“No, it wouldn’t.”
He let out a full and masculine laugh. “I guess I’m a bit rusty, as I have been out of practice.”
“Better luck next time.”
He took a step backward. “Are you saying that I might have the opportunity to redeem myself and get another chance with you?”
“N-no. No.” Mariah shook her head. “You misunderstood me.”
“Did I?”
“Y-yes.” She tucked her hair behind her ear. “Are you always this infuriating?”
“Only with you.” He smiled.
Mariah let out a deep sigh. “You should really work on accepting the word no.”
“Oh, I can,” Everett said. “But I don’t think that’s why you turned me down.”
“What do you mean?”
“I think you’re afraid,” he said, searching her eyes. “Because you felt the sparks between us as much as I did, but you’re too afraid to act on it yet. And that’s fine. I can wait. I’m a patient man when it comes to getting what I want.”
“Why, of all the arrogant things—”
He pointed to the display. “I’ll definitely have some of those delicious crumpets you fed me earlier.”
He gave her a wink and Mariah’s stomach lurched. Resisting Everett Myers was not going to be easy. But for her own peace of mind she knew she would have to, because her poor heart could not withstand being broken again.
* * *
After Everett Myers walked away with his box of pastries, Mariah was perplexed. How was it that he could sense her unease in such a short time? Usually she kept her emotions in check, so much so that even her family didn’t know what was she thinking or feeling. Why? Because she was always looking out for their needs above her own. Even though she was the youngest, Mariah had always taken care of her older brothers. She’d been wired that way.
It had annoyed her ex-husband that she was so selfless. He’d always tell her to do more for herself, and she had. The one thing she’d always wanted was a baby. So when they’d had trouble conceiving early on in their marriage, she’d done everything in her power to ensure their success.
She’d spent three of the five years of their marriage in the pursuit of parenthood—a chase that went nowhere. At first she’d been unconcerned by her inability to conceive, but as each month passed, Mariah became further discouraged. When the doctor finally suggested aggressive fertility treatments, Rich hadn’t been on board. He’d told Mariah he would be happy if it was just the two of them, but she’d always dreamed of motherhood and hadn’t been willing to throw in the towel. The treatments caused a strain on her marriage, however, and Mariah didn’t exactly help the situation by quitting her high-stress job for her phantom baby.
Instead, she’d watched everything she ate, even gave up caffeine and alcohol, as the doctors instructed. But nothing worked. Eventually Rich had had enough and told her their marriage was over. She’d thrown adoption on the table, but he had long ago given up on them, and they decided to separate amicably. Rich had even agreed to pay alimony, which had allowed Mariah to contribute her share of the bakery start-up.
“Mariah, there you are,” Belinda Drayson-Jones said when she found her hiding behind the register. “You’ve been a hard woman to catch up with today.”
“I’m sorry, cuz,” Mariah said as she watched Everett interact with Chase, who couldn’t resist stopping the hotelier before he could exit the bakery. Mariah was sure Chase was trying to pick his brain about some business deal, because her brother was all about the numbers.
Her cousin glanced behind her to find the object of Mariah’s attention. “I’m not,” she responded. “If that’s who had you occupied.”
Mariah blinked and returned her attention to Belinda. She was happy that her cousin had flown from Chicago for the grand opening of the bakery. They’d grown close during her marriage, when Mariah and Rich had lived in Chicago. “What did you say?”
Belinda chuckled. “Someone is sure infatuated. Who is that?”
“Just a guy who asked me out.”
“Did he? And what was your answer?” she asked, leaning forward with eager interest.
“I told him no, of course,” Mariah answered, stepping from behind the counter, even though she couldn’t help hazarding a glance at Everett. When she did, she caught him staring at her, too, so she quickly looked away. “You know I’m not ready to jump into dating. It’s only been a year since Rich and I separated.”
“True,” Belinda said. “But if you’re honest with yourself, you’ll admit your marriage was over well before then and was just limping along.”
Mariah frowned deeply. “Thanks a lot, Belinda.”
“I’m not trying to hurt you, baby girl.” Her cousin reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze, “But you know I speak the truth.”
“I suppose, but it’s hard to hear nonetheless.”
Belinda nodded. “I know. But it’s time you start your life over, Mariah. You can’t continue looking back at the past.”
“How can I not, when my past could affect my future?” Mariah asked, as she watched Everett Myers leave Lillian’s.
“Because marriages fail every day.” Belinda fell silent for several long moments before saying. “Let me ask you something. Would you have left Rich if he hadn’t left you?”
Mariah shook her head. “No, I wouldn’t.”
“Why?”
“Because I thought that if I just persevered for the both of us, it would get better.”
“Did you ever think that perhaps Richard wasn’t meant for you?”
“And he is?” Mariah pointed to the door Everett had just exited.
“No, but you have to get back on the horse eventually.”
“That’s easy for you to say,” Mariah responded. “You’re married to Malik and you guys are wonderful together.”
“It didn’t start out like that,” Belinda said. “I fought my attraction to Malik, but in the end, I couldn’t deny it.”
“Yeah, well, there may have been some initial sparks with Everett, but I need some time to sort through my feelings and my life without jumping back into the relationship foray.”
“Who said anything about a relationship?” Belinda replied. “But a date is harmless. What could it hurt?”
Mariah rubbed her chin. A date with anyone other than alpha male Everett Myers might be harmless. But Mariah’s sixth sense told her he would be anything but.
* * *
“Daddy,
