When she glanced up at him with those brilliant brown eyes, Everett’s stomach flip-flopped.
“I’m not only part owner, but head baker, as well.” Mariah walked over to one of the tables holding a spread of pastries, muffins and scones. She reached for a petite orange scone and offered it to him.
“Really?” He arched an eyebrow as he accepted it. When he took a bite it was so moist and delicious, he couldn’t help but groan out loud.
She blushed at his near-sexual response. “Does that surprise you?”
His brow furrowed. “Hmm. I guess so. You don’t strike me as the domesticated type.”
“That’s because you don’t know me,” Mariah responded.
“I’d like to remedy that,” Everett replied smoothly as he drew closer to her. “How about sharing a meal with me sometime?” Had he really just asked her out, with no preamble or finesse? He hoped she would say yes.
Mariah coughed audibly. Had she heard him correctly? Had this impossibly gorgeous man with sexy dimples just asked her out? Her chest expanded as she responded to his close proximity. She could feel the heady attraction between them as her heart thumped loudly in her chest. It was as if he was magnetically pulling her toward him. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me,” Everett said with a smile, as he reached for another piece of heaven on that platter. He popped it in his mouth and chewed as he watched her intently. He was clearly waiting on an answer.
“I—I can’t,” she finally answered. Awareness of him prickled across her skin and made her uncomfortable.
“Why not?”
“Are you always this persistent?”
“When someone is trying to avoid me, I am.”
“And I’m trying to avoid you?”
He smiled. “You know you are. And there’s no need. I don’t bite.”
Mariah wasn’t so sure about that. Everett Myers looked like just the sort of man she should steer clear of. He radiated a sexual magnetism so potent that she shifted, restless on her feet.
“I’m waiting,” he said, folding his arms across his amazingly broad chest. His voice was slow and seductive.
Mariah couldn’t help but notice how defined he was. With his football player physique, he looked as if he spent a great amount of time at the gym, pumping iron. Everett Myers was sinfully sexy and he smelled equally divine. His cologne, spicy and woodsy, was tantalizing her senses, so much so that she had to step away.
“I’ve only been divorced a short time and I’m not ready to jump back into the dating pool.”
His eyes followed her every movement. “That’s too bad, but perhaps you’ll change your mind.”
“I doubt that.”
“If you can’t tell, I’m pretty persistent,” Everett replied.
“I’ve noticed. You ran my poor brother off with that look you gave him.”
Everett grinned unabashedly. “Did I? I just wanted some time alone with you.”
“I’m sorry to have wasted your time, since I’m not on the market. But my pastries are,” Mariah replied, “and you seem to like the scones. Can I get a variety box for you to take home? We have orange, lemon, triple berry and blueberry. Or perhaps something chocolate? Like an éclair?”
“Ah, the lady is changing the subject,” Everett said, as she moved away from him toward the register.
She gave him her friendliest smile. “I’m starting a new business, Mr. Myers, and my focus has to be on making it a success.”
He nodded. “I can appreciate that.”
She frowned.
“No, I can,” he declared. “Ensuring that my family’s legacy continues is important to me, since my father left running the hotels to me.”
“Omigod!” Mariah clapped her hand to her mouth. “You’re Everett Myers.”
He adjusted his tie and smiled with his eyes as she realized exactly who he was. “That’s right.”
“Of Myers Hotels,” Mariah finished, as understanding dawned. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize...”
“Would that have changed your answer?”
“About?”
“Dating me?”
Mariah snorted. “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,