Free Her Dakota Summer by Dahlia DeWinters Page A

Gives you more time to supervise. You have to keep an eye on your children’s caretakers. That’s for sure. Use your time wisely.”
    “You’re too much, Paris. Thanks for the reprieve, though. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to do my best work, with the number of books we had to do.”
    “You always do your best work, Celly. Enjoy the rest of the summer.” Paris disconnected.
    Celeste rocked back in her chair, unable to wipe the satisfied smile off her face. Her free time had just multiplied by two.
     
    * * * *
     
    Dinner was a noisy affair with Malcolm and Jackson vying to tell her all about the wonders of the Lego demonstration and the new additions to their local park. The weather had been too cool and overcast to swim, so the afternoon had ended with a loud game of Monopoly and some before dinner ice-cream.
    When Celeste told the table her good news, Jackson’s face fell. “Does that mean that Dakota has to leave?”
    Celeste shot a quick glance at her nanny, who had conveniently looked down to scoop food into his mouth. “No, that’s not what it means. Dakota is going to stay here with you. I’m just going to have more free time, that’s all.”
    “Good,” Jackson pronounced, grabbing a steamed broccoli spear and gnawing on it, “Because we’re not finished having fun yet.”
    Malcolm nodded, agreeing with his younger brother. “Yeah, we ain’t finished having fun.”
    “Aren’t.” She and Dakota spoke at the same time and she glanced back at him again. This time their gazes met. A little jolt of emotion shot through Celeste and she couldn’t suppress a smile. “It’s supposed to be ‘we aren’t finished having fun’.”
    Dakota returned her smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “That’s about right,” he said. “Lots of fun still to be had.”
    Malcolm looked from one to the other. “You guys are weird.”

Chapter Thirteen
     
     
     
    “There’s a state fair-type thing tonight if you want to take the boys.”
    Celeste pushed the silverware drawer closed and wiped her hands on a yellow cotton dishtowel. “It’s late.”
    “They didn’t swim today, so they’re bouncing off the walls. We can go just for an hour.” He eased the dishtowel from her grasp, tossed it onto the counter then took her hands in his. His hands were warm, his eyes alight with anticipation. “It’ll be a date.”
    Celeste smiled and let him draw her close for a brief kiss. “Let’s go then.”
    The boys were wide-eyed and quiet in the car, not used to being out so late at night, but when they arrived at the fairgrounds, the tent lights, the games and the smell of fried food in the air revived them. They bounced in their seats as Dakota maneuvered the station wagon into a dirt-packed space and as soon as they unlocked the doors, they were the first out of the car.
    Celeste breathed in the myriad smells of the summer night air and felt that grin creep across her face again. Though she had read about the fair in the paper numerous times over the past few years, she’d never got up the gumption to pack up the boys and go exploring. Now, she was ready for adventure.
    “Mommy!” Malcolm tugged at her arm. “There’s Isabel’s mother and Isabel! Can I go say hi? Can I?”
    “Isabel is Malcolm’s girlfriend.” Jackson offered.
    “She is not,” Malcolm said, before he ran off.
    “Well, wait,” she began, but it was too late, Malcolm had already dashed over and hugged his friend from school. Her mother waved, saw Dakota and a puzzled look came over her face as she hurried over.
    “Celeste,” the petite brown woman said, hugging her. “I haven’t seen you all summer.”
    “I’ve been so busy, Ruth, I haven’t had a chance to do much of anything.” She stepped back and indicated Dakota with a nod of her head. “This is my nanny, Dakota.”
    “Hi, Dakota.” Ruth shook his hand, a speculative look on her face. “Nice to meet you.”
    “Nice meeting you too.” He smiled and took his