Chapter 8
A week later, Maya put the final touches on the chocolate torte and packed it, along with a strawberry cheesecake and the individual three-layer red velvet cake slices the host wanted for each of her dinner guests.
She stifled a yawn brought on by another night of restless sleep.
She hadn’t slept well since the night she and Ian made love in front of his Christmas tree.
Everything about that night was different.
Their lovemaking was no less intense, but the way he touched and kissed her felt different.
And when their eyes locked...she knew she had fallen in love with him.
Maya braced her hands on the table in front of her.
How could she have allowed her emotions to get involved?
She had lain awake every night asking herself the same question and wondering how to keep him from finding out.
“Hey, girl. You just about ready?” Rhonda asked, breezing into the room.
“I just need to add the rest of these cake slices.”
“I know there’s an extra piece, right?”
“Yes, Rhonda. You only asked about it ten times,” Maya said with a laugh, closing the container. “Help me load this in my car and you can get your cake.”
“Gladly.” Rhonda picked up one storage container and Maya grabbed the other. “Are we still on for dinner tomorrow night or do you and Ian have another hot Saturday night planned?” she asked with a giggle.
“Yes, we’re still on. We have that meeting with EJJ Development on Monday and I want to be prepared.” She couldn’t afford a distraction right now, and Ian was definitely a huge one. She and Rhonda were going to work on a strategy over dinner tomorrow night.
“I don’t know how we’re going to fight this, Maya,” she said with a deep sigh, placing the container in the back of Maya’s SUV.
“I don’t know, either. But I do know that I’m not going to lie down and let them run roughshod all over me.” She was trying to remain positive but knew she faced an uphill battle.
“I hear you. Anyway, how are things with Ian?”
“Okay, I guess,” Maya said nonchalantly. But Rhonda could read her like a book.
Rhonda studied Maya, then brought her hands to her mouth. “Oh, my God. You’ve fallen for him, haven’t you?”
She dropped her head and heaved a deep sigh. “I don’t know what I’m going to do. This wasn’t supposed to happen.”
“Does he know?”
Her head snapped up. “Of course not. What we have will be over at the end of the month. He doesn’t want anything past that and neither do I.”
“Are you sure? I know you were hurt before, but—”
“No buts. This was nothing more than a holiday fling, and that’s all it will be.”
“What about him? Are you certain he doesn’t want more?”
Her mind went back to their last encounter. No, she wasn’t sure, but she didn’t want to take a chance. “It doesn’t matter.” Maya closed the hutch. “I’d better get going. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Okay. I’ll lock up...after I get my cake, that is.”
She chuckled and the two women embraced. “Bye, crazy woman.”
“Bye, and you need to think twice about shutting Ian down cold. From what you’ve told me, he sounds like a nice guy.”
“Whatever,” she mumbled, rolling her eyes and getting into the car. Yeah, he was a nice guy, and so much more than what she had been expecting when she met him a month ago.
Ian called on Sunday and wanted to come over.
She knew there would be no way to hide her feelings, so she let it go to voice mail.
By the next morning, Maya still had no clue how to deal with her feelings.
Every moment they had spent together played over and over in her mind, particularly the last time.
Something had changed between them—from the possessive way he’d held her to the way he’d tenderly washed her body when they had showered—and the shift was palpable.
Stop thinking about him! You have more important things to focus on. ..like saving your business.
Forcing her mind back to the task in front of her, she filled gift-box molds with melted chocolate and placed them on a shelf in the walk-in freezer.
The boxes would be decorated with FDA-approved, food-grade edible luster dust and pearls, and filled with chocolate truffles for wedding shower gifts.
Next, she made dough for cinnamon rolls.
The shop would open in two hours, and the rolls were her bestselling product in the morning.
“So, I’m wondering, will the dough still rise if you keep beating it like that?” Rhonda’s amused voice asked from the doorway.
Maya’s hands froze. She glanced down and realized that she had been brutally attacking the dough. She began again, this time kneading the dough with a little less force.
“Are you worried about the meeting this afternoon or Ian?”
“A little of both, I guess.”
“Ian is easy. See where the relationship goes.” Rhonda came and placed her arm around Maya’s shoulder. “I wish I could assure you we’re going to come out winners this afternoon, but I’m worried, too. Last night, I did a little more research on eminent domain and I don’t think they have a case.”
“Maybe, but if the city sees a way to make big money, they won’t care.” She placed the dough in a bowl to rise and washed her hands. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore. Four o’clock will be here soon enough.”
“You’re right. I would offer to help you bake, but...” She laughed. “How about I put the truffles in the chocolate boxes and package them? You’d think I had learned something after all these years of hanging around you, but hey...we all have our talents.”
“Yeah, well,” Maya said with a shrug. “I’ll take any help I can get. Thanks.”
The women worked steadily until opening time. After the morning rush, Maya took a quick breather before prepping for her next event. She was so focused it took her a moment to realize her cell was ringing. She wiped her hands on a towel and hurried across the kitchen to catch it.
“Hey, baby,” Ian said when she answered. “How’s your day going?”
“Hey. Busy. Really busy.” She hadn’t looked at the display before answering.
“More catering jobs?”
“Yeah. I have two this week.”
“Any chance we can get together later today? There’s something I want to talk to you about.”
Her heart rate kicked up. “It sounds important. What is it?”
“I don’t want to say over the phone and yes, it’s very important.”
She glanced over at the wall clock. “It’s eleven now. I may be able to meet you for a few minutes around two, unless something comes up. I have to get back for an appointment at four. Can I call you around one to let you know for sure?”
“That’s fine. I have to go out to check on a work site, but I’ll have my cell.”
“Okay.” She disconnected and tapped the phone against her chin. What was so important that he couldn’t tell her over the phone? Was he ending their affair? The timer on the oven went off, drawing her out of her thoughts. “I’ll find out soon enough.”
Ian leaned back in his chair and rotated it toward the window.
There was so much he wanted to say to Maya and he had to do it face-to-face.
Somewhere along the way his feelings changed and she had slowly eased into his heart.
He sensed it when they went shopping, but he knew for sure after they made love on his living room floor in front of the tree.
It was the first one he had put up in the three years he’d lived in the house.
He didn’t want their affair to end. He wanted to talk to her about something more long-term.
He checked his watch. Landon, one of the other architects, would be at Ian’s office any minute to accompany Ian to the construction site of an office complex.
He rose to his feet and walked over to retrieve his jacket just as a knock sounded.
“Perfect timing,” he said, opening the door. “Chris. I thought you were Landon.”
“You have a minute?”
“Not really. What’s up?”
“I wanted to talk to you about the meeting this afternoon.”
“Can it wait?”
“No.”
Ian glanced around Chris’s shoulder when Landon appeared in the door. “Well, it’ll have to, big brother. Gotta go.”
“Ian, wait. I think you should—”
He waved his brother off. “Whatever it is, I’ll be ready for it. Be back later.”
Out at the work site, he and Landon met with the construction foreman, walked through the building and compared the structure to the blueprints. Ian kept checking his watch, anxious to see Maya.
“Looks like we’re on schedule. Excuse me a moment,” he said when his cell rang. Ian walked a few steps away, checked the display and smiled upon seeing Maya’s name. “Hey, sweetheart. Where are we meeting?”
“I’m sorry, Ian, but I won’t be able to meet you. My shipment was mistakenly left off the truck and I have to go to UPS to pick it up. I need it for tomorrow. Can we talk tomorrow?”
He ran a hand over his head and muttered a curse. “What about tonight? I can come to your house later.”
“I have an appointment at four.”
“I know. I have a late meeting at work, too. I can come by afterward. Six thirty?”
“All right. I have to go.”
“I’ll see you later.”
“Ian?”
Ian spun around at the sound of Landon’s voice.
“I think we might have a problem.”
He stifled a groan. This was all he needed today.
By the time they made it back, Ian had five minutes to get cleaned up for the meeting with the lone holdout. He hurried to his office and used his private bathroom to change.
Chris met him on the way to the conference room. “Ian, there’s something you should know before going in the meeting.”
“You always say that,” he joked. “I promise to be on my best behavior and bring out all the charm needed to get this deal done.” He reached for the doorknob and Chris placed a staying hand on his arm.
“Man, would you relax?” Ian said with a chuckle.
“Now come on. We’re already late.” He opened the door and froze.
His smile faded and his eyes widened when he saw the two women seated at the table.
No, no, no. His stomach dropped. “Maya?” he whispered.