Guess I’m all out of excuses,” Dakota muttered more to herself than to her friend. She hadn’t expected to actually want the job. But more importantly, she needed it.
The past few months of unexpected unemployment had seriously diminished her savings. And though she was crashing in her old bedroom, she wouldn’t become a financial burden to her father. Yes, he was doing well enough with his beach rental properties. But she was too damn old for handouts from Dad. The job Nick was offering was a godsend, and after seeing the place and meeting the staff, she was excited about the challenge the position presented. But first there was a major issue she needed to address.
Any competent employer would do at least a cursory internet and social media check of a potential employee. If she accepted this offer, Nick learning the truth would be inescapable. What would he think of her?
“I can tell you’re intrigued by the job, but you’re still hesitant. Why?” Nick broke into her thoughts.
Tell him. Now.
Dakota swallowed past the lump in her throat and walked a few paces away from Nick’s desk, wringing her hands. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
Nick walked around his desk and sat on the front edge. “Okay.”
“The real reason I lost my job at the station in New York is because they felt I’d become a liability after I got caught up in a scandal. I was dating this guy, an Italian movie director.” Dakota sat in her chair again, her eyes lowered. “We dated for a few months, but it turned out that he was separated, not divorced, from his wife. Suddenly there were pictures of us together in Italian tabloids and in Page Six. His wife started making the rounds on Italian entertainment shows accusing me of trying to break up her marriage.”
“You never suspected?” Nick’s tone wasn’t accusatory, which she appreciated.
Dakota met her friend’s gaze. She needed him to know that she was telling the absolute truth. “I would never have started seeing him if I’d known he was still attached to someone else.”
“And your station didn’t take the fact that you were blindsided into account?”
“The station manager felt badly and said he wished there were some other way, but they didn’t want the bad publicity.” Dakota groaned. “Every other station in town felt the same, except the radio station that wanted me to become a late-night radio personality and use the handle DJ Scandalous.”
If it hadn’t been such a crushing defeat, she might’ve actually found that last bit funny.
Dakota’s ears were filled with the sound of the blood rushing in her veins as a heavy silence descended over them.
Finally, Nick spoke. “I’m sorry this happened to you, Dakota. But thankfully, their loss is our gain. So if that’s the only thing holding you back from accepting my offer, it looks like you really are all out of excuses.”
“You’d still hire me?” Dakota’s voice broke slightly. “Despite my baggage?”
“You didn’t commit a crime, Dakota. And you told me the truth. I know that wasn’t easy. I respect your honesty. It confirms what I already know…I want you on my team, for however long you’re here. Do we have a deal?”
“Yes.” Dakota nodded, relieved. The tension in her chest eased. “Definitely, yes.”
“Good.” Nick shook her hand. “Let’s head over to human resources so they can get you started on your paperwork.”
“Yes, of course.” She stood, smoothing down the skirt of her sleeveless blue dress. “Thank you, Nick. By the way, no one else on the island knows. Not even my dad or Sin. I’m not ready to talk about it with either of them yet. So if it’s possible—”
“This is just between us. You have my word.” Nick squeezed her shoulder and gave her a reassuring smile that made her want to hug him and break down in tears. But in a good way. Not like when she’d broken down in tears when he’d filled his mother’s bathtub with sand or when he’d disassembled her prized bicycle.
Nick’s computer dinged, and he walked over to look at it. A big smile spread across his face, and he laughed. But when he glanced up at her, suddenly he frowned. “Before we go, there’s a new development here at the resort that I need to tell you about.”
“Since I accepted the offer thirty seconds ago?” She laughed nervously.
“Actually…yes.” Nick adjusted his tie, looking uneasy. “There’s been a slight change in the chain of command here at the resort.”
“Oh?” Something in Nick’s eyes told her she wasn’t going to like what he had to say.
“Like I said, the two outside candidates chosen to manage the resort backed out. Moments ago, an announcement went out—”
Nick was disrupted by a knock on the partially open door.
“Got a second, Nick?”
Dakota’s spine stiffened at the sound of the familiar voice.
Dexter.
He was on the management team at the Myrtle Beach location. What is he doing here?
“What’s good, boss?” Nick stood and shook Dexter’s hand. “Just read the announcement a moment ago. Congrats. I know you’ve wanted this for a long time.”
Nick called Dexter boss. As in the-man-he-works-for boss?
Did Nick work directly for Dexter? Neither of them had mentioned that before.
“Thanks, Nick. I didn’t realize the email had gone out. I was hoping to tell you myself first.” Dexter shifted his attention to her. “Hello, Dakota.” He gave her a sheepish smile. “Sorry to interrupt your meeting.”
“You’re the new director of the resort?” Dakota stammered, pointing at him.
“I am.” Dex sounded apologetic. “I’ve been named the acting director.”
“They’ll make you the permanent director. It’s what they should’ve done in the first place,” Nick said. When his gaze met Dakota’s, he straightened his tie. “Speaking of good news, Dakota has agreed to come on board…on a contract basis. I was about to walk her over to HR, but first I wanted to update her on the change in hierarchy.”
“I see.” Dexter seemed disappointed. An odd reaction, given that he’d been the one to suggest that she take the job.
“Well, that certainly is great news.” Dexter’s smile was perfunctory and his posture stiff. He turned back to Nick. “I almost forgot, I ran into your assistant as she was leaving for the day. She mentioned that you should be heading out for a dental appointment.”
“Crap.” Nick checked his watch. “Time got away from me. Dakota, I’ll walk you over to HR on my way out.”
“Why don’t you let me walk Dakota over?” Dexter offered before she could respond. “If you get on Doc Mason’s shit list, you’ll be forced to go to a dentist off island.”
“Right.” As the men traded a look, Nick’s reluctance was obvious. There was definitely a shift in the dynamics between him and Dexter. Nick turned to her as he slipped on his jacket. “I look forward to working with you, Dakota. I’ll be in touch.”
Dakota remained seated. Still stunned, she’d barely been able to react quickly enough to thank Nick before he hurried out of the office. Nick and Dexter’s conversation had floated past her like remnants of a cloud.
“Seems congratulations is in order.” Dexter sat on the edge of Nick’s desk. He smoothed down the navy tie he wore with a tailored gray suit.
Why did he have to keep showing up when she least expected it, looking as delicious as the last slice of red velvet cake?
“For both of us, it seems.” Dakota folded her arms. “When you told me about this job, you failed to mention that you would be Nick’s boss. That I’d essentially be working for you.”
“I was offered the position just this morning. It was completely unexpected.” He kneaded the back of his neck. “To be honest, it still feels kind of surreal. Besides, you were adamant that you wouldn’t take the job,” he reminde
d her.
She had been, and if she’d known Nick was his direct report, she wouldn’t have accepted the job. But the reality was that she needed this job, and it was something that she actually wanted to do.
Still, this town was barely big enough for both of them. She kept running into Dexter everywhere she went: the Fourth of July Festival, the beach, Lila’s Café. Now she was expected to work with him, too? No, to work for him. She was trying her best to put their past behind her and move on. How was she supposed to do that when Dexter always seemed to be right there, being helpful and reminding her of what might’ve been?
“This was a mistake.” She stood, turning to leave, but Dexter’s voice halted her.
“Dakota, I’m sorry if this complicates things. But I couldn’t not take the position. It’s a big opportunity for me. Don’t make your decision based on any lingering animosity you might feel toward me.”
Lingering?
Right about now, that animosity had staked a flag in the ground and set up shop.
Keep your head high and never let them see how much they’ve hurt you.
Her mother had drilled those words into her head when she was on the junior beauty pageant circuit and a clique of mean girls had teased her. She’d run to her mother crying. But Madeline Jones wouldn’t abide tears or allow her to feel sorry for herself for one moment.
Dakota steeled her spine and lifted her chin, doing her best to keep her tone and expression neutral. “I expected you to be working in Myrtle Beach, not here.”
“I know, but I’ve been asked to head up operations here for the foreseeable future. Besides, Holly Grove Island is my home. It’s where I want to be, so I’m going to do everything in my power to make this move a permanent one.”
Dakota stood, frozen, like an insect trapped in amber. The impetus to stay and the compulsion to flee weighed on her equally. In just a few weeks, her view of Dexter had softened considerably. He’d reminded her at every turn of what a good and kind person he’d always been…until he wasn’t. Her still-bruised heart urged her to walk away. But her brain and her dwindling bank account reminded her that she needed this job.