“Good.”
“I called to ask you to arrange a flight for me to go to Palm Beach, and also if you can get off Saturday night.”
“Consider Florida a done deal. As soon as I contact the pilot, I’ll let you know the time of your departure and arrival. What’s going on Saturday?”
“I’m invited to a dinner party, and I’d like you to come with me as my guest. And if you’re able to get Sunday off I’d like for us to…” Her words stopped when she realized what she was prepared to ask him.
“You want us to do what?” Ethan asked after a pregnant pause.
Faith felt as if she’d just come down with a severe case of foot-in-mouth. She inhaled, held her breath, then let it out slowly. “I’d like to spend time with you so we can talk about us.”
There was a swollen pause on Ethan’s end. “What’s up, Faith?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Are you planning to hand me my walking papers?”
“No! No, Ethan,” she repeated in a softer tone. “I just need to clear up a few things when it comes to our relationship.”
“I didn’t know we had a relationship,” he countered.
“Well, we do,” she insisted.
There came another pause. “In that case I’ll make certain to ask my boss for the weekend off.”
Faith was certain he heard her sigh of relief. “Thank you.”
“No, Faith. I should be the one thanking you.”
“I’ll call you toward the end of the week to give you the particulars for Saturday.”
“And I’ll call you before the end of the week,” Ethan countered. “I’d love to talk longer but I have another call coming through and I have to take it. Good night, darling.”
“Good…” What she wanted to say trailed off when she heard the silence that indicated he’d switched over to his other caller.
Depressing a button, she placed the receiver on the cushioned seat. She willed her mind blank as she stared through the slight opening in the window shutters. What she didn’t want to do was read more into Ethan’s calling her darling. But she knew they’d reached the point where their relationship had to be resolved.
Faith had to make up her mind whether she wanted to continue to date Ethan after their Caribbean jaunt, or break it off before she found herself in too deep.
Her feelings for him intensified each time she heard his voice over the phone, and grew whenever they were together. She worked the long hours, pushing herself to the brink of exhaustion because when she went to bed—alone—it was to sleep and not dream about the man she wanted to make love to her. She’d encountered prolonged periods in the past where she hadn’t slept with a man, but right now she wanted to be anything but celibate.
Faith knew she was a passionate woman because her two serious relationships had proven that. What she didn’t know was how much longer she could continue to date Ethan and not ask him to make love to her.
CHAPTER 12
The weekend came, and it wasn’t until the stationer Faith used for the bakeshop’s marketing products dropped off the colorful banner she’d requested informing her customers to place their personalized Valentine’s Day orders before the tenth that she realized January had come and gone. And it was only during the first two weeks in February the days of operation for Let Them Eat Cake went from five to six.
The past week she’d established the habit of rising early and going into the shop before dawn. Most nights she didn’t leave until after nine, eating just enough to keep her energy level up, and when she returned home it was to take a quick shower and fall into bed.
Faith was grateful for Saturday for two reasons: going to the Cohens’ reassured her that she wouldn’t spend the night at the bakeshop and that she would get to see Ethan again. As promised, he’d called to give her her flight schedule for Palm Beach. He’d arranged for a driver to take her to Teterboro Airport Friday morning for a 6:00 a.m. flight, and her return flight was scheduled for ten that evening. He’d also confirmed their getaway weekend where they would spend forty-eight hours together somewhere in the Caribbean, and no matter how much she begged and pleaded with him to tell her where they were going he wouldn’t relent. She’d hung up on him, fuming. Ethan had earned his first ribbit for being obstinate.
She left Let Them Eat Cake at three to unwind before she readied herself to go to Bridget and Seth’s dinner party. Faith walked into her apartment and placed a box filled with an assortment of brownies she planned to take to the Cohens’ on the countertop, hung up her coat and kicked off her leather clogs. She headed for the bed, knowing a couple of hours of sleep would offset the fatigue that had come crashing over her like the pounding surf washing up on a beach.
The telephone rang and she smothered an expletive. Reaching for the cordless instrument, she recognized Tessa’s number on the display. “Hello, Tessa. What’s up?”
“I’m calling about tonight’s gathering. Bridget just called to cancel because Seth’s grandmother was admitted to the hospital this afternoon.”
“Is it serious?”
“They’ve been told it’s a mild heart attack. The problem is that it’s not her first one, so they’re going to keep her and run further tests. Even though she’s eighty-eight she’s still feisty.”
Faith smiled. “Good for her. If you talk to Bridget, tell her I’ll light a candle for Seth’s grandmother.”
“I’m sure they’ll appreciate that. I was really looking forward to meeting your Ethan, but I suppose that’ll have to wait for another time.”
She wanted to tell her cousin that he wasn’t hers to claim as her own. “There’ll be another time,” she said instead. Faith chatted with Tessa for five minutes more, then rang off. Retrieving her handbag, she took out her cell phone and punched in the programmed number to Ethan’s cell phone. He answered after the third ring, his deep voice coming through the earpiece.
“Yes?”
A slight frown creased her forehead with his brusque greeting. “Did I catch you at a bad time?”
“Yes…no.”
Her frown deepened. “Either it’s yes or no, Ethan.”
“No, Faith. I didn’t mean to bark at you. Please accept my apology.”
“Apology accepted.” She disclosed the details of Tessa’s telephone call. “We don’t have to get together this weekend if you don’t want to.”
“But I do, Faith. What if I pick you up around five? I’ll call you when I get into the city.”
“Make it six and you have a deal.”
“Six it is. I’ll see you later, baby.”
Ethan hung up before she could say goodbye. She had caught him at an inopportune time because he’d ended the call abruptly. Was he having problems with his boss because of his requests not to work weekends, or with some of the other drivers who also may have wanted weekends off to spend time with their friends or families?
Setting the tiny phone on the bedside table, Faith reached for a throw at the foot of the bed and spread it out over the comforter. She set her clock for five, then lay down to take a nap.
* * *
Faith, pushing a button, answered the intercom when the downstairs bell chimed throughout the apartment. “Who is it?”
“Ethan.”
“Don’t bother to come up. I’m on my way down.”
Releasing the button, she unlocked the door, leaving it slightly ajar. She put on her coat, gathered her keys, the box of brownies and overnight bag. Flicking off the light switch, she locked the door.
Ethan was waiting for her on the second-floor landing. Easing the bag from Faith’s loose grip, he looped his free arm around her waist and pressed a kiss to her fragrant, curly hair. “I decided to meet you halfway.” His gaze lingered on her face with the subtle colors that highlighted her dark eyes and lush mouth.
“You look very nice.”
Faith was helpless to stop the rush of heat suffusing her face, and it wasn’t the first time she was thankful for her darke
r complexion because it prevented Ethan from seeing her blush like a gauche schoolgirl. But it wasn’t the first time she reminded herself that she wasn’t a girl but a thirty-year-old woman, who, where men were concerned, hadn’t always chosen wisely.
She’d become an astute businesswoman, had established a reputation as an up-and-coming cake designer and she was solvent. Yet none of that mattered whenever she and Ethan shared the same space. Tessa had asked her if she was in love with Ethan, and she’d been truthful with her. Now, after seeing Ethan again, she could acknowledge that she was falling in love with him. But as much as she wanted to share a bed with him, she was just as apprehensive as before, because that would change everything.
Faith realized her vacillation was predicated on the idea that if she did permit him to make love with her he would become like all of the other men who saw her as someone they could dominate and control. And she’d lost count of the number of times she’d questioned herself as to what type of vibes she gave off to make them change from nice guy into gangsta the moment their relationship went from platonic to intimate.
She’d admitted to Tessa that Ethan McMillan was good for her, but she also wanted him to be good to her.
They walked four blocks to where Ethan had found a parking space. “You’re rather quiet tonight,” he remarked, activating the remote device that unlocked the doors.
“I’ve been thinking,” Faith said.
“What about?”
She waited while he opened the passenger-side door for her. “Us.”
Ethan reached for Faith’s arm. “If you don’t mind, I’d rather talk about it later.”
She met his unwavering stare in the glow of an overhead streetlight. “I don’t mean to come off sounding selfish, but I’ve had a helluva day, and if whatever you want to talk about is going to end with us at each other’s throats then I’d rather not talk about it tonight.”
Faith nodded. “Okay.” What she’s suspected earlier was exacerbated by his admission to having a “helluva day.” She sat down, buckled her seat belt and waited for Ethan to get in beside her. “May I ask you one question?”
He inserted the electronic key into its slot before pushing the ignition button to start the car. “Yes.”
Shifting on the leather seat, Faith turned to stare at him. “Are you having problems with your job because you’re seeing me on the weekends?”
Ethan struggled not to laugh. When he told Faith that he had a wonderful boss he was referring to himself. Some of his employees saw him as a hard taskmaster, but the fact was that he was a fair and realistic manager. Earlier that morning he had to suspend one of his drivers because the man had come to work smelling of alcohol. It had been his second infraction. There was no way he could risk injury and/or a lawsuit because of an alcohol-related accident. Faith had called him when he’d ordered the man to check into a substance-abuse program or face the loss of continued employment.
“No, I’m not,” he said as he maneuvered away from the curb and into the flow of traffic. “Whatever problems I have have nothing to do with you.”
“That’s good to hear,” she said softly.
“Is it?”
“Yes. I’d never permit a man to interfere with what I’ve worked so hard to make a success.”
Ethan’s eyebrows shot up. “Are you saying there’s no room in your life for love and happily ever after?”
“No, Ethan. That’s not what I’m saying. I’ve sacrificed a lot to stay afloat and grow my business. When I first opened Let Them Eat Cake I was so far in the red that I thought I wasn’t going to survive the first year. My accountant told me it would take at least three years to show even a small profit because of the location. Rents in Manhattan are exorbitant and a West Village location is almost prohibitive.”
“Are you still in the red?”
“No, only because the fees I charge as a cake decorator for Signature Bridals I’ve invested in the patisserie. Then there’re all my other private clients like Tommi Fiori who make up more than three-quarters of my income.”
“Is the bakeshop breaking even?”
“It’s now showing a small profit.”
“What’s the percentage?” Ethan asked.
“It’s about ten percent.”
Ethan gave Faith a sidelong glance. “A ten percent profit margin is very risky. What if there’s a prolonged drought in the Midwest and the price of flour skyrockets? The same can be said for sugar. Within a matter of months your ten percent margin can drop to where it’s not realistic to keep the doors open. And then there’s the matter of rent. What if the owner of the building decides to sell it and the new owner either doubles your rent or wants you out because he can renovate the entire building and turn it into co-op apartments?”
A frown caused vertical lines to appear between her eyes. “I’m aware of the risks.”
“Yet you continue to take them.”
“That’s what business is all about, Ethan. It’s about taking risks and I’ve become the ultimate risk taker.”
“But you don’t have to, darling,” Ethan argued in a quiet tone. “You’re working hard, not smart. You have your private clients and I’m certain your involvement with Signature Bridals keeps you busy. And there’s no doubt when your coffee-table book on cakes is published you’ll become a celebrity. Why kill yourself with the bakeshop?”
Faith couldn’t help smiling. “You sound like my cousin Tessa.”
“She sounds like a very smart woman. Have you considered selling it?”
Faith stared at Ethan as if she’d never seen him before. It was the second time that week someone had broached the topic of her selling the shop. “Have you been spying on me?”
“No. Why would you ask me that?”
“One of my employees said the same thing. She said that if and when I’m ready to sell, then she wanted to put in the first bid. I sell the shop, then what, Ethan? Where do I bake sheet cakes? Definitely not in the oven in my apartment,” she said answering her own question. “I’m going to need an industrial oven.”
“Do you own or lease your apartment?”
“I rent it,” Faith confirmed.
“When does your lease expire?”
“I have another year.”
“Can you sublet it?”
Faith nodded. “Yes.” She had a sublet clause in her lease. “Why?”
“Sell your shop and buy a loft or brownstone with the proceeds. Then have the space configured so that you can it use for your business and personal use. Meanwhile, you can sublet your apartment with a twenty-five percent markup to cover what may become unforeseen incidentals. For example, if you’re paying two grand a month, then you can put an extra five hundred in your pocket every month.”
Shifting on her seat, Faith stared at Ethan’s distinctive profile, her expression registering surprise and admiration. “You sound like quite the entrepreneur.”
“I had a good teacher. WJ is an astute businessman, and everything I know I learned from him.” What Ethan didn’t tell Faith was that it was his cousin who’d encouraged him to go into the transportation business. “Think of my suggestion that you sell your shop, because all of the makeup in the world can’t camouflage the dark circles under your beautiful eyes. And you’re thinner now than you were a week ago.”
A soft gasp escaped Faith. “If you have a problem with my looks, then maybe we shouldn’t see each other.”
“I don’t have a problem with your looks, Faith. You’ve heard me say more than once that you’re beautiful.”
“Then what is it you want?” she snapped, not bothering to temper her acerbic tone.
His dimples flashed when he smiled. “Right now I want Faith Whitfield.”
Emotions that she didn’t want to acknowledge warred within her with Ethan’s statement. “But you do have me, Ethan. Am I not here with you?”
He shook his head. “Yes, you are, but what you’ve shown me is the haughty, rigid businesswoman who takes herself much t
oo seriously. I want the Faith who’s not afraid to throw back her head and laugh without censoring herself. The Faith who’s willing to throw caution to the wind where she can frolic butt-ass-naked in the rain.” Ethan smiled when she gasped for the second time within a matter of minutes.
Faith crossed her arms over her chest. The heat in her face had nothing to do with her being embarrassed about his reference to being naked. How dare he refer to her as haughty. If he wanted haughty, then he should meet her mother.
He rested a hand over her denim-covered knee as the light from the dashboard glinted off the signet ring on his right hand. “There’s no need to pout, darling.”
“Don’t ‘darling’ me, Ethan.”
“Are you saying you’re not my darling?”
“Yes, I am,” she drawled sarcastically.
Ethan wanted to tell Faith that she was his darling and so much more, but didn’t want to engage in a diatribe that would challenge his fragile relationship with her. The woman sitting beside him had no idea how much she affected him. Her gorgeous face and beautiful body occupied his thoughts when he was awake or asleep. Everything about her invaded his dreams until he woke up in a sweat with a certain part of his body throbbing for release.
Slowing, he stopped for a red light, leaned to his right and pressed his mouth to her smooth cheek. “I’m sorry I called you haughty.”
Faith turned and stared out the side window. “No, you’re not.”
“Yes, I am.”
He attempted to kiss her again, but Faith swatted at him. “Stop it.”
The light changed and the vehicle shot forward in a burst of speed. “Stop what, Faith? You have no idea what I go through counting the days when I’ll get to see you again, how agonizing it’s become for me to get a restful night’s sleep because I dream of making love to you. And if I were granted one wish it would be to fast-forward to February fourteenth where I could have you all to myself for two whole days.”
Faith closed her eyes as she replayed his passionate revelation in her head. Had he read her mind? She opened them but refused to look at Ethan. “What we have isn’t that one-sided, Ethan. I know what you’re feeling because I’m going through the same thing.” A pregnant silence swelled inside the vehicle as the slip-slap of tires on the roadway kept pace with their measured breathing.
The Sweetest Temptation Page 15
