Chapter 6
Chapter Six
T wo days later, as she wiped down the kitchen counter before heading upstairs to retire for the evening, Scarlett thought about Antonio. She wouldn’t soon forget that amazing kiss they’d shared at the wedding reception the other night. She also wouldn’t forget how freaked out she’d gotten when she opened her eyes to find Martina standing behind Antonio grinning.
Scarlett shook her head and chuckled as she recalled that unnerving feeling, like someone had been watching her. Then to see Martina…
“I probably looked like a total idiot,” Scarlett mumbled to herself as she made sure the back door was locked.
The situation was funny now, but that night would go down as one of the most embarrassing moments of her life. Not because she got caught kissing a hot guy. No, it had everything to do with her response—running. She must’ve looked silly running away in her bridesmaid gown like a scared rabbit being chased by a coyote.
How could she ever face Antonio again? Or even Martina for that matter. According to Mahogany, MJ was the Jenkins family’s busybody who enjoyed stirring up trouble. It would be just Scarlett’s luck to be the topic of conversation at the next Jenkins Sunday brunch. She had attended a couple and quickly realized some family members loved stirring up drama.
“ Ugh .” Scarlett growled thinking about what Mahogany was going to say when she found out what happened. Her sister was never going to stop laughing. “So embarrassing,” Scarlett mumbled and strolled through the first floor of the house, turning out lights on her way to the stairs.
She and Mahogany were renting a two-story home that Ben Jr. owned in the Clifton area of Cincinnati. They used much of the lower level of the house for their business ventures. Scarlett used the back room for her photography studio and for creating social media content. Mahogany had claimed the living and dining room for her interior design business. The upstairs housed three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a loft-like sitting area.
Months ago, it had been the perfect space for the three of them. The home was already great before they moved in, but after Mahogany decorated the first floor, it became a gorgeous showroom.
Now that Mahogany was married and had officially moved in with Ben, Scarlett needed to make some decisions. The convenience of living upstairs from where she worked couldn’t be beat. Yet, the place felt too big for just her and Bella.
“I’ll worry about that another day,” she murmured into the quietness of the house.
She had enough on her mind right now, including thoughts of Antonio. She hadn’t heard from him since he texted her the night of the wedding reception making sure she arrived home safely. Even though he probably thought he was dealing with a lunatic, she appreciated the gesture. She hadn’t been able to apologize enough for leaving like that, but he told her not to worry about it.
The saying, don’t judge a book by its cover , described Antonio perfectly. He might come across as a straight-lace, introverted nerd, but there was a sexy, sensual side to the man who was calling to Scarlett. And that kiss? She felt that kiss to the depths of her soul—a first. So lost in the pleasurable moment, she’d been oblivious to everything around her. Which was why opening her eyes to find MJ there had freaked her out.
Gawd , but it had been worth it.
Now she and Antonio needed to talk. Like really talk.
They—no she—needed to figure out what she wanted from him besides his sexy body. Maybe if she was upfront about her concerns, they could work something out. Scarlett didn’t know how, but she wasn’t ready to walk away from him. Still, the fear that she might not be able to give him what he was looking for in a woman was still at the forefront of her mind. The thought of her being incapable of falling in love with a man was a real fear. How the heck would she be able to explain that to him.
“If I say something so absurd like that, he really is going to think I’m crazy.”
When she made it upstairs, she strolled into Bella’s room. Her daughter was curled up with a stuffed animal in her arms and snoring softly. Scarlett gently tugged the toy out of her grasp. She wasn’t concerned about waking her. The kid was such a sound sleeper, she could sleep through a tornado.
After placing a kiss on her baby’s forehead, Scarlett pulled the door closed and went across the hall to her own bedroom. Before she could head to the attached bathroom for her nightly routine, her cell phone rang.
“Who could be calling this late?” she murmured and pulled the device from her back pocket.
Cynthia?
It was after eleven. Why was Ezra’s grandmother trying to FaceTime this late at night?
Scarlett hurried over to the bed and sat down while grabbing her iPad from the nightstand. The bigger screen would be easier for their chat.
“Cynthia? Is everything all right?” Scarlett asked by way of greeting when she clicked on.
Ezra’s eighty-year-old grandmother came into view. The woman, who was lying in a huge bed with tons of pillows propped up behind her, could barely keep her eyes open. She also looked like she had aged twenty years in the past week.
Scarlett wanted to ask about her health, but Cynthia usually responded to the question with, I’m doing all right for an old lady . Still, Scarlett worried about her. Cynthia didn’t really have anyone to look after her except for hired staff. It wasn’t the same as having family around.
She probably had her assistant, Nancy, who was a godsend, set up the call. Whatever Cynthia wanted, she got it, and it helped that she was extremely wealthy and had a full staff. Most lived at the mansion and adored her. Which was good since Ezra’s parents, specifically, his mother, didn’t come around much. According to Cynthia, the relationship with her daughter was almost nonexistent.
“I’m fine, honey.” Cynthia’s once strong voice sounded weak and tired. “You and Bella were on my mind, and I wanted to see how you two were doing.”
Ezra’s grandmother was tough and had probably been a force to be reckoned with in her younger years. She never admitted to having health issues, but it was clear that whatever was going on was getting worse.
“We’re fine, but I’m worried about you. You should be asleep. What’s going on?”
Ezra had adored his grandmother. She had practically raised him since he didn’t get along with his powerhouse parents. His mother was a well-known corporate attorney in Miami, Florida, and his father was a senator or a congressman. Scarlett couldn’t remember which.
She stared at the screen of her iPad, concerned for the woman who had quickly become her friend. Ezra would’ve been heartbroken to see her in this condition.
“Don’t look at me like that,” Cynthia said with a ragged laugh. “I look worse than I feel. I’ve been asleep for the last few hours and woke up thinking about my favorite girls. Oh, and how’s your young man? Are you two still dating?”
Scarlett was a little taken back. Since she and Cynthia talked weekly, she told her about the wedding, and the wonderful Jenkins family. A few weeks ago, Cynthia had called when Scarlett was preparing to go to a movie with Antonio. She had made it clear to the older woman that she and Antonio were just hanging out, getting to know each other. Apparently, it hadn’t been clear enough.
“Cynthia, he’s a friend. A really good friend,” Scarlett said.
The last part came out a bit more forceful than intended, and Antonio’s intense eyes and gorgeous lips flashed through her mind. Then there was that toe-curling kiss. The kiss which she could still feel on her lips at times.
All right, maybe he was more than a friend, but she wouldn’t admit that to Ezra’s grandmother.
“Okay, dear. If you say so,” Cynthia conceded, humor in her tone before she turned serious. “I’d love to see you and Bella. Will you two come and visit me?”
Scarlett only took Bella to Miami to visit Cynthia once a year, suddenly wishing she’d taken her more often. Unfortunately, Scarlett’s busy schedule always got in the way. The older woman adored her great-granddaughter, which was why Scarlett made sure they all video chatted at least once a week.
“Yes. I’ll see if I can find some flights for us to come in a few weeks. Bella will be out of school soon,” Scarlett said, mentally thinking about the commitments she had over the next few weeks.
“I’d like for you two to come this weekend,” Cynthia said, sounding more tired than she’d sounded only minutes ago. “Nancy will make all the arrangements. She’ll call you in the morning. Though, I would love for you and Bella to stay at the house with me, I never know when Alberta and Theodore might show up,” she said of Ezra’s parents who didn’t know Bella existed.
Scarlett understood that last part. Ezra hated his parents and often said they were dead to him. Cynthia, for the most part, felt the same way. She didn’t want them to know about Bella. Always saying they were money and power-hungry politicians who didn’t care about anyone but themselves. According to her and Ezra, it was best Scarlett never crossed paths with them.
“Will you come?” Cynthia asked. “Nancy will make the arrangements for your visit, including hotel reservations nearby and a driver. Say you’ll come for the weekend.”
Bella would miss dance class, and Scarlett had plans with Antonio Saturday night that she hated to cancel, but he would understand. Hopefully. “Yes, we’ll come, but you don’t have to have Nancy make arrangements. I can—”
“No, it’s my pleasure, dear. The least I can do is make sure you two can get here with no problems and have a nice visit. I also need to speak with you about a few important things that can’t wait. Something which can’t be discussed over the phone.”
Unease clawed down Scarlett’s spine at the no-nonsense tone that Cynthia’s voice had taken on. What could they possibly have to discuss that was so important?