Sure enough, Graham Drayson couldn’t resist a hot chocolate chip cookie and devoured it within seconds. When he was done, he wiped his mouth with the paper towel Mariah supplied him with. “So when does the café open?” He pointed toward the storefront.
“In a couple of weeks,” Mariah responded. “I would love it if you could attend the grand opening.”
He kissed her forehead. “Of course, sweetheart.
Mariah sighed inwardly. She didn’t know why she thought he might come without her, as he’d done today. She offered a weak smile. “Great!”
“Jackson, come here.” Their father motioned him forward and pulled them both into a semicircle.
“Can anyone get on this action?” Chase asked, leaning in the doorway. He must have heard all the ruckus from the office. He stood there sans glasses, watching them.
“C’mon, son.” Their father pulled Chase over into their tight unit. “Although I may not always agree with your choices, I want you to know that I love all three of you and will always be here for you, no matter what. Believe that.”
“We do,” Mariah said. “But it’s always good to hear.”
* * *
Everett stopped by her apartment for dinner the following evening, since EJ was at a friend’s for a sleepover. It was the first time Mariah had allowed Everett or any man other than her brothers into her home. Initially, it had been hard getting used to having her own place, because once she’d she left her parents she’d gone to college, and then moved in with Rich as his wife. So essentially she’d never truly been on her own before, and it had been disconcerting. When they’d divorced, it had been an adjustment coming home every night to an empty apartment. The loneliness had been a silent reproach about all that had gone wrong in her marriage.
But having Everett here in her place was such a natural progression of their relationship. She was grateful that he’d opened up to her about Sara, and Mariah wanted to do the same and be as transparent as he’d been.
As a thank-you, she’d decided to make him a home-cooked meal of beef Wellington with salad, and a chocolate soufflé that she’d mastered during her lonely afternoons in her marriage.
Ever the gentleman, Everett arrived holding a bottle of wine, as well as a bouquet of roses. He was dressed in denims and a black T-shirt. She wasn’t used to seeing him so casual, but it looked damn good on him. As for the flowers, she put them in a vase and led him to the kitchen, where she was preparing dinner. She filled him in on her father’s unexpected visit.
“So your dad stopped by the bakery, unannounced?”
“Yes, he did,” Mariah replied, refocusing her energies on cutting vegetables for the salad. “I was surprised, considering he and Mother have been dead set against our business venture. But I think he was curious, and at least that’s more than Mother’s done.”
Everett must have detected the note of hostility in her voice because he said, “You and your mom truly don’t get along.”
Mariah shrugged. “Wish I knew why. Because I have always tried to be the perfect daughter. I tried to be the epitome of grace and class. I never dressed like the other girls in school because image was everything to my mother. In the end, I failed.”
“You’re talking about your divorce?”
“I was a disgrace,” Mariah said, remembering the horrible argument they’d had when she’d informed Nadia that her marriage was over. “There hasn’t been a divorce in the Drayson family in years. What had I done to cause him to walk away, she’d demanded to know, because of course, it had to have been me.” Mariah furiously cut the cucumbers on the chopping block. “The fault couldn’t be with Rich. He could never be lacking as a husband.”
Everett walked over to her, took the knife out of her hand and placed it on the counter. He grasped her by the shoulders, forcing her to look at him. “It wasn’t your fault alone. There were two people in the marriage.”
“I know. I just spent much of my life trying to make Mom happy and failing miserably.” Mariah sniffed.
“Parents can be hard to please,” Everett commented. “Which is why I stopped trying long ago. Now I think my parents and I have come to an understanding. They know I’ll always listen to their advice, but may not heed it. The thing is, I’m happy with myself either way. In time, you’ll get there, too, and be happy with who you are.”
“It’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks, right?” Mariah laughed bitterly. “C’mon, help me set the table.”
An hour later, after they’d eaten the delicious dinner, they brought their soufflé ramekins to the sofa to watch television. Mariah was wrapped up in Everett’s arms when he asked out of the blue, “You’ve alluded to your marriage quite a bit, but not really told me much about its demise.”
Mariah had been dreading this moment, when Everett would want to know more. She would share with him as much as she was able to. “Rich and I met in college and our relationship was fun and carefree. He proposed right after we graduated and it seemed like the next logical step. But the thing is, we hadn’t really talked about the future and what we really wanted out of life. Or what were deal breakers.”
“Something happened?”
Mariah nodded, sorting through her mind what she could share without getting into the baby-making fiasco. “We were too young, not ready for real life and the struggles that come with it. And when things got tough, Rich got going.”
“So you didn’t want the divorce?”
Mariah looked at Everett and could see the question in his eyes. “I’m not still in love with him, if that’s what you’re asking. Our marriage was over long before we signed the divorce papers. It was just that, like my mother, I thought that marriage was for life. We made vows. So I was prepared to dig in the trenches and try to weather the tough times.”
“But your ex didn’t want to?”
She pointed her index finger. “Precisely. And as you’ve stated, it takes two. Ultimately, we wanted different things, and instead of growing together and becoming stronger after the tough times, we grew apart.”
Mariah wanted to say more, but couldn’t. She’d already shared one of her worst failures in life, but to tell him about their infertility problems, too? If she opened Pandora’s box and let those old wounds out, she might never get them back in and they’d pull her under. Pull their relationship under.
Mariah didn’t want that. She wanted a clean slate with Everett, without all the baggage of her past weighing them down. But was she deluding herself? Could their relationship really survive without full disclosure?
“You okay?” Everett hugged her tighter.
“As long as I have you?” Mariah asked. “I am.”
And she meant it. She’d tried hard not fall in love with Everett Myers, but it was impossible not to. He was everything she’d been waiting her whole life to find: an honest, caring, compassionate man who loved his family, was a great father, a respected and fair businessman and a philanthropist all rolled into one. She couldn’t be luckier to have found him. And now that she had, she would fight tooth and nail to keep her man.
Chapter 17
Everett didn’t see Mariah much over the next two weeks except for the odd time or two when they squeezed in a night together. She was either too tired from the bakery or he was too busy with work or EJ, but he eventually made a quick visit to check on the progress of the café, to ensure they would be ready to open the following Monday.
She quickly grabbed his hand and opened the plywood door. Once inside, Everett was shocked by what he saw. The café was darn near built. The walls were up and painted, the millwork and countertop installed and the Myers Coffee Roasters sign hung down from the rafters.
He’d kept up with Mariah via phone and knew they were much further along than the schedule the contractor had provided, because he’d been promised a bonus if he fini
shed earlier than expected. Everett could see he intended to claim that bonus.
Mariah gazed at him, her eyes large and welcoming. “Well?” She swept her arm around. “What do you think?”
Everett glanced at his surroundings. “This is fantastic, Mariah,” he said, grabbing her in his arms and spinning her. “I had no idea.” He was truly speechless, which was rare for him.
She nodded. “I know, right? Your vision really came together.”
“Yeah, but I had no idea we were this far along.”
“They’ve been moving pretty quickly,” Mariah said. “I think we’ll be ready to open after final inspections, cleanup, and of course, you need to stock the café on your end with the supplies and equipment.”
“I’m ready,” Everett said, peering down into her warm eyes. “The equipment was ordered and is sitting in my warehouse, ready for delivery.”
“That’s great.” Mariah beamed. “Do you think you could be ready to open next week? I can’t wait for my customers to try the Draynut.”
He knew she was excited not only for the café but to debut her new creation. “Absolutely, we’ll be ready. And once the customers taste your Draynut and my coffee, we’ll be a surefire hit.”
“Sounds good to me. How about a kiss before you leave?”
He had no problem complying with that request. He bent to kiss her, long and slow, and the world righted around him at last. He couldn’t let days go by without kissing her, feeling her soft curves against him. “I missed this,” he murmured, “missed you.” In a short span of time, Mariah had become a big part of his life. He’d thought it would scare him, feeling this way again after the way he’d lost Sara, but it didn’t. He welcomed it because it meant he was finally moving on with his life.
“We’ll see each other on Friday,” Mariah reminded him.
“I know, but it’s so far away.” He pulled her closer so she could feel his arousal pulsating between them. It didn’t take much when he was around Mariah to get him aroused. She had that effect on him.
“Keep it in your pants,” she said with a chuckle. “I promise to work off all that frustration on Friday.”
Slowly, Everett released her. “Promises, promises. I hope you’re ready to keep them.”
She smiled wickedly at him as she licked her lips. “Oh, I am. You’ll see.”
* * *
Mariah was excited about her plans with Everett. Although it was a weekday, having Kelsey help Jackson and Nancy in the bakery, Mariah was able to take Friday off. It had worked out perfectly with EJ’s schedule, because he was home from school for a teachers’ prep day. Mariah would finally get the chance to spend more time getting to know him. Everett’s son was the most important person in his life and she wanted EJ to like her. It seemed he did, if their first lunch and subsequent dinner at the penthouse was any indication. And today, they’d be spending the whole day together at the Northwest Trek Wildlife Park.
EJ had wanted to do something fun and Mariah had heard about the park, which allowed visitors to see animals up close and have a zip line excursion. Although she was scared to death of heights, she knew that an eight-year-old boy like EJ would love it. After she’d confirmed the zip-lining was for five-year-olds and up, Everett had been on board.
And now they were in his Escalade on their way to the wildlife park. EJ oohed and ahhed when he saw the foothills of Mount Rainier. He talked animatedly during the entire hour-long drive south of Seattle.
“Are you excited?” Mariah asked him after they’d disembarked from the vehicle. Everett pulled out the backpack she’d stocked with bottled water and light snacks.
“I’m totally stoked,” EJ said, grinning from ear to ear. “I can’t wait to zip-line.”
“How do you feel about that?” Everett asked Mariah as he closed the trunk and slid the backpack on.
“Oh, I don’t know,” she answered honestly.
“Are you scared, Miss Mariah?” EJ inquired. “If I can do it, you can.” And off he went, running toward the ticket booth.
Famous last words, thought Mariah.
* * *
After they’d received their tickets, they boarded a tram for a narrated fifty-minute drive thorough the park’s 435-acre free-roaming area for the animals. They saw different kinds, from bison to moose to caribou herds.
“What’s that over there?” EJ asked when they passed a large animal with antlers.
“That’s an elk,” Everett answered.
“And what’s that?” EJ pointed to another animal with antlers that curved under. He was so curious he asked questions constantly.
“That’s a bighorn sheep,” the guide responded.
EJ snapped pictures with the camera Everett had loaned him. “This is awesome, Dad,” he said, turning to his father and Mariah, who were sitting behind him on the tram.
“I’m glad you like it,” Everett replied. “But this was Miss Mariah’s idea.” He gave her a wink.
“I aim to please,” she said with a smile.
They continued touring the wooded exhibits to see the bear habitats, then stopped for lunch before heading to the wetlands to see river otters and beavers play in the water. Mariah was enjoying the experience more because she was seeing through a child’s eyes, EJ’s eyes, and it made it all the more exciting.
Eventually they made their way to the zip line complex. Mariah glanced around at the aerial course. “Looks pretty challenging,” she commented. She was rooted to the spot and watching other climbers above her.
“Don’t be a chicken,” Everett said, tickling her side. “Let’s do this.” He pulled her toward the entrance.
The guides suited the three of them up in helmets, as well as safety gear around their thighs and waists. EJ was so excited he was talking a mile minute. Meanwhile Mariah’s heart thumped loudly in her chest.
“Listen to me,” Everett said, pulling her to a stop and grabbing both sides of her helmet. “You’re going to be fine. You’re not by yourself. I’m here with you and we’re doing this together, okay?”
Tears formed in her eyes at Everett’s kindness and all Mariah could do was nod. A bit later she kicked herself for being afraid, once she found how fun the discovery and aerial courses were. Most required them to be agile, balanced and mentally tough to get across the tightrope and swinging logs, but Mariah did it. EJ, on the other hand, was a little monkey and easily maneuvered over the climbing wall and obstacle course with grace and nimbleness, much like his father did.
“That was awesome!” the boy said as they made their way toward the exit after they’d finished the zip line adventure. They’d been at the park nearly the entire day. “We have to do that again. Can we, Dad?”
“Sure can,” Everett said, laughing at his son.
“And you’ll come, too, Miss Mariah?” EJ asked, turning around to face her.
Mariah’s heart soared that EJ would want her to come with them. She glanced over at Everett when she said, “Absolutely.”
* * *
On the drive ride back to Seattle, the car was quiet, because EJ had promptly fallen asleep after all the day’s activities, while Mariah was introspective. Everett reached for her hand as the sun had set during the drive. “Everything all right?” he asked, hazarding a glance in her direction.
“Yeah, I’m good.”
“You sure?” He wondered what was on her mind. He hoped EJ hadn’t been too much to handle today. Everett was used to his hyperactive son, but this was the first time Mariah had spent the entire day with them and he hoped she wasn’t spooked.
She turned and smiled at him. “Today was pretty incredible.”
Everett’s heart swelled in his chest and he let out a deep sigh. “It was, wasn’t it?”
She nodded and he was surprised when he saw unshed tears in her eyes. “EJ
’s a wonderful little boy,” she declared.
“Thank you.” He reached across and stroked her cheek. “And you’re wonderful, too. Not many women would be game to zip-line through the air like you did. You continue to surprise me, Mariah Drayson.”
Once they reached his penthouse, Everett carried EJ inside, while Mariah followed with the backpack. She was removing the remnants in the kitchen when Everett came up behind her at the sink and wrapped his big strong arms around her waist. “EJ’s knocked out.”
“Oh, yeah.”
“So it’s just the two of us,” he said, seconds before his mouth nuzzled her neck. That left his hands free to roam over her body. When he found her breasts, he molded them in his palms. He loved the feel of them, soft and pliant.
Mariah let out a low purr. “Mmm...”
“You like that?” he whispered, taking the tip of her ear in his mouth and sucking.
“Oh, yes.” Her head fell back against his shoulder as he continued tonguing her ear. His hands moved to the waistband on her jeans and pulled her shirt free, before he slipped his fingers inside. He pushed past the waistband of her panties and slid his hand lower. When he reached those damp curls, he groaned and then delved his fingers inside her core.
“Ah...” Mariah let out a deep sigh as he began stroking her.
“I’ve been wanting to do this all day,” Everett murmured as his tongue darted in and out of her ear, mimicking what his fingers were doing inside her womanhood. Mariah began to undulate her buttocks against the hardness in his jeans. “That’s right, love. I want you to come for me,” he told her.
“Wh-what if EJ wakes up?” Mariah whispered, glancing in the direction of the hallway. She wouldn’t want him to walk in on them in flagrante, especially since he was still getting to know her.
“Don’t worry about my son, he’s a hard sleeper,” Everett said as his fingers quickened and he began thrusting deeper inside her. “So you can come as loud as you want.”
“I—I can’t!”
Cappuccino Kisses Page 16
