Cappuccino Kisses

“I’ve only been divorced a short time and I’m not ready to jump back into the dating pool.”

His eyes followed her every movement. “That’s too bad, but perhaps you’ll change your mind.”

“I doubt that.”

“If you can’t tell, I’m pretty persistent,” Everett replied.

“I’ve noticed. You ran my poor brother off with that look you gave him.”

Everett grinned unabashedly. “Did I? I just wanted some time alone with you.”

“I’m sorry to have wasted your time, since I’m not on the market. But my pastries are,” Mariah replied, “and you seem to like the scones. Can I get a variety box for you to take home? We have orange, lemon, triple berry and blueberry. Or perhaps something chocolate? Like an éclair?”

“Ah, the lady is changing the subject,” Everett said, as she moved away from him toward the register.

She gave him her friendliest smile. “I’m starting a new business, Mr. Myers, and my focus has to be on making it a success.”

He nodded. “I can appreciate that.”

She frowned.

“No, I can,” he declared. “Ensuring that my family’s legacy continues is important to me, since my father left running the hotels to me.”

“Omigod!” Mariah clapped her hand to her mouth. “You’re Everett Myers.”

He adjusted his tie and smiled with his eyes as she realized exactly who he was. “That’s right.”

“Of Myers Hotels,” Mariah finished, as understanding dawned. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize...”

“Would that have changed your answer?”

“About?”

“Dating me?”

Mariah snorted. “No, it wouldn’t.”

He let out a full and masculine laugh. “I guess I’m a bit rusty, as I have been out of practice.”

“Better luck next time.”

He took a step backward. “Are you saying that I might have the opportunity to redeem myself and get another chance with you?”

“N-no. No.” Mariah shook her head. “You misunderstood me.”

“Did I?”

“Y-yes.” She tucked her hair behind her ear. “Are you always this infuriating?”

“Only with you.” He smiled.

Mariah let out a deep sigh. “You should really work on accepting the word no.”

“Oh, I can,” Everett said. “But I don’t think that’s why you turned me down.”

“What do you mean?”

“I think you’re afraid,” he said, searching her eyes. “Because you felt the sparks between us as much as I did, but you’re too afraid to act on it yet. And that’s fine. I can wait. I’m a patient man when it comes to getting what I want.”

“Why, of all the arrogant things—”

He pointed to the display. “I’ll definitely have some of those delicious crumpets you fed me earlier.”

He gave her a wink and Mariah’s stomach lurched. Resisting Everett Myers was not going to be easy. But for her own peace of mind she knew she would have to, because her poor heart could not withstand being broken again.

* * *

After Everett Myers walked away with his box of pastries, Mariah was perplexed. How was it that he could sense her unease in such a short time? Usually she kept her emotions in check, so much so that even her family didn’t know what was she thinking or feeling. Why? Because she was always looking out for their needs above her own. Even though she was the youngest, Mariah had always taken care of her older brothers. She’d been wired that way.

It had annoyed her ex-husband that she was so selfless. He’d always tell her to do more for herself, and she had. The one thing she’d always wanted was a baby. So when they’d had trouble conceiving early on in their marriage, she’d done everything in her power to ensure their success.

She’d spent three of the five years of their marriage in the pursuit of parenthood—a chase that went nowhere. At first she’d been unconcerned by her inability to conceive, but as each month passed, Mariah became further discouraged. When the doctor finally suggested aggressive fertility treatments, Rich hadn’t been on board. He’d told Mariah he would be happy if it was just the two of them, but she’d always dreamed of motherhood and hadn’t been willing to throw in the towel. The treatments caused a strain on her marriage, however, and Mariah didn’t exactly help the situation by quitting her high-stress job for her phantom baby.

Instead, she’d watched everything she ate, even gave up caffeine and alcohol, as the doctors instructed. But nothing worked. Eventually Rich had had enough and told her their marriage was over. She’d thrown adoption on the table, but he had long ago given up on them, and they decided to separate amicably. Rich had even agreed to pay alimony, which had allowed Mariah to contribute her share of the bakery start-up.

“Mariah, there you are,” Belinda Drayson-Jones said when she found her hiding behind the register. “You’ve been a hard woman to catch up with today.”

“I’m sorry, cuz,” Mariah said as she watched Everett interact with Chase, who couldn’t resist stopping the hotelier before he could exit the bakery. Mariah was sure Chase was trying to pick his brain about some business deal, because her brother was all about the numbers.

Her cousin glanced behind her to find the object of Mariah’s attention. “I’m not,” she responded. “If that’s who had you occupied.”

Mariah blinked and returned her attention to Belinda. She was happy that her cousin had flown from Chicago for the grand opening of the bakery. They’d grown close during her marriage, when Mariah and Rich had lived in Chicago. “What did you say?”

Belinda chuckled. “Someone is sure infatuated. Who is that?”

“Just a guy who asked me out.”

“Did he? And what was your answer?” she asked, leaning forward with eager interest.

“I told him no, of course,” Mariah answered, stepping from behind the counter, even though she couldn’t help hazarding a glance at Everett. When she did, she caught him staring at her, too, so she quickly looked away. “You know I’m not ready to jump into dating. It’s only been a year since Rich and I separated.”

“True,” Belinda said. “But if you’re honest with yourself, you’ll admit your marriage was over well before then and was just limping along.”

Mariah frowned deeply. “Thanks a lot, Belinda.”

“I’m not trying to hurt you, baby girl.” Her cousin reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze, “But you know I speak the truth.”

“I suppose, but it’s hard to hear nonetheless.”

Belinda nodded. “I know. But it’s time you start your life over, Mariah. You can’t continue looking back at the past.”

“How can I not, when my past could affect my future?” Mariah asked, as she watched Everett Myers leave Lillian’s.

“Because marriages fail every day.” Belinda fell silent for several long moments before saying. “Let me ask you something. Would you have left Rich if he hadn’t left you?”

Mariah shook her head. “No, I wouldn’t.”

“Why?”

“Because I thought that if I just persevered for the both of us, it would get better.”

“Did you ever think that perhaps Richard wasn’t meant for you?”

“And he is?” Mariah pointed to the door Everett had just exited.

“No, but you have to get back on the horse eventually.”

“That’s easy for you to say,” Mariah responded. “You’re married to Malik and you guys are wonderful together.”

“It didn’t start out like that,” Belinda said. “I fought my attraction to Malik, but in the end, I couldn’t deny it.”

“Yeah, well, there may have been some initial sparks with Everett, but I need some time to sort through my feelings and my life without jumping back into the relationship foray.”

“Who said anything about a relationship?” Belinda replied. “But a date is harmless. What could it hurt?”

Mariah rubbed her chin. A date with anyone other than alpha male Everett Myers might be harmless. But Mariah’s sixth sense told her he would be anything but.

* * *

“Daddy, you’re home!” EJ shouted when Everett stepped through the door of his penthouse apartment several hours later. Everett placed the box of scones from Lillian’s on the side table.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Myers,” his housekeeper said, rushing after the boy.

“It’s okay, Margaret.” He halted her, raising his hand. “You go on with your day while EJ and I catch up.”

“Sure thing, Mr. Myers,” the housekeeper said as she headed off toward the back of the apartment.

He lifted his eight-year-old son into his arms and ruffled his curly hair. He’d inherited the soft curls from his mother, along with that impish grin he was sporting right now. EJ reminded Everett of Sara, and it sometimes made him sad that she wasn’t here to see their son grow up. Other times, it reminded him just how lucky he was.

“How’s my boy?” Everett asked as he carried him to his study.

“I’m good,” EJ answered, looking down at him.

“How was school?” He lowered EJ to the floor and then sat in his recliner to hear about his son’s day, while EJ sat on the adjacent ottoman. It was their daily routine and a way for Everett to catch up on what happened.

“Fine, but I need you to sign off on a field trip.” EJ produced a slip of paper from his back pocket.

“When’s this?” Everett asked. Although he had a busy schedule as president of Myers Hotels and his own business, Myers Coffee Roasters, he made a point of attending EJ’s field trips as a chaperone when his schedule permitted.

“At the end of the month.”

“Sounds like fun. I’ll be there.”

“Aww, Dad,” EJ sighed. “You don’t have to come every time.”

Everett frowned. “You don’t want me to come?” He was crushed. He thought these were moments EJ would treasure, because Everett made time for him despite his busy schedule.

“It’s not that...”

“Then what is it?”

EJ lowered his head and was silent.

“Well? I’m waiting.”

His son’s curly head popped up. “It’s just that I don’t want the other kids to think I’m uncool because my dad is a chaperone.”

Everett smiled as he breathed a sigh of relief. He knew there would be a time when he would have to pump the brakes, pull back and not be so overprotective, but he’d thought that was a few years away. He was wrong. “If I promise to be a ‘cool dad,’ can I still come? What do you say?”

“Okay, but only if you promise not to embarrass me.”

Everett chuckled as he held out his hand for a father-son handshake. “Sounds like a deal to me. By the way, I brought a treat for you.”

“Oh, yeah? What’d you bring me?” EJ asked.

Everett rose from the recliner. “I’ll be right back.” He returned moments later holding the box of goodies from Lillian’s. “I brought you these.” He handed it to EJ. With the bakery’s signature label on the top and the deliciously sweet aroma of fresh baked goodies emanating from within, he knew EJ would be in heaven.

His son’s large, dark brown eyes opened wide with interest and he started to open the box, but Everett slapped his hand away.

“After dinner,” he said. “Miss Margaret would kill me if I allowed you to eat that beforehand.”

“Can’t I have just one?” EJ gave him his best puppy dog look.

“Sorry, kid,” Everett said. “That doesn’t work on me, but good try. I promise we’ll have them after dinner.”

“All right,” EJ replied. “How was your day, Dad?”

Everett was surprised sometimes when his son inquired after him. He was supposed to be the parent, not the other way around. But Everett suspected that EJ was curious why pretty much all he did was work, then come home most nights. Everett didn’t have a social life to speak of.

Occasionally he went out on a date with someone his parents or friends fixed him up with, but most of those fizzled when the women realized he wasn’t interested in marriage or commitment. They assumed he was in the market for a wife and mother for EJ, but were sorely disappointed by the end of the evening, or in some case by the second or third date, when they realized he wasn’t budging.

It wasn’t as if he was still mourning for Sara. He’d finally gotten over the tragic loss and had picked up the pieces of his life. He just hadn’t been sure he was ready for another serious commitment, until today, when he’d seen Mariah Drayson. He wasn’t sure why meeting the woman had him reevaluating his stance on marriage and commitment, but he was.

“Dad’s day was good,” Everett finally responded. “I found that new bakery.” He pointed to the box. “Has me thinking of new ideas.”

“Like what?” EJ sat cross-legged on the ottoman and propped his head in his hands with rapt attention.

“Like expanding our coffee business at the bakery.”

The idea had come to him almost immediately as he’d watched the large crowd at the bakery. What if he offered Myers coffee there for folks to buy along with their pastries? It would be a win-win for both firms, but especially Lillian’s. Having the Myers brand for purchase on-site would only authenticate Lillian’s promise that they offered the best and highest quality of products, given that Myers coffee was available only in high-end restaurants and coffee shops throughout Seattle.

“Sounds cool, Dad.”

“Thanks, son.” Everett smiled. “How about we get cleaned up and have some dinner?”

“Sounds like a plan.”

Everett only hoped that Mariah and her brothers approved of his idea. It was good business and it would also give him the opportunity to spend some time with Mariah and get to know her better. He knew his play was somewhat obvious, but if she wouldn’t agree to have dinner with him as a man, perhaps he could appeal to her as a business colleague. Time would tell.

* * *

“It was a wonderful turnout,” Shari Drayson told Mariah after all the guests had gone and they were cleaning up after the grand opening. “I’m sure Lillian’s of Seattle will be a great success.”

“Thank you.” Mariah smiled from ear to ear. It was great to hear such high praise from her cousin, given that Lillian had entrusted the flagship location to Shari several years ago. Mariah greatly respected Shari not only as baker, but as a businesswoman. When she’d lived in Chicago, Mariah had sat in on one of the family board meetings, and she could see it wasn’t easy wrangling with all those personalities and big egos. But Shari did it with ease. Heck, she made it look simple, when Mariah knew it was the opposite.

Her cousin Belinda hadn’t been happy with Lillian’s decision for Shari to run Lillian’s of Chicago. Mariah had always suspected that Belinda was Aunt Lillian’s favorite because she’d followed behind their aunt when she was a child and was always in the bakery as her helper. And even though Mariah was closer in age to Shari, she’d always favored Belinda, who was several years older, and she’d wanted to be just like her. Belinda had a great sense of style, dressed in designer duds and never went out of the house without her makeup on. It also hadn’t helped that Shari had gotten pregnant when she was in college, and had a son, Andre, while Mariah had been unable to conceive. Why was it so easy for some women to conceive without even trying, while she desperately wanted a baby and had struggled to get pregnant?

“Mariah?”

“Hmm...?” She drifted out of her reverie.

“I was asking about your parents,” Shari said. “They didn’t seem excited by the opening.”

Mariah nodded. “They don’t really support our endeavor, but that’s fine. I intend to prove them wrong. Show them that Chase, Jackson and I have what it takes to get the job done.”

“That’s admirable,” Shari said. “But I have to tell you it’ll be a challenge, especially having two brothers involved.”

“Because I’m a woman?” Mariah offered.

Shari nodded. “Sometimes it’s hard for men to take direction from a woman.”

“Was it like that for you in Chicago?”

Shari chuckled. “That and then some,” she replied, “Everyone thought Carter, as the oldest grandchild, would have been chosen to run Lillian’s, but instead Grandma picked me. Why? Because I have the business acumen, with my degree, and the creativity, thanks to the cake mix idea I came up with, to run the front of the house at Lillian’s while Carter runs the back. And it’s also why she chose you for the helm here.”

Mariah smiled. “How do you manage running the front of the house and baking? Because you make it look easy.” She’d already felt herself somewhat stressed at the prospect, even though she found it incredibly rewarding, more so than she ever had when she’d worked as an advertising executive.

“It’s about balance,” Shari said, “Trust me, it’s not easy running the bakery business and being a wife and mother, especially now.”

“Why now?” Mariah inquired. Unlike Jack, she had a healthy curiosity about her Chicago cousins and was eager to learn more about them.

Shari rubbed her stomach and then looked into Mariah’s eyes with a huge grin, “Grant and I are expecting our second child. We’re about to make Andre a big brother.”

All the air in the room seemed to vanquish, as if sucked out by a backdraft in a fire, and Mariah thought she might expire on the spot. Not that she didn’t wish Shari every happiness, but this was the last thing she wanted to hear.

Yet there was nothing she could do except stand there and fake a smile, because Shari was still speaking.

“We didn’t want to announce it yet,” she was saying, “until I was in my second trimester, but I think it’s safe now to tell the family.”

Mariah pasted a smile onto her face even though deep down she knew it was less than genuine. She so desperately wanted to be in Shari’s place, pregnant with her own child, but it wasn’t in the cards for her. “That’s wonderful, Shari. I’m very happy for you.”

“Anyway, it looks like we’re just about finished up here.” Her cousin glanced around the nearly empty kitchen.

“Yes, it would appear that way,” Mariah responded.

Carter had already quietly sneaked off, no doubt to call his wife, Lorraine Hawthorne-Hayes Drayson, who was at home with their twin boys in Chicago. Not only was Lorraine a twin herself, but apparently twins ran in her family. Given that Carter had been a committed bachelor, it had surprised the family when he’d wasted no time starting a family with the former debutante, whose career as one of Chicago’s most sought-after artists allowed her to stay at home with their boys.

Mariah had hoped to spend more time with Belinda, but she had somehow disappeared, too. She was probably trying to catch Malik at the bakery, since he and her brother Drake were holding down the fort in Chicago.

“Let’s get out of here.” Mariah headed toward the door, with Shari on her heels, and turned off the lights.

As she locked up the bakery, it was hard for her to believe that she’d actually done it. She’d started her own business with her brothers’ help. Now what?

Chapter 3

Mariah was the first to arrive at the bakery the next morning. Unlike Chase, who had a set morning routine of cardio and weight training, followed by a healthy breakfast, or Jackson, who was no doubt rolling out of bed late because he’d spent the night having too much fun with some unsuspecting female, Mariah didn’t have any of those options. She was alone.

It wasn’t that she liked it that way. She’d loved being married and all that it had meant. She’d loved being Mrs. Richard Hems and being part of a couple, a unit and a partnership. She’d always thought her marriage would last. How wrong she’d been, Mariah thought as she opened the back door of the bakery.

She couldn’t focus on that now. She knew it wasn’t healthy to keep looking back; she had to focus on other things. Namely, on baking all the breakfast goods that she hoped would be necessary for the morning rush. Aunt Lillian believed in providing the freshest baked products each day, so any unpurchased item was given away to a local shelter at the end of the night.

Mariah quickly turned on the lights, grabbed her apron hanging on a hook nearby, and headed toward the kitchen to get down to business.

Two hours later, she was wrist deep in flour when her brother Jack finally deigned to gift her with his presence. She’d already prepared the first batch of pastries, from cinnamon and pecan rolls to Danishes and croissants, for the breakfast rush. She was now starting on the triple berry, blueberry, lemon and orange scones that were a big part of their menu selection.

“Look who finally decided to join me,” Mariah said, as he slowly made his way to the sink to wash his hands.

“Don’t start, Ri,” he replied, using his nickname for her. When he was finished, he grabbed a paper towel and dried his hands.

Mariah quirked her brow. “You were supposed to be here—” she glanced at her watch “—hours ago. I needed help. I haven’t even started on the muffins yet.”

“I’m sorry, okay?” Jackson responded as he quickly grabbed several mixing bowls and ingredients for the muffins from the cabinets and refrigerator.

She was surprised that for once he offered an apology instead of an excuse. “I presume you were with one of your admirers from the grand opening?” Mariah selected a handful of dough and set it on the already floured counter. She rolled the dough and used a scone cutter to cut out the pieces before placing them on a greased cookie sheet.

Jackson gave her a sly smile. “A gentleman never kisses and tells.”

“Well, a certain gentleman needs to set his alarm so he’s not late again. I can’t do this without you,” Mariah replied.

“Duly noted. What’s got your panties in a twist?”

“Nothing.”

Jackson stopped mixing the dry ingredients and looked at his sister.

Could he see that she hadn’t really slept that well? The strain of the previous day had caught up to Mariah. She couldn’t pinpoint exactly what had made her uneasy. Was it their parents’ less than enthusiastic response to the bakery opening? Or perhaps it was meeting that sexy stranger who’d caught her eye from the second she’d seen him strolling down the sidewalk, and turning down his offer of a date? Or maybe it was Shari revealing that she was pregnant yet again, when Mariah’s hopes of motherhood had been repeatedly dashed year after year during her five-year marriage? Maybe it was a combination of all three causing her lack of sleep. In any event, she’d been up with the roosters.

“You’re frowning,” Jackson said. “Did something happen last night? Did you go out with Everett Myers?”

Mariah spun around to face him. “Why would you ask such a thing?”

Her brother shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe ’cause the guy was really feeling you and cock-blocked anyone from getting close to you during the party.”

Mariah chuckled. She hadn’t realized that was what he was doing, but he had made his intentions clear, especially when he’d grasped her arm and damn near demanded she give him a tour of the bakery.

“C’mon,” Jackson said, “I know it’s been a long time since you’ve been on that horse—the dating horse, that is—but even you can recognize a man’s interest in you.” When she didn’t respond right away, he asked, “Can’t you?”

Mariah let out a long, exasperated sigh. “Of course I can. I’m not blind.”

“Then why didn’t you give the brother a chance?” Jackson inquired.

“I’m just not ready yet.”

“Will you ever be?”

Luckily, Mariah didn’t have to answer that question because the buzzer on the oven sounded, signaling that her second batch of pastries was ready. She scooted over to remove the delicious treats from the stove, effectively ending their conversation.

They didn’t have a chance to pick up where they left off because their third baker arrived. Nancy Alvarez was a middle-aged woman with a background in the bakery business, and she knew her stuff. It had taken some convincing to talk Nancy into working for them, but once Mariah had sweetened the deal by making it part-time, with Mariah taking the early morning shift, she’d acquiesced.

Among the three of them, they were able to get a lot accomplished, and were ready to open their doors at 7:00 a.m. for the breakfast rush.

Since she’d been the first to arrive, Mariah left Jackson and Nancy in the kitchen while she attended to the front of the house. Customers slowly trickled in, wanting delicious baked goods, but eventually business took off and the morning sped by.