“You can’t count the opening, because he just met me,” Mariah responded, reaching for a cloth underneath the register to wipe down the counter.
“I sure as hell can. The man was enthralled with you. Trust me, I know when a guy is interested.”
Mariah laughed. “I guess it would take one to know one.” She bumped his hip and continued wiping the displays.
“So what are you going to do about it?” He folded his arms across his chest.
“Nothing. Eventually, he’ll tire of the rejections and move on.”
“Ha!” Jackson laughed as he headed back to the kitchen. “You don’t know men at all.”
Mariah thought about her brother’s words later that evening in her apartment, when she was cuddled with a bowl of popcorn, watching a romantic comedy. Jackson had been right that she didn’t know men at all. Her experience with the opposite sex was limited to her college career before she’d met Rich, and there hadn’t been much to speak of. She’d always been into her studies, leaving very little time for dating.
Now she had a rich, successful businessman like Everett Myers interested in her and all she could do was run. Mariah wasn’t proud of it. She’d always prided herself on being a person who persevered even when things got difficult, as she had with her inability to conceive. She’d been the one who’d dug in the trenches, refusing to give up on her marriage even though she suspected Rich had checked out. Mariah had thought that she could win him back somehow and that in time he’d see that she’d done all of it for them, but he hadn’t.
Mariah considered it one of her greatest failures. It was why she was reluctant to go down that path again so soon with Everett, even though she found him stunningly gorgeous. Every time he came into the bakery, Mariah caught herself holding her breath, and when he touched her, her entire body came alive. It made her feel things she hadn’t felt in a long time, such as desire and passion. Whenever he was near, her skin became prickly and the place between her legs became heated. She wanted to push the feelings away, but Everett wouldn’t let up. And did she really want him to? Of one thing she was sure—Everett could quench all her desires.
If he continued his quest of stopping by the bakery, Mariah wasn’t sure just how long she could hold out before she finally gave in.
* * *
Later that afternoon, Everett returned to his penthouse and found EJ sitting at the breakfast counter eating one of the pastries he’d brought from Lillian’s yesterday, while Margaret was at the stove, no doubt starting supper. Everett chuckled inwardly. Clearly, the boy wasn’t that sick if he could enjoy the delicious concoction.
“Looks like someone’s feeling better,” Everett said, placing his briefcase on the counter.
EJ smiled and looked up, his face smeared with chocolate. Everett reached for a paper towel and threw it at him. “Wipe your face,” he said with a laugh. “You have chocolate all over it.”
“This is good, Dad,” EJ replied, after wiping his mouth. “Where’d you get it?” After dinner last night, they’d been too full for dessert.
“Lillian’s. And I brought another.” He held up the box from that morning.
EJ reached for it. “I’ll take it.”
“Not before dinner, you won’t.”
“I was telling him the same thing, Mr. Myers, but he insisted on eating that one.” Margaret gestured to the empty saucer in front of EJ.
“You’d better listen to Miss Margaret,” Everett chided, pointing his finger in EJ’s direction. “Don’t you give her no sass.”
EJ frowned. “I wasn’t.”
Everett loosened his tie and undid the top button of his shirt as he headed for the refrigerator. He took a bottle of beer out and quickly dispensed with the top before taking a generous swig.
“Why don’t you come talk to me?” he suggested as he walked to the living room. “While Margaret finishes up dinner.”
He heard an audible sigh, but EJ slipped off the bar stool where he’d been sitting and joined Everett as he settled on the couch. “So are you finally ready to talk to me about what happened yesterday?”
EJ shook his head., “No, but I guess you’re going to make me?”
“Something like that.”
EJ sunk deeper into the sofa cushions and was quiet for several long moments before he finally spoke. “There were some kids razzing me because I don’t have a mother.”
Everett frowned and sat upright. He hated hearing EJ talk like that. “You had a mother, EJ. Her name was Sara. She’s not here with us now, but she loved you very much.” It was important to Everett that EJ remembered her and knew that he’d been loved and was a product of that love.
“I know that, Dad, but I still don’t like hearing about it. Have kids bring it up like I’m some sort of freak or something.”
“You’re not a freak.” Everett patted EJ’s thigh. “You’re just different. And you have to be okay with that. You still have me, or am I chopped liver or something?” It was one of things he worried about—that somehow he wouldn’t be enough for his son. Lord knows, he’d tried to be a father and a mother all rolled into one, but it was hard sometimes.
EJ gave him a reluctant half smile. “No, but it’s...it’s just not the same.”
Everett wasted no time pulling his son into a firm hug and holding him close to his chest. “I know that,” he said, leaning back to look at him. “And I know that I can’t be your mom, but I promise you I will do my best to be both a mother and father to you. Whatever you need, I’m here.” He gazed into EJ’s dark eyes, which were cloudy with unshed tears, then tugged him back into his arms. “I’m always here.”
“Love you, Daddy,” EJ whispered into his chest.
Those three words were all that Everett would ever need.
* * *
Mariah stared at her reflection in the mirror in the bathroom of her two-bedroom apartment. She looked pretty darn good if she did say so herself. She was wearing her favorite pair of skinny jeans, a floral tunic and a long dangling necklace. She’d applied a trace of mineral foundation, mascara, and the finishing touch was lipstick. She typically never went to such trouble dressing each morning, since she spent the first few hours of her day in the kitchen. But the thought that Everett might show up again today had her making a special effort. Her stomach was in knots with eager anticipation of his arrival.
She must have been noticeably antsy because later that morning Jackson commented as much. “What’s got you so jumpy?” he asked. “Every time the doorbell chimes, I can see you perk up. Are you waiting for someone?” One of his eyebrows rose with amusement. He knew the answer.
“No.”
“Liar.” He laughed as he continued with the fondant cake he was working on for an upcoming wedding. Jackson had become quite the cake aficionado and they’d already received a few orders.
“Am not.”
“You’re wearing makeup. And you’re dressed up today.” He eyed her attire and face before returning to his task.
Mariah glanced down at her outfit. She’d gone for casual chic, so as not to look as if she was trying to attract a certain person’s attention or advances.
“C’mon, sis, I know you, and you can’t get anything by me.”
Mariah rolled her eyes and sauntered out of the kitchen. “Whatever.” There was no denying that Jackson was right, but that wasn’t what irked her. It was Everett. He was late. He usually came around 9:00 a.m. and it was after ten, which meant she’d gone through all this trouble for nothing.
She shouldn’t be surprised that he’d finally taken the hint. She had given him the brush-off three times and he must have figured three strikes and he was out. She’d blown it.
The doorbell chimed and Mariah didn’t bother looking up this time, so was surprised when she finally did and found his dark brown eyes looking at h
er.
“Everett.” She swallowed the lump that suddenly formed by having the businessman yet again in her crosshairs.
“Hey.” He smiled, showing off his sparkling white teeth.
“Hi.” Mariah didn’t know why she couldn’t think of anything but a one-syllable word, and her heart was hammering in her chest.
“Surprised to see me?”
“Actually, no, I’m not,” she replied, finding her voice. “You’ve been persistent, so I doubted today would be any different.”
“Is that why you dressed up for me today?” Everett asked, raking every inch of her figure with his magnetic gaze.
Mariah started to say no, but knew it would be a bold-faced lie, so she led with the truth. “What if I did?”
Everett’s eyes darkened and his expression shifted from flirtatious to something different, something she didn’t recognize but knew to be dangerous. “Come from behind the counter and I’ll show you.”
Mariah wasn’t sure she wanted to leave the safety that the counter provided. Everett looked as if he was ready to pounce and she wasn’t certain she could or would fight him off.
“Mariah.” He said her name again and it sounded silky and seductive coming from his lips.
She instinctively obeyed, ignoring the warning signals going off in her brain to beware. When she rounded the corner of the counter, Everett captured her hand and brought her forward until she was inches from his face, from his lips. Sensuously full lips that she had a hard time not focusing on.
“I’m glad you’ve come around to seeing things my way,” he said, as his large hands skimmed over her forearms.
“Did I have much choice?”
He chuckled. “No, I didn’t plan on giving up. But I have to admit that I didn’t come here solely to see you.”
“No?” She tried not to appear offended by the comment.
“Don’t look so crestfallen,” he said, caressing her chin with the pad of his thumb. “I have a business offer for you.”
Why did he have to keep touching her? It was scrambling her brain and she couldn’t think straight. “B-business? What business would you and I have?”
“That’s what I would like to discuss with you, over lunch if you’re free.”
Mariah glanced behind her toward the kitchen. “I don’t know. I haven’t left the bakery since we opened.”
“Can’t your brother manage things in your absence for an hour or so?”
She blinked rapidly. “I—I suppose.”
“Good.” Everett obviously considered the topic closed. “Grab your purse.”
“I didn’t say I would go.” She stood rooted to the spot.
He cocked a brow. “Are we really going to act like you weren’t waiting for my arrival? If so, we can go back to your administrative offices, where we’d have some privacy, and see if that holds true.”
The thought made Mariah warm all over, and nervous at the prospect of being alone with such a virile man, so she took the former option. “Uh—that won’t be necessary. Let me just let Jack know, and I’ll get my purse.”
Several minutes later, she was sliding into Everett’s Escalade as he buckled himself into the driver’s seat. “I figured we could go to the Myers Hotel. There’s a great restaurant and we can get in and out within the hour.”
Mariah smiled. “Okay, thank you.” She appreciated his thoughtfulness. But that didn’t mean she wasn’t nervous as hell being in the car alone with the man. A man she had secretly wished for, but still was uneasy being around. She couldn’t explain the effect Everett had on her, but she felt entirely out of sorts. Her heart was thumping loudly in her chest and her pulse was beating erratically. So she tried to focus on something else. “So what kind of business offer did you want to discuss?”
“There will be time for that later,” Everett said, looking over at her. “I’d rather know if this will be a one-time event, or will I see you again?”
“That’s debatable.”
“Then I’ll just have to try my best to convince you.”
They made it to the Myers Hotel in less than half an hour, and as he’d promised, the maître d’ sat them immediately in a private corner booth.
“Thank you, Jacques.” Everett said.
“You’re most welcome, sir. Enjoy your lunch.”
Mariah noticed the way the man showed Everett such deference. “Is it always like that everywhere you go?”
He shrugged. “Not always.”
They perused their menus and in no time a waitress materialized to take their drink and lunch orders.
“What’s it like to grow up with all this?” Mariah asked, motioning to the opulent decor of the restaurant on the fortieth floor, the windows of which overlooked the bay.
“It wasn’t like this always.”
“No?”
“No,” he stated emphatically. “My father started this company from nothing. He only had the one hotel, which he and my mother put all their savings into. Luckily, with the right investments and partnerships, he was able to make it grow into a chain.”
“Which you’ve taken a step further with your Myers Coffee Roasters importing business and coffeehouses in downtown Seattle.”
Everett smiled. “So you really have done your research.”
“It always best to know one’s opponent.”
“I hope that’s not how you see me,” he said softly, searching her face. “As an opponent.”
“How would you like me to see you? As a potential love interest?”
“In time, yes,” he responded, his gaze unwavering. “But as I told you, I’m a patient man. I can wait. That which cometh easily, can be easily lost.”
* * *
Mariah nodded. “So why have you never opened coffeehouses nationwide?”
Everett sat back and stared at Mariah as the waitress returned with their drinks. He noticed how she’d deftly changed the subject to a more acceptable topic. Clearly, his interest in her made her uncomfortable, but at least she wasn’t completely retreating as she’d done several days ago. She was slowly giving him an inch and he would take it and then some, but slowly, ever so slowly. His instincts told him that Mariah had been hurt before, which was why she was so cautious. He would have to take his time with her. Woo her.
“I didn’t want another large chain,” Everett said, finally answering her. “I wanted Myers Coffee Roasters to be high-end, unique, something the consumer couldn’t get in any corner coffeehouse in Seattle. Haven’t you noticed that the more exclusive something is, the more it’s wanted?”
“You have a point there.” She sipped on her ice water.
“But there is room for change, which is one of the reasons I wanted to bring you to lunch, among other things.”
“Go on.”
“I’d like Lillian’s of Seattle to carry Myers Coffee Roasters. Both of our brands have a reputation for being the finest around, so I think it’s a natural combination. What could be better than coffee with cake? What do you think?”
“Think? I think it’s an excellent idea!” Mariah grinned unabashedly.
Everett was thrilled to hear the excitement in her voice at his pitch. He’d been thinking about it ever since he’d heard Lillian’s was coming to Seattle. He’d never been a fan of Sweetness Bakery even though they had approached him about offering his coffee in their locations. Everett hadn’t been interested in partnering with a bakery until now. Until Mariah.
“That’s great!” He smiled broadly. “I was hoping you’d see that a partnership between us would be a good idea.” And he wasn’t talking just about business. Everett had known from the moment he’d seen Mariah that they would have more than a business relationship. There would be a personal one, too.
“I’ll have to talk this over with my brot
hers first,” Mariah replied. “But I don’t see Chase or Jack vetoing an obviously great idea.”
“Excellent! Then let’s put business on the back burner and enjoy our lunch, which is just coming out now.” The waitress returned with the salads.
When he dropped Mariah off less than an hour later, Everett couldn’t resist watching her backside after he opened the bakery door for her. She was one fine looking woman and he was finally making headway. He just hoped that in time she would let down her guard so he could take their relationship to the next level. His gut told him that Mariah Drayson was a woman worth knowing, in every sense of the word.
Chapter 5
“Everett Myers wants to go into business with us?” Chase sat back on the couch in the bakery’s office and absorbed the information that Mariah had just laid on him and Jackson after the store closed later that evening. She had been eager to spill the beans when she’d returned from lunch with Everett, but she’d kept Jackson in suspense throughout the day until she could fill them both in at the same time.
“Yep.” Mariah beamed from ear to ear.
“I just knew that your good looks would come in handy one day.” Jackson patted her back from the couch beside her.
“Jack!” She punched him in the shoulder.
“What?” He laughed. “You’ve got that man by the—” He’d been about to use a less than flattering word, but the look his older brother gave him halted him. “That man is falling for you so hard that he’s willing to do anything to spend time with you, and that only works in our favor. We have to capitalize on it.”
“I agree with Jack that the timing is great,” Chase said more delicately. “Everett’s offer gives us even more endorsement as the best bakery in town because his brand is high-end, with a solid reputation.”
“We have to take it a step further,” Jackson said, rising to his feet and pacing the floor. “We shouldn’t just sell Myers Coffee Roasters, we should serve the java in the store.”
“That’s brilliant!” Chase jumped to his feet.
“Our initial concept included a café,” Jackson continued. “With Myers’s help, we can create a small café in the corner of the shop and serve coffee along with Lillian’s pastries.”
Cappuccino Kisses Page 5