“So, tell me about Ben.” Maya sipped her coffee.
“Ben is currently in Africa, doing his Doctors Without Borders type thing.” Niki rolled her eyes and looked at Sam. Sam laughed.
“What?” Maya looked to Niki.
Sam answered. “Well, he’s been there for over six months. Usually, the docs go for about a week or two.”
“It’s a girl.” Niki shook her head. “He’s hiding from a girl.” She giggled and Sam laughed along with her.
The door chimed and all heads turned. It was Leo. He was here for the cake meeting. Ami was right: he really was quite handsome. Maya set down her coffee. “I’m sorry. My appointment is here. But take your time, finish up. I just have to show some sketches.”
Sam pressed his lips into a straight line and all the laughter left his face. “I’ll bet,” Sam murmured. The table shook from Sam’s leg jostling beneath it, and Niki threw him a glare.
Maya didn’t understand Sam’s sudden change in mood, but it wasn’t her problem. She walked over to Leo. “Hi. So glad you could make it.”
“Of course, Maya. Wouldn’t miss my chance.”
“Great, we can sit right here.” She guided him to the opposite side of the shop. The coffee shop was small, so it was more for the appearance of privacy. “I’ve drawn up some sketches.” Leo sat down and Maya joined him, opening her sketchbook. They went over cake ideas for his niece’s sweet sixteen. Maya felt his gaze on her, and for the first time, allowed herself to enjoy the attention. He really did have the most amazing blue eyes. She caught Sam’s gaze on her over Leo’s shoulder and shifted her seat so she couldn’t see him.
Leo finally settled on a three-tiered “lopsided” cake, which would add whimsy to the party. Maya walked him to the door.
“So, Maya, what do you say? Dinner sometime?”
Her automatic “No” was on her lips, when she heard Ami’s voice in her head.Time to move on. She glanced over Leo’s shoulder and found Sam glaring in her direction. Smoldering was more like it. “Um, yeah, sure. That sounds nice.” And it did.
Leo was unable to hide his surprise or his pleasure. “Really? Great. How about Friday, 8:00 p.m.? I’ll come by here to get you.”
“Okay. I look forward to it.”
Leo left, and Maya turned back to find Sam, Samantha and Niki staring at her.
Sam spoke first. “You’re going out with that guy?” It was an accusation.
“Well, yes.” Maya squared her shoulders and looked him in the eye.
“Do you think that’s wise? I mean, Samantha here is impressionable.”
“I’m good.” Samantha grinned at her mother. “Have fun. He’s a really nice guy.”
Sam glared at his daughter. “Come on, Niki. Let’s go.”
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
SAM
New York, 2013
SAMIGNOREDTHEbuzz of the phone in his pocket and turned up the collar of his coat against the wind. He wound his way through the mass of people that made up the motion of the New York City streets. The buzzing stopped and he relaxed some. Within half a block, the buzzing started again. This time he pulled out his phone.Mom.He sent it to voice mail. Another half block and the buzzing started yet again. With a groan, Sam pulled out his phone, ready to send it to voice mail, but the screen readDad. He tapped his phone and put it to his ear, not breaking his stride.
“Hey, Dad.” Sam forced some lightness into his voice.
“Don’t you ‘Hey, Dad’ me, young man!” His father’s voice was unusually stern. “Why aren’t you taking your mother’s calls? And is your wedding off or on?”
“Don’t worry about it. And as far as Paige goes, I’ll take care of it.”
“What do you mean take care of it? Your mother is worried sick about you.”
“Dad, I really can’t do this right now. I’ll call you later and you can yell at me then.” Sam tapped off the phone. He’d pay for that, but right now he had more immediate concerns.
