a great help with Hannah,” Dakota admitted. “Which has been wonderful. But romantically…”
It was difficult to explain the relationship, mostly because she didn’t understand it herself.
“He’s a great guy, but we want different things. We were having fun together, only it started to get complicated. He’s here about his brothers and…” She shrugged. “I don’t actually have an answer to that question.”
“I got that,” her mother said. “I’d wondered if it was getting serious with him.”
“It wasn’t,” Dakota assured her, then wondered if she was lying.
She thought about Finn a lot and missed him. She knew he was working at the airport and told herself that was why he hadn’t been around. There were plenty of tourists to keep him busy. And Raoul had mentioned he’d had another meeting with Finn about starting a nonprofit program.
“I see.” Her mother studied her. “None of my girls are married. Sometimes I think it’s my fault.”
“As much as I would love to put all this on you,” Dakota told her, “I don’t think I can. I’ve never been in love. I’ve always wanted to be, I always thought I would be. There were guys in college who were great but I couldn’t see myself spending the rest of my life with them. Maybe it’s me.”
“It’s not you. You have a warm and giving heart. You’re completely adorable. I think the men in this town are stupid.”
Dakota laughed, then leaned close and hugged her mother. “Thank you for your unwavering support. As for the men in this town, I don’t have an answer for that, either.”
“And you’re sure about Finn?”
“He’s looking for less responsibility, not more. Once he gets his brothers settled, however that works out, he’s going back to his regular life. Even if I’d been tempted before, having Hannah changes everything.”
Dakota was very aware of the fact that having a baby, being a single mother, was only going to make the man thing more difficult. But they were two different animals—she didn’t want to give up one kind of love for another.
“I want what you had,” she told her mother. “I want a great love. A love that will sustain me for the rest of my life.”
“Is that what you think?” her mother asked. “That we only get one great love?”
“Do you think differently?”
“Your father was a wonderful man and I loved him very much. But I don’t believe there is only one man for each of us. Love is all around us. Maybe I’m foolish and too old to be thinking that, but I would like to be in love again.”
Dakota did her best to keep from showing her shock. Dating was one thing, but falling in love? She’d always assumed there wouldn’t be anyone for her mother but her father.
Now, looking at Denise, she saw her for what she was. An attractive, vital woman. There were probably a lot of men who would be interested in her.
“Do you have anyone in mind?” she asked.
“No, but I’m open to the possibility. Does that bother you?”
“It makes me envy you,” Dakota admitted. “You’re willing to take a chance again.”
“You’ve taken a chance on that little girl. The right man will come along. You’ll see.”
“I hope so.”
She wanted to fall in love, too. The problem was, thinking about being in love made her think about Finn. Was she truly interested in him? Or was it just easier to distract herself by wanting the one man she couldn’t have?
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
DAKOTA SAT ON THE FLOOR with her daughter. They were on a blanket, in the middle of her living room. There were several age-appropriate toys scattered around. Dakota had a large picture book in her hand and was slowly reading the story to Hannah.
“Lonely bunny was happy to have found a friend.” She pointed to the drawing on the page. “See the bunny? He’s not lonely anymore. He has a friend now.” She pointed to the fluffy white kitten, nose to nose with the formerly lonely bunny.
“See the kitten?” She pointed to the kitten. “He’s white.”
From all that she had read, Hannah needed plenty of verbal and visual stimulation. Hannah seemed interested in the story. She would look where Dakota pointed, and the bright colors of the picture book kept her attention. Dakota was about to turn the page when someone knocked on her front door.
She stood and collected Hannah. She felt her breath catch in her chest as she saw Finn standing on her small front porch.
He looked as sexy as ever, especially when he gave her a slow grin that made her thighs heat. “Hey. I should have called first, shouldn’t I? Sorry. I’ve been doing a lot of flying and this was my first break. How are you?”
“Good. Come on in.”
He stepped into the house, then reached for Hannah. “How’s my best girl?” he asked.
The baby reached toward him. He pulled her against his chest, and she settled in as if she, too, had been missing him.
“You’re growing,” he murmured, kissing the top of Hannah’s head. “I can see the difference already.” He turned his attention to Dakota. “You look good, too, by the way.”
She grinned. “Gee, thanks. I appreciate the compliment, even if it is an afterthought.”
She led the way into the living room. Finn settled on the blanket, with Hannah on his lap. Dakota sat across from him.
He’d always had the kind of looks that made her think of tangled sheets and late mornings spent in bed. But there was something about seeing a strong, confident man holding a baby. She’d never experienced it before but now she totally got the appeal.
“How are things on the show?” he asked. “I talked to Sasha a couple of days ago and he was complaining that they needed to go on a hot date.”
“Bad choice of words. After the fire incident, I’m thinking even Geoff is hesitant to let those two loose.”
“I think that’s why they’re staying close to home. Nothing’s been scheduled with Stephen and Aurelia. I don’t think they’re interesting enough for Geoff.”
“Probably not. He’s getting frantic about keeping the ratings up. He mentioned he would love an explosion at the Tulip Festival. I told him there was no way that was going to happen. So how’s the flying? Miss those Alaska mountains?”
“Not as much as I would have thought. There are plenty of people who would rather fly to Fool’s Gold than drive. I don’t get it—the drive is beautiful, and I say that as a pilot. Still, it’s keeping me busy. I’ve flown a few cargo flights and had an interesting afternoon taking a whooping crane from San Francisco to San Diego. The bird I flew is supposed to be a hot breeder.”
