Page 109 of With This Ring

Dakota spotted Parker at the far end of the church, and she touched Kayleigh’s arm. “I’ll meet you outside.”

“Where are you going?” Kayleigh asked.

“I need to take care of something,” she said before slipping through the crowd, excusing herself on her way to Parker.

When he saw her, he tried to turn on his heel.

“Please, Parker, wait.”

He stopped and turned back to her, his face clouding with a dark expression.

“Can we talk?” she asked when she reached him.

He hesitated and gave her a curt nod. “Sure.”

They found a quiet corner away from the receiving line, and the all-too-familiar pit filled her stomach once again.

“I didn’t expect to see you here,” she said.

He stuck his hands in the pockets of his suit trousers. “My date happens to be one of Shane’s distant cousins.”

“Oh, wow. You brought a date.” Dakota pushed a lock of herhair behind her ear. “That’s so... awesome.”Great. I made it weird.

He pressed his lips together. “What do you want, Dakota?”

“I, uh... I want to apologize to you. I was unfair to you when we were seeing each other. You were genuinely kind to me, and I was really... distracted.” She glanced across the room to where Hudson gave an older woman an awkward hug. Then the woman reached up and pinched his cheek.

Parker nodded. “You were distracted by your ex.”

“That’s true, but I never meant to use you or mislead you. You deserved better than that, and I’m truly sorry.”

He paused for a beat, but then his lips formed a tentative smile. “I appreciate your honesty.”

“So you’re seeing someone?”

“Yup.” He pointed toward a pretty blond lingering near the doorway. “Her name’s Bonnie. We’re still getting to know each other, but I don’t think she’s jonesing for her ex.”

“Ouch.” Dakota blanched. “That stings, but I deserve it.”

He chuckled. “Have you and Hudson worked things out yet?”

“I don’t think that’s going to happen.”

“Well, if you want my opinion, I’ll give it to you.”

“Go ahead.” She steeled herself against his truth. “I can take it.”

But Parker’s smile was warm. “If Hudson’s smart, he’ll scoop you up and never let you go, because you’re pretty special.”

“I appreciate that.”

Parker opened his arms, and she stepped into his hug. “Good luck,” he told her.

“Thanks. You too.”

While Parker started back toward his date, Dakota peered across the room to where Hudson greeted another elderly lady. An ache deep inside gnawed at her. She hoped she’d get a chance to talkto him alone today—and if she did, she hoped he wouldn’t tell her goodbye.

***