Chapter Twenty-Eight

 

Bishop woke with a start. He ran his hand over his chest, trying to move the heavy pressure bearing down on him. The room was still dark, but he was wide-awake. The alarm clock beside the bed registered six-thirty. Too early to call Dakota.

He climbed out of bed and parted the curtains. Off on the horizon, a sliver of light painted the sky a mixture of rose and blue. He continued to stare as night surrendered to day, mapping a plan to convince Dakota that they were meant to be together. As the sky brightened, he reinforced his belief that Dakota was his future. He couldn’t let her slip away or return to Brian.

In his home office, he checked the clock every few minutes, waiting to call Dakota. The lump in his chest wouldn’t go away until he heard her voice and smoothed everything out.

He picked up the phone, gripping the receiver in his palm. After releasing a heavy breath, he dialed her number. In each of his ears, his brothers shouted at him to put the phone down and run while he still could. But leaving Dakota wouldn’t make him happy.

After several rings he hung up before the recorder came on. What he wanted to say, he’d tell her, not a recorder.

He dialed her number again. No answer. “Fine, Dakota. If you want to play this your way, then we will,” he muttered as he grabbed his keys and headed to the door.

With a quick glance over his shoulder, he backed the car out of the space and pulled into traffic. This wasn’t his first breakup, but never had one churned his stomach like this. He pressed the accelerator as he changed lanes and merged onto 95 South.

Monday morning traffic wasn’t as heavy as he expected. He slowed a little as he made his way through Chester, but near the Delaware line the flow improved. He moved to the far left lane and tried to manage the speed limit.

He took the Route 273 exit and made his way to Mulberry. Catching her at the bookstore was best. She could refuse to open the door to her house, but Bookends would be open.

Across the street from the store he parked the car and surveyed the entrance for a few moments.

Once inside the store, he removed his coat, hoping to spot Dakota. Jennifer made her way to the front of the store, rubbing her right shoulder as she maneuvered through the new reading area.

“Good morning, Jennifer. Is Dakota in the back?” He started toward the rear of the store without waiting for a reply.

“She’s not here. She called this morning and said she’d be in after lunch.”

“That’s a little strange. I’ve been dialing her number at home and she hasn’t answered.”

Jennifer lifted her right eyebrow and then turned her back to organize a stack of books behind the counter.

Bishop waited for her to turn back to him. The longer he waited the more interest she showed in making the stack neat. After several moments, he nodded and stepped outside.

From Jennifer’s reaction she knew more about his relationship with Dakota than he’d thought. He rubbed his hands together to warm them. His breath froze with the crisp morning air.

Dakota’s favorite café was only a block away. That shop had to be more welcoming than the frosty reception in Bookends. Running around town looking for a woman was out of his zone. If Adanna saw him right now, she would have a good laugh, and his brothers would revoke his birth certificate or scratch the Contee name from it.

He pulled open the door to the café. The strong smell of espresso filled the room. After ordering a double latte he moved to the end of the counter to wait for the disinterested barista to call his name.

Leaning against the counter, he spotted Dakota seated in the back at a small table. Her hair was pulled back in a sleek ponytail that revealed the earnest look in her eyes. Seated across from her was Brian. Bishop couldn’t hear their conversation, but Dakota seemed intent on his every word.

Bishop shifted his position to get a better angle on her face. Her expression didn’t change. Her hands were in her lap and a tall paper cup sat on the table in front of her. His stomach flopped. Almost without thinking, he made his way to Dakota’s table. Without thinking what he would say when he got there, he cleared his throat.

Surprise twinkled in Dakota’s eyes when she looked up at him. “Bishop, what are you doing here?” She pushed away from the table.

Bishop placed his hand on her shoulder to keep her in her seat. “Good morning, sweetheart.” He leaned down and kissed her mouth. Consuming her lips in one deft movement. The sweet taste of her lips raced through him like a strike of lightning. She didn’t resist as he placed his hand on her neck and pulled her closer.

Instead of taking her in the middle of the café, he released her mouth. “I called you a few times this morning. I need to talk with you. While I was waiting, I decided to get some coffee.” He nodded to the front of the shop, where his name was being called. “Good morning, Brian. Nice to see you again.” He stuck out his hand.

“Morning, Bishop. I just wanted to talk with Dakota for a few minutes. I hope you don’t mind.” Brian stood up.

Dakota looked at him and smiled. “Dakota is a grown woman. She doesn’t answer to me.” He rubbed his hand along her arm. “How about I wait for you back at Bookends?”

“Please, I should be there in a few minutes.” She gave his hand a squeeze.

He kissed her again before walking away.

§§§

Dakota watched Bishop pick up his order and stroll out the door. Her chest inflated, as if she were being pumped full of air. His touch on her shoulder had warmed her in a way like nothing ever had.

“He seems like he cares about you.” Brian picked up his cup and took a sip.

“He’s very nice.”

“How long have you two been together? Did you start—”

“No, Brian, I didn’t start dating him until after you broke up with me, if that’s what you’re wondering. As a matter of fact, maybe your tape is what brought us together. I should thank you.”

“The way he touched you and the way you looked at him. You two are in love, aren’t you?” She picked up her coffee and held the cup between her palms. She glanced at Brian over the edge. “I don’t think this is a conversation you and I should have. Besides, I can’t speak for him. He’s another man afraid of commitment.” She wanted to admit she was in love, but Brian wasn’t the one that needed that information.

“I guess I got my answer.”

“Is it that obvious?”

“Yes. To me. You get that funny look in your eyes when you’re pleased about something. You never gave that look to me, so I knew we never had a chance at anything permanent.” He glanced out the window. “I’m sorry the way things happened between us. I hope you know my intention wasn’t to hurt you. Never.”

“Everything turned out for the best.” She swirled the liquid in the cup to help cool it. “So how long are you staying around this time?”

“I’m leaving in two days. I hope to spend a little time with Simeon, Asa, and the baby before heading out.”

They sat in silence a little longer. The only thing she could think about was getting back to the store and to Bishop, but he could wait for her for a change.

“Are you happy, Brian?”

He nodded. “I am. I know that might be hard to believe, but I really am. If I couldn’t settle down for you, then I knew settling down wasn’t possible for me. This is the life for me, as crazy as it may seem. But I want you to promise me something.”

She placed her chin in the palm of her hand. “That all depends on what it is.”

“Send me an invitation to the wedding.”

She leaned back. “Wedding? Bishop and I are a long way from discussing marriage.”

“Not as far as you may think.”