For him, that meant introducing her to EJ, though he hadn’t exactly shared that he had an eight-year-old son. Everett had assumed she would have figured it out when she’d researched him online, but then he realized she didn’t know. Probably because he prided himself in keeping EJ’s life private from the inquisitive eyes of the press. So he hadn’t been forthcoming with the information. It was his job as a parent to protect EJ, and because he hadn’t been sure where their relationship would lead, he’d kept the fact of EJ’s existence to himself. But tonight gave Everett hope that Mariah could really be a contender as the next woman in his and EJ’s life.
At that moment, she turned to him. “Everett, this is incredible,” she said. “I can’t thank you enough for this.” She reached across the small space between them and took his hand and gave it a squeeze.
Everett felt a jolt of electricity run through him at her tender touch. “You’re welcome.”
When Brian McKnight began singing one of his popular love songs, “Love of My Life,” Everett rose to his feet. “Would you like to dance?”
“Absolutely.”
And that’s how they continued the remainder of the evening—in each other’s arms swaying to the smooth grooves. When he returned Mariah to her apartment nearly two hours later, he switched the car engine off and they sat for several long, excruciating moments. Did she not want the night to end, either?
He’d never considered himself a die-hard romantic, but the evening was made for lovers, with the music, the picnic with champagne, caviar and the stars overhead. But he wouldn’t push, not until she was ready.
Mariah turned to face him. He couldn’t see what she was thinking because it was too dark in the car’s interior, but he could tell she was warring with herself. “Everett, I...”
“Yes?” He encouraged her to say whatever she was thinking, feeling.
She took her time, as if formulating her thoughts. “I don’t think I’ve ever had such a great time like I did tonight. I didn’t think you could top the Space Needle, but you did. This was truly the best date ever!”
Everett beamed with pride. “Thank you and you’re welcome.” He suspected there was something else on her mind and he waited for her to say more.
“Th-this isn’t easy for me,” Mariah stammered, wringing her hands. “You and me.” She pointed to his chest and then hers.
“I know.”
“You’ve been very patient and I’m sorry if I’ve given you mixed signals. I—I just wasn’t sure I was ready to dive into another relationship after my divorce.”
“And now?” he asked quietly.
“I can’t deny the feelings I have toward you are growing, and I guess what I’m saying very ineffectually is that I’d like to pursue them and see where this goes. I won’t fight you anymore.”
If he could have jumped up and down, Everett would have. He knew how much that admission had cost her. So he treaded lightly and reached for her hands in the darkened space and clasped them. “Thank you for being honest with me and yourself.” He smiled. “And this relationship can move as slow or as fast as you need it to, without any pressure from me.”
“You mean that?”
He chuckled. If he was reading her correctly, she must have expected him to make a move on her so he could take her to bed tonight. And with any other woman, he might have, but not Mariah. She was special and a little bit delicate, so for now he would treat her like the princess she was. But when the time came for them to become lovers, he would unleash his desires. “Of course I do,” he murmured. “Let me walk you inside.”
They ended the evening at her doorstep, wrapped up in each other arms. And this time Mariah didn’t resist his kisses. Instead she was a full participant, coaxing his lips apart with her tongue and diving inside to mate it with his. The kiss was like soldering heat that joined metals, and they fused together as one.
Everett erupted with desire and returned her ardor by covering her mouth with hungry kisses. Mariah gave herself freely up to the passion of his embrace, and when then finally separated, he caressed her cheek and said, “Good night, sweetheart.”
As her apartment door closed, Everett realized that he was falling hard for the sexy baker. Which meant that now was the time. She had to pass one final test. It was time she met EJ.
Chapter 11
Mariah continued tinkering with the recipe for her new creation on Saturday morning at the bakery. She always tried to keep busy when her mind was preoccupied, and it was, thanks to her new relationship with Everett. She’d agreed to date him and see where it would lead. In the light of day, however, she was having cold feet.
What did she know about dating, anyway? Her experience was severely limited because she’d gotten married so young. And Everett, well, he was a grown man with a man’s needs, and she had grave reservations about taking their relationship to the next level, in the bedroom.
She was sure a man of Everett’s stature and reputation had been with many women since his wife’s passing. Mariah had resisted the urge to find out more online, other than his business interests. She hadn’t wanted to know how she compared to other women he saw, or his deceased wife, all of whom were probably more sophisticated than she. She knew he’d been married and lost his wife, but reading any more about that loss would have been too personal and too intrusive. Mariah hadn’t felt right reading about Everett’s greatest tragedy.
So she’d decided to come to the bakery and perfect her creation once and for all. And she had. She’d also finally come up with a name for it, and consequently had woken up both her brothers to meet her at the bakery at 5:00 a.m. Jackson was used to being up so early, while Chase, a numbers man, didn’t normally stop by the bakery until much later.
Needless to say, Chase came in bleary-eyed, wearing sweatpants and a T-shirt. “What’s so urgent?” he inquired. “That you had to wake me from my peaceful sleep?”
Jackson shrugged. “I was already on my way, so it makes no difference to me. What you got, kid?” He was dressed for the day in dark denims and a fitted muscle shirt.
Mariah ignored both of them and held up her creation. “I have come up with the next great pastry.” She lifted the covered platter. “I give you...the Draynut!” She removed the lid and presented her work with a flourish.
“What is it?” Chase asked, looking up at her. “It looks like a doughnut, but...” He stared at it as if it was a foreign object.
Mariah sighed wearily. “Just try it.” She held out the platter, and reluctantly Chase and Jackson each withdrew a pastry and sampled it.
“Mmm...” was all Mariah heard from both of them after they’d taken their first bite.
“This is delicious, sis,” Jackson responded, reaching for a second one. “What’d you put in it?”
She smiled wickedly. “I’ll never tell. Matter-of-fact, I want to trademark this recipe and name immediately. Chase, that’s where I need your help. I want to ensure no one gets their hands on this and tries to replicate it. The secret ingredients need to be kept under lock and key.”
Jackson seemed affronted, but kept eating his Draynut. “Even from me?”
“It’s nothing personal,” Mariah said. “But I think you can agree we have something great here, and for the moment I’d like to keep it close to the vest.”
Chase reached for a paper towel from the nearby counter and wiped his mouth, because he’d already finished his sample. “I agree we don’t want anyone else to get their hands on this, so you will need to give me the recipe for the trademark.”
“When you have all the paperwork ready, let me know,” Mariah said. “In the meantime
, we should debut the Draynut at the grand opening of Myers Coffee Roasters café. I’ve already prepared a press release.”
She held up the document she’d spent most of last night preparing, because she’d tossed and turned in bed after Everett had dropped her off, until finally giving up and coming to the bakery.
“Let me see that.” Jackson read the one-pager. When he was done, he handed it to Chase. “That’s really good, Mariah. You’re doing some spectacular work, kid. Who knew you had it in you?”
Mariah smiled. She knew that Jackson’s back-handed compliment was meant with love and affection. “Thanks, bro.”
Chase turned to them both after he was done reading the press release. “Well done, Mariah, well done. What price point did you have in my mind for the Draynut?”
“I don’t know. Maybe three dollars?”
“Too low,” Jackson declared. “We need to go higher. This is a specialty item and the more expensive it is, the higher in demand it will become. Look at what happened with the Cronut phase in New York. Let’s charge five dollars like they did.”
Chase pointed his finger at his brother. “Jack has a point, Mariah. This—” he held up the platter of Draynuts “—is a gold mine and we want everyone to know that, like you said, it’s the next best thing!”
Mariah smiled warmly. She was thrilled that her brothers were just as excited as she was by her new creation. “Let’s do it!”
* * *
Later that evening, Mariah scooted out early from the bakery. They’d hired an intern. Kelsey Andrews was a cute blonde with short curly hair, a petite figure and gorgeous hazel eyes. She was working a few hours during their peak times and helping them at the cash register. It allowed Mariah a few hours off during the week to run errands, or in today’s case, take a break.
She was meeting up with Amber at what looked to be an after-school center, she thought, as she drove up to the one-story building. The two women had hit it off after their first meeting, exchanged phone numbers and agreed to get together. Though Mariah had no idea that this was what Amber did in her spare time.
She was waiting outside by the curb as Mariah pulled up. “Thanks for the ride,” Amber said as she got in. “My red Bug is giving me car trouble. I’d love to get rid of it, but I’ve had it for years.
“It’s no problem,” Mariah replied. “So, what do you do at the center?”
“I work with preteen girls as part of a group that fosters girl empowerment.”
“That’s wonderful.”
“They’re always looking for volunteers. You should think about it. After a background check, you could qualify to help out these young girls. Just let me know if you’re interested.”
Mariah glanced at the school as she drove away. She wasn’t sure she could be around small kids consistently, knowing she couldn’t have one of her own. But then again, maybe it would be cathartic? Helping children might ease her own pain and loss.
“What’s wrong?” Amber’s warm brown eyes were staring at her.
She shrugged. “It’s nothing.”
“It’s more than that,” Amber replied. “There’s a sadness in your eyes that wasn’t there before I started talking about my work.”
Mariah changed the subject. “How about a cocktail first?”
Once they’d arrived at a popular wine room, filled their wine cards with money and used them to help dispense the ounces of wine they wanted, they settled into two large, comfy leather chairs to chat and get to know each other.
Mariah learned Amber’s family was originally from the South, but had migrated north. She was attending graduate school at the University of Washington and getting her masters of business degree.
“And in my spare time I’m an artist. Well, more like a jewelry maker, to be exact.” Amber held out her wrists so Mariah could see the bracelets she wore, and then pointed to her ears and neck to showcase the matching earrings and necklace.
“Do you sleep?” Mariah asked, sipping her merlot. “Or maybe cure world hunger?” She laughed at her own joke.
And so did Amber. “I don’t know.” She shrugged. “I just like to keep busy. And as far as my jewelry—” she held up her wrists again and admired her adornments “—I’ve always loved making them and would love to sell them full-time.”
“Then you should,” Mariah said. “I for one would certainly buy them. I love the necklace you’re wearing.” She reached out to finger the different stones and beadwork on the chain dangling from Amber’s slender neck.
Her new friend beamed and a smile spread across her lips. “Thank you. And I’ll bring some of my pieces next time to the bakery so you can take a look.”
“I would love that.”
“But enough about me. Why don’t you tell me what got you so down earlier?”
Mariah shrugged.
“C’mon. I know we’re not best friends or anything, but I’d like to be an ear to listen.” Amber slid her legs underneath her on the chair and faced Mariah.
Mariah mulled it over. What could it hurt to confide in Amber? It would be nice to have a sounding board, especially with Belinda so far away in Chicago. “All right, it’s really quite simple. I can’t have children,” she blurted out. Sometimes it was better to rip off a Band-Aid rather than ease it off.
Amber was silent for a long moment. “And how does that make you feel?”
“Damaged. Diminished. Less than a woman. All of the above.” Mariah took a gulp of her wine. She’d never been this blunt and honest with anyone before and shared her deepest thoughts, but something told her she could trust Amber.
Amber reached across the distance between them and squeezed her hand. “I know I can’t tell you how to feel about it, but you’re still an amazing woman and that hasn’t changed. And whether or not you’re physically able to birth a child, you can still be a mother. There are so many children in need out there who would be lucky to have a mom like you.”
Mariah smiled at Amber with tears in her eyes. “Thank you, thank you. I think I needed to hear that. It’s been hard having this hanging over my head. My infertility and my quest to get pregnant destroyed my marriage, and I fear it could do the same thing again.”
“With Everett?”
She glanced at Amber. “How did you know?”
Amber laughed softly. “How could I not? The chemistry was coming off you two in droves when we met. I’d have to be blind not to see how into you he is. But I take it he doesn’t know?”
Mariah nodded and drank more of her wine. “It’s not exactly a topic of conversation you dive right into when you’re getting to know someone, but if things progress between us...”
“You’ll tell him,” Amber said. “When you’re ready. And when you do, I’ll be there to support you.”
“Thanks, Amber. I have to tell you that I really needed a friend here in Seattle and I’m really happy to have met you. I sure could have used you a year ago in Chicago,” she said with a laugh.
“Well, I’m here now and feel free to lean on me.”
“Oh, I will,” Mariah stated emphatically. “I will. And you can do the same.”
* * *
It was Sunday morning and Everett felt he deserved a treat for all his hard work, such as a pastry at Lillian’s after he’d completed his usual weekend workout in his home gym. As he dressed in distressed jeans and a polo shirt, he knew the real reason he was going. He wanted to see Mariah.
Now that she’d agreed to date him, Everett didn’t have to make excuses to see her anymore. He could visit the bakery any time he wanted.
Except today was different. This time he was bringing EJ with him so he could finally introduce his son to the lady in his life. Everett had to admit that he was a little nervous at the prospect. He had no idea how EJ would respond to having another person, a woman, in h
is father’s life. He might see her as an interloper in their relationship, and things could go badly.
On the other hand, EJ might like Mariah, which would please Everett immensely, because he so desperately wanted his son to like her as much as he did. There might not be a future if she wasn’t receptive to his having a child. Everett knew it wasn’t fair that he was springing EJ on her this way without any warning, but the right moment to tell her had never arisen.
Everett had spent the last four weeks trying to break through the wall and electrified fence Mariah had erected around her heart. Friday night had been the first time he’d felt comfortable enough to share his past, but the evening had been so romantic Everett hadn’t had the heart to ruin it. Yesterday, after their date, he’d given some serious thought to whether or not Mariah was ready to meet EJ. He’d then decided it was time, and today was the day. Mariah might become angry with him due to his lack of forthrightness. So he’d kept EJ’s existence to himself, but not anymore.
Today, Mariah would meet the most important person in Everett’s life. He just prayed that EJ would become as important to her as he was to him.
EJ was waiting for him at the breakfast bar, already dressed for the day in jeans, a print T-shirt and sneakers. He looked like a mini version of Everett except he had a headful of curly hair, while Everett’s hair was clipped short.
“Morning, Dad.”
“Good morning, EJ,” Everett said, on his way to his Keurig coffee maker. He inserted a K-cup and placed a mug underneath from the cupboard. The coffee percolated and was ready within minutes. “What are we doing today, Dad?” EJ asked.
“I thought we could stop by a bakery and grab a snack.”
“We normally have a big breakfast on Saturday,” EJ complained with a frown.
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