Page 104 of With This Ring
“She’s on the deck studying for a final.”
“Thanks.” Dakota slipped past her younger niece and headed toward the back door.
As she peered out toward the deck, she bit her lower lip. In her store that afternoon, so many emotions had swirled inside as she worked. Remorse over her fight with Skye, worry for Layla now that the wedding was canceled... and then there was her conversation with Hudson. She was still trying to figure out a lot of things, including how she ought to feel about him and whether she should let him go.
But right now it was time for her to apologize and beg for her niece’s forgiveness. She knocked on the sliding glass door before pulling it open. Skye sat at a table with a pile of books surrounding her. The large deck looked out over the spacious, lush green backyard. When Skye met her gaze, Dakota slid the door open.
Her niece’s eyes narrowed. “What do you want?”
“To apologize,” Dakota said, her voice stricken. “I’ve been too controlling, and it ruined my precious relationship with you. I want to make things right.”
Skye lifted her chin. “Keep going.”
“You were right.” Dakota held up her hands. “I’m too stubborn for my own good. I should have asked for help a long time ago, and I finally did.”
Skye’s eyes rounded. “What do you mean?”
“I talked to my parents, and my dad cosigned on a loan for me.”Dakota sat down beside her. “I met Grandpa at the bank today. I also called the plumber, and he came by and started fixing the leak this afternoon. He’s going to finish up tomorrow and reimburse me for some of the gowns I lost, in addition to the damage the first leak caused.”
“You’re kidding.”
“Nope, I’m not.” Dakota beamed. “Now I can order more gowns and possibly start a marketing campaign. I’ll talk to your dad about that since he’s the expert.” She touched Skye’s shoulder. “And I want to talk to you about instituting online sales and special orders—if you’ll still work for me. Correction—workwithme.”
“And...?”
“I’d like to put you in charge of my online sales. You can design the webpages and help me figure out the best way to promote them. You can even be the dress model if you want.”
Her niece studied her. “And will you finally trust me to help measure the customers for tuxes and gown fittings?”
“Yes, I will. In fact, I can teach you how to tailor the tuxes and eventually move on to the gowns if you’re interested.” She held her breath, and a moment ticked by.
“Hmm.” Skye twisted her lips. “I’m not sure...”
“Skye, tell me what else you want.”
Her niece fiddled with her pencil.
The anticipation was killing Dakota. “Well, what do you think?”
Skye tapped her chin. “I’ll do it, but only for a raise.”
Dakota pulled her in for a hug as relief washed over her. “You got it.”
“How about a partnership?”
“Now you’re pushing it,” she said, and they both laughed. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“You’d be very bored, and your store wouldn’t be nearly as cool.”
“That’s true.”
Skye tilted her head. “I heard my folks talking about the night Hudson had supper with us at your house. My dad made it sound like you and Hudson might get back together. Is that why you broke up with Mr. Bryant?”
Dakota shook her head. “No, I broke up with him because I really only liked him as a friend.”
“Oh.” Skye seemed to consider that. “Are you dating Hudson now?”
“That’s over.”