Sweet secrets…

It has been almost five years since Shari Drayson graduated college—almost five years since she had her heart broken. Now the only man in her life is her cherished son, Andre. But her life is full, and her family’s bakery is about to appear in a baking competition on national TV. Who needs love when you’ve got pastries?

Sweetest seduction…

When Grant Robinson finally tracks Shari down in Chicago, he expects she will still be beautiful. He expects she will still be smart. What he doesn’t expect is her four-year-old son—who looks exactly like him. The wealthy restaurateur is stunned, and his anger wars with passion for the woman he has never truly forgotten. Determined to claim what is his, Grant insists they marry at once. But his bride soon realizes she’s at risk for another heartbreak. Can Grant’s skillful form of persuasion change her mind and convince her that his love is all she really needs?

“Those are my terms. Take it or leave it.”

Shari shrugged with resignation and replied in a low, tormented voice, “Okay.”

Grant walked toward her and lifted her chin. “What was that?” His gaze traveled over her face and searched her big brown eyes.

Shari looked up at him and Grant felt his blood rushing through his veins. “I said I will marry you.”

“Then let’s kiss on it.” Before Grant knew what he was doing, he was lowering his head and slowly brushing his lips across Shari’s. He hadn’t meant to kiss her. He was still furious. He had intended to throttle her, but she looked so vulnerable, the way she had that night so many years ago, that again he was powerless to resist.

Her lips were soft and moist and she tasted as sweet as he remembered that night in the dorm. Grant lost himself in the kiss and circled his arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him. He deepened the kiss by using his tongue to trace the outline of her lips until she parted her mouth and opened up to him. He wrapped his tongue around hers, entwining it with his, sucking it, devouring it. Shari didn’t object. She responded to his kiss.

The ringing of a cell phone snapped Grant out of the kiss just as if someone had poured cold water over him. What was he doing? He was kissing the woman who’d kept his son a secret from him for four years.

YAHRAH ST. JOHN

is the author of ten books and numerous short stories. A graduate of Hyde Park Career Academy, she earned a bachelor of arts degree in English from Northwestern University. Her books have garnered four-star ratings from RT Book Reviews, Rawsistaz Reviewers, Romance in Color and numerous book clubs. In 2012, St. John was nominated for RT Book Reviews Reviewer’s Choice Award for Best Series Romance. A member of Romance Writers of America, St. John is an avid reader of all genres. She enjoys the arts, cooking, traveling, basketball and adventure sports, but her true passion remains writing. St. John lives in sunny Orlando, the City Beautiful.

Delicious Destiny

Yahrah St. John

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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Dear Reader,

I hoped you enjoyed the conclusion to The Draysons: Sprinkled with Love trilogy. It was a pleasure to be included in the miniseries with wonderful writers such as A.C. Arthur and Farrah Rochon.

My goal was to use Shari Drayson’s history with Dina and force a marriage of convenience with the love of her life—Grant. I heighten the drama with the You Take the Cake Competition as the backdrop. I thoroughly enjoyed researching baking, visiting Sweet Designs bakery in Orlando and watching a lot of Cupcake Wars.

Visit my website at www.yahrahstjohn.com for the latest updates or contact me via email at Yahrah@yahrahstjohn.com.

Warmest wishes,

Yahrah St. John

To my boyfriend, Freddie Blackman,

for all his love and support

A huge thank-you to Susan and David Clippinger of

Sweet Designs Kitchen in Hunter’s Creek for showing me the bakery business. I couldn’t continue to pursue my passion without my Dad, Austin Mitchell; 2nd moms, Asilee Mitchell and Beatrice Astwood; cousin Yahudiah Chodosh; sisters and BFFs Dimitra Astwood, Therolyn Rodgers, Tiffany Griffin and Tonya Mitchell, Kiara Ashanti and Bhushan Sukrham.

You keep me grounded. To all my fans for their loyalty,

you’re simply the best.

Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Epilogue

Prologue

“You have to come with me,” Shari pleaded with her best friend and roommate, Dina English, as they sat in their dorm room at Ledgeman University. “Everyone from our graduate business class is going, and Grant is going to be there.”

Shari had an enormous crush on Grant Robinson, the six-foot-tall graduate student who was the object of her fantasies. He was breathtakingly handsome and brilliant. He was the only student she knew who dressed up when he came to class, usually in trousers, a button-down shirt and loafers. The problem was that Grant could have any girl he wanted, so why was she pining for a man she could never have? Could it be because he was every bit as nice as he seemed? In class, he always treated Shari with respect, as if her ideas and opinions mattered.

“All right, I’ll go.” Dina sighed. “Otherwise, I’ll never hear the end of it.”

“You’re a lifesaver.” Shari breathed a sigh of relief. If Dina hadn’t agreed, Shari wouldn’t have felt confident enough to go by herself. At five foot nine, Dina was slim and gorgeous, with fair skin and high cheekbones. She was easily one of the most popular girls on campus. Meanwhile, Shari was five feet six inches with brown skin, a round face, large nose and a curvy figure.

Shari busied herself getting ready for the party that night, humming happily the whole time.

* * *

A few hours later, they arrived at the Omega Psi Phi’s party. Dina wore skinny jeans and a flattering halter top and looked as if she had walked off the pages of Essence. The best Shari had been able to manage was black jeans and a print T-shirt. Since she’d been at Ledgeman, Shari had gained the infamous “freshman fifteen” and hadn’t been able to take off the extra weight.

Dina worked the party, flirting with several men, leaving Shari to her own devices. Shari was nervous about seeing Grant, so she downed cup after cup of beer. The party became a blur. She did remember, however, the moment Grant stepped in, like a knight in shining armor, and told her he was taking her back to her dorm because she’d had too much to drink. To have the object of her affection take an interest in her welfare was intoxicating. Or was it just the liquor talking?

When they got back to her dorm room, Grant deposited Shari on her perfectly made-up bed, which was right next to Dina’s unmade one. He settled her in the bed and then stood.

“I hate to leave you here unattended,” he said, looking around at the half-neat, half-unkempt room as if he was afraid to leave her alone.

“Then don’t leave,” Shari said, staring at him openly. “Stay awhile.”

“Okay.” He sat back down on her bed with his hands clutched in his lap.

An hour later, after they’d chatted about classes and campus gossip, Grant stood up to leave since Shari appeared somewhat sober.

“Wait!” Shari sat up on her knees, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. Grant appeared taken aback as if he hadn’t seen that coming, so Shari pulled away. “Do you think I’m ugly?” she asked, frowning. She felt foolish for kissing him.

“Of course not.”

“Just not pretty enough to kiss?” Shari inquired. She slumped back down onto her hunches on the bed. “Is that why you didn’t kiss me back? Is something wrong with me? I mean, even my so-called boyfriend, Thomas, won’t kiss me and we’re supposed to be dating.”

“That’s not it at all.” Grant glanced down and pushed back a tiny strand of hair that had fallen in Shari’s face and then stroked her cheek. And as if trying to reassure her, he kissed her. It wasn’t a simple kiss, either. It was a kiss meant to illicit passion. And it did. The kiss turned pretty quickly into something more. Next thing she knew, Grant was pushing her back onto the bed and lowering himself on top of her. He gathered her close in his arms, and she gripped his head with both her hands and kissed him back in an explosion of passion.

Grant stroked her lips over and over with his, thrusting his tongue in and out of her mouth. His hands wandered over her back and derriere, bringing her closer to his hardness. She didn’t stop him when he began unbuttoning her shirt and tossed it aside. Nor did she stop him when he began palming her breasts or reached behind her and unsnapped her bra. She was fully involved in the kiss and it was inciting all the harbored attraction she’d had for him. She could hear his breathing becoming labored. She wanted more.

But Grant broke the kiss and lifted his head.

“Why did you stop?” Shari asked, looking up at him. She knew he wanted her because the lower half of his body was straining in his jeans against her. And the sensual tension that was mounting inside her was like nothing she’d ever felt before. Her senses were acutely aware of Grant. How he tasted slightly salty from the chips and beer at the party. How he smelled spicy and musky. And he felt...well, his hair wasn’t coarse like some men. It felt like fine silk and she wanted to continue running her fingers through it. Hell, she could go on kissing him forever. “I don’t want you to stop.” She reached for him again. “I want this. I want you.”

Grant seemed to be warring with himself, and Shari could sense it. She could see the intense heat in his jade eyes, and it excited her to see the passion lying in them. To help him along, Shari leaned in and traced a teasing path with her tongue from his neck and up to his ear before sucking on it. Grant groaned aloud and she knew she’d found his sensitive spot. She had him right where she wanted him, and there was no turning back. She couldn’t believe she was being so bold, so daring, but she wanted this man. She slid into his lap and ground her body against him, causing a thrilling sensation to form between her legs.

Shari felt the moment Grant’s resolve dissipated because his tongue dove inside her mouth to duel with hers, causing Shari to shiver deliciously. Then his palm found its way back to one plump breast and he bent down to suck on the globe. Shari forgot to breathe. Instead, she arched against him, eager for more.

Grant quickly began undressing her, unzipping her jeans and slowly pulling them and her panties off in one swift motion. It wasn’t long before was he was naked beside her. Kissing her. Touching her. Tasting her. She purred in her throat when Grant entered her and began moving inside her. She’d barely even felt the slight pain as Grant broke through her virgin barrier and neither, apparently, had he. The exquisite slowness of Grant’s thrusting stirred all her emotions and Shari moaned aloud. Pleasure coiled through her, slow and deep, causing tension to build so much so that Shari thought she would go up in flames at any moment. And she did.

Blissfully pulsing, their orgasms came almost simultaneously, draining them until they both fell languid on her bed. Softly, tenderly, Grant reached over and stroked her cheek. Shari felt tranquil and at peace for the first time in her life. Her first time had been with Grant and had been everything she could have hoped for. As she drifted off to sleep, she hoped they would have this moment again someday.

“What the hell?” Dina said from the doorway of their dorm room the following morning.

Shari wiped the sleep from her eyes and peered across at Dina and then at Grant, who was rising beside her, bare chested and all. Dina must have stayed out the night before if she was just returning home. Shari reached across and pulled a sheet across her naked body.

“I think we all know what happened,” Grant said sheepishly from her side. “Could you be so kind as to give us some privacy, Dina?”

“I guess I have no choice,” she said haughtily, slamming the door behind her.

Once she’d gone, Grant sprinted out of Shari’s bed, dressed and ducked out the room. He was gone so fast that Shari hadn’t been able to tell him just how much she’d enjoyed herself.

The following day was worse because as soon as he saw her, Shari noticed how embarrassed Grant looked. Gone was the easy camaraderie they’d shared before they’d slept together, and in its place was a weird awkwardness that she didn’t know how to combat. She sought to alleviate his fears by making light of their night together.

“Listen, Grant,” she said after class ended and the room had cleared. “About last night...”

“I am so sorry I allowed things to go as far as they did—”

“There’s no need for you to feel sorry,” Shari said, interrupting him. “We’re good. Last night was just a hookup.” She looked down as she spoke. It was a lie, but she didn’t know what else to say. “We’re still friends. Nothing has to change. I don’t want you to feel like you owe me anything.”

“What?” Grant was floored. He hadn’t expected this reaction. He wanted to see if Shari forgave him for behaving so selfishly and taking what he wanted regardless of whether it was the right thing to do. He was hoping she would give him another chance to start fresh and take her out on a proper date. He desperately wanted to see her on a permanent basis, but it was clear she felt differently. And it crushed him.

“I...I don’t want you to feel....you know...bad,” Shari reiterated, fumbling over her words. “What’s done is done. I just hope it doesn’t ruin our friendship.”

“Uh, okay,” Grant conceded. He couldn’t believe Shari was being this coldhearted about the intimacy they’d shared. Could he have been wrong about her all along? Perhaps around campus they had it wrong. Shari was the heartless bitch and Dina was the nice one. “If that’s the way you want it.”

“I do.” Shari offered her hand. “Friends?”

“Friends.” Grant took her hand and shook it reluctantly.

* * *

Shari wished she could say the same about her roommate. Two months later, she caught Dina and Grant in the courtyard holding hands and whispering softly into each other’s ear.

“No, no, no.” She shook her head and ducked behind a column so the duo wouldn’t see her. Shari wiped away the tears rolling down her cheeks at seeing her best friend betray her. Surely Dina wouldn’t steal the man she’d adored. The man with whom she’d shared her first time. It was girlfriend code. You never dated a man your friend had been with or wanted. She’d told Dina how she felt about Grant. Why would Dina do this to her?

The answer came to her like someone had dropped a ton of bricks over her head. Nausea rose up in Shari’s throat and she clutched her mouth. Ohmigod. Dina had wanted Grant all along and was merely humoring Shari’s deluded fantasies. It must have really gotten her goat that Shari had managed to get Grant in her bed. So she’d turned on the charm and made sure Shari would never have a chance with Grant again. How could she have been a fool this entire time? How had she not seen who Dina truly was?

Shari rushed into the bathroom in the Business Administration hall, but that didn’t stop her bout of nausea. Nothing did. Several hours later, she was staring at the nurse in the Health Clinic.

“When was your last period?” the nurse inquired, jotting down some notes.

Dread rushed through Shari. Her period. Her mind raced to the last time she recalled having it. Two weeks before her one-night stand with Grant. She hadn’t had one since, hadn’t even thought about it because she’d been trying to push down her feelings for Grant. Her hand flew to her mouth.

The nurse looked at her. “So we need a pregnancy test, then?”

Chapter 1

“Our cake is a visual masterpiece,” Shari told her cousin, Carter Drayson, the artisan cake maker for Lillian’s Bakery, and the black sheep of the family. They stood in a large studio kitchen with cameras in front of them. “It’s by far the best cake. We are going to win this.”

Shari glanced behind her to look at the four-tier champagne cake before finally setting her eyes on her nemesis Dina English’s cake from Brown Sugar Bakery.

Dina was standing there, looking poised and sophisticated in designer duds, making Shari feel dowdy in her jeans and Lillian’s Bakery T-shirt. But that was okay, because Lillian’s was the better bakery. Not only had Dina stolen Grant Robinson, Shari’s first love, and run off with him to get married, but she’d stolen Lillian’s recipes for her own bakery. And Shari felt responsible.

When Shari and Dina had attended Ledgeman University together, Grandma Lillian had taken a liking to Dina almost immediately and offered her a summer job after freshman year. While in college, Dina had continued to work at Lillian’s during the summers. Shari had hoped that she and Dina would work side by side at the bakery after graduation. They’d been a great team. With Shari’s background in business and Dina’s finesse, they would have been unstoppable. Shari would have finally risen to the top in her family instead of always feeling like a dimly lit planet among her confident, smart cousins, the real stars of the Drayson clan. But life had thrown her a curveball when Dina had left to create her own bakery.

Five years later and Shari had never truly recovered from the betrayal. How could she when Dina had married her son’s father and prevented them from ever being a real family?

“We got this,” Carter said confidently. He had an arrogant swag about him that Shari sometimes envied.

You Take the Cake’s host came over and stood between the two bakeries and said, “And the winner is... Brown Sugar Bakery!” Applause erupted from the live audience, and Shari’s heart deflated.

How can this be? Shari looked over at Brown Sugar’s creation. The cake was at best ordinary.

Dina came over and laughed. “That’s right, Shari. I win again.”

Shari rushed over to the host of the show and grabbed his arm. “There has to be a mistake. She should be disqualified.”

“Why? What’s wrong?” the host asked.

“The whole world should know what kind of person Dina English is.” Shari turned and glared at Dina. “She traded on our nearly four-year friendship, turned her back on my family’s bakery and then stole the man I loved. You can’t let her win!”

Dina smirked and gave Shari a pitiful look as she walked toward her. “You’re so pathetic. Can’t you see? I’ve already won.”

Shari looked down, but not before seeing, to her horror, Dina holding her son, Andre, in her arms and carrying him away. “Noooo!”

Shari woke up with a start and her eyes popped open. She was surprised to find her four-year-old son, Andre, peering down at her. He was wearing his favorite Spiderman pajamas and was holding his stuffed animal, Wiggles. “Mama, are you okay? Were you having a bad dream? You were yelling awfully loud.”

“I must’ve been, baby.” Shari sat upright, throwing the down comforter back off and pulling Andre into a bear hug. “I’m sorry if Mommy scared you.” She glanced at herself in the mirror. The wrap she’d been wearing on her hair had come off, and her hair was a tangled mess. Add the old tank top and pajama bottoms she was wearing and it was no wonder she couldn’t find a man.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Andre’s expressive green eyes looked into her brown ones, eager for reassurance.

“I’m fine, I’m fine.” Shari scooped him up in her arms, slid on her slippers and padded off into the kitchen to make him some breakfast.

“Can I have Cocoa Puffs?” Andre asked when they reached her large, country-style eat-in kitchen.

It might be modest to some, but her two-bedroom bungalow in Chicago’s Glenville Heights was just perfect for her and Andre. Since she loved to cook, she had added modern white cabinets and appliances, including a flat-top stove, double-sided refrigerator and a dishwasher.

“Are you sure?” Shari inquired. “Because I was going to make chocolate chip pancakes, but if you’d rather cereal...” She shrugged her shoulders and waited for the response she knew was coming.

Andre shook his head. “No, I want pancakes! With lots of syrup.”

Shari smiled. “Sure thing.” She lowered him into a chair at the pedestal table.

She pulled the pancake mix and chocolate chip morsels out of the pantry and the milk and eggs out of the fridge. Usually, she would make them from scratch, but she needed to get to the bakery.

A couple of months ago, her grandmother, Lillian Reynolds-Drayson, had informed her children and grandchildren that she’d signed the bakery up to participate in a reality TV Show called You Take the Cake. On the show, bakeries were asked to perform culinary feats, and at stake was a $100,000 prize. Last year’s winners had become overnight sensations and their bakery had gained national prominence. For two months, the entire Drayson clan had been looking at recipes and cake designs in the show’s “Around the World” theme to blow the competition away.

Her grandmother had made quite a speech about how they had to stop all the backbiting and work together as a family. She indicated she would soon be passing the business to one of her grandchildren. The decision wasn’t going to be an easy one. They were all qualified to run Lillian’s. They’d all started learning the business from the bottom up, delivering cakes, working the dock and cleaning the store.

Shari knew she had tough competition from her cousins for the position. Shari, Drake, Belinda and Carter all considered themselves the best bakers in the shop. No wonder Grandma Lillian couldn’t decide among them.

Her cousin Belinda, Aunt Daisy’s daughter, excelled at everything she did whether it was school or baking. Somehow, she made it all look effortless. Belinda always dressed smartly in designer clothes and didn’t go out of the house without her full makeup and her long black hair ironed bone straight. Now, she’d hooked one-time basketball pro and Lillian’s baker, Malik Anthony. Belinda was now set to be the first of her cousins to marry.

Then there was Belinda’s brother Drake. He knew marketing and social media better than any of them. Drake, Malik and Carter had started a blog called “Brothers Who Bake” that offered recipes and advice and was attracting a wide audience. The success of the blog had inspired them to write a cookbook that was now under contract with a major publishing house.

Last but not least, there was Carter Drayson, Lillian’s artisan cake maker and a real charmer. Up until recently, her cousin had been a true ladies’ man just like his father, Uncle Devon, who’d never married. But then her tall, handsome cousin had gotten hit by the love bug last month. And on top of that, Carter was the most sought-after cake designer at Lillian’s. Shari couldn’t help but be a little resentful of her older cousin. She, too, was an equally skilled baker and designer, but she had to admit no one could create artistry on cakes quite like him.

Shari knew she was good, but in a family of stars, it was hard carving out her piece of the pie. She was not as confident as Belinda, as technically savvy as Drake or as skilled as Carter, but she deserved a shot to run Lillian’s. Her business degree was evidence of that and she had come up with the idea to package Lillian’s cake mixes. But somehow her baby sister, Monica, had taken over running the cake mix business; she just had to prove to Grandma Lillian that she had what it took to be a leader.

* * *

Two hours later, Shari and Andre walked from the parking garage where she had a reserved spot to the front of Lillian’s on North Michigan Avenue. Shari smiled as she always did when she saw the marble facade standing out from the other Magnificent Mile designer boutiques. Her grandparents owned the entire sixteen-story building, which included a slew of offices on floors two through sixteen, while Lillian’s Bakery spanned the entire first floor.

Lillian’s was written in large, gold, script lettering on the storefront windows through which passersby gazed at ornate wedding cakes and lavish cake designs. Some might say the cakes, cookies and other sumptuous desserts looked like fancy pieces of jewelry or handbags, but the best part was that they were edible.

Lillian’s had been a Chicago staple since the 1960s when her grandparents had opened their first storefront in Hyde Park. Their love story was one Shari would never forget. Her grandmother, Lillian Reynolds-Drayson, was a widowed single mother whose husband, Jack Reynolds, died of a heart attack. Shari’s father, Dwight, had only been a year old at the time. Grandpa Henry had arrived a few years later and patiently wooed her grandmother until she’d finally let her guard down. They were married soon after and Grandpa Henry adopted her father. As for the business, the rest, as they say, was history.

Shari couldn’t help but think of that story every time she entered Lillian’s. Today was no exception, even as she rushed inside because she was a few minutes late. Andre had lost his favorite toy, and they’d been unable to leave the house until he’d found it.

The store always brought a smile to her face. Her grandparents had spared no expense with the decor. It screamed opulence and elegance. Rich mahogany woodwork shined throughout the store while the crystal chandeliers sparkled like brilliant diamonds. Ribbons of copper and gold were inlaid in the glistening marble countertops and matched the ambiance of the various boutiques on the Magnificent Mile, where only the rich and famous shopped.

Grandpa Henry was working the front counter and retail area when she arrived. His hair was shock full of gray and he was dressed in a Tommy Bahama shirt and trousers. “You’re late, Shari,” he said. “Everyone’s already here.”

“I know, Grandpa,” Shari responded. “Can you watch Andre while I go into the meeting?”

“Of course, darling.” Grandpa Henry smiled down at his great-grandson. “Come with great-grandpa.” He held out his hand and Andre took it.

Shari rushed down the hallway past the framed photographs of Lillian’s through the years. Her grandmother had been a real looker in her heyday. Even now, she was tall and slim with caramel skin, and her face held nary a wrinkle even though she was approaching eighty. There was a picture of Grandma Lillian holding Shari’s father, Dwight, in front of the first storefront in Hyde Park, another of the grand opening of the Mag Mile location, but Shari’s favorite was the Drayson family picture when Lillian’s was featured in a local magazine a year ago.

She walked past the kitchen to the adjacent executive office area, which included a conference room, and found the entire Drayson family already gathered around a large square table with high-backed chairs.

“Hello, hello.” Shari gave a quick smile to her grandmother, who was sitting at the head of the table, while Aunt Daisy and Uncle Devon, her cousins and Belinda’s fiancé, Malik, sat flanking each other. Shari nodded at her father and her sister Monica before sliding into an open chair.

“So happy you could join us,” Grandma Lillian said reproachfully.

Shari shrugged. “Andre was a handful this morning.”

“When isn’t Andre a handful?” Carter said fondly from across the table.

Shari knew Carter adored his little cousin and the feeling was mutual. Andre looked up to his “uncle” Carter. She supposed Andre had a special place in his heart because he was a little bit mischievous and probably reminded Carter of himself.

Shari’s sister Monica laughed. “This is true.” Watching Andre was not an easy task, Shari knew, and because Monica was so short at five foot three, and Andre was really tall for his age, Monica found him to be a handful.

“Well, as you know, the You Take the Cake competition is almost upon us,” Lillian said. “I’d like to know what recipes and plans you’ve come up with to ensure Lillian’s the win.”

Everyone started talking all at once, eager to impress Grandma Lillian with their recipes. “One at a time, please,” she admonished, holding up her hand.

As usual, Drake was the first to speak. Adjusting his gold-rimmed glasses, he explained, “Carter, Malik and I have come up with a number of great recipes.”

Her cousin Drake had a medium build that was always dressed in trendy clothes. Today he wore a military jacket, jeans, an oxford shirt and Timberland boots. He looked like perfection. And he always thought he was right.

Belinda spoke next. “And I’ve been collaborating with Malik here—” she turned to give her fiancé a wink “—on a couple of wedding cake designs.”

Grandma Lillian turned to Shari. “Shari, how about you?”

All eyes in the room turned to Shari and she swallowed hard.

“I have some ideas, too,” she offered, “using unconventional ingredients in the cakes. You know, the show is known for its mystery ingredients.”

“That sounds great, dear,” Grandma Lillian said. “Sounds like everyone’s come to the table with something.”

“I think we should do a dry run of the recipes,” her father added. “We should start today.”

His booming baritone voice, not to mention the touch of gray at his temples, lent him an air of dominance. Everyone quickly nodded their assent to his suggestion.

“Good. If there’s nothing else...” Grandma Lillian began, but Carter interrupted her.

“Well, actually there is,” Carter said.

“Oh, please, Carter,” Grandma Lillian said. “Please tell me you haven’t broken that young girl’s heart.”

Carter had been dating socialite Lorraine Hawthorne-Hayes for about five weeks. They’d even made the paper a couple of times. Lorraine was not Carter’s typical woman. Yes, she was beautiful, but she dressed in classic fashions unlike the flashier women he usually dated. Lorraine was the daughter of Arnold and Abigail Hawthorne-Hayes of Hawthorne-Hayes Jewelers. The Hawthorne-Hayes family was Chicago royalty and easily outranked the Draysons. Everyone in the family was waiting for Carter to say he’d tired of Lorraine and moved on to the next woman.

Shari hoped not. She’d warned Carter about breaking Lorraine’s heart.

“Actually quite the opposite,” Carter responded, smiling from ear to ear. “Lorraine and I are engaged.”

“Get out!” Devon jumped up out of his chair and faced his son. “You! Engaged?”

“That’s right, Dad.” Carter laughed. “I’m not going to be a perennial bachelor like you.”

“Congratulations, Carter.” Shari leaned over and gave him a playful punch while Malik and Drake reached across the table and shook his hand affectionately.

“That’s wonderful news,” Grandma Lillian replied. “Two grandchildren engaged this year!” She glanced at Belinda and Carter, and then at Shari. “I hope everyone will follow your example.”

Shari lowered her head. She knew that comment was directed at her. Her family had been disappointed when she’d had Andre out of wedlock. She’d tarnished the Drayson family name, but Shari didn’t care. She would do it again a thousand times over. She loved Andre and wouldn’t trade him for anything in the world.

“Don’t worry, kid,” Carter whispered in Shari’s ear. “She’s only using you as a whipping boy because I’m finally out of the doghouse. Keep your head up.”

“Oh, I don’t regret having my son for a second,” Shari replied. It was the one decision she’d been clear on from the moment she’d discovered she was pregnant.

Carter motioned with his hands for everyone to quiet down. “I’m not finished yet. I have other news.”

“As if your engagement isn’t news enough,” his best friend, Malik, replied laughing.

Carter rolled his eyes. “You all know that I was approached by a New York restaurateur who offered me the job of executive baker for his operation, but have decided to stay.”

“No, I didn’t know. Who’s this restaurateur who tried to steal you away from us?” Shari asked. Despite his playboy ways, Shari knew that Andre was attached to his “uncle” Carter and she was glad he wasn’t leaving Chicago.

Carter turned to Shari. “Does the name Grant Robinson ring a bell?”

All color rushed out of Shari’s face at hearing Grant’s name again after all this time, and her eyes widened in alarm. “Uh, I think I remember him,” she finally managed to eke out. “Did he say anything about me?”

“He didn’t say much,” Carter replied. “He only mentioned that you two went to college together and that he couldn’t wait to catch up on old times.”

Like that was even possible, Shari thought. Clearly what she and Grant had shared together had meant nothing to him. How could he think of her so casually as if they’d never slept together?

Carter continued, interrupting her thoughts. “Grant indicated that even if I chose to turn the job down, there might be an opportunity with Lillian’s to supply the desserts to his restaurant chain. He’s on his way here now.”

Grant was coming to Lillian’s? Shari was frozen speechless. She hadn’t seen the man since she’d graduated from Ledgeman University, and he’d broken her heart by marrying her former best friend and college roommate, Dina English.

“Sounds promising,” her father said. “I’d like to meet him.”

Her father, Dwight, had taken over the business aspects of the Drayson Corporation while her uncle Devon focused on the real-estate end of the family business. The Drayson family had leveraged their income from the family business and invested wisely in Chicago real estate. Their real-estate interests had made them multimillionaires.

“Absolutely,” Carter said and then glanced at Shari.

Shari felt like she was going to be physically ill. “If you’ll excuse me...” She rushed out of the conference room, ran to the unisex restroom and locked the door firmly behind her. Shari tried to take deep, calming breaths to steady her nerves, but she was having a hard time catching her breath. Her breathing was shallow and uneasy at the thought of meeting her son’s father face-to-face after five years.

Everyone in the family thought Thomas Abernathy, the guy Shari had dated casually in college, was Andre’s father and despised him for leaving her high and dry. They couldn’t be more wrong. Thomas had been a good friend who’d accompanied her to social events, but they’d never been together sexually. Shari had always suspected he was gay, but it wasn’t until she’d come clean about sleeping with Grant that he’d dropped the bomb and admitted that he was indeed gay. But the poor thing refused to come out of the closet to his family. Shari wasn’t about to force his hand, so she’d allowed the Drayson family to believe he was Andre’s father when in fact, Grant Robinson was Andre’s dad.

How was she going to face Grant after all this time? And how would she be able to keep Andre out of his sight?

Chapter 2

“We’re here, sir,” the driver of Grant Robinson’s town car said when they arrived in front of Lillian’s. Grant glanced out of the window. He’d come to Chicago under the guise of speaking with Carter Drayson about the possibility of having Lillian’s desserts sold at Robinson Restaurants, but that wasn’t his only reason for coming. He was dying to see Shari Drayson again.

What had it been? Five years since he’d seen her last? A day hadn’t gone by when he hadn’t thought of her pretty face, large brown eyes and ample curves. He’d been attracted to Shari since they’d gone to Ledgeman University and had been in the same study group, but then they’d settled into an easy friendship.

It wasn’t until that fateful night at a frat party that their relationship had taken a sudden and interesting turn. After a grueling midterm exam, their study group had gone out partying and Shari had really tied one on. His intent had been to take her home, put her to bed and go home. Instead, emboldened by the liquor, Shari had planted a kiss on him that had stirred his hidden passions. He’d acted on his lust and made love to her.

The next morning, he’d regretted taking advantage of her while she was inebriated, but she’d been so cute and sexy wearing a cutoff T-shirt and fitted jeans that his hormones had taken over. He would have preferred to have courted Shari properly, taken her out to the movies or to dinner. And he would have done so, finally revealing his true feelings for her without alcohol clouding their judgment. Instead, Shari had told him what they’d shared had been a casual hookup between friends and that he didn’t owe her anything.

Worse yet, her roommate and his ex-wife, Dina English, had caught them in bed together, which only added to the awkward situation. After that, Dina had turned up the heat and made a play for him, and without Shari giving him any sign of interest, he’d given in to Dina’s incessant flirting.

Big mistake. Grant should never have gotten involved with Dina. Truth be told, Dina was a salve for his broken heart after Shari. He’d thought the fact that they’d made love would have changed their friendship into something more serious, but it hadn’t. So when Dina had shown genuine interest in him, he’d gotten caught up in the adoration. Then, of course, there was the pressure from his father to settle down and get focused. His father had indicated he wouldn’t pass the family restaurants over to him until he was married.

His parents owned a slew of soul-food restaurants across the country, and Grant was poised to run them—if he found a wife. And so, when Dina convinced him to go to Las Vegas soon after graduation, they’d gotten hitched. Of course, his parents hadn’t been happy. They’d expected a large ceremony full of pomp and circumstance. It didn’t matter, though, because his marriage had lasted less than a year.

Why? Because Grant had regretted the decision almost instantly. Marrying Dina had been one of the poorest decisions of his life. Worse, he’d resented his father, Warren Robinson, for forcing him into a loveless marriage. As soon as he was able, he’d started his own restaurant specializing in New American cuisine. One restaurant had turned into two and so on and so on. Now he owned a chain of Robinson Restaurants across the East Coast.

Regrets. Missed opportunities. Lost time. Those were the words he thought of when he thought about Shari Drayson. But no more. He’d come here today to find out if there was a chance to recapture the passion they’d shared that one night. Now that time had passed, Grant was sure that his emotion hadn’t been one-sided, that Shari had to have felt it, too. This time he wasn’t walking away until he found out.

Grant pulled on the brass-plated door handle and walked inside. When he did, he was overcome with the aroma of freshly baked goods. His nose savored the sweet smell, and his eyes grew large as he looked around the showroom. He was impressed by the crystal chandeliers, marble floors and counters, but even more so by the delectable treats, pastries, brownies, macaroons and cakes aligned in the display counter. He’d come here to see Shari and Carter, but first he had to have a taste of one of these sweet treats.

* * *

Shari couldn’t stay in the bathroom forever. Otherwise, her family would get suspicious and come looking for her. She stared at herself in the mirror. She was in no way ready to see Grant Robinson again. Look at her! The “mom clothes” she wore every day—blue jeans and a simple white peasant shirt cinched at the waist—didn’t scream sexy by any means.

To make matters worse, she had no makeup on other than some lip gloss. Whenever she was baking in the kitchen, she preferred to keep it simple and comfortable.

When she emerged from the bathroom, her family had dispersed in different directions, and she was on her way back to the conference room for her purse, in the hopes that her foundation compact was in it, when a baritone voice said from behind her, “Shari? Is that you?”

Her heart went pitter-pat. Slowly, Shari turned on her heel and looked up to find Grant standing next to Carter and smiling down at her. She’d forgotten how tall he was. He was at least six feet, and those dimples and green eyes... Now, those she remembered...because she saw them every day looking back at her. On her son’s face.

Grant was still sexier than any man had a right to be. He was wearing a stylish suit with Italian loafers and a blue striped tie. He was the picture of a successful businessman. He’d clearly achieved what he’d set out to do when he’d obtained his MBA at Ledgeman.

Before she could speak, Grant pulled her firmly against him for a warm hug. He didn’t immediately let go, allowing Shari to smell his musky, masculine scent.

She eventually was the one to pull away, and she looked up at him with an open, friendly smile. “Grant, it’s good to see you again.”

“You, too.” He grinned broadly.

Shari sighed inwardly. The years had been good to Grant. And he looked even more handsome, more distinguished than he did back in college. Her inner muscles churned, letting her know that the tug she’d felt years ago hadn’t dissipated and was still strong—no...stronger than before.

Shari came out of her daze and noticed that Carter and Grant had moved away, so she shuffled after them. Carter was introducing Grant to the rest of the family in the kitchen. Her father, especially, seemed very impressed with Grant’s success.

“Well, I for one don’t appreciate you trying to steal a member of my family away,” Grandma Lillian said from over by the massive table where she, Belinda, Malik and Drake were working on one of the wedding cake designs for the You Take The Cake competition.

When had they gotten started? Shari wondered. Probably when she was in the restroom for half an hour trying to figure out how she was going to handle being in the same room as Grant again. Why is it that he still has the same effect on me as he did when I was twenty? It still felt like he’d taken up all the air in the room, which was why she was having a hard time breathing again.

Shari tried to focus her thoughts when Grant turned to her and asked, “So everyone knows I tried to steal Carter?”

Shari nodded.

“Well, it was a worth a shot,” Grant said, turning back around to answer Mrs. Reynolds-Drayson’s question. “But after seeing this operation—” he motioned around the kitchen “—I can see why he wouldn’t leave. Your family is pretty amazing, which is why I have a proposition for you.”

Grandma Lillian eyed Grant suspiciously. She was wary of strangers, especially someone trying to steal one of her cubs.

“But first, I need Shari for a moment.” Grant pulled Shari away from the kitchen and into the conference room. “I was hoping we could talk.”

“About?” Shari could only muster one word sentences when in Grant’s presence.

“About what happened that night between us,” Grant said, shifting uncomfortably from side to side. He hated to bring it up, but he had to clear the air.

Shari looked at the door. She didn’t want any of her cousins to overhear the conversation. “Grant, I don’t think this is the time or place—”

Grant interrupted her as if he hadn’t heard a word she said. “I always thought you were a great girl, Shari. I still do. I just hope you don’t hold it against me that I took advantage of you that night and behaved so abominably.”

Shari wasn’t sure how to react to Grant’s apology. Maybe she wouldn’t have held it against him, if he hadn’t jumped from her bed into her best friend’s. But was it all his fault? She had told him that night that there were “no strings attached.” Even so, that didn’t change the fact that he’d rushed off into Dina’s arms and married the woman.

“So how’s Dina?” Shari inquired, her voice holding a touch of bitterness. She couldn’t allow herself to get caught up in Grant again.

Grant’s face darkened. “I wouldn’t know. We’re divorced, and I haven’t spoken to her in years.”

Shari’s heart leapt. He was divorced! When? Why? For how long?

“Mommy, Mommy!” Andre came bounding down the hall toward her. Shari bent down and he flew into her arms. Her heart began hammering furiously in her chest. She hadn’t been prepared for this introduction so quickly. She had no choice but to introduce her son to Grant and pray for the best. Perhaps he wouldn’t realize her secret...that Andre was his.

Chapter 3

“Andre, Mommy would like you to meet one of her old friends,” Shari said, turning and looking up at Grant, who was looking at her strangely. Was he surprised that she had a child? “Andre, this is Grant Robinson.”

Grant looked at Shari curiously for several moments, but didn’t say a word. Instead, he squatted down and shook hands with the little man.

Shari was floored. What should she do next? Should she say, by the way, this is your son?

“Nice to meet you,” Andre replied, shaking Grant’s hand. Shari’s throat constricted as she watched father and son interact for the first time.

“How long have you known my mommy?”

“A very long time,” Shari replied for Grant.

Grant rose to his feet. “He’s beautiful, Shari.”

“Thank you.”

Shari didn’t get to say anything more because Grandpa Henry came over to meet Grant. “Sorry, Shari,” Grandpa Henry apologized. “Andre got away from me up front. But I hear Mr. Robinson here is interested in Lillian’s and your father asked me to come get him about a proposition.”

Grandpa Henry grasped Grant by the shoulder and pulled him toward the executive office where her father and grandmother were waiting. “Let’s discuss some business.”

Shari walked out of the conference room and watched the men walk down the hall. She felt an impending sense of doom that all was not right with the world because there was no way that having Grant Robinson back in her life was going to end with a good result.

Andre poked her in the leg. “Is everything okay, Mommy?”

“Of course.” Shari bent down to pick him up. “Mommy’s got everything under control.”

* * *

“Are you sure about that?” Belinda whispered in Shari’s ear once Grant had walked off. “He’s pretty handsome. Not to mention sexy.”

Shari whirled around with Andre, the evidence of just how sexy Grant really was. She lowered their son to the ground. “Honey, why don’t you go to the kitchen and get a snack from one of your uncles?” Where had Belinda come from, anyway? She hadn’t even heard her sneak up.

Andre rushed off toward the kitchen to find Drake, Carter or Malik, whom he considered like uncles.

“You guys know each other, right?” Belinda asked. “Because his name sounds oddly familiar, like I’ve heard it before.”

Shari nodded. “We went to college together.”

“Oh, yes, now I remember.” Belinda eyes sparked with interest. “He’s the one you had a crush on, isn’t he?”

“One and the same. And then he went off and married Dina.” Shari tried not to sound bitter, but it was hard not to, knowing what Dina took from her—the chance to be with the father of her child.

Belinda’s mouth formed an O as if the light had finally dawned. “He married Dina? Well, that hits close to home.”

“You have no idea,” Shari murmured underneath her breath.

“Do you guys share some sort of history other than the Dina connection?” Belinda wondered aloud.

Shari eyed her suspiciously. Had she given something away? Was she sending off vibes that there was more to the story? “Why are you bringing this up?” She evaded the question rather than lie to her cousin.

Belinda shrugged. “Oh, no reason. I was just curious.”

Shari breathed a sigh of relief. “All right. Well, let’s go bake some cakes.” She left Belinda in the hall and walked ahead of her toward the kitchen. She didn’t want anyone to realize the true connection between her and Grant. But would that even be possible now that Grant had met Andre?

* * *

Grant eventually left Shari’s father and went in search of the lady herself. Although the older man seemed intent on talking about a business venture between the two companies, Grant’s mind’s was far from thinking about it. Yes, he was interested in having Lillian’s desserts exclusively in his restaurants, but after seeing Shari again and meeting her son, all bets were off.

He’d calculated the young boy’s age in his head and he had to be four or five at the most, which meant Shari had gotten pregnant in college. Was she pregnant when she’d slept with him? He recalled that she’d been dating some guy named Thomas. Was he Andre’s father? Or worse yet, could Andre be his?

As soon as the thought popped in his head, Grant quickly dismissed it. If Andre was his, he’d lost years of his son’s life, those early primary years when a son needed his father. Grant felt sick at the thought. Surely, Shari wouldn’t have kept Andre from him. Could she be that vindictive? He had started dating Dina soon after their encounter. Had Shari been so upset with him that she’d calculatingly decided to keep him from his child?

Grant had to know.

He found Shari in the kitchen with her family. He watched her from the doorway. What he’d always liked about Shari was that she wasn’t aware of her beauty. She was unpretentious. Always had been. Her dark brown hair was swept back in a long ponytail. She wore very little makeup other than some lipstick, but she was still the prettiest girl in the room. And her figure, although she was hiding behind a white shirt and baggy jeans, was just as curvy as Grant remembered. He closed his eyes for a second and recalled her full breasts and voluptuous behind. He would like nothing more than to smack it. Grant’s eyes popped open at the visual. He was daydreaming about what it would be like to make love with Shari again, even when he knew she could have kept a monumental secret from him for years. What was wrong with him?

He returned his focus back to Shari. She’d donned an apron over her jeans and it was splattered with flour, and she held a pastry bag in her hand that she was using to adorn a cake on a board. The entire family was working together as a team for some competition they were discussing. He wished he had the same camaraderie with his own family, but the Robinson bunch didn’t show affection toward each other. His father was a coldhearted businessman with a heart of a stone; he only cared about the bottom line. And his mother...well, she was a borderline drunk. Often in his youth, he’d find her passed out on the sofa after one too many vodka tonics. He barely spoke to his parents now. As an only child, he envied Shari her big family.

But if Andre was his, Grant was going to be a part of the Drayson family soon enough. And there was only one way to find out.

* * *

Shari glanced up and sucked in a deep breath. Grant was watching her from the kitchen doorway. When he saw that she’d caught him, he motioned her over. Reluctantly, Shari held the pastry bag out to Belinda. “You want to take over?”

Shari inclined her head toward the door, and Belinda smiled knowingly. “Just because I’m going to go talk to him, don’t go getting ideas,” Shari whispered.

“Who, me?” Belinda asked innocently.

Shari walked over to Grant and nodded when he said, “Sorry to disturb you, but do you have a moment?”

She glanced behind her to see several curious pairs of eyes staring at them. Her family was such nosy busybodies. “Yes, follow me.” She led him back into the conference room. “Was there something else?”

“Well, yes,” Grant said. “I was hoping you were free tonight for dinner.”

“Dinner?” She hadn’t expected that.

“I thought we could catch up,” Grant said. “You know, reminisce about old times. How about I pick you up around seven?”

“Well...I don’t know. There’s Andre to think about,” Shari began, but Grant refused to take no for an answer.

“With a family as large as this one, I’m sure you can find a babysitter. So what’s your address?”

Several minutes later, Shari had written down her address, handed it to Grant and arranged for babysitting all in one fell swoop. She was going out on a date with Grant Robinson.

* * *

Shari paced the floor of her home on Chicago’s north side in Glenville Heights waiting for Grant’s arrival. She hadn’t been out on a date in over two years. Most men her age weren’t interested in dating a single mother and so she’d become accustomed to staying home, curled up in front of the television or reading a good book while Andre played.

But her date tonight was much different than any of her other encounters. She was going out with Grant. The man she’d crushed on for years only to share a fateful one-night stand with him that had resulted in the love of her life, Andre. Was this really a date? she wondered. Grant had claimed he was asking her out to catch up with an old friend. Was she reading too much into it?

In any event, she’d dropped Andre off at her parents’ and so the night was hers to spend as she saw fit. Shari was a mix of emotions. Excitement. Nervousness. And fear. Fear that Grant might somehow realize the truth. But why would he? Everyone in the family assumed Andre’s father was Thomas Abernathy. They all assumed that when she told Thomas she was pregnant, he’d broken up with her.

Shari knew her family was completely off the mark. Andre’s father was gorgeous, sexy, smart, millionaire Grant Robinson. A man she’d never fully gotten over, and now she was about to spend the evening with him.

She’d debated with herself on what to wear, but had finally settled on a simple V-neck, sleeveless, jersey wrap dress. It showed a hint of cleavage, but not too much. She paired it with hoop earrings and simple sling-back sandals. She couldn’t wear stilettos like her little sister Monica and would probably fall over if she tried. It was the best she could do with short notice and her meager wardrobe. Monica and Belinda were always telling her to spruce up her appearance if she wanted to find a man, but Shari liked her jeans. Plus, she couldn’t pull off the hip Forever 21 clothes and stilettos like Monica or the designer clothes like Belinda.

Luckily, she didn’t have too long to wonder if her outfit was good enough because Grant arrived promptly at 7:00 p.m. When she opened the door, Grant was holding a bouquet of roses.

“For me?” Shari touched her chest.

“Of course.” Grant handed the flowers to her. Then his eyes gave her an appreciative once-over from head to toe. He must have liked the canary-yellow dress she was wearing because he commented, “You look beautiful tonight, Shari, but then again, you always did.”

Shari blushed furiously. His compliment gave her butterflies and she was luxuriating in the moment, which was why they stood there for several more awkward moments in the foyer, both looking at each other, before Grant finally asked, “May I come in?”

Shari blinked several times. “Oh, yes, c’mon in.” She motioned for him to follow her inside.

* * *

Grant looked around and was impressed by the warm home Shari had created. The large living room area had a rust-colored sectional sofa, colorful pillows and several interesting sculptures. The walls were filled with pictures of her family and Andre. Andre. Who could be his son!

He’d come to Chicago with a dual purpose of having Lillian’s desserts sold at Robinson Restaurants, but also to seek Shari out and see if the passion they’d shared once was still there. But now, everything was different. He could be a father and it was weighing heavy on his heart. He had to know the truth. So tonight was a way for him to spend time with Shari, but it was also a truth-seeking mission to find out if he or Shari’s college boyfriend was Andre’s father.

Grant swallowed and forced himself to follow Shari as she gave him a short tour of her home. She pointed out the dining room, the master suite with en-suite bathroom and Andre’s room, which was painted like a locker room and filled with his toys. They ended the tour in the kitchen with granite countertops and a breakfast nook.

“So what do you think?” Shari asked, turning around to face him. “Not bad for a single mom, huh?”

“Not bad at all,” Grant replied. “You have a lovely home.”

“Thank you.” Shari smiled broadly. “You ready to go?”

Several minutes later, they were seated in his sleek Mercedes Benz with leather interior. “You’re driving yourself?” Shari commented when he helped her into the passenger seat before sliding in behind the wheel.

“Yes, does that surprise you?”

“Well, I had heard you’d had a driver earlier.”

“He came and got me from O’Hare and took me to my penthouse on Lake Shore Drive where I keep my Benz.”

“I didn’t realize you had a home in Chicago.” It made her nervous to think that Grant had been so close and she hadn’t even known it. He could have easily discovered the truth about Andre at any moment.

“Well, I’m in the final stages of acquiring a new restaurant in Lincoln Park, so I thought it would be prudent to have a home here rather than live out of a suitcase.”

“Sounds smart, and real estate is always a wise investment. So where are we going?”

“You’ll see.”

He drove them to Smooth, soon to be the newest Robinson Restaurant in Lincoln Park. Situated along restaurant row near DePaul University, Smooth had the right location to get the young business set and college kids, which kept business steady and created a good income stream.

“You like?” Grant said when they entered the building.

The restaurant was upscale with a wood-paneled ceiling, gleaming tile floors and a carpet inlay. White cushioned booths surrounded the main dining room while oak tables and chairs were in the carpet inlay. A circular bar surrounded the lounge area that had comfy couches and chairs and large televisions mounted to the wall. The lounge doors were opened to let the spring air in.

“It’s lovely, Grant,” Shari commented. It had an elegant, quiet style that Shari found appealing.

Grant smiled. “Thank you.”

The hostess sat them in the private Cellar room made of glass; one wall was filled with various wines from floor to ceiling, and a single table complete with tablecloth, candles and fine china and cutlery awaited them in the center of the room.

“Mr. Robinson, your private waiter Juan will be with you momentarily,” the hostess said.

“Thank you,” Grant replied, helping Shari into her seat before taking his own.

This was all very fancy, Shari thought to herself, for two friends catching up on old times. Was Grant trying to impress her? If so, he was doing a good job. She rarely got out of the house anymore. Being a single parent precluded her from going out to party like other single women her age. Andre’s needs preempted her own and had forced her to grow up pretty quickly.

“You’ve really outdone yourself,” Shari added, glancing around the room.

Grant smiled warmly at the compliment. “I was determined to carve out a place for myself other than what my parents had built. You know, be my own man.”

Shari nodded. She understood. It was hard sometimes at Lillian’s with so many chiefs who all wanted the spotlight and not enough Indians. It was why sometimes she was content to just fade into the background. It was easier than dealing with all the family drama.

“I remember you mentioning that your parents expected you to take over the family business.”

“Yeah, there was a lot of pressure from Pops to settle down.”

“You sure did that quick,” Shari said, and then realized she spoke out of turn and reached for her water glass to take a sip.

Grant laughed. “Don’t be embarrassed. You’re right. I got married entirely too quickly. Dina convinced me to have a quickie wedding in Las Vegas a few months after graduating with my MBA from Ledgeman.”

Shari wasn’t surprised Dina would be in a rush, especially considering she’d probably stolen several Lillian recipes around the same time, so she could open up her own bakery a couple of years later.

“I regretted that marriage almost from the start,” Grant continued, “which is why it only lasted less than a year.”

“A year?” Shari was shocked. Grant had been single this entire time? All this wasted time... But so what? Had she known sooner, would she have done anything differently? Would she really have been able to show up to his doorstep with Andre in tow?

“Yeah, it was a mistake,” Grant answered honestly. “Dina and I were cut from the same cloth. Driven and determined to succeed. We didn’t mesh well. Everything was always a competition with her, even in our marriage.”

Shari wasn’t surprised by that statement. She’d come to realize after leaving Ledgeman that she’d been in a competition herself with Dina and hadn’t really known it.

The waiter entered the room, introduced himself and suggested several wines. Grant chose one of his recommendations, which the waiter produced several minutes later. He poured a sip for Grant to taste and after he did, Grant nodded his approval. The waiter filled his glass and poured one for Shari.

After they’d ordered soup for starters and their entrées, Grant turned to Shari. “Enough about me and my failed marriage. I want to hear more about you and what you’ve been up to the last five years. But first let’s toast. To old friends.” He raised his wineglass and openly stared at Shari.

Shari found it hard not to be flattered by the attention Grant was bestowing on her. She’d forgotten how good it felt to be with a man. She’d denied herself for too long. “To old friends.” She clicked her glass against his. “So what do you want to know?”

“Well, for starters, how about you and Thomas Abernathy?” Grant supplied.

A lump formed in her throat. Shari was surprised Grant even remembered Thomas’s name because she’d only mentioned him a few times in passing. “What about him? We hung out in college.”

“Well...after you and I were together, after we made love...” Just the words caused a blush to spread across Shari’s cheeks. “Well, I thought we might date, but then Dina told me that Thomas was planning to propose to you. That he was an old-fashioned guy and wanted his bride to be a virgin on their wedding night. I felt horrible after our night together, like I’d ruined your plans for your life. But now after seeing Andre...” His voice trailed off.

No wonder Grant felt free to pursue Dina! Dina had ensured it by spreading lies about her and Thomas. Shari wondered what other lies Dina told him.

“Andre?” Shari swallowed hard. She knew what Grant was implying. He’d assumed like everyone else in the Drayson family that Thomas was Andre’s father.

The waiter returned with their soups and Shari sunk her spoon in the creamy mixture and brought it to her lips. The lobster bisque was bright and lush and full of flavor. She didn’t like the direction the conversation had turned. She wanted to tell Grant that Andre was his son, but somehow the words wouldn’t come. Once he found out, hellfire was sure to rain down on her. She could only imagine how angry he would be with her for keeping the truth from him. Was she being selfish by wanting one more night with him that was just about her and nothing more?

After several moments, she said, “Andre’s a great kid. He’s smart and funny. He loves to build things and is always asking questions. He’s always getting into things. He keeps me on my toes.”

“Sounds like a pretty amazing kid,” Grant offered.

She tried not to make it obvious that she’d purposely steered the conversation away from Andre’s parentage and more into generalities. The subject made her so nervous that she had to fight fidgeting in her seat. Instead, she forced a bright smile.

“He is,” she said as she continued eating her soup. “He’s the love of my life. Having him was the best decision I ever made.”

“How did your family take your pregnancy?”

“They were understandably upset,” Shari replied. “They expected me to go to graduate school for my MBA, but it wasn’t possible.”

“You didn’t go?” Grant asked. “Oh, Shari, you were so talented. You had a knack for business.”

“Thank you. I appreciate you saying so, but it would have been difficult with a big belly. I didn’t want to see the stares of the other students.”

“I noticed you haven’t mentioned Thomas. Did you go through your pregnancy alone?” Grant circled back to an unwelcome topic.

“Have you met my family?” Shari attempted a laugh even though she felt far from jovial. “I wasn’t alone. Eventually, they came around and embraced me and my son.”

“I’m so glad. And now you’re working at Lillian’s?”

“Yes, I’m a baker. You see, we all play a role at Lillian’s. My cousin Belinda is tied to Grandma Lillian’s apron strings. Belinda keeps the kitchen organized by ordering me, her fiancé, Malik, and my cousin Carter around, even though we’re all excellent bakers. Malik, Carter and my cousin Drake are doing a blog called ‘Brothers Who Bake,’ and now there’s talk about a cookbook.”

“You sound very impressed with your cousins, but downplay yourself. Why is that?”

It was very intuitive of Grant to feel her ambivalence about her place in the Drayson family.

“With your business degree, you should be running Lillian’s.”

“I know, I know,” Shari said, lowering her head. “And I did by suggesting we sell our bake mixes, which Grandma Lillian implemented. It’s just difficult hearing your voice amongst my loud, rambunctious family.”

“Then talk louder,” Grant offered, and Shari finally chuckled, which helped lighten the mood.

The remainder of the evening was breezy and light with Grant and Shari easily discussing movies, music, cooking and traveling. Shari discovered Grant was well-traveled and had been to Europe, the Middle East and even Africa. She was envious. She’d always wanted to travel, but now that Andre was about to start kindergarten, she was going to be restricted to summer breaks only.

They finished the evening at Chicago’s oldest blues club off North Halsted, which was nearly full to capacity. The bar had two stages and two bands. The club was crowded with people lining the walls, drinking at the bar or chowing on their infamous barbecue ribs. Immediately upon entering, Shari noticed the Wall of Fame, which had pictures of the famous blues singers that had sung there. They chose to sit at one of the small, intimate round tables that circled the North Stage.

They listened to some of the best traditional blues Chicago had to offer. The band was great, from the explosive guitar to the sweet sounds of the legendary harmonica. Grant and Shari even got up at one point to share a dance.

She was surprised when Grant suggested it because there were no couples on the floor. Usually Shari hated to be the center of attention, but because Grant was asking, she acquiesced. And she was glad she did.

Being held in Grant’s arms was everything she’d dreamed it would be. He was strong, yet gentle as he swayed her to the soft bluesy music. He smelled so manly, earthy and woodsy. She breathed him in, resting her head against his solid chest. At one point, she thought she felt him stroke her shoulder-length hair, but then she realized she was fantasizing too much. Tonight was just about two friends catching up, because surely it couldn’t be anything more.

Hours later on the drive to the Drayson family estate at Glenville Heights, they were both introspective, each content with the quiet and the other’s presence. Shari had asked Grant to drop her at her parents’ home so she could give Andre a kiss good-night and be there when he woke up. Grant hadn’t seemed to mind.

When they arrived, the porch light was still on for Shari. She’d called ahead and told her parents she’d be staying over.

Grant turned off the engine and turned and looked at Shari. “I had fun tonight,” he said, but didn’t move a muscle.

“I did, too,” Shari said, wringing her hands in her lap. If this was any other date, she might expect a kiss at the end of the evening, but this was Grant. A man she hadn’t seen in years, but with whom she shared a son. What was supposed to happen next? Her anxiety was only increasing because Grant hadn’t made a move toward the door. He seemed to be waiting for something, but what?

After several long moments, he said, “I guess we should get you inside.”

Shari turned and hazarded a glance in Grant’s direction. Desire lurked in those depths, but he seemed to be warring with himself about whether to act on it. She was disappointed when he finally pushed the door open and slid out of the driver’s seat. Seconds later, he was opening her door and pulling her out of the car.

Shari used her key to open the front door and turned on the foyer light. That’s when she heard the pitter-patter of little feet as her son Andre came bounding down the stairs to her. She bent down and he rushed into her arms. Her little boy had waited up for her.

“Someone should be asleep,” she scolded as she lifted her son into her arms.

“I know, Mommy, but you never go away at night,” Andre said, “and I couldn’t go to sleep. I missed you.” He planted a big, sloppy kiss on her cheek.

“I missed you, too,” she said, hugging him tightly to her chest, even though she was mortified that Andre had revealed her lack of a love life to Grant. But what could she do? It was already out there. Andre continued chattering on, asking her where she went and what she ate, but Shari barely heard a word because Grant was watching the two of them closely.

She felt so guilty holding Andre. How was she going to tell Grant that Andre was his son? And would he ever forgive her?

Eventually, she lowered Andre to the floor. “You go upstairs to your room.” Her parents had made a bedroom especially for their grandson, complete with a Toy Story theme. “And I’ll be up in a second to tuck you in. Mommy has to say goodbye to her friend.”

She watched Andre pad up the stairs to his room before turning to face Grant. “Thank you for a lovely evening. It was nice getting dressed up. I’d forgotten what it was like.”

Grant didn’t speak. Instead, he leaned down toward her and Shari’s heart caught in her chest. Was he about to kiss her? It was quite the opposite. He looked directly at her and said, “Were you ever planning on telling me?”

Shari was stunned by the change of events. “Excuse me?” She stalled, playing dumb, even though she knew that the truth had caught up to her.

“He’s mine, isn’t he?” Grant asked, looking up the staircase.

Shari was speechless and didn’t...couldn’t say a word.

“I don’t understand you, Shari. I gave you all night.” Grant shook his head in despair. “All night to be honest with me and tell me the truth about Andre. We talked about college and I confided in you about my failed marriage to Dina. I asked you repeatedly about Thomas, but instead, you still said nothing.”

Shari finally snapped out of her shock long enough to say, “I’m so sorry, Grant.” Her voice broke. “I...I didn’t know how to tell you.”

Grant took a sharp intake of breath. “You would have continued letting me think that Thomas Abernathy was Andre’s father, wouldn’t you?”

Shari nervously glanced up the staircase. Now was not the time or the place to talk about this. Not when Andre was within earshot. What if he heard them?

Grant must have realized the exact same thing because he said quietly, “Now is not the right time for this conversation, but trust me, Shari, this is far from over. We will talk in the morning, but know this. Now that I know Andre is my son, I’m not going anywhere.”

“I understand.” Shari nodded. “And I promise we’ll talk in the morning.” Her pulse was racing as she ushered him to the door.

“You had better believe it.”

Shari took his remark for what it was. A warning.

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