Persia had barely hung up the phone when it buzzed loudly in her ear again

Wondering why she’d been given another call so close to the end of her shift, she reluctantly answered the line. George should’ve been the last caller of the evening, she thought agitatedly, though she knew she needed to earn as much as possible.

“Hello,” she breathed in her sultriest voice. “What’s on your sweet mind?”

“You,” was the simple, yet strong and commanding, reply. “I finally got up the nerve to call you. I’ve been thinking about you all day. Your commercial is so hot.”

She was used to the shy guys, the ones who preferred that she set the tempo. Despite getting up the nerve to call, this guy sounded pretty sure of himself. But Persia wasn’t the same woman in the commercials the caller was referring to, though her clients at License to Thrill weren’t privy to that information.

Before Persia could manage another thought, the caller spoke again.

“By the way, my name is Luke Lockhart.”

LINDA HUDSON-SMITH

was born in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, and raised in Washington, D.C. She furthered her education at Duff’s Business Institute in Pittsburgh. The mother of two sons, Linda shares a residence with her husband, Rudy, in League City, Texas.

In 2000, after illness forced her to leave a successful marketing and public relations career, Linda turned to writing for healing and as a creative outlet. Dedicated to inspiring readers to overcome adversity against all odds, she has published twenty-four acclaimed novels.

For the past seven years Linda has served as the national spokesperson for the Lupus Foundation of America. She travels around the country delivering inspirational messages of hope. In 2002, her Lupus Awareness campaign was a major part of her book tour to Germany, where she visited numerous military bases. Linda was also recently awarded the key to the city by the mayor of Crestview, Florida, for the contributions she’s made by educating others about Lupus. Linda is an active supporter of the NAACP and the American Cancer Society. She is also a member of Romance Writers of America and the Black Writers Alliance.

To find out more about Linda Hudson-Smith, please visit her Web site at www.lindahudsonsmith.com.

Destiny Calls
ESSENCE BESTSELLING AUTHOR Linda Hudson-Smith

www.millsandboon.co.uk

This novel is dedicated to the loving memory of

BELINDA JO SMITH

Your memory will live on forever

in the hearts of your beloved family

Sunrise: October 11, 1962

Sunset: November 13, 2008

Dear Reader,

I sincerely hope you enjoy reading Destiny Calls. I had so much fun with Dakota Farraday, a dynamic young woman with some closely guarded secrets, and Ethan Robinson, a fascinating English professor who discovers one of these secrets, only to learn much, much more.

I’m very interested in hearing your comments and thoughts on my story. If you would like to receive a reply, please enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope along with all your comments to: Linda Hudson-Smith, 16516 El Camino Real, Box 174, Houston, TX 77062. Or you can e-mail your comments to lindahudsonsmith@yahoo.com. Please visit my Web site and sign my guest book at www.lindahudsonsmith.com.

Linda Hudson-Smith

Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Prologue

“How do you like it?” Persia asked the caller, her tone soft and seductive.

“Slow, wet and hot,” the bass voice responded. “I like to take my time.”

“Interesting. I believe slow and easy is always better. I go for lots of foreplay. That’s what makes me wet. What’s your favorite position?” she asked, trying not to cringe. No matter how many men she talked to, she still had a hard time voicing certain lines.

“Are you always open to what the man wants?”

“Definitely. I’m a girl who likes to please her man, but I have limitations.”

“Everyone is entitled to restrictions. How often do you like to have sex?”

“Whenever the mood hits me. It’s not always possible to follow through, especially at inopportune times.”

“I like the woman on top. What do you prefer?”

“I love the man to be in control, but I don’t have a problem swapping roles.”

“I think I know what you mean,” he responded. “Do you ever resort to self-pleasuring? I love women who are into that. There’s something strong about them.”

Persia stuck her finger down her throat in a mock gesture of gagging herself. Even if she was into it, she wouldn’t share it with him. It was a healthy alternative, but just not for her. She quickly put herself in check. She had to work.

“I know the majority of men are into that, but I’m not sure if all women indulge. You guys start that at a really early age, but I understand it’s healthy.”

“I started at fourteen. My friends told me I was a late bloomer.”

“But why would I ever do that when I’ve got you? I love how you give it to me. I can’t imagine self-pleasuring would make me feel nearly as good as you do right now.”

“You’d be surprised. Maybe you should try it. I can already visualize you in the act.” He groaned with desire.

“Either way, this experience is utterly amazing. Visualize me taking you all the way there. I feel you inside of me,” she said, sounding breathless. “Can you feel how hot I am for you?” Persia knew she had the caller going. His breathing was way past labored.

“You feel hot enough to pop my thermometer. I love it when you get this hot and crazy with desire for me,” he whispered sweetly.

She moaned softly, wantonly. “I love it when you whisper sweet things to me. Just for that, the candy store is open only for you. You can taste both the white and dark chocolates and lots of my other delectable sweets. What’s your tongue’s pleasure?”

At this point, Persia almost always changed gears, revving up her client’s engine, taking hot and heavy to another level, making it hard for him to stay in control. As he cried out her name, she knew he was toppling. Persia screamed out simultaneously.

Persia could always tell what was going on with the client. His low guttural moans were a clear indication. A lot of times it didn’t take very much to get the men off and running. As he continued gasping, Persia cringed inwardly, warding off tears. Never once had she fulfilled one of these calls without crying during or afterward.

He had simply referred to himself as Larry when he’d first come over the line. He’d also said he loved her name. It was exotic and sounded erotic to him. She had an idea this guy would become one of her regulars. He had sounded comfortable with her.

Persia let her mind wander as she waited for his breathing to return to normal.

She’d only taken on this job as a phone-sex operator, referred to as a PSO in adult entertainment industry (AEI) lingo, because it was excellent money, helping her work her way through college. There’d been no way around it. The demands on her salary were major.

The only requirements were that a PSO had to be eighteen and comfortable with scripted scenarios. Working from home required a corded landline phone. The beginning salary started from eight to twenty-five dollars an hour, depending on the time of day a PSO worked.

While online researching AEI Persia learned that fantasy phone sex generated between $750 million and $1 billion in revenues each year. As much as fifty percent of the money was retained by U.S. long-distance carriers.

“What do you do for a living?” Persia finally inquired.

The man sighed hard. “I work in medicine.”

“What do you do in medicine?”

“I’m a physician, family practice.”

This wasn’t so unusual to Persia. She had many professionals calling her. Clients were given a special code number to punch in if they wanted to talk directly to a specific employee. She was rather surprised at the number of professional men who called her repeatedly. Many had asked her out, but it was against company policy. Besides, she refused to take the job home. This gig was taken out of pure necessity.

The job training had been terribly hard for her to get through. The dialogue often caused her to nearly gag. She didn’t use a lot of the terminology from the different scripts, but she managed to get by without getting too graphic. She often thought about quitting, but it wasn’t even an option for her. So much was involved here.

Persia’s work area consisted of a multiline phone, a comfortable leather swivel chair, a semicomfortable cot and a small desk. Soft music was piped in 24/7. Many of the women had said they performed their jobs better when lying down on the twin-sized cot. Other employees preferred to sit on the leather swivel chair or even stretch out on the plush carpeted floor. There was also a television in the room.

If the women felt they needed assistance in their duties, there was plenty of X-rated material for them to view. Adult magazines were also plentiful. Some women worked at home, but Persia had chosen not to connect a phone line into her apartment.

A number of clean, well-stocked bathrooms were available for the employees. There were vending machines in the building, so when the ladies were munchy they could also eat and drink something. If they didn’t want to exit the workplace, a refrigerator was available for those who chose to bring in their meals.

Persia worked four hours in the early evenings, going straight from school to the job, with another stop in between, but she was always home by dark. Only working three days a week allowed her flexibility with her other scheduled activities. Never did she work weekends, but Friday, Saturday and Sunday paid a much higher salary than what weekdays garnered. The call volume was extremely high during the weekends, referred to as prime time.

Because her client had paid for an hour, with half of it spent, the next thirty minutes Persia and Larry got back into some heavy sexual dialogue, but the heavier stuff came from him.

The minute Persia disconnected the line, she stashed her alter ego.

Dakota Faraday ran for the area in the back of the building to punch out from the job paying way more money than she’d ever make in retail or fast food. Until something came along that covered all her expenses, she had to stay put. The desire to earn a degree had her trying desperately to look past how her needs were met. It was possible to land some other kind of job, but Persia already knew it wouldn’t pay as much as she was making at Licensed to Thrill.

Chapter 1

In her bathroom, inside her Carson, California, apartment, decorated in various shades of baby blues and soft whites, Dakota Faraday peered into the looking glass, plucking away at her sable eyebrows. Every now and then she had to stand on her tiptoes to get in closer to the mirror. The lighting was bright enough, but she’d made a mess of her eyebrows a time or two, so she tried being more careful. Tweezing hurt, stung, but she didn’t like waxing because it was even more painful. Shaving could result in razor bumps, so that hair-shaping method didn’t work either.

Satisfied that she’d done a great job with her brows, Dakota reached into the glass shower cubicle and turned on the cold water full blast. People thought she was crazy for taking cold showers, but it was her preference. When taking a bath, she used steaming hot water and lots of bubbles and exotic oils. Baths were for relaxing. Showers were meant to invigorate. If she took a hot shower, she’d feel sleepy right afterward. Who wanted to feel that way when starting their day or going out on the town?

As the first douse of cold water ran over her ginger-brown flesh, she shivered and danced around a bit. Seconds later, she was all into it. Rarely did she stay in the shower longer than ten minutes at a time. Catching a cold was something she didn’t want. Lying in wait for her outside the stall was the thick, white terry-cloth robe she’d slip into right after each bone-chilling experience. The towel warmer kept her fluffy bath sheet heated through and through, creating luxurious sensations against her body.

Dakota stepped out of the cubicle and quickly wrapped her body in the towel, glancing down at the dark granite counter where her watch lay. She was eager to check out the time. She had a hot date tonight and she wanted to be ready when Ethan showed up at her door. They’d been dating only a few weeks, seeing each other a few times a week. The couple was still in the getting-to-know-you stage, but she already thought he was a really great guy, gracious and gentlemanly.

Ethan Robinson was also drop-dead gorgeous, but Dakota hadn’t once gotten the impression he was at all into himself. This fine brother had the darkest, sexiest eyes she’d ever seen, coal-black and piercing. Sometimes she felt like he could see straight through to her soul, although she hoped not.

As Dakota stood in front of the mirror once again, fully dried off now, she began to put on her special evening face. Carefully she applied a lightweight foundation and sealant powder and blush to her near-flawless ginger complexion. Streaked with warm bronze highlights, her silky sable hair hung down to her shoulders in thick waves.

A very light layer of eyeliner and a bit thicker one of mascara was administered next. Her hazel eyes, large and luminous, often gave away her deepest feelings despite her attempts to keep them hidden, especially from men.

Dakota saw a very pretty girl reflected in the mirror, petite in stature, yet well-built. In spite of her short legs, they were full, shapely and smooth as satin, possessing strong, well-defined calves, thanks to her daily twenty-minute workout.

Back in her master bedroom, where the decor was also blue and white, with frilly lace and satin, Dakota sat atop the queen, four-poster bed to lotion her legs and feet. She loved to go hoseless in the summer. Even though it was very early fall, she could still get away with bare legs, which had never felt more freedom. She also wore thigh-high stockings, but only on special dress-up occasions. They were comfortable and sexy.

Dakota got up from the mattress and smoothed back in place the blue and white lace and satin eyelet comforter, which perfectly complemented the white Provençal furniture. She had been extremely lucky in finding the bedroom set at a thrift shop, unable to believe how reasonably priced it had been. The headboard, dresser, chest of drawers and nightstands were in tiptop shape and didn’t have visible marring anywhere. A lovely white desk and hutch completed her bedroom furnishings.

Slipping with ease into her slim off-white A-line skirt, she quickly zipped and buttoned the side closure. While pulling over her head a tangerine silk crepe shell, she was careful not to get makeup on it. She planned to take the matching sweater along on the date, as the nights in Los Angeles could turn pretty chilly, especially in the beach areas. Ethan had mentioned Redondo Beach Pier as the dining venue.

The doorbell rang at the same time she slid her feet into tangerine patent leather pumps. She loved bright, flashy colors, which was evident in her limited but adequate wardrobe. There wasn’t a lot of money in her budget to spend on clothes. Dakota loved to browse the consignment shops in upper-crust neighborhoods. It was like going on a treasure hunt. More often than not, she walked away with some pretty fabulous, excellent quality merchandise—and for very little money.

Grabbing her sweater off the bed, she ran for the door of her two-bedroom apartment. Dakota’s heart rate instantly picked up speed. Ethan. His gentle touch did crazy things to her, producing alien yet pleasurable sensations.

As Dakota reached her compact living room, she looked around to see that everything was in place. The only furniture she owned for the living room was a nice sofa and matching chairs, done in a variety of earth tones. They, too, had come from secondhand establishments she frequented. The coffee and end tables, carved out of mahogany hardwoods, were newer than everything else. She had purchased them with her last income-tax check at a going-out-of-business sale, which meant she hadn’t had to pay an arm and a leg to take ownership. The off-white and creamy beige area rug brightened the entire room. A couple of African-American works of art graced the ecru walls.

The bell pealed again before Dakota got there. She was so nervous. Her palms already felt sweaty. After peering into the small security window, she finally swung back the door wide, pulling off a beautiful, brilliant smile. “Hey, you, come on in.”

Twenty-nine-year-old Ethan Robinson, tall and sexy, stepped inside. Dressed in beige Dockers and a deep lavender silk shirt, open at the collar, he looked delicious. As soon as his dark eyes connected with hers, he bent his head and landed a light kiss on her full mouth. His head was covered with loose golden-brown curls, which complemented his bronze, smooth complexion. He also had a dark mole just above the corner of his mouth, on the right side. She loved how it added to his sex appeal.

Smiling softly, he smoothed back an unruly strand of hair from her oval-shaped face. “I was thinking about you all day.” His smile was broad and electric, nearly causing her knees to buckle. Ethan had straight white teeth and was proud to show them off.

He reached down and took her hand. “Are we ready?”

She nodded. “Got everything I need.”

Removing the key ring from her hand, Ethan secured the apartment door.

As the couple began the short walk to his car, he gently dropped his arm around her shoulders. “There are advantages to living on the first floor of a three-story complex, especially when the elevator doesn’t work. I always get my favorite spot right outside every time I’ve come over.”

“You have been lucky. Tenants are assigned covered parking spots in well-lit areas nearby. I used to park in a visitors’ slot until management caught on. I was reprimanded, of course.”

Ethan placed a light kiss on Dakota’s forehead. Just that slight touch set off a firestorm below his waistline. He fought hard to keep his manhood from responding, but he had been on fire for Dakota from day one. “Let’s get a move on then.”

Getting into the car wasn’t a surefire way for Ethan to keep his visible desire in check, but it might help to hide it. Dakota wasn’t ready for anything more than the few kisses and hugs they’d shared—and he wasn’t the kind of man who’d press her. Any physical connection of the intimate kind had to come by mutual agreement. He found her exciting and refreshing, a far cry from some of the women he’d run into.

Learning that twenty-four-year-old Dakota was studying to become a teacher was a good feeling for him. She had said she’d gotten a late start on her educational goals, but she hadn’t told him the reason. Once she received her B.S. and teaching certification, she planned a career in special education. He had a good friend who was in the same field. There were never enough educators and special-education teachers were badly needed.

Dakota smiled every time she saw the silver convertible. Equipped with a mesh wind protector, the top was already down. She didn’t have to worry about her hair. She had a natural wave pattern and there wasn’t much that could destroy it.

“Your car looks like it was recently washed and waxed, but I can’t recall seeing it any other way. I guess if I had this nice of a ride I’d keep it spotless, too.”

Opening the door for Dakota to get in, Ethan chuckled. “After our first date, I was sure I had bored you to tears by telling you how much I loved my brand-new car. Once I got home, I realized I’d acted like a stupid teenager with his first set of wheels.”

“You did talk about it a lot, but you weren’t boring. Your enthusiasm was contagious and so were you. Cute, too.”

“Cute, huh?” he mocked her, slipping into the driver’s seat. He instantly started the engine and backed out carefully.

Dakota was comfortable on the plush ash-gray leather seat and her mind instantly reverted back to when and where they’d first met. It was one of her fondest memories. She touched his arm gently. “Do you remember our first meeting?”

“I’d never forget it. A few weeks have passed, but it’s still fresh in my mind. The library near your junior college campus happens to be in my Torrance neighborhood.”

“You mean your upper-crust hood, don’t you?”

“That’s how you see it. What do you remember about that day?”

“I was going to the library to pick up a couple of books to complete a research assignment. The fall term had just begun,” Dakota remarked, thinking back on it.

Although Ethan worked as an assistant professor of English at a prestigious Southern California university, he’d gone to the Torrance Library to pick up a book he’d needed right away. Driving all the way back to the campus where he worked would’ve eaten up a lot of time.

Ethan briefly looked over at Dakota and smiled. “We reached for the same book at the same exact time. As our hands connected, we both felt the sizzle.”

Dakota batted her lashes. “Before I could look away, you had me captivated.”

“While you stood there blushing like a new bride on her wedding night, I took the initiative to introduce myself to you. It’s one of the smartest things I’ve ever done.”

He had told Dakota how desperately he had to have the book they’d both gone for.

“If you let me check it out first, I’ll see to it that you know exactly when I plan to return it to the library,’” she teased, citing him verbatim. “‘I’ll need a phone number to do that.’ You were a smooth one, but I also got the impression you were sincere.”

“Don’t you know for sure yet?”

“The jury hasn’t ruled on it, but it seems to me they’re leaning in your favor.”

“I was pleasantly surprised when you forked over your number.”

Dakota grinned. “I did, didn’t I? I was surprised, too.”

Unable to get Dakota out of his mind, Ethan had ended up calling her the same evening. The couple had stayed on the line talking for a solid two-and-a-half hours, resulting in his asking her out on a first date.

Ethan held a Ph.D. in English Literature. Dakota recalled his telling her something about wanting to write a nonfiction book in the near future with a grant he hoped to receive, but he hadn’t gone into much detail. He’d seemed secretive about it. Publish or perish, she figured.

Dakota had been impressed with his credentials, but his job wasn’t what had turned her on. It was something deeper.

Ethan helped Dakota out of the car after parking under the Redondo Beach Pier.

The ocean air was crisp and cool, smelling strongly of sea salt. “We’re dining at Tony’s. Are you familiar with the popular restaurant located in the heart of the pier?”

Dakota nodded. “I hear great ocean views and fiery sunsets make it very romantic, but I’ve never eaten there.”

After Ethan assisted Dakota with the tangerine sweater, she held up his navy single-breasted Pierre Cardin blazer while he slipped into it.

Ethan took Dakota’s hand and began strolling leisurely toward their destination. “We don’t have to be in a hurry.” He looked at his watch. “We have thirty minutes before our reservations. Sunset is about an hour or so away and we definitely don’t want to miss out on the spectacular view.”

“The boardwalk is such a fun place, with lots of interesting things to do and see and enjoy. I ride my bike around the pier every now and then.”

One thing Ethan wanted to make sure he accomplished was to purchase a candy apple for Dakota. She had told him how much she loved them and how hard they were to find around L.A. L.A. heat caused the candy to melt easily. Because he wanted her to have a nice surprise, he planned to slip away to the candy-apple stand once they were seated.

Ethan let go of Dakota’s hand and put his arm around her. “Are you cold?”

“It was a bit chilly before I put on my sweater. I’m fine now.”

“If you need my jacket, tell me. Don’t want you freezing.”

“I started to bring a lightweight jacket, but I didn’t want to get bogged down with a lot of stuff. I’ve lived in Southern California all my life. I knew what kind of weather to expect. I promise to ask if I need your blazer.”

“I’ll gladly give it up. I also keep a windbreaker in the trunk, so we’re prepared for how chilly it might get.”

“It seems you’re always prepared for everything.” She liked that about him.

Ethan was an orderly person, much like she was. He was also big on anticipation, including contemplating her needs. She’d often thought he could read her mind. They also had scheduling in common. She kept a daily planner and so did he. The hours of her days were accounted for practically down to the minute. Dakota didn’t like last-minute anything. Things in her life worked better when there was order.

When Ethan had phoned Dakota on the spur of the moment, the evening of the first meeting, she recalled welcoming the call. He had made his intent crystal clear before they’d finished talking. She had been interested in him from the start, loving how charismatic he was. He would’ve never known how much she liked him if he hadn’t taken the initiative.

Ethan gave his name to the hostess stationed at the restaurant podium. The couple was immediately seated at the window table he’d requested beforehand.

After making sure Dakota was comfortably seated, he took the seat right across from her. He liked gazing into her sparkling hazel eyes, mesmerized by everything about her. His attempts to play it cool often ended in disaster. When she looked at him, his eyes betrayed him, melting into hers. The girl gave him goose bumps and caused him to have a raging fever, all at the same time. Reaching across the table, he covered her hand. “What about a glass of wine?”

Dakota smiled softly. “White merlot, please.”

Ethan summoned the waiter. Once the young man appeared, he ordered the drinks. He liked wine but he preferred a chilled pomegranate martini every now and then. One was his limit when he was the designated driver.

Before Ethan got to his feet, he leaned in closer to Dakota. “Excuse me for a few minutes,” he whispered in her ear.

The soft music playing overhead soothed Dakota. She couldn’t believe she already missed Ethan. He hadn’t been gone more than a couple of minutes. Although he hadn’t said where he was off to, she assumed his absence had been necessary.

While sipping on the white merlot, she began to feel a little self-conscious. A couple of guys a table away were giving her the once-over, making her feel slightly uncomfortable. People staring at her unnerved her. She knew it was probably silly, but that’s the way it was.

Ethan quickly reseated himself across from Dakota, giving her that megawatt smile she loved. Before she could blink her lashes again, he leaned across the table and kissed her gently on the cheek. “Did you miss me?”

“I did. Glad you’re back.” She looked over at the table with the two guys, fighting back the urge to stick her fingers in her ears and turn them back and forth. “I was a bit uncomfortable while you were gone.”

Ethan looked puzzled. “Why’s that?”

“The guys at the next table had fun staring me down. It made me nervous.”

“You’re very pretty, Dakota. Any red-blooded male would enjoy staring at you. I’d think you’d be used to it by now.”

Dakota shrugged. “I’m not. Having someone eyeballing me so intently isn’t something I’d want to get used to. I guess you think I’m silly.”

Ethan shook his head. “Not in the least. Sorry if I gave you that impression.” He briefly covered her hand with his again. “Ready to order?”

The lobster was pretty expensive but that’s what Dakota wanted. She didn’t have the money to offer to pay all or even half of it. “Is it okay if I order the lobster?” She felt classless as soon as the request was made.

If Dakota hadn’t been serious about her query, Ethan probably would’ve laughed. From the look on her face, he knew he shouldn’t make fun. “Order anything you want. I don’t go to restaurants I can’t afford.”

Eyeing Ethan with open curiosity, Dakota considered his comments. “If I ever ask a guy out to dinner, I’d like to know what I’m getting my wallet into beforehand.”

Disliking Dakota’s comments about asking out another man, Ethan frowned. “I hope I’ll be the only guy you ask out. I’d be jealous if you dated someone else.”

“What exactly are you saying, Ethan?”

“It’s simple. I don’t want you to date anyone but me. Understand?”

Nervous now, she swallowed hard. “You’ve made yourself plain enough. What about you? Dating anyone besides me?”

Watching Dakota closely, Ethan took a sip of his martini. “I haven’t asked anyone out since the first night I called you. I’m a one-woman man. I haven’t dated exclusively in a long time, but I’d like to have that with you. Is it possible?”

Dakota admittedly had some issues of trust, but she worked on that particular insecurity on a regular basis. Her heart had been broken before, a couple of times—and not just by men she’d been romantically involved with. Neither was it only men that she didn’t always trust.

Dakota was flattered by Ethan’s question. He seemed very sincere. She didn’t want to miss out on an opportunity to be happy. The last steady boyfriend she had was over six months ago. She wasn’t sure she was ready for anything exclusive, but she did love being with Ethan. If they didn’t have a chance to act on their obvious chemistry, she’d never know how far things could go.

The waiter arrived at that very moment. Feeling like she’d better take the bull by the horns, Dakota decided it was best to go ahead and answer Ethan’s question. He would only revisit the matter later. “About your question, I’d love to give us a chance to see if we can build toward exclusive. I like being with you. I feel special when we’re together.”

Ethan moved his chair closer to hers. Lifting her hand, he pressed his lips into her palm. “All we need is a chance, Dakota. I’m happy you’ve decided to give us one.” He kissed her gently on the mouth. “I won’t make you regret it.”

Dakota’s concentrated gaze connected with his. “I believe you.”

Once Dakota finished ordering the surf and turf, lobster and steak, Ethan asked for a pound and a half of Alaskan king crab. Both ordered garden salads and baked potatoes as side dishes.

“How was your day?” Ethan asked, after the waiter disappeared.

“It has been a good one. Classes were intense and I stayed busy at work, but that makes the time go by faster. The phone lines ring nonstop, but such is life at any telemarketing job.” Literally, she thought. “I have a lot of studying to do over the weekend, but I’ll manage.” Dakota was glad she didn’t have the type of job where work piled up and had to be taken home.

What would Ethan think of her job? Just imagining it caused Dakota to shudder.

“I’m always busy at my job. It’s very seldom that I don’t have a backlog of work. I always feel like I’m behind even when I’m not. I’m not complaining, though. I love what I do for a living. I was born to teach.”

Dakota wished she could at least halfway like what she did to earn a living.

The waiter returned to the table just as Ethan finished his comment. He carefully set down the meal in front of the appropriate diner, warning the patrons that the platters were hot. “Miss, would you like me to deshell the lobster?”

Dakota smiled up at him. “That’d be nice. Thank you.”

Ethan put up his hand in a halting gesture. “I can take care of it, Dakota, if you don’t mind.” He glanced apologetically at the waiter.

Dakota smiled brightly. “Please, go right ahead.” She smiled sweetly at the waiter.

The waiter smiled back at her knowingly as he walked away.

Ethan scowled slightly. “Sorry if I embarrassed you. I just think taking care of you is my responsibility.”

“I wasn’t embarrassed. And I just happen to like chivalry.”

“Good. I don’t want you thinking I’m possessive, ’cause I’m not.”

“Stop it,” she scolded gently. “Your gesture was so sweet.”

“Thanks.” He’d almost apologized again but stopped short. The last thing he wanted was overkill.

Ethan saw Dakota safely into the car before he went into the trunk to retrieve the surprise he’d purchased for her. He had to laugh at himself. He’d never felt this giddy over anyone.

Ethan slid into the driver’s seat, holding the candy apple down, with a piece of red ribbon curled around the stick, at his left side, which made it difficult to close his car door. Turning to face her, he brought the candy apple out and handed it to her. “I got this for you. I hope you enjoy it.” The smile she cast him made his insides tremble.

Leaning over the console, she kissed his cheek. “So this is why you disappeared earlier. You are too sweet. I can’t believe you remembered I told you it was a favorite.”

“Oh, I only go over in my head everything you say at least a couple dozen times a night.” He reached over and slid the back of his hand down the side of her face “Maybe I shouldn’t be telling you all that.”

She laughed. “Please keep it up. I’m enjoying the flattery. I feel like I’m in a dream world when I’m with you.”

“It’s not a dream, Dakota, but I know what you mean. It’s for real. I’ve never felt anything so real.”

Dakota went into Ethan’s arms without any prompting from him. She pulled slightly back and looked into his eyes. “It feels real to me, too. And I’m feeling you.”

Dakota hadn’t revealed to any man her deep, complex layers. Ethan just might be the one male she could open up her heart to. If he kept being so attentive to her, treating her like something fragile and beautiful, she felt like she could really let herself go with him.

Chapter 2

Dakota looked up at the dreary gray concrete complex, wishing she didn’t have to come here by herself. If her parents had survived a fatal car crash several years ago, she wouldn’t be here alone. The couple had been coming home from the theater late one evening when a semi jackknifed into their car, killing them instantly. Shortly after their deaths, her parents’ employer-paid medical coverage had been terminated.

Dakota had been left in charge of her eight-year-old sister, Danielle, who had Down syndrome, after their guardian/ grandparents had both passed away three years ago, her grandfather dying first. Everything had fallen solely on Dakota’s shoulders, just as the young woman had turned twenty-one. She was sixteen years older than Danielle.

Danni now resided at the Center of the Courageous Heart, a renowned specialized facility in Carson that treated a variety of complications arising from Down. Medicare and Medicaid paid for a good portion of Danielle’s care. Because Dakota had insisted on a private facility for the child, she was responsible for all medical services the government agencies didn’t cover.

Dakota stopped outside Danielle’s door and said a silent prayer, asking God to keep her anxiety-free. She visited her sister practically every day, but she was overly tired this Friday evening. Working and going to school took a toll on her, but she didn’t want her adorable sibling to feel any negative vibes from her. The place was as cheerful as the staff could possibly make it, but there were times when an air of gloom presided.

Just in case Danielle was napping, Dakota quietly stepped into the private room, looking straight ahead at the double bed. Her heart instantly leaped for joy. Danielle was awake and her face was lit up with the same brighter-than-gold smile she always wore for her kin. These were the kinds of moments that took away Dakota’s breath.

“Kota,” Danielle cried, opening her arms wide.

Scooping up Danielle into her arms, Dakota gave her a huge hug, receiving in return loving embraces and jubilant kisses. This sweet, warm child was superaffectionate. If Danni hugged or kissed someone, they knew she had handed out a little chunk of her loving heart. Dakota didn’t believe her sister would ever run out of the pieces of her authentic self she exuberantly shared with others.

Dakota smiled at Danielle, lodging into her sweet little arms the brown teddy bear gift she’d brought along. Danni had quite a collection of stuffed toys and she loved each one. However, she did have a favorite: Daisy Dolly, a freckle-faced, red-haired rag doll had been Danielle’s companion for years.

“Thank you, Kota.” Kissing and hugging the bear, Danielle held it close.

Although Danielle had Down syndrome at birth, some of the more serious physical complications hadn’t appeared until she was nearly four years old. Then all of a sudden, Danielle got sick more frequently, her health compromised to the point where she eventually required constant skilled nursing care. Home health-care nurses cared for Danni at home as long as it had been possible. Then the younger girl started to need the kind of professional assistance the older sibling was hardly equipped to provide.

Danielle called out Dakota’s name again, pointing at the cabinet where the DVDs were kept. “Happy Feet,” she exclaimed, giggling softly.

Dakota retrieved the movie, smiling as Danielle took the disk from her hand and inserted it into the DVD player. Dedicated professionals worked hard to help her be as independent as possible. She attended school within the facility, also participating in field trips and other special events when her health permitted.

“Can I have an orange soda, too?” Danielle spoke well. Although she sometimes had difficulty with pronunciation of complex words, she was able to communicate effectively. It was rare for her to not get her point across. Danielle was learning American Sign Language and Dakota had taken the class, too. It felt good to spend that kind of time with her sister.

Danielle hit the play button. As Dakota lay down beside her sister, sharing the same pillow, she held her hand. The siblings had seen the movie umpteen times, but neither one had tired of it. It made them laugh hysterically.

Once Happy Feet concluded, Danielle expressed a desire to play cards, the game of War. Dakota retrieved a deck of cards from the nightstand drawer. She then positioned the portable table across the bed. The two sisters played numerous board games, but Dakota never just allowed Danielle to win. She had to earn the winning spot in every matchup.

Dakota smoothed back Danielle’s thick brown hair. It was soft and wavy in texture, much like hers. “Do you want a snack before we start?”

Danielle looked thoughtful. “Tuna sandwich and chips, please, Kota?”

Rewarding Danielle for her polite request, Dakota tenderly kissed her forehead. Using the red-tipped call button, she summoned the nursing station. When the desk clerk came over the loudspeaker, the food order was placed. “A tuna sandwich with lots of mayo, potato chips and an orange soda, please.” Although all the regular staff members knew Danielle’s likes and dislikes, Dakota always made sure she clearly expressed her sister’s desires in case a new employee or a temp responded.

While Dakota and Danielle waited for the meal, they began the fun card game. Dakota let Danielle shuffle the cards.

“My card is bigger.” Danielle clapped, laughing.

Two more cards were slapped down on the table.

“I win again,” Danielle said happily.

Dakota wrinkled her nose. “My card is going to beat yours this time,” she said, placing the card face up on the table. “See! I told you.”

Danielle looked as happy to see Dakota win as when she won.

Her favorite card was the queen of spades. Dakota had no clue why Danielle liked that particular card so much. The competitive little girl would always sigh hard when the black queen was trumped by her sister with a king or ace. Whenever Dakota was dealt the queen of spades, Danielle didn’t seem to mind. She loved her big sister and looked at her as a best friend.

Departing was hard for both sisters a couple of hours later. Whenever possible, Dakota waited until Danielle drifted off to sleep before she’d leave. The visits were normally done in two-to-three hour increments, but at times they lasted longer. Dakota also tried her best to take Danielle outside the facility for a full day at least one weekend day a month when she was physically up to the challenge.

Attending church regularly at the facility chapel also occurred. Once the religious services were over, they’d go to a local park, with a beautiful lake, and paddleboats. The girls had a blast rowing across the lake. When Danielle grew tired, Dakota had to do the work alone, but she didn’t mind one iota. A variety of sandwiches, fruits, cookies, chips and drinks were brought along on the outings, neatly packed away in a small cooler. But boating and a picnic didn’t hold a candle to Danielle’s love of dance and music.

Mona Cassidy, a professional dance instructor, didn’t charge Dakota one red cent for lessons for Danni. What she earned off students at her private dance studio made pro bono cases affordable. It was a gracious gift. Mona, in fact, taught dance to several of the kids residing at the center. She had also offered Dakota lessons so she could tap-dance with Danielle. The sisters had fun making up easy dance routines to do together.

Danielle also loved to sing and play guitar. No formal lessons for her yet, but she had been given a secondhand instrument she loved to sit and strum away on, a present from one of the nurses. Music seemed to be in the girl’s blood. It was amazing to watch how she easily got into rhythm with any kind of music. She could change gears in a minute, her tiny body moving to whatever beat she heard.

Dakota entered her apartment and immediately dropped down on the sofa and stretched out. She looked up at the ceiling, thinking about her pleasant visit with Danielle. Rarely were the visits unpleasant. The little girl had so much love inside her and loved giving it away. Dakota recalled her parents saying they had to give love away to keep it.

Even though she always tried hard not to think about it, Dakota wondered what it might’ve been like for the family had Sonya and Thomas survived. The warm and loving couple had doted on each other and their two girls. Thomas had been a good father and his girls had meant everything to him. He had referred to them as his precious blossoms from God.

Explaining to Danielle what tragedy had befallen their parents was the most difficult and worst task Dakota had ever taken on. She shook her head from side to side, trying to stave off the horrific memories.

The phone rang, causing Dakota to groan softly. During her times of bittersweet reflection she didn’t like to talk on the phone. The frequent calls she received from the health facility didn’t give her the luxury of ignoring the phone. She checked the caller ID. Ethan.

“Did I call at a bad time?” Ethan asked.

“You didn’t. I’m stretched out on the sofa and reflecting on some things. What’re you up to?”

“I was into some deep thinking, too, thoughts about you. Do you roller-skate?”

She laughed. “Yeah, but I haven’t skated in a long while. I was pretty good at it. Are we talking about roller-skating or in-line?”

Ethan chuckled. “Plain old roller-skating.”

Dakota had fun conjuring up an image of sophisticated Ethan on skates. “It’s really been a long time. Hopefully it’d be just like riding a bike, something we don’t forget how to do.”

“How about joining my friends and me this evening at On Four Wheels, a roller rink located in my neighborhood? I’d like to introduce you to the folks I hang out with.”

“Are you willing to risk total embarrassment? Like I said, I haven’t skated in years. You could spend the entire evening picking me up off the floor.”

Ethan grinned broadly. “I’d love to play your hero.” He’d have to get used to his sudden desire to be gallant. A hero, he wasn’t. “Whether you’re on your feet or falling on your sweet bottom, I won’t be embarrassed. I can pick you up around six-thirty.”

Dakota laughed. “I haven’t agreed yet, but if I do, I’ll just meet you there. And thanks for saying I won’t embarrass you. But if I fall on my butt, I’ll feel enough shame for us both.” She glanced at her watch, knowing she really did want to be with him.

Ethan decided not to question her comment about meeting him at the rink, but it had aroused his curiosity. “Come on, now. Be a good sport. If you prefer not to skate, you don’t have to. But I’d still like you to be a part of my evening.”

“You’ve just made the offer more tempting. I’ll seriously consider the skating part, but you can count me in as a spectator for now. Thanks for thinking of me. Care to tell me a bit about your friends and what I should expect?”

“A little worried about my buddies perhaps?” Ethan queried.

“Just want to know if I should worry or not.”

“I understand perfectly. My friends are great. You can expect genuine, down-to-earth folks who all care about each other. In some capacity, we’re all employed by the California education systems. Everyone is single and close to becoming thirty. We all hang out regularly. I can assure you everyone is friendly.”

“Sounds like a great start to the evening. I’ll see you at the rink, Ethan.”

“I can hardly wait. See you there.”

As Dakota hung up the receiver, she thought about meeting Ethan’s friends. Even though they’d dated only a short time, he hadn’t gone into any great detail about his buddies. She was curious about them. He’d said they were great, so she wondered why he hadn’t told her more about them before now.

Perhaps he hadn’t said much for the same reason I hadn’t mentioned Danielle.

It was just too soon for Ethan to meet her sister. From what she knew about the dating game, couples meeting family members didn’t come prematurely. When it did happen, it was normally after a couple’s relationship had turned serious.

The thought of what to wear entered Dakota’s mind. Jeans were more appropriate, just in case, she considered. Even if she had been a pretty good skater in her youth, she shouldn’t count on that. In fact, she couldn’t recall the last time she’d been roller-skating.

Dakota remembered her first boyfriend and skating partner, Anthony Qualls, as she rifled through her closet. He had hurt her feelings during her junior year in high school, when he’d been stolen away by the pretty and vivacious Jasmine Walters.

Well, no one could’ve stolen him away had he really been mine.

Anthony had gotten a big payback. Less than two months later Jasmine had ended up leaving him for the buff football captain.

Justice had prevailed.

Dakota gave a fleeting thought to all the people she’d lost in one way or another, which were attributed to many of her fears. Boyfriends and girlfriends would come and go, but the loss of parents and grandparents was incomparable.

After removing a pair of freshly laundered boot-cut blue jeans from a hanger in her cramped closet, Dakota found the navy-and-burgundy striped V-neck sweater. Navy leather flats were chosen over sneakers. After choosing a coordinating dark blue sweater, in case the rink was cold, she laid everything out on the bed and went into the bathroom to shower.

Ethan rolling around on his own shiny black skates held fast Dakota’s attention.

She thought he was an excellent roller skater and he looked so good. Strictly coincidental, he also wore dark blue jeans and a Sean John navy-and-burgundy striped shirt, open at the collar. He appeared relaxed and confident. Because she hadn’t decided on skating yet, she eyed other patrons to see how well they maneuvered. A polished wooden railing skirting the entire perimeter kept spectators separated from the skating surface.

The idea to bring Danielle there one day to watch the skaters quickly skipped across her mind. Maybe she could learn to skate, too. If nothing else, she knew her sister would be excited by the mere possibility. Dakota could already envision the flaming show of fireworks in her baby sister’s eyes if she simply mentioned it.

Dakota waved at Ethan and smiled as he rolled by.

Ethan quickly exited the floor and came over to where Dakota stood at the spectators’ railing. Taking her into his arms, he gave her a warm hug and a passionate kiss. “How long have you been here? I’ve been watching out for you.”

“Long enough to check out your skating skills. You’re good.”

“Thank you.” Ethan looked around when he heard his name. “Those are my friends. Everyone is dying to meet you.” He took her by the hand. “Don’t be nervous.”

Ethan’s group came right over to meet the woman their friend was so taken with.

Ethan bumped one of the guys with his shoulder. “This is Maxwell Harper, my best friend since kindergarten, the comedian in the bunch. He’s also a great world history teacher at a high school magnate program.”

Smiling, Dakota extended her hand to Maxwell. “It’s a pleasure meeting you.”

Ethan pointed at one of the women. “Charlene Rhodes, Max’s girlfriend, is a special-education teacher. Dakota is working toward a career in the same field. You two already have something in common,” he said to Charlene.

“That’s great to hear,” Charlene said. “There is such a shortage of good teachers in special ed. If you ever have any questions about the field, please feel free to ask me.”

“Thanks, Charlene. I’ll probably have a lot to ask about. It’s a fascinating career.”

Ethan presented to Dakota the rest of his friends. “Rudy Cantos is my old college roommate. He and our lovely Maria Castro are engaged to be married and Mandy Harris and Todd Williams have been dating a couple of months. Mandy is a long-standing member of our group, the only female. Maxwell, Rudy and I are also fraternity brothers.”

Dakota’s smile was genuinely friendly. She was nervous, but she didn’t come across as such. “It’s nice to meet all of you. I’m looking forward to our evening.”

The ladies immediately put Dakota at ease. The guys went off together to let the women get a little better acquainted.

“Are you going to skate?” Maria asked Dakota.

Ethan and his friends appeared to be having so much fun that Dakota easily made up her mind, giving Maria a positive response.

She excused herself and quickly made her way to the rental area. “Size six-and-a-half,” she told the teenaged girl behind the counter. “I prefer the white skates over the brown ones.”

“Sure thing. Are you planning on wearing socks?”

“I am.” Dakota looked puzzled. “Is that a problem?”

“It might be if you don’t go up at least a half size. The seven will work better with socks. Otherwise, the fit might be kind of snug.”

With her rental skates in hand, Dakota found an empty bench and sat down to lace up. Her parents had also loved to skate. They’d accompany Dakota to the rink when she was younger. She smiled wistfully.

Maria, Charlene and Mandy came over to where Dakota was.

“How’s it coming?” Mandy asked. “We came back to see if you’re ready to hit the floor.”

“Ouch,” Dakota said, grimacing playfully. “That’s the last thing I want to do. I haven’t done this in a while.”

“You’ll do okay,” Maria encouraged. “You can’t be any worse than me. I fall all the time.”

“We all do. Just have fun with it,” Charlene suggested.

“Thanks for the pep talk.” Dakota got to her feet but was a bit shaky.

Maria and Charlene got on either side of Dakota.

“We’re here to help you. It’ll be all right,” Mandy remarked.

Grateful for the kindness shown to her, Dakota smiled. “Okay. Here goes.”

Mandy reached down and picked up Dakota’s shoes. “I’ll put these in the locker with the rest of ours. We never pay for two.”

After slipping twice, Dakota wasn’t so positive she’d made the right decision. Slowly and carefully she made her way around the huge rink, staying close to the railing. Teetering to the left and tottering to the right had her fearful. Her butt kissing the floor would mortify her. Moving even closer in to the railing, she slid her arm alongside it to help keep her upright. She thought about retraining herself upstairs where the children’s floor was located. It would be safer.

An arm slid unexpectedly about Dakota’s waist, startling her, causing her to nearly topple over. As she looked up at Ethan, her eyes gave him a slight warning shot. “You scared me…and I almost fell. I can’t afford to break any bones.”

Ethan looked sheepish. “Sorry about that. But I recall someone telling me they could skate. Or did I just imagine it?” His eyes gleamed with boyish mischief.

“What I said is that it was probably like riding a bike, something you never forget. I also mentioned your getting embarrassed if you had to pick me up.”

Ethan’s eyes suddenly locked into Dakota’s hot, melting gaze. In his ears the silence was loud as a lion’s roar. As he had blocked out the overhead music, all he wanted to hear was the sound of her sweet voice. Her eyes, startled with surprise, had captured him in their brightness. Her pretty face was creamy and soft as silk.

The enchanting expression on Ethan’s handsome face caused Dakota to tremble within. The intimate feel of his concerted gaze caused a rosy blush to spread over her cheeks. No one had ever looked at her the way he did. It made her feel good.

Ethan’s fingers itched to flit tenderly across Dakota’s lips. His mouth desired to kiss hers until each gasped for air. He couldn’t count the times he’d imagined himself kissing her passionately, his tongue coiling around hers. Holding her tenderly in his arms, they’d dance to music only they could hear. He knew he needed to snap out of this trancelike state he found himself in, but he didn’t want this special moment to end. Staring into this sexy woman’s eyes actually brought amazing peace to his spirit.

Tearing her eyes away from the intensity of Ethan’s came hard for Dakota, but she was the first one to break what had seemed like a magic spell. The tender way he looked at her had increased her trembling. She imagined that gently smoothing his face with the back of her hand would bring her sweet solace, but she wasn’t that bold. Their physical desires were quickly becoming an ever-brewing passion, waiting impatiently to break loose, giving them freedom to touch, kiss and explore each other’s body the electrifying way lovers did.

Would they eventually become lovers? Dakota couldn’t help but wonder.

This felt like old times for Dakota, fun times, when her life was carefree and full of laughter. All the family responsibilities had belonged to her parents back then. Accomplishing her homework and light chores around the house was it for her. She had a mother and father and she hadn’t had to act as a single mother to a small girl while going to school and working.

The feelings of clumsiness and fear of falling had just upped and left Dakota. Her legs were steady now. Tickled pink that her skills hadn’t been forgotten, she smiled broadly. Perhaps Ethan skating beside her, his arm lodged snugly against her waist, had unleashed her confidence. Reclaiming her ability to skate was like riding a bike. She hadn’t forgotten. The fluid smoothness in which she now moved allowed her to relax.

Loud, with ear-piercing bass, a fast-paced Usher song, “Yeah,” suddenly blasted from the speakers, knocking Dakota off stride. As Ethan’s feet picked up speed, he practically dragged her around the floor. As a sharp turn loomed in front of her, she fought hard to stay on her feet. His speed was too much for her to keep up with. Then her feet got tangled up with his and both went down hard.

The heat stealing into Dakota’s face felt like a raging inferno had come to claim her. She could only guess what Ethan must think of her clumsiness. If only she’d been able to keep up with him. He had already gotten to his feet, but she was still too mortified to move a muscle.

Ethan stretched his hand down to her. “Are you okay? Are you hurt? This is my fault. Please let me help you up.”

Dakota shook her head, but she couldn’t look up at him or take his hand. Getting to her feet under her own power was a bit more valiant for her. It might also help her save face. At the very least, she felt compelled to give it the old college try.

Dakota failed to make it to her feet on the first and second attempts. Looking totally out of sync, she finally took hold of Ethan’s hand. Feeling silly, she thanked him, wishing her voice had been stronger. No sooner than she’d thought she could stand on her own two feet, her legs flew out from under her again. In grabbing for her date’s hand, she took him down again. Dakota didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Bawling like a baby definitely wasn’t appropriate, especially when it was funny.

Ethan suddenly busted up into deep, guttural laughter. His rolling hilarity was so infectious that Dakota couldn’t help but join in. Before she even tried to get up again, his friends had surrounded them, sounding like a pack of wolves howling at the moon.

With his laughter under control now, Ethan got to his feet. Sympathy for her was awash in his eyes. Then he and Maxwell took a hold of each one of Dakota’s hands and helped her up. After accompanying her off the floor, they went over to a wooden bench, where she sat down to try to regroup. The three women were also sensitive to her plight, which did a lot to lessen Dakota’s embarrassment. Dakota no longer felt that she’d shamed Ethan.

Just have fun with it. You’ll do okay with it. I fall all the time. We all do.

As Dakota recalled the kind remarks the ladies had said to her earlier, she knew she was overreacting to the mishap. This was all in fun. There was nothing to be embarrassed about. Deciding not to give it another ounce of thought, she cautiously got to her feet. Before Ethan had a chance to take hold of her hand, she was making her way back to the arena floor. Favoring triumph over failure, Dakota was determined to not allow the latter to stake its claim. The huge surge of confidence made her feel powerful and in total control.

Grinning broadly, shaking his head, Ethan watched after Dakota. His eyes shone with pride and his heart began to fill with it. She wasn’t a quitter. It was one of her many qualities he liked. Determination was something else they had in common.

Once Dakota skated uneventfully around the rink a couple of times, Ethan rejoined her, careful not to startle her. He gently grasped her hand, brought it up to his lips and kissed the back of it. “You did great, kid. I’m so proud of you.”

“Thanks.” Dakota blushed, smiling at the same time.

A spicy voice suddenly came over the loudspeaker to announce a couples-only skate. The overhead lights had dimmed simultaneously. Alicia Keys’s powerful voice sweeping over the arena was exciting. “A Woman’s Worth” was the moving selection.

Ethan put his arm around Dakota’s waist and pulled her closer to him. “Think we can do this?”

Dakota smiled flirtatiously. “I know we can.”

As the couple began moving over the floor in perfect harmony, his hand tightened on her waist. Her heart rate quickened once again. His touch was tender and reassuring. The uniting of eyes ignited fiery sparks, but the union lasted only a moment. The flow of heavy traffic made them concentrate. Neither wanted another collision.

The small group of friends was seated in the concession stand area, each sipping on cold drinks. No one had ordered food since Maxwell had brought up the idea of stopping by their favorite pizza haunt before calling it a night. The rink was due to close in thirty minutes. Everyone had agreed to hang around until then.

Ethan was especially fond of the idea to stay until closing because it meant he could whirl around the floor with Dakota a little longer. He loved holding her hand and keeping her close to him.

As Ethan looked over at Dakota, his eyes were instantly drawn to her plump mouth. The kisses they’d shared thus far had been sweet and innocent and only one had been slightly probing. The way her full, luscious lips caressed the straw she sipped from had his imagination running wild.

Maybe it would happen tonight, Ethan thought. Then he recalled she’d driven herself there and he wouldn’t be taking her home. Just the thought of it was like a dousing of ice water onto a naked body stranded outdoors in the dead of winter.

Anthony’s Pizzeria was jam-packed and lively when Ethan and his friends arrived. Because another large group of folks was just leaving, they quickly grabbed the table, feeling lucky to land the vacated seats.

Booming music and a bunch of fun-loving patrons had the place lit up. Loud talking and gales of laughter came from every area of the place. A karaoke session was just about to begin, a regular part of the entertainment lineup. Performers were lousy for the most part, but there were some singers who possessed record label potential.

Dakota was now very comfortable with Ethan’s girlfriends. She felt included in their little group and it didn’t feel at all like a clique. The ladies decided to get into the bathroom before the karaoke session began.

Dakota washed her hands and dried them on a paper towel. “Have any of you ever done karaoke?” Dakota asked, removing lip gloss from her purse.

Charlene threw her head back and laughed. “We’ve got up there and made fools of ourselves countless times. We don’t care that none of us can sing. We just like to have fun. What about you? Have you ever got onstage?”

“No, but I think that’s about to change. What do you think Ethan will say if I get up there and sing?”

“He’ll love it,” Mandy assured her. “Ethan and the other guys are game for a lot of crazy stuff. Don’t be surprised by anything we do.”

“We work hard all week and play even harder on the weekends,” Charlene said.

“Now, what I want to know is, can you sing?” Maria queried.

Grinning, Dakota shrugged and winked. “I think I’ll let you all be the judge of that. Either way, I’m not ready for the good time to end. I keep hearing everyone saying it’s all about fun. I’ve bought into it now. I’m sold.”

“Let’s do this,” Mandy enthused. “I can’t wait to see if you can sing or not.”

As the ladies howled and hooted, high fives were passed all around.

Ethan noticed how antsy Dakota had become all of a sudden. It made him wonder if she had a yen to sing. But the sign of reluctance glowing in her eyes was also easy enough for him to read. If she was content to sit there and cheer on the others, whether their performances were good or bad, he wasn’t going to push her to get up onstage.

A couple of minutes after the orders had been taken, Dakota nudged Ethan to get his attention.

He turned to look at her. “Are you okay? You seem a little antsy.”

She pointed at the stage. “Will I embarrass you if I get up there and sing?”

His eyes brightened. “Stop worrying about embarrassing me. I want you to enjoy yourself.” He leaned in and kissed her cheek. “Go for it!” He didn’t ask her if she could sing. It didn’t matter to him. All he wanted was for them to have a great time.

Quite a few of the males went crazy when Dakota stepped up onstage.

Ethan thought the wolf whistlers had great taste, but they’d have to take a backseat tonight. Dakota Faraday was there with him.

Once Dakota make her song choice, she picked up the microphone. Blowing kisses to the crowd and bowing, she acted out the part of a diva. Losing all of her inhibitions, she tossed her hair around and let the music enter her soul. None of this would’ve been easy without the encouragement from Ethan and his friends. Dakota didn’t know she could have such a good time—and she didn’t want this night to end.

Everyone talked about fun and Dakota wanted to show them she’d gotten it.

Ethan didn’t realize he was holding his breath until he was forced to release it. He was nervous for her. Audiences could be cruel and he didn’t know how she’d react if they heckled her. As she hit the first few notes of the song, he felt himself go lax. The girl had it. She hadn’t gone onstage just to be up there. Dakota had something to offer.

As she seductively belted out Beyoncé’s version of the old classic “Fever,” that’s exactly what Ethan and every other male in the place felt. Dakota put on a show she didn’t know she was capable of. She knew she could sing, but never in her wildest dreams did she think she’d get up in front of a crowd like this. She had a ball with her magical performance. Dakota’s goal was to make sure everyone else did, too.

Then, Dakota suddenly turned her smoldering and seductive eyes on Ethan. The message he received let him know she had come down with a fever, too. Only he could bring down her temperature.

Ethan stood up and kissed Dakota to welcome her back to the table. The ladies were beside themselves with joy as they jumped up to give her warm hugs. Dakota was glad she’d been able to show everyone she was game, too.

All the guys quickly left the table and rushed the stage. They had gotten pumped up during Dakota’s performance and now it was time for them to show off. Ethan grabbed the microphone and mussed his hair, making an Elvis-like stance. Rudy strummed a nonexistent guitar and Maxwell and Todd had everyone cheering on their fancy, animated footwork.

“All Shook Up” was the song they’d chosen.

Dakota couldn’t believe her ears as she recalled thinking of how Ethan had her feeling: all shook up. Tears of joy filled her eyes. No longer would she dwell on what she’d missed out on. All she’d think about now was what was next on her social agenda.

Dakota now had firsthand knowledge that Ethan and his boys were regular cutups. Maxwell was hardly the only comedian and Ethan was an absolute riot. She hadn’t seen this funny, engaging side of him before now. She knew he had a great sense of humor, but his sharp wit and quick verbal comebacks had been downright hilarious and intriguing. Ethan and his crew had been successful at making her laugh until it hurt.

At fifteen minutes before midnight, Ethan leaned against the outside door of Dakota’s apartment. He had followed her home to make sure she got there safely.

Wrapping her up in his arms, he looked deep into her eyes, kissing her gently. The next kiss deepened, escalating his heart rate. The third kiss was all he’d hoped for. With a beautiful, sexy woman like Dakota he could easily lose his self-control. So far she had only agreed to build toward an exclusive relationship and he had to respect that. In his heart he already believed she was a woman worth waiting for.

Dakota smiled brilliantly. “I had a beautiful time with you and your friends. I think I passed their muster.”

“I know you did. You were a big hit, lady. Think I can get an encore of the song you sang at the pizza place?”

“You were a big hit, too, with me. As for the encore, I hope we’ll have many.” Laughing inwardly at how his mouth had fallen agape, she wiggled out of his arms and unlocked the front door. “Goodnight, Ethan. Hope we’ll talk soon.”

“Lady, you can bet money on it.”

Chapter 3

Ethan always felt much better after a hot shower, yet the back of his neck still had a crook in it. He’d love to have it massaged out. It was too late to get it taken care of tonight. He’d call in the morning and get an appointment with his therapist.

Dakota had soft hands. He easily imagined her massaging his tight muscles. Her fingers were strong. They’d held on tightly to his digits during the initial fall at the roller rink a couple of days ago, he recalled. Her hands were also as tender as their strength. The tenderness was what he remembered best. Every time she’d touched him he had felt it right down to the center of his core.

A glance at the clock let him know it was too late to phone Dakota. He didn’t want to risk disrespecting her, but it was difficult to ignore the strong desire he had to hear her voice. Whenever he talked to her, he got caught up in her gentle, soothing tone.

Instead of picking up the phone, Ethan settled for getting deeper in thought about the evening he’d spent in Dakota’s company at the roller rink. She had been a megahit with all his friends, especially Maxwell, who’d said he definitely would’ve asked her out had he met her first. The two friends had a rule to never date anyone the other one had been involved with, no matter how casual or serious the relationship was.

Once Dakota had gotten over her embarrassment of falling down, he remembered how she had shown the valiant side of her. Her show of character had made her a major leaguer with Ethan and his friends. Although he still thought she was somewhat reserved, he hoped her demeanor toward him would change as she got to know him.

To distract himself from calling Dakota, he walked down the hall to his office and pulled out a folder from the filing cabinet built into the el extension of his desk. Bent on perusing its content, which held the work he’d done so far on his book, he carried the file back to the living room. After turning on the television set, he made himself comfortable on the sofa, propping pillows behind his back before stretching out fully.

Ethan turned his attention back to the folder. After reviewing the first couple of dozen or so pages, he was unable to concentrate further. He closed the folder and set it aside, taking a quick glance at the clock.

Before Ethan could change his mind again about calling Dakota, he grabbed the receiver and dialed her number, hoping she was still awake. As her sweet voice instantly brought a generous smile to his lips, an audible sigh of relief followed.

“Glad you’re still up. I’ve been dying to talk to you. How was your day?”

“I’m glad, too. Wouldn’t want to miss your call. My day has been busy but good. I accomplished a lot of must-do things. I was just about to turn off the light. Normally I don’t go to sleep until after the late-night talk show. When I don’t have to get up early, I stay up until the wee hours. I love to read before settling in.”

“That makes two of us. I either read or write before shutting down. I’ve been doing a lot of research on the computer this evening. I already mentioned my project to you.” He hadn’t told her the subject matter of his work. His curiosity was strong about an industry very few people knew exactly how it worked or how to go about breaking into it.

“That’s great! I’m sure you’re excited about getting tenure?”

“It’ll be nice. I’m working my butt off to earn it.”

“It’s just a matter of time. You should be proud of yourself. I’m proud of you.”

“Thanks. That’s nice to know. When can I see you again?”

She smiled, happy he’d asked. “Maybe you should tell me when.”

“If it wasn’t so late, I’d say tonight. I miss you. What about tomorrow evening? We can either go out to dinner or I can cook for us at my place. I’m a decent chef.”

“Dining in or out is okay with me. You decide. I’m excited about seeing you.”

Dakota’s last statement made Ethan feel good inside. He was excited, too, more than she knew. “Call you tomorrow with the details. Cool?”

“Noon is a good time to call my cell. There’s a long break between classes. What was your day like?” Dakota asked.

“Crazy, like all my days are. I love my job, but my students are a handful. I have several outspoken ones, mainly the females. Getting them to stop talking long enough to listen to me is a daunting task. They usually have the last word.”

“I find that one hard to believe, Ethan. To me, you seem like a man in control.”

“I wish I was more in control in these instances. Sparring with these particular sisters can wear down a brother.” Ethan chuckled. “Sometimes I just want them to stop talking before I stop breathing.”

“Well, in that case, I don’t want you to stop breathing on me. I’d love for you to stick around.”

“That was sweet of you, Dakota. I want to continue hanging out with you. But I’ll let you go.”

“Have a good night, Ethan. I’ll look forward to your call.”

“Me, too. Good night.”

Ethan suddenly felt displeased with himself. There were specific questions he wanted to ask Dakota, but once again, he’d held back. Being clueless about her and who she was and why she kept him at a safe distance wouldn’t set them on the right track. Snatching up the receiver, he hit the redial button, sure she hadn’t gone to sleep that fast.

“It’s me again. Can we talk? I mean really talk?”

Dakota felt apprehension creeping in. “Is something wrong? What is it?”

“I don’t know. I feel so damn good when I’m with you, but everything doesn’t feel right. Is there something about me you’re uncomfortable with? If so, I’d like to know what it is. Something’s standing between us. What can it be?”

Contemplating her response, Dakota pressed her trembling fingers into her lips. “You’re right. I’m standing in between us and so are my past experiences. I’m afraid of getting my heart broken again. Can you guarantee me that that won’t happen with you?”

“I wish I could. I think you know better than that. Please tell me what happened. Maybe it’ll start the healing process.”

Dakota blew out a stream of shaky breath. “What happened to me occurred months ago. The betrayal still feels current. A couple of gal pals betrayed me in ways I’d never stoop so low to return the favor. One of my so-called best girlfriends, Lori Taylor, had taken up with my boyfriend, Everett Washington, while we were still dating. They’d been going at each other long before I found out.”

Ethan heard the raw pain in her voice. “That’s the toughest kind of heartbreak.”

Dakota knew worse heartaches, but she didn’t want to overwhelm him. “I was having a hard time when we met. I’ve been through a lot of stuff. Two people I trusted most disappointed me deeply.”

“You mentioned a couple of gal pals. Who was the other one?”

“Mercy Winters claimed to be a best friend. She stole convenience checks sent to me by my credit card company and tried to cash one for a big sum, which would’ve gone against my card. Suspicious of the check, her bank took the appropriate action. It’s a long story. I was stunned when she wasn’t prosecuted. It was simply put on her credit report that she’d committed check fraud. Yet another bitter disappointment to deal with.”

“Everyone who calls themselves friend doesn’t always meet the criteria. Do you still have feelings for the guy who hurt you?”

“None whatsoever. I’m cautious. Maybe overly cautious, but it has everything to do with me and nothing to do with you. I believe you’re trustworthy.”

Ethan was glad she wasn’t harboring feelings for the heartbreaker. That wouldn’t have felt so good to learn. “So tell me what I need to do to get closer to you and to help you get through the bad stuff, past and present.”

“Patience is all that I ask of you. Is that doable?”

“Absolutely. I want us to get to know each other on a deeply personal level. Then we’ll feel free to talk more about our triumphs and the challenges we face. I want you to be able to talk to me about anything. Problems aren’t ever resolved with silence.”

Persia listened to George with total disinterest. Her day had been tiring and all she wanted to do was get home and sleep. Soon after he’d asked her name, the client started in on his wife by whining and complaining about her expecting him to be superman.

“She’s certainly no superwoman. The lady is horrible in bed and she never wants to try anything new. The same position every time gets old. She’s boring when it comes to creativity. She’s so scared the children will hear what goes on. The master is downstairs and the three kids sleep upstairs. They can’t hear a thing.”

“Do you still love her?”

The caller paused, as if caught off guard by the pointed question. While thinking about his response, he scratched his head. “Don’t get me wrong, I love my wife. It’s just that she’s such a prude. But why talk about my wife?”

“At least say something kind about her. She’s the mother of your three kids. You brought up your wife to me, remember?”

“I did, didn’t I? But why do you care whether I respect my wife or not? You’re not respecting her by talking sexy to her husband over the phone.”

Persia knew she hadn’t said one sexy word to George. He had yet to give her an opportunity. Besides that, she preferred to let the callers set the stage and choose the subject matter for the conversations. “Hey, you dialed my number.” She bit down on her tongue.

In the silence, she wondered if she’d said too much.

“Have you ever thought about becoming a marriage counselor, Persia? I think you’d make a good one,” George remarked, sounding downright stupid and not caring.

Persia scowled. “What? Are you kidding me?”

“Guys just need to blow off a head of steam at times. My wife is a real good homemaker. She’s crazy about the kids.” He paused. “Do you think I’m wrong for calling phone-sex lines?”

George had put himself on a guilt trip, Persia thought. He already knew he was dead wrong. No one had to tell him that either. And it certainly wasn’t her place to enlighten him. She was in the business to meet her obligations, not to lose clients. If she told him he was wrong and he stopped calling, she’d lose a client and a good chunk of change. Persia couldn’t afford it.

“Are you still there?” George asked, sounding anxious.

With impatience rising in her again, Persia sighed inwardly. “I’m here. Do you want to keep up with this conversation or are you ready to get it on?”

George paused again for a couple of moments. “First off, I want to know what you look like. Then I want to hear in detail exactly what you’re wearing.”

“My skin is silky, the color of dark chocolate, yet it’s sweet as honey, not a bit bitter. I’m a statuesque five foot seven, with the perkiest thirty-eight C breasts, real ones. My derriere is so firm and tight a quarter would bounce off it—and so is my flat stomach, with a diamond stud in my belly button. With golden-brown eyes and long, dark brown hair, I turn on lots of men. As for what I’m wearing, I’m in my favorite outfit, my birthday suit.”

His breath coming hard, George had to suck in air. “I guess I should go now. This is my first call to you and guilt is busy kicking my butt. Before I hang up, could you whisper something sweet in my ear, something real sweet yet kinda kinky?”

“George.” Her voice had turned low and throaty, sexy and hot. For fun, she’d strongly emphasized the Southern accent. “I’d love to pour chocolate syrup all over your sexy body and then spray you with whipped cream. From head to toe, I’d lick off every bit. How’d that sound?”

“I love it. Will you marry me, Persia?”

“Sure, George, whenever you divorce your wife. Call me when it’s final.”

George laughed. “I really like you and your sense of humor. Is it possible for us to talk again or do I hook up with a different lady every time I call?”

“You can talk to me again.” Persia gave George her personal code and then called out to him her work schedule. She hoped she’d landed a regular, but George’s guilt over calling a sex line might get to him.

“Hope we talk soon.” Sounding totally satisfied, George hung up.

Persia had barely hung up the phone when it buzzed loudly in her ear again. Wondering why she’d been given another call so close to the end of her shift, she reluctantly answered the line. George should’ve been the last caller of the evening, she grumbled mentally, though she knew she needed to earn as much as possible.

“Hello,” she breathed in her sultriest voice. “What’s on your sweet mind?”

“You,” was the simple reply, yet strong and commanding. “I finally got up the nerve to call you. I’ve been thinking about you all day. Your commercial is hot and provocative. I love the shot with the chains. How would you use those chains on me?”

“Any way you’d like. Chaining you to a bed comes to mind. Then I can have my way with you, any way I like it.”

“Naughty girl is what you are. What kind of toys do you have?”

“All kinds. If I don’t have your preference, I’ll get it just for you.”

Persia hadn’t ever had anyone talk to her about chains or other kinky stuff. This brassy man made her feel uncomfortable. She was used to the shier guys, the ones who preferred her to set the tempo, like George.

Despite his comment about “getting up the nerve to call in,” he sounded sure of himself. Persia wasn’t the sexy woman in the commercials the caller had referred to, but clients weren’t privy to that information. Professional models and actresses were used to shoot advertising spots. Besides the obvious, commercials were also done for visual effects. They provided men with a face and body to fantasize about during conversations.

Although many women who worked at Licensed to Thrill were beautiful and sexy, they simply weren’t the actual ladies used in the ads. The intent wasn’t for workers and clients to hook up in person, though it did happen quite often.

“By the way, my name is Luke Lockhart. I’m a huge star in adult films. I’m sure you’ve seen me before. That is, if you watch soft porn.” He paused. “Have you ever had a lesbian encounter?” the man asked.

“I haven’t seen you before, Luke, but I’m sure you’re good at what you do.”

“I’m an expert, the hottest ticket around in adult films,” he boasted.

If that was the case, Persia had to wonder why Luke was calling a phone-sex line. “I’d think you’d get enough sex in your line of work. What made you call in?”

“Like I said, your commercial is smoking hot. I work with a lot of different women, but I’m not attracted to them. Besides, I wouldn’t want a woman who does what I do for a living.”

Coming from someone in the same profession, Persia thought it was interesting. “When did you get into the adult film industry?”

“I was a senior in high school. A friend’s older brother turned me on to it. At eighteen, I was attracted to money. Do you have fantasies about becoming a porn star?”

Persia felt sorry for any guy who’d trashed his youth and body for easy money. She couldn’t imagine anything about his profession as easy. “Afraid not.”

“If you’re open to what I’m into, the paychecks are off the chain.”

Persia blew out a shaky breath. “I’m always open to getting paid,” she said quite honestly. “I’m only here to talk.” Persia was comfortable with her answer, and she couldn’t be accused of lying to or misleading a client.

“Bet I can change your mind, with time,” he taunted.

For the next forty-five minutes Persia talked with Luke. The conversation never got into anything hot and sexy, considering how it’d started out. It was tame and normal, reminding her of two friends talking about the day-to-day issues in their lives. He was more into asking her questions about her job, which was kind of odd. It also gave her the impression he might be a recruiter for the adult film industry. That made more sense.

Persia was glad when the phone call finally ended. His lifestyle wasn’t something she was interested in, no matter how much money it paid. Putting her alter ego to bed at the end of the workday always felt good, up until she had to reawaken her.

As Ethan welcomed Dakota into his home, he gave her several sweet kisses. “You look marvelous. You wear red very well. I love the dress.”

Dakota did a full turn to show off her simple but lovely red sheath. “I thank you.” She looked him over from head to toe. “It looks like I’m a bit overdressed. Had I known you were wearing jeans I would’ve done the same.”

“Oh, no, you made the perfect choice. I love feminine fluff. I can change clothes if you’d like me to.”

Dakota shook her head. “I like you just the way you are.”

“Good. Let me show you around before we sit down to dinner.”

Dakota took the arm Ethan extended to her. He had told her he was a neat one. And he had told the absolute truth. There didn’t seem to be a thing out of place.

“This is my formal living room, an area no one ever comes into. Maybe I need to buy some furniture so I can use it. You think?”

“That would help make it serviceable,” Dakota joked.

“I’m definitely more comfortable in the family room, where I can watch the big screen, lounging on the leather sofa or kicking back on the recliners. Maybe I’ll get you to help me pick out furniture for both formals. My dining room is empty, too.”

As Dakota received the dime tour, she saw that Ethan favored darker woods but lighter colored furniture and glass tabletops. The leather furnishings were a light tan. Various shades of beige and brown were prevalent throughout. Entryways were designed in dramatic arches. The kitchen appliances were all black with stainless steel trim and the walls had been painted a mustard shade, which provided a bold contrast. The center island was where she imagined Ethan preparing his food.

His hands turned upward in an encompassing gesture. “This is where I hang out every day. I’m glad you accepted my invitation. I’ll show you the bedrooms and my office after dinner. Think you can stand the suspense for that long?”

Dakota took hold of his hand. “Eager anticipation is always a good thing.”

“Hmm. I really like the sound of that.”

Ethan had set a lovely kitchen table, creating a romantic ambience for him and Dakota to dine by. Several candles had been lit and placed all about the room. Once he said a blessing over the food, he poured into crystal glasses a crisp white wine complementary to the seafood.

Steamed snow crab legs, grilled shrimp, rice pilaf and the fresh salad Ethan had prepared for dinner looked very appetizing.

Dakota had put a nice portion of everything on her plate. A little worried about getting butter sauce on her dress, she shielded it with a couple of napkins. Ethan cracked the crab for her. Removing the meat from the shell with a fork, he placed it on her plate.

Dakota liked the attentiveness, loved how well Ethan treated her. He seemed to enjoy doing nice things for her and he also liked to make her smile. Being in his company was a tremendous joy for her, just as her presence was for him. When he’d asked for them to talk more, she hadn’t thought it was an unreasonable request. Dakota hoped she could open up to him about everything, but she knew it wouldn’t come all at once.

A few minutes later Dakota put seconds of everything but crab on her plate. “This rice pilaf is the best I’ve ever eaten. You have to teach me how to make it.”

“I’d love to. It’s simple. I’m pleased you like the food.”

“Everything is delicious. Mind pouring me a little more wine?”

“At your service, my lady.”

“Are you originally from California, Ethan?”

“Born and raised not too far from here. I graduated from Torrance High School and went to the University of California, Dominguez Hills.”

“I hope to transfer there in the winter term. It’s close enough to my apartment for me to walk to classes.”

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