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
