Chasing away the thought, Jariah returned to the stove and resumed preparing dinner. Taking Wesley back would be a mistake. He didn’t love her—not the way she needed to be loved—and more importantly she didn’t love him. Years ago, when they’d started dating at Miami University she’d naively thought Wesley was “the one.” But after discovering she was pregnant, she’d seen a different side of him—a weak, spineless side that chose his parents repeatedly over her. And after years of playing second fiddle to his family, Jariah realized Wesley was never going to change, and broke things off for good. Contrary to what he thought, she deserved more, and didn’t need him or anyone else to take care of her.
Hearing her cell phone ring, Jariah searched the kitchen for her BlackBerry. Spotting it on the breakfast bar, she scooped it up and read the number on the display. Luckily, it wasn’t Wesley or his obnoxious mother. Jariah didn’t recognize the number on the screen, but as she put her cell phone to her ear, she hoped and prayed it was someone calling to offer her a job. “Hello, Jariah Brooks speaking.”
“Good evening, Jariah. This is Nicco Morretti. How are you?”
The sound of his deep, smooth voice tickled the tips of her ears.
“I’m great, thanks.” Jariah knew why Nicco Morretti was calling, and for the first time since losing her job last month, she smiled from ear to ear. Excitement surged through her veins, hard and fast. Jariah wanted to dance around the kitchen, but she maintained her composure.
“I hope I haven’t caught you at a bad time.”
“No, not at all,” she rushed to say. “I’m not doing anything. Now’s a great time to talk.”
“I’d like to discuss a business proposition with you.”
Confused, Jariah scratched her head. A business proposition? Frowning, she stared down incredulously at the phone. Did I get the account manager position or not? she wondered, leaning against the granite countertop. “I’m sorry, Mr. Morretti, but I’m afraid I don’t understand. What is this pertaining to?”
“I’d rather not discuss it over the phone.”
Discuss what? I have no clue what you’re talking about!
“Let’s meet at Dolce Vita for drinks at eight o’clock.”
“Tonight?”
“Yes, is that a problem?”
“Mom, look, I washed my hands with soap!” Ava stood beside the pantry door, waving her hands frantically in the air, hopping up and down as if she was on a pogo stick. “Can I have some cookies now?”
To quiet her daughter, Jariah pressed a finger to her lips, and steered her over to the table. “Is it okay if I call you back in an hour? I’m kind of in the middle of something.”
“That’s no problem at all,” he said, his tone calm. “I’ll talk to you then.”
Jariah hung up and rested her phone on the kitchen counter. What was that all about? she wondered. What is Nicco Morretti up to? As Jariah fixed Ava a plate, she replayed her conversation with the cocky CEO in her head, trying to figure out if she’d missed something. But there was nothing to miss. Their conversation had been brief, and he’d been vague and mysterious throughout. The only way to find out what Nicco Morretti wanted was to meet him tonight at his restaurant, but first she had to find a babysitter.
Once Ava was eating dinner, Jariah slipped out of the kitchen and went into her bedroom. It was times like this that Jariah wished she could talk to her parents. She longed to hear her mother’s voice and her father’s booming laugh, but she knew they would never take her call. They had cut her out of their lives, and their bitter rejection still stung months later.
Ignoring the heaviness in her chest, Jariah flopped down on the bed, punched in her neighbor’s phone number and waited anxiously for the call to connect. Cousins, Sadie and Felicia Robinson were good old-fashioned country girls, and Jariah loved hanging out with them. And so did her daughter. The cousins fussed over her, snuck her junk food when they thought Jariah wasn’t looking, and gave Ava free reign of their town house.
“Hey, Sadie, how are you?” Jariah asked, greeting the thirty-five-year-old boutique owner with the fun-loving personality.
“I’m great. I was just about to make dinner. How is my sweet little honey pie doing?”
“Ava’s fine, giving me sass and attitude as usual.”
“Good for her!” Sadie cheered. “She needs to stand up for herself. You’re way too strict.”
“I have to be. Her dad is a total pushover,” Jariah explained, feeling compelled to defend herself. “Ava throws a fit and he caves like a house of cards!”
The women laughed.
“Is Felicia still at work?” Jariah asked.
“No, she has a date.”
“Another one? That’s the third one this week and it’s only Tuesday!”
“I know, tell me about it,” Sadie quipped, her voice losing its cheer. “And the guy who picked her up tonight was a total hottie. Was driving a sports car and everything.”
“You sound jealous.”
“Why would I be jealous? I have a date, too.”
“You do? With who?”
“The remote control!” Sadie giggled. “Dating in the City starts in fifteen minutes, and I can’t wait to see what happens between Nelson Hamilton and the chick from...”
Jariah checked the time on the digital alarm clock, saw that it was almost six o’clock, and knew she had to rush things along. “Sadie, I need a favor,” she began, clearing her throat. “Can you babysit Ava for me tonight? I know its short notice, but the CEO of Morretti Incorporated just called and asked me to meet him for drinks.”
“No problem, girl. I’ll be right over.”
“There’s no rush. I don’t need to leave for another hour.”
“I know,” she said, “but I can smell your cooking all the way over here, and I’m hungrier than a plus-sized model on a no-carb diet!”
* * *
Jariah glanced at her wristwatch, and then tossed a look over her shoulder for the third time since arriving at Dolce Vita. When she’d entered the ritzy restaurant lounge and informed the hostess that she was meeting Nicco Morretti, the freckled brunette had greeted her warmly and escorted her to a secluded table in front of the picture window.
To pass the time, Jariah logged on to the internet and resumed reading an article she’d found that afternoon about Morretti Inc. Thanks to the magazine, she knew tons of information about the company and it’s handsome CEO with the bold personality. Knowing the good, the bad and the ugly about Nicco Morretti made Jariah feel prepared and more confident about meeting him for drinks at his downtown restaurant.
A rich, heady aroma sweetened the air. A waitress sashayed through the lounge pushing a dessert cart, and Jariah hungrily licked her lips. A loud cheer went up from the table behind her, but she didn’t pay the group any mind.
Dolce Vita was large, boisterous and busy, but the candle-lit tables, Italian marble and sable-brown decor created an intimate vibe. The restaurant lounge was the perfect setting for a romantic date, or a surprise marriage proposal, and as Jariah sat there, bored out of her mind, she reflected on the pitiful state of her love life. Is Wesley right? Am I going to regret dumping him one day and beg him to take me