Page 38 of With This Ring

“I promise I will someday soon.”

“But when, Auntie? I’m smart enough to take measurements and help customers pick out gowns and tuxes. You need to trust me.”

Dakota reached for her arm. “I do trust you. I just need the time to teach you, and right now I don’t have it. I promise I will after we get through the fiasco with the damaged gowns.”

Skye moved her arm out of reach. “You just want to control things. Is that it? Dad always says you’re stubborn like Grandpa,” she retorted.

“I suppose stubbornness runs in the Jamison family,” Dakota said with a sigh.

“Have you thought any more about adding the online sales?”

Dakota shook her head. “No, not yet. Maybe soon.”

“Fine.” Skye headed back toward the office, but Dakota could tell her niece was disappointed. Guilt overshadowed her. How long until her business would be out from under its dark cloud?

Chapter 9

Dakota couldn’t believe she was sitting in the theater on a Thursday night when she had dresses to steam and Layla’s gown to alter. But here she was, witnessing a good-looking actor on the screen loudly revving a sports car and chasing a bad guy down a congested highway at top speed as exciting music swelled.

Beside her, Parker scooped a handful of buttery popcorn from the bucket and dropped it into his mouth, his eyes trained on the movie.

Dakota sighed. She’d made a promise to Parker yesterday, and when she’d texted him last night, she’d let him talk her into meeting up after work tonight. She was grateful the date had been platonic so far. He hadn’t tried to hold her hand or slip his arm around her shoulders. Instead he’d purchased a ten-gallon bucket of popcorn and two sodas before they entered the sparsely occupied theater and found two seats in the middle of a row.

Conversation before the movie began had been pleasant enough.They’d discussed their days, and he hadn’t stopped smiling since he’d met her in the lobby. Their interaction had been... nice.

But her mind still lingered on the work waiting for her back at the store. Her leg began to bounce. She didn’t have time to waste on movies she wouldn’t have bothered to watch even if she’d been desperate to relax at home and could find nothing else to choose from the streaming service.

But Parker was a nice guy, and that’s what she needed in her life—a nice guy, a dependable guy, a sweet guy.

Give him a chance.

She did her best to focus on the movie, and soon enough, it was over. She followed Parker out of the theater and to the sidewalk. The sky was dark, and the air was cool. Cars motored by on the street, and most of the businesses had flipped their Open signs to Closed.

“So what did you think of the movie?” Parker asked.

She shrugged. “It was good.”

“You hated it.”

“Well, I didn’t hate it...”

He gently bumped his shoulder against hers, and when she turned toward him, they both started to laugh.

“Okay, okay,” she said. “I didn’t exactly love it, but I didn’t hate it. I guess not all action and adventure movies are my thing.”

“So what is your thing then?”

“Roller-skating.”

His mouth gaped. “Roller-skating?”

She chuckled again. “Yeah, roller-skating. I teach on Friday and Saturday nights.” She explained how Kayleigh and her husband had purchased the rink last year, and for some ridiculous reason, she felt the sudden urge to invite him. “Would you like to join me at the rink tomorrow night?”

“Uh, maybe?” He brushed his hand over the back of his shaggy brown hair.

“Hmm,” she teased. “You sound as excited about skating as I did about the movie.”

“Well, if skating is how I get to spend time with you, then sign me up. Just don’t laugh at me when I fall.”

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