Jackson “Jack” Drayson stood behind the counter of his family’s bakery, Lillian’s of Seattle, spotted the mother of two struggling to get her deluxe stroller inside the crowded, bustling shop and felt a rush of compassion. Reaching the family in three strides, he pulled open the front door and stepped aside to let them enter. “Welcome to Lillian’s of Seattle.”
“Thank you so much,” the mother said, her tone filled with gratitude.
“It’s my pleasure.” Jackson wore a boyish smile. “I’ve always had a thing for redheads with freckles.”
Her eyes brightened, and she giggled like a kid at the circus. “You do?”
“Yes, so if you need anything just ask. I love helping beautiful women.”
Another high-pitched laugh. “You just made my day!”
Jackson knew the compliment had guaranteed the bakery a sale. It always did. At twenty-eight, he’d perfected the art of flirting, and knew Chase would be proud of him for charming another customer. A savvy accountant with a thirst for success, his thirty-one-year-old brother was the perfect person to oversee the financial operations at the bakery. To ensure the bakery’s success, Chase had taken a leave of absence from his high-powered corporate job, and when he wasn’t wooing his fiancée—talented jewelry designer Amber Bernard—he was working hard to boost sales. Chase and Amber were on a pre-honeymoon trip at a luxury hotel overlooking Snoqualmie Falls. Jackson hadn’t heard from his brother since he’d left town yesterday and didn’t expect to. Chase was with Amber, and when his lady love was around, nothing else mattered to his big brother.
Glancing around the bakery, Jackson remembered the first time Chase approached him about an exciting new business venture.
They were at Samson’s Gym, talking smack, lifting weights and eyeing the ladies. Chase suggested going to work for the Draysons, and Jackson had laughed out loud. Hell, no. He’d always resented the Chicago branch of the family. Why were they so high and mighty? Why had they shut out their Seattle relatives for so long? More persuasive than a politician, Chase had convinced him that a bakery would be an excellent business opportunity, and posed it as a challenge. What if they could make Lillian’s of Seattle more profitable than the Chicago store? What if they became the number-one bakery in town? Jack had never been able to walk away from a challenge or a dare, and when Chase suggested he was afraid they weren’t good enough to “keep up with the Draysons,” Jack was in. Though, initially, he didn’t think he could work with his perfectionist brother. Where Chase had always been a methodical rule-follower, Jackson’s favorite motto was By Any Means Necessary. He often wondered if he could have been adopted, because he was so different from his siblings. He’d attended three different colleges, and had quickly gotten bored by the classes, the course work and the dreary study groups. His faculty mentor told him he was smart, with a great mind for business, but his dislike of convention had often gotten in his way. He’d finally graduated from Seattle University with a business degree but he could have just as easily obtained a degree in science, math or history.
“Wow, I heard this place was nice, but that’s an understatement.” Wearing an awestruck expression on her chubby face, the mother of two slowly took in her surroundings. “It looks more like a high-end boutique than a bakery.”
Her words filled Jackson with pride. Everything about the shop reeked of class and sophistication—the large gold script bearing Lillian’s name on the front door, the gold chandeliers, the glass cases holding bite-sized pastries, and the attractive tables and chairs inside the adjoining café, Myers Coffee Roasters. Located in Denny Triangle, a residential and professional community teeming with restaurants, bars, specialty shops and parks, the bakery had opened to rave reviews two months earlier and was now a Seattle favorite.
“I don’t know what to order. Everything looks amazing.”
“That’s because it is,” Jackson said confidently. “At Lillian’s of Seattle, we believe in using only natural ingredients, so whether you choose a double-fudge brownie or a slice of pecan pie, you can be sure that it’s one hundred percent fresh and one hundred percent delicious. Our mission is to make Seattle happier and tastier, and we will. One decadent dessert at a time.”
Thanking him again, the mother wandered off in search of a sweet treat.
Customers streamed through the open door and Jackson greeted everyone with a nod and a smile. The aromas of baked apples, cinnamon and freshly brewed coffee wafted out of the kitchen, reminding Jackson of all the summers he’d visited his great-aunt Lillian in Chicago and worked at her bakery. There he’d gained a love of cooking and developed a keen interest in the family business. His parents, Graham and Nadia, thought he was wasting his time at Lillian’s. A savvy real estate agent and self-made man, his father had built a successful life for himself in Seattle and wanted the same for his children. Last week at Sunday dinner his mother had admonished him to quit baking and find a “real” job. A man’s job. Jackson didn’t let her comments get to him. Instead he let them roll off his back. He wasn’t going to bail on Chase and Mariah—or disappoint his great-aunt—and he wanted to make Lillian’s a success.
The mood inside the bakery was festive and Jackson noted customers were talking, laughing and stuffing their faces with pastries. Thanks to his twenty-six-year-old sister, Mariah, the bakery had quickly become a popular hangout spot for stay-at-home moms, chic twentysomethings and college students. A former advertising assistant at a billion-dollar food company, she put her knowledge and training to good use. She ensured everything ran smoothly at Lillian’s and had proved to be a skilled baker, as well. Everyone had an important role at the bakery. Chase was the brains, Mariah was the talent and Jackson not only made specialty cakes, but he was also the face of the company, the unofficial spokesperson. He loved people—especially women—and since most of their customers were females, he manned the register, chatted them up and encouraged them to return. They always did. Chase believed Jackson was Lillian’s secret weapon and Jackson appreciated his brother’s faith in him.
Jackson checked the time on his platinum wristwatch. Where was Mariah? She used to be the first one at the bakery, but these days she spent more time with her millionaire boyfriend, Everett Myers, than she did at the shop. Jackson teased her for falling head-over-heels for the widowed coffee importer and his eight-year-old son, EJ, but he was secretly thrilled for her. Chase, too. His siblings had found love, and even though Jackson had zero desire to settle down or have a family of his own, he was happy for them. Love would never be in the cards for him. He easily got bored, craved spontaneity and excitement, and couldn’t imagine wanting to be with the same person for the rest of his life.
“Good morning,” a blonde cooed, sailing through the open door.
“Welcome to Lillian’s,” he greeted. “If you need anything just let me know.”
“I will.” Winking lasciviously, she licked her lips. “You can bet on it.”
Glancing outside, Jackson was surprised to see the weather had changed