“But what if it doesn’t work? What if we’re not good together? What if he decides I’m too messed up, and he can’t deal?”
“Do you love him?”
Maya shook her head no, even as her vision blurred and disloyal tears filled her eyes.
Ami grabbed Maya by the shoulders as if to shake her. “What if you’re great together, and he’s crazier than you?”
“I have to go.” Maya attempted to free herself from Ami’s grip.
Ami let go. “You could lose everything with Sam, it’s true. But think of what you could gain.”
CHAPTER FIFTY
MAYA
New York, 2013
MAYAHADTOLDSamantha she’d needed to run an errand in Manhattan and would return in an hour or so. Four hours had passed, and Samantha had texted her no less than fifty times about her ETA. She’d lied and said she’d gone to get her hair done. The truth was, she’d run her errand and then gone to Sam’s apartment and found it empty. Not even Ben was there.
The thought of going back to her apartment made her so lonely, she had wandered around Manhattan for a bit, then gone back to Sam’s apartment. She really needed to talk to him. He still wasn’t there. It was the bitter chill left in the air after the sun set that sent her back to Queens. It had been three days since that kiss in the elevator, and she hadn’t spoken to Sam since. She wasn’t sure if Sam’s plans about the practice in Queens had worked out, or if he had changed back to the Manhattan location.
She relived that kiss for the millionth time. It had taken every bit of self-control to walk away from him the night before, but she had then lain awakein his bed, chiding herself for pushing him away. Morning had brought logic, and she was momentarily grateful that she had shown restraint. That had lasted until he had entered the kitchen, in his muscle-clinging old Hootie T-shirt and pajama bottoms. His curls were disheveled, possibly from a night of tossing and turning, and his jaw had that glorious morning scruff. Combine all that with the molten way he looked at her, and sexy wasn’t enough to describe it. He was so openly happy to see her, that when he’d burned himself on coffee, Maya was slightly heady from the power she seemed to have over him. Power that she clearly handed right back to him when he kissed her in the elevator.Did she really wrap her legs around him?
She exited the subway station and hunched over against the cold. It was already dark, and businesses were starting to close, dimming their lights. It was a slower time of year, so her mother would have closed the shop a few hours ago.
She stopped at the space Sam wanted for his practice. The For Lease sign was gone. She clapped her hands in front of her and did a little jump. He’d done it! She looked around as if he might be right there to share the joy, but the street was empty. She cupped her hands around the window and peeked in. She could imagine a secretary’s desk (she would be an elderly, motherly woman—or, better yet, a man) and a waiting area, with Sam’s office in the back. She could almost see him leaning back in his chair, long legs stretched out on his desk as he talked on the phone, defending the little guy. She was bursting with pride. She tried to call him. Straight to voice mail.
She continued to amble her way to the coffee shop. She was about half a block away when she noticed a glow coming from near the shop. She quickened her pace and the glow appeared to be fire. Not huge flames, but a glow. The shop was glowing. She ran the remaining half block and tried the door. It was open. She pushed the door open to the sound of the chime and entered to find the source of the glow.
The shop was blanketed in candlelight. Many of the flames had died or were dying, but a good amount were strong and offered enough light for Maya to make her way to the far side of the shop. The scent of her orange coffee floated out to her from the kitchen. Light flickered and bounced off the glass cases, giving the illusion of movement.
Three small café tables had been pushed together, and on top of them was a sleeping Sam. He was wearing dark jeans and his shoes were still on. His arms were folded across his chest, muscles straining the fabric of a crisp, white button-down shirt. She had been here before. Sleeping Beauty. If she kissed him right now, would he wake up? Her shoes clicked on the floor and Sam started.
He carefully sat up, slowly moving his neck to release stiffness, and looked around, gaining his bearings as he registered Maya’s presence. “You’re here.” His voice was sleepy, but his curls had been tamed, and in the candlelight, he looked at her with that same molten look that had always weakened her.
Maya nodded. “So are you.”
Pure pleasure radiated from him in the flickering light. “I’ve been here.”
She grinned at him, her stomach fluttering. “I can see that. What’s going on?”
He hopped down from the table, his enthusiasm that of a young boy. He spread his arms wide, looked around the shop. “Every time I try this with you—” he dropped his arms and laughed “—you’re late and I end up falling asleep.” He ran a hand through his hair, dislodging just the right amount of curls.
“I was out.” She bit her bottom lip.
“Yeah, where?”
There was clear apprehension in his voice. Yet here he was. Waiting for her. All day. In a candlelit coffee shop. “At your place.”
He widened his grin and stepped closer to her. “Why?”
Maya pressed her lips together. If she told him, she would be baring herself open to him. He stepped close enough for her to smell his cologne and feel the heat from his body.
He studied her intensely for a long moment. Before she could answer, he closed the distance between them and took her face gently in both of his hands and kissed her. Without thought, Maya melted into him, kissing him back. This was not the elevator kiss. This was tender, questioning. She started to deepen their kiss when he pulled away.
“Tell me where you were.” His voice was like gravel in honey.
Her heart pounded. “I went to talk to Leo.”
