“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, you’re home!” EJ shouted when Everett stepped through the door of his penthouse apartment several hours later. Everett placed the box of scones from Lillian’s on the side table.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Myers,” his housekeeper said, rushing after the boy.
“It’s okay, Margaret.” He halted her, raising his hand. “You go on with your day while EJ and I catch up.”
“Sure thing, Mr. Myers,” the housekeeper said as she headed off toward the back of the apartment.
He lifted his eight-year-old son into his arms and ruffled his curly hair. He’d inherited the soft curls from his mother, along with that impish grin he was sporting right now. EJ reminded Everett of Sara, and it sometimes made him sad that she wasn’t here to see their son grow up. Other times, it reminded him just how lucky he was.
“How’s my boy?” Everett asked as he carried him to his study.
“I’m good,” EJ answered, looking down at him.
“How was school?” He lowered EJ to the floor and then sat in his recliner to hear about his son’s day, while EJ sat on the adjacent ottoman. It was their daily routine and a way for Everett to catch up on what happened.
“Fine, but I need you to sign off on a field trip.” EJ produced a slip of paper from his back pocket.
“When’s this?” Everett asked. Although he had a busy schedule as president of Myers Hotels and his own business, Myers Coffee Roasters, he made a point of attending EJ’s field trips as a chaperone when his schedule permitted.
“At the end of the month.”
“Sounds like fun. I’ll be there.”
“Aww, Dad,” EJ sighed. “You don’t have to come every time.”
Everett frowned. “You don’t want me to come?” He was crushed. He thought these were moments EJ would treasure, because Everett made time for him despite his busy schedule.
“It’s not that...”
“Then what is it?”
EJ lowered his head and was silent.
“Well? I’m waiting.”
His son’s curly head popped up. “It’s just that I don’t want the other kids to think I’m uncool because my dad is a chaperone.”
Everett smiled as he breathed a sigh of relief. He knew there would be a time when he would have to pump the brakes, pull back and not be so overprotective, but he’d thought that was a few years away. He was wrong. “If I promise to be a ‘cool dad,’ can I still come? What do you say?”
“Okay, but only if you promise not to embarrass me.”
Everett chuckled as he held out his hand for a father-son handshake. “Sounds like a deal to me. By the way, I brought a treat for you.”
“Oh, yeah? What’d you bring me?” EJ asked.
Everett rose from the recliner. “I’ll be right back.” He returned moments later holding the box of goodies from Lillian’s. “I brought you these.” He handed it to EJ. With the bakery’s signature label on the top and the deliciously sweet aroma of fresh baked goodies emanating from within, he knew EJ would be in heaven.
His son’s large, dark brown eyes opened wide with interest and he started to open the box, but Everett slapped his hand away.
“After dinner,” he said. “Miss Margaret would kill me if I allowed you to eat that beforehand.”
“Can’t I have just one?” EJ gave him his best puppy dog look.
“Sorry, kid,” Everett said. “That doesn’t work on me, but good try. I promise we’ll have them after dinner.”
“All right,” EJ replied. “How was your day, Dad?”
Everett was surprised sometimes when his son inquired after him. He was supposed to be the parent, not the other way around. But Everett suspected that EJ was curious why pretty much all he did