Czytaj książkę: «Cappuccino Kisses»

To my love and friend, Freddie Blackman.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Dear Reader

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Copyright

Chapter 1

“Welcome to the Lillian’s of Seattle grand opening,” Lillian Drayson, founder of the renowned Chicago bakery told the large crowd gathered in her second location. “We Draysons—” she turned to look at her grand-niece, Mariah, and grand-nephews Chase and Jackson “—are excited to open up this new bakery in the Denny Triangle section of town. It’s a vibrant location with a plethora of professional and residential communities whose members will enjoy the delicious baked goods the Drayson family has been providing to the Chicago area for over forty years, and will now to the city of Seattle.”

Applause erupted as the entire Seattle Drayson family cheered on Lillian, the matriarch, whose name they proudly represented at the new bakery.

Mariah Drayson stood away from the crowd and surveyed her family as she sampled one of the salted caramel cupcakes from the back of the room. She knew she shouldn’t be eating another cupcake given that she’d already had one earlier that afternoon, but she had a tendency to eat when she was nervous. Opening her own bakery with her brothers was definitely something to make her worry. She’d used every penny of her divorce settlement from her ex-husband, Richard Hems, to cover her share, but deep down Mariah knew the venture would be worthwhile in the end. After the divorce, she’d chosen to go back to her maiden name. She was happy she did because Lillian’s was a family business run by Draysons.

At age seventy-nine, her aunt Lillian was a force to be reckoned with, and when she’d decided to open a second location last summer, Mariah and her brothers had been initially reluctant. Mariah had been coming off the heels of a divorce and didn’t know anything about running a bakery. Sure, she had a flair for baking after the summers she’d spent in Chicago learning at Lillian’s knee, and during her self-imposed hiatus from work while she and her ex-husband had tried to become pregnant, but this was different.

Aunt Lillian would be entrusting her name, her brand, to the three of them. After much discussion, however, Mariah and her siblings had figured that each of them brought something different to the table. As well as being the best baker, she knew advertising and marketing. Chase, the numbers man, would keep track of the bakery’s finances. Then there were was Jackson, bringing up the rear as a businessman and social media guru, and with a knack for cakes. Mariah smiled as she remembered how Lillian’s of Seattle had been born.

The bakery was a labor of love for all of them, and they’d mutually agreed that Aunt Lillian should give the speech at the grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony. It was her namesake, after all, and she was highly admired across the country after the Chicago Draysons had won the You Take the Cake competition three years ago on national television.

“Can you believe we did it, sis?” Jackson asked from her side.

Mariah hazarded a glance at her charming, handsome brother, who was two years her senior. Lillian’s was the first time he’d actually stuck with a job longer than a few months. Though he’d done well at the private school all three siblings had attended, Jack was easily bored. He’d had numerous entrepreneurial successes, but as soon as they began to blossom, he would sell them. Would this time be any different? Mariah sure hoped so.

“No, I can’t,” she finally answered. After they’d found a location and Chase had worked out the finances, the bakery had come together, allowing them to open now, in early spring.

Jackson glanced her way. “Don’t look so surprised, Mariah. With your baking skills, Chase’s business acumen and my charm, we have what it takes to make this place a success.” He swung his arms wide and motioned to the packed bakery, which was filled with family, friends, the news media and people who loved baked goodies. “We’ll show them that we’re as good as they are.”

Mariah followed her brother’s gaze and saw it resting on Belinda, Carter and Shari Drayson, their cousins from Chicago. “Why are you so mistrustful of them?”

“’Cause,” Jackson said, “you know Grandpa Oscar always says they can’t be trusted.”

“We—” Mariah pointed between the two of them “—have no beef with our cousins. If Grandpa Oscar and Great-Uncle Henry have issues over money, that doesn’t mean we should. Belinda, Shari and Carter have been nothing but gracious to us and have helped us in the kitchen.”

The three had flown in from Chicago several days earlier to help make pies, cakes and tortes for the grand opening. They’d been in the kitchen baking and sweating as much as the rest of them. And Carter, being the skilled artisan cake maker he was, had created several works of art that were proudly displayed in their windows this very moment.

“That’s because they probably thought we were inept,” Jackson replied. “I mean, Shari’s running Lillian’s of Chicago. She probably wanted to make sure we weren’t going to mess anything up that might get thrown back on her.”

“Well, we didn’t,” Mariah stated. “And this is a success. Can’t we just be happy today of all days?”

“Happy about what?” Chase came over and joined their huddle, wrapping his arms around their shoulders.

Mariah glanced up at her six-foot-four brother. He, too, was easy on the eyes, but in a studious way thanks to the wire-rimmed glasses, dress shirt and khaki pants he always wore while at the bakery. “We were just talking about what a great turnout this is, and I was reminding Jackson that we should be thankful so many people came out to support us.”

“Yeah, I can’t believe how packed it is,” Chase commented. “It’s a good start, but we put a lot of capital into the place and it’s going to be a while before we see a return on our investment.”

Mariah frowned. “Is money all you think about?”

“Yes.” Jackson laughed and answered for him.

“Shh,” Chase said, as a reporter posed a question to Aunt Lillian at the podium.

“Mrs. Drayson, coming into Seattle is a risky move for you, is it not?” the young Caucasian man asked, with a microphone pointed up at Aunt Lillian.

“How so?”

“Well, Sweetness Bakery has ruled the Seattle market for years,” the man replied. “Other bakeries have tried to make inroads in the past and no one has been able to break into the market. What makes Lillian’s any different?”

“Lillian’s is different,” she responded, “because we are a small family-owned business. I can promise the citizens of Seattle that they will enjoy the same high-quality baked goods as I make in my own kitchen, and that any customer would find in my flagship location on the Magnificent Mile in Chicago. That’s what puts us a notch up over the rest.”

Jackson stepped forward into the crowd and clapped loudly. “That about does it for the speeches, folks. Please come over and sample the delicious offerings we’ve laid out today, as I think our products will speak for themselves.” He ushered everyone toward the tables.

“Well said, Jackson.” Aunt Lillian gave him a wink as her husband, Great-Uncle Henry, helped her off the podium. “Come on over here. And Chase, Mariah, you come up here, too, for some photos.” She beckoned them all forward.

Mariah smiled at the command in the older woman’s voice. She placed the half-eaten cupcake on a nearby counter and blotted her mouth with a napkin. She wished she could touch up her lipstick, but had to comfort herself with the fact that at least she wouldn’t have icing all over her mouth. “Coming...” She put on a bright smile and walked over in her brown peep-toe pumps toward the group.

After all the baking she’d done during the last three days, her smudged attire wouldn’t do, so Mariah had gone home for a quick shower and change of clothes. She hadn’t known what to wear for such a grand event and had erred on the side of chic elegance. She’d slid into a tailored denim pocket skirt and coral shirt teamed with a brown belt, and put a cream blazer over her outfit before rushing back to the bakery.

She’d arrived just in time to see her parents’ noses wrinkle as they walked into bakery. Graham and Nadia Drayson were ultraconservative, especially her mother, and they didn’t understand why she, Chase and Jackson had agreed to waste their money on such a foolish investment. Her father was a traditionalist who had made much of his sizable wealth in real estate, and fully expected one of her brothers to follow in his footsteps, but they’d chosen their own path.

Lillian’s of Seattle wasn’t some harebrained scheme. It was a family business, and with Aunt Lillian’s seal of approval, they would steadily build on the brand. And why shouldn’t they? Their cousins Carter and Drake, with their best friend, Malik, Belinda’s husband, had already successfully branched off from the family business with their Brothers Who Bake blog and successful cookbooks. They’d even gone on tours and there was discussion of a potential television series.

Why shouldn’t the Seattle Draysons get in on the action? When Mariah had presented the idea to Jackson, he was on board immediately. Chase had taken a little more convincing. He’d been working for a successful accounting firm and wasn’t all that eager to give up that hefty paycheck, but eventually she and Jack had convinced him that with their aunt’s support, it was a sound investment.

Mariah smiled as she, Lillian, Chase and Jackson posed for multiple pictures. Some were taken of them behind the display and a few others were outside in front of the stenciled Lillian’s of Seattle sign. Mariah was trying her best to grin from ear to ear, even though her cheeks hurt, when she saw a sexy fine man strolling up the sidewalk toward them. He was clean-shaven, with a short haircut, and was nearly as tall as Chase. He wore a tailored gray suit with a checkered dress shirt and blue tie. Everything about him screamed money, which only enhanced his sex appeal. It was definitely the man who made the clothes, not the other way around.

Mariah didn’t know who he was and wasn’t altogether sure she wanted to, because the torrid sensations he was causing to flow through her body to the place between her thighs was making her feel flush all over.

He stopped when he reached them and paused for several seconds as he surveyed Mariah up and down, before opening the glass storefront door and walking inside Lillian’s.

“Mariah!” Jackson called.

“What?” she asked, exasperated by the interruption.

“One more picture,” the photographer said, when she turned back around after staring at the sexy stranger. Mariah forced herself to focus on the task at hand, and smiled buoyantly.

When the session was over, Jackson whispered in her ear as she quickly headed to the front door. “What’s wrong with you?”

She glanced back at him. “Nothing. Why?”

“You just look funny, is all,” he commented as he followed her inside.

“Well, I’m fine,” Mariah replied. Or so she hoped. She glanced around the bakery for the mystery man. It was easy to find him in the crowd, because he commanded attention. She gulped. Her breath hitched and heart lurched into an excited rhythm. Damn! From across the room he was openly admiring her, and she didn’t like the way he made her feel with just one hungry gaze. Her entire being yearned for something she couldn’t quite name, didn’t want to name. Why was this man having such a profound effect on her?

* * *

Everett Myers was intrigued. Not just by the new pastry shop that had just opened, but by the beautiful siren he’d seen standing outside by the sign. Who was she? And how could he meet her?

He’d come to find out if Lillian’s was as good as the critics claimed, but as soon as he’d walked toward the group and photographer standing outside, he’d liked what he’d seen. Smooth caramel-toned skin, a pert little nose and straight honey-blond hair had Everett licking his lips. It wasn’t as if she was dressed provocatively, either. She was stylish and classic in a cream blazer over a coral top, but it was the sexy blue jean skirt hugging her behind, allowing him to make out her curves, that had him standing at attention. She had to be in the neighborhood of mid-twenties, which suited him just fine. God, what’s wrong with me? he wondered.

Deep down, he knew what. It had been a long time, too long, since he’d felt this way. Sure, she’d seen him when he approached, but since she’d reentered the establishment, she’d been doing her best to ignore him.

Everett wasn’t used to being ignored. With him being six foot two, it was impossible not to see him coming. Plus, everyone in Seattle knew who he was. The Myers Hotel chain was synonymous with luxury and class, and had been a staple in the urban community for nearly thirty years. If people didn’t know him personally, they knew of him or knew his name. He supposed that’s why he was irked that the young woman who’d caught his eye was doing her best to feign ignorance at his blatant appreciation of her.

Just at that moment, the beautiful siren turned and glanced toward him. He flashed her a smile, but she quickly looked away. Damn, had he really lost his charm? He had been off the market the last nine years. He’d married Sara, his college sweetheart, when he was only twenty-one, and their son, Everett Jr.—EJ for short—was born soon after. But five years ago a tragic accident had taken Sara’s life.

It wasn’t easy being a widowed father at the grand old age of thirty, but he was doing his best to provide a loving, stable home for EJ. Up until now, he hadn’t been eager to give EJ a new mom. Had he had opportunities? Heck, yeah! When he’d been single, Everett had often had women propositioning him, but as soon as he’d been widowed it got worse. They were all too eager to find out exactly how many zeros were in his bank account.

Or was he being too cynical? Maybe they just pitied him and felt his then three-year-old son needed a mother. And maybe EJ did back then, but Everett hadn’t had it in him to even think about marrying again. He wasn’t sure he could stand losing someone else he loved. And so he’d remained a bachelor the last five years, and quite frankly, had been content with the single life. Until now.

Determinedly, he strode over to where the gorgeous woman stood, speaking to a small group of people. She glanced up when he approached, but said nothing.

Instead, the man beside her, who had to be at least two inches taller than Everett, called out to him, “Everett Myers!” He held out his hand. “Pleasure to have you here.”

Everett had no choice but to accept the fervent handshake. “And you are?”

“Chase Drayson,” the tall man answered. “Part owner of Lillian’s.”

Everett caught the word part and looked the siren whom he’d fancied from across the room directly in the eye. Except now, standing so close to her, he found she was even more striking. “And you, would you be a part owner, as well?”

Her eyebrows furrowed. “Yes, but how could you tell?”

Everett inclined his head toward the door. “You were outside taking photos earlier, and I couldn’t help but notice you.”

His observation caused her to blush and she lowered her eyes, but that didn’t stop the tall man from continuing the conversation, even though Everett wished he would go away and give them some privacy so he could get to know her better.

“We’re all part owners,” Chase offered. “Mariah, myself and our brother, Jackson, over there,” He motioned to a man across the room surrounded by a group of young female customers sampling pastries from a platter he held.

“Mariah...” Everett let her name dangle on his lips. “It’s nice to meet you.” He offered her his hand.

Something shifted in the air between them. Something Everett hadn’t felt in a long time. Awareness. Sexual awareness of another person, but not just any person. Her. It was several moments before she finally accepted his hand with a smile. “Pleasure to meet you.”

A current of electricity passed between them at the slight touch, but then, as if Everett had imagined it, it was gone.

“What brings you by our little establishment?” Chase inquired.

Everett breathed in deeply. Clearly, her brother wasn’t getting the hint that he wanted to be alone with his sister, so he needed to be blunt. “Perhaps I can explain to Mariah?” he asked, holding out his arm. “As she gives me a tour?”

Chase glanced at his sister and then back at Everett, and understanding finally dawned. “Oh, of course, I’ll go mingle with the other guests. Have fun, sis.” He gave her wink as he strode away.

Everett sighed. Thankfully, they were alone. “So—” he grasped her delicate hand and slid it in the crook of his arm “—Mariah Drayson, what’s your role here at Lillian’s?” he asked, as she led him around the bakery.

When she glanced up at him with those brilliant brown eyes, Everett’s stomach flip-flopped.

“I’m not only part owner, but head baker, as well.” Mariah walked over to one of the tables holding a spread of pastries, muffins and scones. She reached for a petite orange scone and offered it to him.

“Really?” He arched an eyebrow as he accepted it. When he took a bite it was so moist and delicious, he couldn’t help but groan out loud.

She blushed at his near-sexual response. “Does that surprise you?”

His brow furrowed. “Hmm. I guess so. You don’t strike me as the domesticated type.”

“That’s because you don’t know me,” Mariah responded.

“I’d like to remedy that,” Everett replied smoothly as he drew closer to her. “How about sharing a meal with me sometime?” Had he really just asked her out, with no preamble or finesse? He hoped she would say yes.