Tinsel (Lark Cove #4)(60)

Surrounded by my classic furniture and a spring mix of white flowers on my coffee table, I’d finally figured out what had been bugging me for four months. I’d realized what had been missing from my home.

Him.

I’d been missing him, and he hadn’t even been in my apartment before.

But sitting on my couch alone was miserable compared to cuddling into his chest. Standing in the kitchen was lonely when he wasn’t there, teaching me how to cook. My bedroom was too quiet at night without his heavy breathing into my hair.

Not so deep down, I’d known it for months. Which was probably why I’d thrown myself so completely into the studio. It had given me a reason not to be at home. Not here, where I was alone.

I’d gotten into a routine over the last three months, one that kept me away as much as possible. I’d get up, go to the gym then come home and get ready for the day. I’d have a latte and visit with Carrie before heading out. Then I’d spend the rest of my time at my temporary office at Kendrick Enterprises, the one I’d been using up until my office at the studio was finished just last week.

Working two floors down from Aubrey had become extremely convenient since she’d managed to cut some things from her schedule in order to give me advice on starting up a business.

Still, with all of my planning, I had never been this nervous.

“It’s not much,” I warned Dakota.

“Doesn’t have to be. Tell me about it.”

I took a deep breath. “It’s in Midtown, not all that far from my family’s building.”

Aubrey lived about five blocks from the studio. She’d chosen a sprawling penthouse in Midtown rather than SoHo or Tribeca because she wanted to be close to work, whereas I’d chosen my neighborhood because celebrities flocked to those areas.

“So, dance?” Dakota asked. “Ballet?”

“Originally, I’d thought just ballet. But then I decided to offer all kinds of dance. My jitterbug lesson with Wayne was an inspiration.”

He chuckled. “I like it. What else?”

“It’s just for kids eighteen and under. I might expand it someday for adults, but this is where I thought it would be best to start.”

“Good thinking.”

I looked up at his profile, studying the stern, straight set of his nose. That his serious brow and naturally narrowed eyes had once intimidated me now seemed funny.

I leaned closer, threading my arm through his and hugging it against my chest. Then I rested my ear on his shoulder as we navigated through the busy Manhattan streets.

“Thank you for coming.”

He kissed my temple. “Wouldn’t miss it.”

Traffic was busy this morning, and the trip took more than twice as long as usual, but thirty minutes later, Glen dropped us off in front of the corner space I’d purchased in a midsize building.

“This is it.” I swung my hand out at the front door as we stood on the sidewalk, my stomach in my throat as I waited for his reaction.

The pair of us were reflected in the floor-to-ceiling windows on the front of the building. Inside, the mirror-covered walls and wooden floors gleamed in the sunlight. A sign with details for the grand opening on Monday hung on the entrance.

“Midtown Dance Studio.” Dakota read the name written on the glass in classic white blocked letters. Underneath was the website address and phone number.

“Too boring?” I asked.

He shook his head. “No, not at all. It’s clean. Simple. Easy to remember and google. Except you don’t have your name anywhere.”

“I didn’t want my name on this place.”

His forehead furrowed. “Why not? You should be damn proud of this.”

“It’s not that. I just . . . I didn’t want it to be showy. I didn’t want it to be about me.”

“Huh?”

I pulled his hand and led him to the front door, where I got out my keys and unlocked the latch. Inside, the place still smelled like fresh paint. The crew had just finished up the lobby two mornings ago. I’d had a final walk-through with the foreman yesterday, a couple of hours before I’d gone to Kendrick Enterprises to wait for Dakota.

Flipping on a light, I walked up to the reception counter, where I had stacks of our intake paperwork.

I pulled a flyer from behind the counter and handed it over to Dakota, shifting back and forth on my wedged heels as he read the sheet.

I worn jeans today, knowing he’d be in them too. I’d reverted back to my normal New York style over the last four months, wearing clothes that fit better for a future businesswoman and philanthropist.

But today, I didn’t need to dress for meetings. Today, I was dressed for pure fun. Something else I’d missed. Starting the studio had been exhilarating, fun at times, but also full of strife. I had no doubt that today would be one of the best I’d had in four months.

I’d fallen back into old routines since leaving Montana. I’d developed some new ones, namely this business and throwing myself into it headfirst, but since my drinks with Aubrey all those months ago, I hadn’t left the penthouse without makeup. I’d dressed impeccably each day.

Maybe that was why it had taken so long to call Dakota. I’d been worried that this version of Sofia, the one who was still trying to find herself, wouldn’t be the one he wanted.