Can't Resist You (Second Chance Diaries Book 3)

by Emma Vikes

  When she met me, she was basically all over me right after. She was also the one who introduced me to her father. It had actually been Mr. Benson who’d mentored me into bringing my dream of having a hotel to life. I owed him much but no matter how much it was, there was no way I could ever tie myself to his daughter.

  It was a good thing Mr. Benson had his eye on another guy to be his son-in-law. Savannah on the other hand…

  Maia cleared her throat when Savannah placed a hand on my shoulder, gently caressing me. “Hi. I’m Maia Quincy. It’s nice to meet you.”

  Savannah’s gaze fell on hers and her eyes narrowed immediately. “Maia who?”

  I was grateful Maia didn’t introduce herself as a sous chef in my restaurant because I didn’t want Savannah to get other ideas. She could assume Maia was clinging onto me to latch on to my status and wealth and I didn’t want anyone painting her with that brush.

  I immediately butted in the conversation, “She’s my plus one. I hope you don’t mind that I brought a date with me this time.” I moved closer to Maia until our arms brushed against each other.

  Savannah’s eyes narrowed even more but then she smiled as if the whole idea didn’t really faze her. “Hmm. It’s not like this is the first time you’ve brought a date to parties. It doesn’t really matter who you come with, what matters is who’s with you when you leave.”

  There had been a number of times when I’d taken Savannah’s bait. Despite knowing the consequences I would have to face, I still did it. But that was before Maia came back into my life and I badly wanted to straighten myself out for her.

  I noticed Maia shy away from me slightly after what Savannah said but I reached for her hand and laced it with mine. “I think this time I’ll leave with the same person. To be honest, it’s her call when that could be. You know what they say right? You become a slave when it’s love.”

  I may have taken the statement a bit far than I was supposed to because it flustered Maia.

  But it did the trick with Savannah. I could see the flame blazing in her eyes but she tried to restrain herself from causing a scene. After the fiasco she was involved in, she had been on her tiptoes with Mr. Benson.

  When she left, other people I knew came to say hi. I introduced Maia to each one of them but I noticed how she didn’t seem to be at ease with the whole thing. After introducing her and catching up with Mr. Benson, Maia tugged at my hand. “Is this your kind of thing?”

  My eyebrows rose at her question. “What do you mean?”

  She motioned to the party around us. “This whole thing. Partying with rich people and talking about insubstantial things. I know you like parties, Ansel. But this doesn’t seem like the kind of party you’d want to be stuck in.”

  Maia had a point. I liked the parties wherein everyone had fun. Not this kind. “Honestly, parties like these feel like a huge business meeting. The only topic you can ever talk to a stranger about should be business-related. If you happen to have someone you’re acquainted with, it’s the only time you can talk about something else entirely. I prefer the after-parties.”

  Maia cracked a smile at my response and shook her head. “Then why do you still keep coming?”

  I shrugged. “I do need to build connections. It’s hard to steady your footing in this industry when you don’t have pillars to support you.”

  She nodded her head in understanding and sipped on her champagne. She was still on her first glass. “But if I tell you that I really want to leave right now, would you?”

  Maia was never a fan of parties. It used to be one of the things we argued about because I always wanted her to come with me whenever I went to one. She liked her solitude and I liked being surrounded by large crowds. Eventually, she’d still come with me though. Only now did I realize how much she really compromised for me.

  Now it was my turn. “I promised you that I’d leave whenever you feel like leaving, didn’t I?

  It seemed as if my response gave her the relief she needed because her shoulders suddenly sagged with relief.

  I held her hand as I weaved her out of the crowd, stopping at Mr. Benson to tell him we’re heading out first. Fortunately, we didn’t bump into Savannah on our way out. We waited for the valet to get my car.

  I opened the door for Maia and we left the venue right then.

  For the first few minutes of the drive, neither of us were talking. I remembered now that I had asked Maia to give me a chance just for tonight. A part of me was slightly worried the chance would expire the moment we left the party. Maybe that was why she ended it so abruptly.

  “Maia,” I called her name and stopped at a red light. “I do hope that you’re aware that the chance I requested earlier will last all night long. Just because we’re not at the party anymore doesn’t mean I forfeit that chance. You gave it to fair and square.”

  She let out a small scoff and leaned her head against the window of the car. “There’s this food truck near my place that sells mac n’ cheeseburgers. I let Sage have it once in a while because it’s not the healthiest food you can feed a seven-year-old.”

  I couldn’t help but crack a smile. Maia was slowly loosening up around me again and I missed this random side of her when she would say whatever she wanted to. “Is this you telling me that you’re hungry?”

  “Yes. And this is also me telling you that you’re not allowed to tell Sage where the food truck is or else she’ll stuff herself with it. It’s honestly her favorite thing and no matter how much I cook her delicious meals, nothing ever tops it.”

  She gave me the directions to the food truck and while we were on my way, we chatted about the most nonsensical things like we used to do. Something I missed most about our relationship. With Maia, I could talk to her about anything out of the ordinary and she wouldn’t even care. She never even asked me why such a random thought would occur to me, like other people would.

  We finally reached the location of the food truck and the two of us sat on their small bench, waiting for our burgers to be served.

  “I honestly don’t know how anyone could think of making such a burger,” Maia said with a shrug. “It’s a good innovation that even I would never think of.”

  The burgers were handed to us and the fact that we were both dressed so impeccably well and eating at a random food truck made me chuckle in amusement.

  “What?” she asked.

  “You’re wearing an absolutely stunning dress and this is an expensive suit. It just never occurred to me that we would end up here, that’s all.”

  Maia rolled her eyes at me and then took a bite of her sandwich, closing her eyes and moaning right after.

  The sound she made sent a shiver down my spine and I had to grit my teeth in annoyance.

  When her gaze met mine, she didn’t seem to notice the effect she had on me. “Take a bite! I swear it’s the best. I’m sure you’ll love it.”

  I took a bite and my eyes involuntarily closed. It was greasy as I expected it to be but for some reason, it brought me a sense of comfort. It reminded me of when I was a teen when unhealthy food was heaven for me. The cheese melted in my mouth and coated the burger and I swear the spices infused in the patty exploded in my mouth. “Holy shit!”

  Maia laughed and winked at me. “I told you that you’d love it. You used to have a thing for greasy food. No matter how much I tried making you eat healthier meals.”

  I popped open her can of soda for her and pushed it closer to her. “The greasier the food was, the better. It also didn’t help that no one in our house actually knew how to cook. Up until now, the brothers still claim how you were heaven-sent.”

  She scoffed and rolled her eyes. “Then they took advantage of me and the girls. You threw that barbeque party once and had us cook everything for the whole party!”

  I burst out laughing as I remembered the fond memory. Maia had been so pissed at me that night that she didn’t speak to me until the following day. But as just as we reminisced the memories of our relatio
nship eight years ago, I couldn’t help but realize how much I never really appreciate her. Maia was perfect for me, yet I chose to screw it up.

  “Did you ever wonder what would’ve happened if I hadn’t screwed it up?” I suddenly asked as I crumpled the paper bag that contained the burger.

  Maia was about to drink her soda and she paused when I asked the question. She lowered the can back on the table and look at me thoughtfully. “To be honest, I actually think we wouldn’t have worked out either way.”

  “Why?” I couldn’t help but ask. Whenever I thought about it, I thought we would’ve survived that one year wherein she would still be in college.

  Maia looked at me with a sad smile on her face as she shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know. Maybe I would give up? Maybe you like to think that our relationship was perfect but you have to acknowledge that it really wasn’t. Compromise wasn’t in your vocabulary and although we tried to keep it afloat, I realized I was carrying it on my back more than you.” She looked away from me and casually sipped on her soda and she couldn’t look at me.

  I let out a sigh and then stood up, crossing the short distance between us and kneeling in front of her. “If that’s what you think, then why can’t you look at me right now?”

  “Because the night was going well until I made that comment.”

  I reached for her hands then held them in mine and tugged at her arm gently.

  Maia finally looked at me. “

  For what it’s worth, Maia, I’m sorry. I’m sorry that I wasn’t good to you back then as I should have been. You deserved better, Maia. You always did. And if you’ll let me again, I can be that better man you deserve. For the second time around.” All I wanted was for her to nod her head but she didn’t.

  Instead, Maia stared at me with her dark brown eyes with an intensity that pierced through me. My eyes flickered to her lips. To her soft, plump, heart-shaped lips. I’d wanted to press mine against hers again and remember the way her lips felt against mine.

  Then Maia pressed her lips against mine.

  It was feather-light and yet, I could feel it. Her lips pressed gently but firmly against mine and if only it hadn’t taken me by surprise, I would’ve wrapped my arms around her and kissed deeper. But Maia pulled away after I briefly closed my eyes and abruptly stood up.

  She gathered our trash, threw it away and then walked off.

  I stood there, absolutely stunned, and then ran after her. Still, Maia didn’t look at me and I was desperate to know what the kiss meant. But then again, I liked it the way it happened. There was nothing grand about it, yet it was probably the sweetest kiss I’d ever had. So instead of asking, I reached for her hand and laced it in mine.

  And found comfort when she didn’t pull her hand away.

  14

  Maia

  People claim that regrets were dealt with later after the decision had been made. For the majority, later actually meant a year later or sometimes even more. But for me, I regretted the decision the moment Ansel shut the door of his car and drove me home. For the rest of the ride back to my place, I didn’t say a thing and merely muttered a ‘thank you.’

  I honestly didn’t know what I’d been thinking when I kissed Ansel. Had he been the one who initiated it, I could pretend that nothing happened but I kissed him. It wasn’t the other way around. His words had pierced through the wall I’d built and for a split second, I let my guard down and let him sway me with what he said.

  Hence, I kissed him.

  The only fortunate thing for me was that Ansel didn’t ask or saw it as a window of opportunity to make a move. Instead, he had been an absolute gentleman. He hadn’t deepened the kiss or pulled me into another one when I pulled away. Ansel didn’t even try to kiss me again after dropping me off at my house and wishing me goodnight.

  Still, it didn’t mean it would never be brought up again.

  But Ansel hadn’t had the opportunity to ask or to corner me to talk about it. He had been swamped with work so I didn’t even have to put much effort into avoiding him. It had been nearly a week since the ‘incident’ and we hadn’t bumped into each other since. It felt like an absolute relief but also, there was this tiny part of me…

  A tiny part that felt disappointed and I was absolutely annoyed by this fact. I was aware of the part of me that wanted something to happen. The part telling me Ansel wasn’t the same guy he was eight years ago. The part that wanted to believe everything he had been telling me.

  The part he had managed to sway with his words. It was only a small part but even a tiny hole in a balloon could make it pop. I was afraid if I let him, he might just bring my walls back down again and I would finally let him in.

  But is it really a bad idea though?

  “You really should drink your coffee because it’s getting colder by the minute,” Taylor said.

  Her voice snapping me out of my thoughts as I lifted the cup and brought it to my lips, taking a sip of the now warm coffee. “Sorry. I just have some things in my mind.”

  Taylor tilted her head to the side. Her dark skin gleaming under the sunlight. We were outside, having coffee by the pool. The restaurant was closed since we’d just catered lunch and we were both having our break. “I know that we’ve only recently become friends but I hope you know that I’m willing to lend a hand if there’s anything troubling you.”

  I couldn’t help but smile at how sincere she sounded. “Thank you, Taylor, and I really will keep that in mind. I don’t really have many friends here in the city even if I’ve lived here for more than a decade.”

  Taylor raised her cup towards me and nodded her head solemnly. “At our age, the right people are hard to find. Finding love becomes even harder too.”

  I couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle at the last part. “You got that right.”

  “Not to pry and you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to but you were married before, right?”

  My failed marriage was something that nearly everyone in the kitchen knew. It wasn’t like I casually told people I was divorced, it was just that there was this one time we had a guest that JC and I knew. Someone overheard our conversation and eventually, it just spread like wildfire down at the kitchen and people found out about it. But they never asked until now.

  Nodding my head, I sipped at my coffee. “I was and it didn’t work out. Maybe some things aren’t meant to work out and there are days I wished we hadn’t pushed it into marriage. But it already happened and it’s a lesson learned.”

  Taylor nodded her head at me in understanding and touched my hand gently. “Don’t worry. There’s a guy out there that’s meant for you and will make it work with you. And I have a feeling he’s the one approaching us right now with your kid by his side.” She was looking at someone behind me with a huge grin on her face.

  I turned around to find Ansel and Sage on their way to us. Sage was talking to Ansel animatedly and he seemed to be interested in whatever it was she was saying. Despite the fact that they were both immersed in conversation, it was clear that they were absolutely headed my way.

  “Oh dear god,” I muttered under my breath when they finally neared me. I looked back at Taylor.

  She had leaned back on her chair as she held her cup of coffee. She looked like she was about to watch a movie unfold. Like everyone else in the kitchen, she was aware of that time when Ansel was giving me too much attention.

  Sage and Ansel finally reached the table where Taylor and I sat.

  Taylor greeted Ansel brightly and then stood up and excused herself, telling me she had to head back.

  I let out a loud exhale when Ansel sat on her chair and Sage sat on my lap. My daughter was smiling brightly at me, the kind that told me she wanted something from me.

  “When did you get here?” I asked her. I knew that Joanne picked her up and dropped her here but she was supposed to tell me when she got here so I could meet them at the lobby.

  Ansel cleared his throat. “I bumped into them
at the lobby when I was sending off an associate I had a meeting with. I brought her in with me and told Joanne I’d bring her to you, so you didn’t have to duck out of the kitchen. I lost track of time and was unaware you were having your break but we managed to find you here.”

  I nodded, trying to avoid his gaze. I’d been working in Onyx Shrine for nearly two months now and I’d gotten comfortable with Ansel’s presence again. But after the night I kissed him, I felt uncomfortable around him again. I tried my best to avoid his gaze and tried to focus on Sage instead.

  “Mom.”

  “Yes?” I asked, looking at her curiously.

  “You know I love you right?”

  I tilted my head to the side, narrowing my eyes at her. “You want something, don’t you?”

  Her face broke out into a sheepish grin. “Jennie’s hosting a slumber party and I got invited. It’s tomorrow. Can I come, Mom, please?”

  This was the first time Sage had been invited to a slumber party and I knew how much she always wanted to go to one. I used to let her have playdates with friends and let her stay at a friend’s house to play but she never even stayed for dinner. I let her spend the night with Giselle or Joanne’s when they want to get her out of my hands, so I could rest but they were my best friends.

  She was gonna spend an entire night‒ and probably half the day‒ in a stranger’s house and I wasn’t really sure how to process it. With my friends, I was at ease knowing she was being taken care of in good hands. Even when she was stuck hanging out with Ansel for a couple of hours here at the hotel, I knew he wouldn’t leave her unattended.

  “Mom, please?” Sage asked again, looking up at me with doe-eyed light eyes.

  I knew I was going to cave in even if I wasn’t entirely on board with the whole idea. I wanted Sage to know that I trusted her, even at this age. Slowly nodding my head, I hugged her tightly. “But be sure to ask Jennie’s mom to call me or send me a message so I know you’re doing fine, alright?”