Cappuccino Kisses

by Yahrah St. John

  “And with a smart advertising campaign, we’d get all of the Myers coffee patrons coming into the bakery and build up our customer base,” Chase added. “That’s where you come in, sis.” He pointed to her. “This is right up your alley.”

  “I’m getting excited, guys.” Jackson rubbed his hands together in glee.

  “So am I,” Mariah said. “This could be the boost we need to set us apart from Sweetness Bakery.”

  “We’ll bury them,” Jackson stated. “And Everett Myers will get to spend more time with you in the process. It’s a win-win for everybody.”

  Mariah snorted. “You just couldn’t resist that dig, could ya, Jack?”

  “Me?” He patted his chest as if he were innocent.

  “Yes, you.”

  “C’mon, don’t be mad.” He pulled her to her feet, “Because before long we’ll be in the black and success will be sweet.”

  “Yes, it will be.”

  Mariah was so excited at the prospect that she decided to call Everett and tell him the good news. He’d given her his business card with his private number already written on the back. It was as if he’d been waiting for just the right time to give it to her, even though she hadn’t been compelled to give him hers. “Call me anytime,” he’d said when he’d dropped her off after lunch, so she was going to do just that.

  It was nearly 9:00 p.m. when she got to her apartment for the call. She hoped it wasn’t too late, but she certainly wasn’t about to phone him in front of her brothers. Jackson was already teasing her relentlessly about Everett’s interest in her and she’d never live it down. She wanted to speak with him in the privacy of her own home.

  “Hello?” His voice, when he answered, sounded breathless and in Mariah’s opinion oh so sexy.

  “Uh, hi. It’s—it’s Mariah,” she said, stumbling over her words. “I hope I didn’t catch you at a bad time?”

  “No, you didn’t. I was in the other room and heard the phone ringing. I have to say, though, I’m surprised to hear from you at this hour.”

  Mariah was surprised to be calling him, too. She could have easily waited until tomorrow and phoned him at the office, but for some reason she’d wanted to hear his voice before she went to bed. Perhaps so she could have another one of those erotic dreams she’d had since she’d met the man?

  “Well, I was calling to tell you the good news. My brothers agreed that they’d like to go into business with you.”

  “That’s great news, Mariah. I’m glad to hear it, though this could have waited until tomorrow.”

  “Are you upset that I called?” Her voice was shakier than she would have liked as she fell backward on her bed and nearly started hyperventilating. Had she miscalculated? Did he have someone else there with him? Was that why it was too late to call?

  “Of course not,” Everett answered smoothly. “I’m glad you did because it gives me hope.”

  “Hope for what?”

  “That you might be as into me as I’m into you.”

  Mariah was quiet. Everett had a way of doing that to her, of being so blunt that she couldn’t think of a pithy comeback. “Well, uh, we should get together tomorrow at the bakery perhaps and go over the details.”

  “I’m tied up during the day. How about dinner at 7:00 p.m. on Friday evening?”

  If she looked up the word relentless in the dictionary, she would find a picture of Everett Myers. “I...” She wanted to turn him down, but didn’t want to appear ungrateful for the incredible opportunity that had just landed in their lap, or jeopardize a potential business deal. And he damn well knew it. She had no choice but to capitulate. “Dinner is fine.”

  “Where shall I pick you up?”

  Of course he wanted to pick her up, because in his mind this was a date, not a business dinner. She rattled off her address.

  “I can’t wait to see you, Mariah.,” And just as she was hanging up she heard him whisper, “Dream of me.”

  Mariah hit the end button. Dream of him? Hell, she probably wouldn’t be able to get him or the sound of his husky voice out of her mind. Tonight was one of those moments when she wished she kept a stress reducer in her nightstand drawer. Perhaps then she could relieve the ache between her thighs.

  * * *

  Everett smiled from the other end of the line after he’d hung up with Mariah, and lay back on the pillows of his king-size bed. He’d finally worn her down. She was finally starting to think of him outside of work. In her bed, perhaps? Was that where she was right now? He wondered what she was wearing. Was it one of those skimpy things women often wore to bed these days that they called pajamas? And was she thinking about him and what he would like to do to her? Did she know how much he would love to find out what secrets lay beneath the form-fitting clothes she wore? How much he wanted to taste her, and not just her mouth.

  Everett took a deep breath to steady himself. He needed to get a grip because it would be a while before he unearthed all Mariah’s secrets. But the best things in life were worth waiting for. He knew that the moment he had one taste of her, it would never be enough.

  * * *

  On Friday night, Everett excitedly rubbed his hands in eager anticipation of the romantic evening he had planned. Mariah had no idea what he had in store for her when he showed up at her apartment.

  He was leaning in the entryway when she opened the door with a swish, and Everett nearly lost his footing. Mariah was spellbinding. She wore a beautiful concoction of a dress that was strapless and showed the swell of her breasts before swirling down to reveal the sway of her curvy hips.

  He righted himself. “Good evening.”

  “So formal,” Mariah said, closing the door behind her.

  She must have realized how rude she was because she said, “Forgive me. I guess I should have invited you in?”

  Everett shook his head. “I only want an invitation when it’s freely given and you want me there.” When she invited him into her apartment, it was his hope that it would be an invitation to her bed and not just her space.

  Mariah flushed visibly.

  Everett shifted his arm and produced a bouquet of red roses he’d been holding behind his back. “For the lady.”

  She recovered and gave him a weak smile. “You shouldn’t have, but thank you.” She stepped away long enough to put the bouquet in a vase before returning to the foyer.

  He offered her his arm. “Ready to go?”

  * * *

  Mariah was shocked when they got to the curb and found a stretch limousine waiting for them. She turned to Everett. “A limo?”

  “I wanted to be able to drink and enjoy your company this evening. This was my compromise.”

  She nodded and accepted the hand he lent to help her. The inside was plush, with leather seats, a flat-screen television and a wet bar. Mariah supposed this was how the wealthy lived, but the only time she’d been in a limo had been to go to her high school prom.

  Once Everett joined her, the limo seemed smaller inside. He filled up the entire space with his strong masculinity. He looked especially fine tonight in the black suit jacket and white silk shirt he wore. The matching trousers encasing his hard muscular thighs caused a shiver of awareness to course through Mariah. Her breasts tingled and she could feel her nipples pucker, tight and sensitive in the clingy fabric of her dress.

  She watched as Everett leaned over the wet bar, producing a bottle of champagne, and two flutes that he handed to her. He popped the cork effortlessly and poured them each a glass. Afterward, he placed the bottle back in the ice bucket.

  He seemed very comfortable in this environment and easily lifted his glass to say, “A toast.”

  “To the start of a great business relationship.”

  She suspected he’d wanted to say something else, but deferred to her and said, “Che
ers.”

  She clinked her flute against his and took a sip of the champagne. It was fragrant and delicious. She couldn’t resist a small moan.

  “You like?”

  She shook her head. “This is a great vintage.”

  “This is a celebration, right? So nothing but the best.” He held her captive with the intensity of his gaze. Mariah had no choice but to stare back into his piercing dark eyes.

  “Yes, it is.” She saw his eyes roam over her face, lingering at her lips and she knew he wanted to kiss her, but he didn’t. He reined in his passion and took another sip of his champagne. Mariah couldn’t help but be a little disappointed, because if he’d gone for it, she wouldn’t have stopped him.

  “Were your brothers surprised by my offer to carry Myers coffee at the bakery?”

  Mariah shook her head. “No. In fact, they took it a step further.”

  “How so?”

  “Well...” She paused for effect. “We’d like to not only sell Myers Coffee Roasters, but have a café on-site so customers can purchase a hot cup of coffee, too. What do you think?”

  His full lips curved into a genuine smile. “I think that’s a wonderful idea,” Everett said, “But I’d have to be involved in every stage of the planning if there’s going to be a Myers Coffee Roasters café inside the bakery, albeit on a smaller scale.”

  “Of course,” Mariah responded. “I wouldn’t expect anything less. It is your brand, after all.”

  “You know what this means, right?”

  She suspected she knew what he was angling for, but played dumb. “No, what does it mean?”

  “It means, as part owner of Lillian’s of Seattle, you and I will see an awful lot of each other as we get this venture off the ground. How do you feel about that?”

  “I’m excited,” she said, and watched as his eyes grew large. “For the bakery,” she added, and noticed his smile lessen. “This is a huge coup for us.”

  He frowned. “Is that all that you see?”

  She could tell that he wasn’t happy with her response, and didn’t know how to dig herself out of putting her foot in her mouth.

  When she remained silent, he said, “Just so we’re clear, the only Drayson I’m interested in working with is you. So if this project is going to be successful, I need to know you’re on board with that. Are you?”

  Chapter 6

  Everett stared back at Mariah. He hoped his meaning was clear—that he wasn’t backing down from trying to win her over and he would use any means necessary to spend time with her. A condition of this arrangement would be that he would work with Mariah and only Mariah.

  She seemed to be mulling over his words for several long, agonizing moments, making Everett wonder if he’d pushed her too far, until she said, “Yes, I’m on board with that.”

  She didn’t see his inward sigh of relief because outwardly he was all cool. He had to be for this to work. “Good.” The limo came to a stop. “Looks like we’re here.”

  Everett exited first and helped Mariah out. She was pleasantly surprised to see they were in front of the Space Needle.

  “I thought we’d dine someplace special. C’mon.” He took her hand and led her toward the entrance.

  After they’d passed through the store and made their way to the elevators, Everett could see that Mariah was looking around and wondering where they were going. She probably thought they were dining at the SkyCity restaurant with its 360 degree panoramic view of Seattle. And he could have done that, but it would be expected. Instead, he’d rented a private room on the SkyLine level, where they could have dinner in private while being waited on hand and foot.

  He intended to show Mariah that he could be thoughtful and romantic. Maybe then she’d see just how enamored he was with her. Hell, just being in the limo had been divine. Her warmth had surrounded him, enveloped him, and he’d wanted more.

  When she’d moaned after tasting the champagne, his reaction had been instant and visceral. He wanted to take her in his arms and kiss her delectable mouth until she made the same pleasurable sounds with him, underneath him and because of him.

  The attendant on the elevator stated, “You’re here, Mr. Myers. Enjoy your evening.”

  The door swished open and they stepped out. Mariah looked at him questioningly. “Follow me,” he said leading her to the Puget Sound room, where a maître d’ was waiting for them.

  “Good evening, sir,” the man said. “Everything is set up as you desired.”

  Everett offered him his hand and slid him a hundred dollar tip. “Thank you.”

  The maître d’ opened the double doors. “No, thank you. Enjoy.”

  The room was decorated just as he’d requested. Soft, muted lighting and candles were everywhere, along with a table for two in the center and a grand piano in the corner for later, when he intended to dance the night away in her arms.

  He turned to Mariah. “What do you think?”

  * * *

  Mariah was awestruck at the effort Everett had gone through to arrange a private room for them, complete with a piano!

  “Everett, this—this is amazing,” she commented as she walked toward the windows. She could see the Olympic Mountains, downtown Seattle and the marina from here. No one had ever done anything like this for her, certainly not Richard. They’d been young and poor when they’d first started dating, and even later, after they’d graduated and started their respective careers, he couldn’t have afforded to do anything this lavish. But Everett could and he had. She was truly touched.

  She spun around to face him. “You didn’t have to do all this.”

  He smiled at her. “I know that, but I wanted to. Now c’mon, sit. The chef has prepared a delicious meal for us.”

  While they ate their starters of crab claws and second course of baby spinach salad, and shared a bottle of wine, Mariah learned more about Everett and his family.

  “So you’re an only child?” she asked. “You’re missing out.” She smiled. “Chase, Jack and I have always been thick as thieves for as long as I can remember. You can imagine that, being the only girl, there were times I’ve had to tell them to back down if someone was giving me a hard time. You know how it is.”

  Everett laughed. “I can imagine how protective they must have been over you, their little sister. And your parents—how’s your relationship with them?”

  Mariah reached for her glass of wine. “For the most part, it’s good.”

  He picked up on what she wasn’t saying. “But not lately?”

  She nodded. “They weren’t happy that my brothers and I decided to go into the bakery business. They think it’s beneath us. They’d much prefer if we stuck in our respective corners or joined Dad’s real estate business. Chase is an accountant, Jack is an entrepreneur and in my previous life I was an advertising executive.”

  Everett quirked a brow. “Advertising? What happened? Why’d you leave?”

  “It wasn’t the right fit.” Mariah was evasive, because she didn’t really want to expound more on the topic. It could lead to other questions, such as the breakup of her marriage, but she knew she couldn’t avoid the topic entirely this evening.

  “I can understand,” Everett replied. “Sometimes it takes time to find the right path.”

  “My blog certainly helped with showing me the way.”

  “You have a blog?”

  She nodded. “It’s called A Sista Who Bakes. I kinda used my Chicago cousins’ idea of their Brothers Who Bake blog to form my own. I started it when baking was just a hobby, especially after my divorce.”

  “Why did you divorce? If you don’t mind my asking.” Everett dipped a claw into the warm butter sauce. Mariah watched him suck the succulent sweet meat from the shell and felt her inner muscles tighten in response.

 
She took a sip of her wine. She’d known when she’d agreed to this date that eventually they’d have to talk about their past relationships. “We got married young, right out of college, and over time...” she paused “...we drifted apart. So the blog was more cathartic than anything. You know, a way to escape.”

  “I can understand. Sara and I were both young when we met, but we’d known each other for years before our relationship became romantic.”

  “Sounds wise.” Mariah reached for a crab claw at the same time as Everett and the electricity just from that close encounter caused a lurch of excitement to surge through her. The very air around them was electrified and seemed to hum.

  She tried to disengage it with her next comment. “So when Aunt Lillian mentioned opening another bakery in Seattle, after my divorce, the pieces fit into place. And it offered me a change of scene from Chicago.”

  “Your aunt is a pretty amazing woman,” Everett commented. “I read about how she started the first bakery in the early sixties. It couldn’t have been easy in Chicago.”

  “No, it wasn’t. I guess it’s why I admire her so much,” Mariah said. “And want to make her proud.”

  “You will.”

  Mariah stared at Everett. He said it with such conviction that even she believed it. “I will with your help. Having a Myers Coffee Roasters café at the bakery, even on a small scale, is a huge bonus.”

  “Aw, it’s not all that.”

  “Of course it is. Starbucks isn’t the only game in town and you’ve got quite the following. And if I’m honest, I prefer yours.”

  “Really?”

  “Don’t sound so surprised. It has the right balance of flavor.”

  “It’s what I was going for.”

  Everett continued to expound on how he got started in the coffee importing business when their entrées arrived. She’d ordered the herb-crusted halibut, while he’d opted for the wild king salmon.

  Mariah sighed in contentment. “You weren’t lying when you said the chef had prepared a mouth-watering dinner for us. This is scrumptious.” She took another forkful of halibut.