LITMIR.BIZ

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feel about love, marriage, the whole white-picket-fence thing.”

      “Yeah, yeah, sing to the choir. I’ve already heard this bit before,” Luke stated. “Poor you, your dad left your mom to marry a hot tart, leaving you and your mom with nothing.”

      “That’s right. Love is for other poor dumb schmucks.”

      “Like me, you mean,” Luke countered.

      Darn. He’d stuck his foot in his mouth. Luke had just married a beautiful redhead named Helena and they were head over heels in love. But if anyone could make a go of marriage, it was Luke. “Present company excluded,” Ayden stated.

      Luke chuckled. “You’ve never minced words before, Ayden, so don’t start now.”

      “Helena is lovely,” Ayden replied. “And she’s madly in love with you. She can’t wait to have a mess of babies with you.”

      “That’s right, my friend. I’ll have Helena knocked up before the year is out,” Luke said, laughing. “That way she can’t leave me for another man when she realizes she married a dumb schmuck like me.”

      Ayden laughed. That’s what he loved about Luke. He could be self-deprecating and still be the life of the party. “So let’s return to my original point for this call.”

      “What was that again?”

      “Maya. And what it would take for her to agree to come back to me, I mean, the position of executive assistant at Stewart Investments.”

      “You would have to find the right incentive that doesn’t include becoming a notch on your bedpost.”

      “That’s not going to happen again,” Ayden said. “Bedding Maya was a one-time thing. Plus, I doubt she’s been carrying a torch for me. For Christ’s sake, it was only one night!”

      “If you say so, my friend. I’ve given my advice, for what it’s worth. Good luck, and let me know how it turns out.”

      “Will do.” Ayden ended the call and stared down at the folder in his lap. It held the address of where Maya was staying in Austin. He’d hired a private investigator to research her whereabouts. His timing was perfect because she was back in town for her niece’s baptism and staying at a downtown hotel.

      Ayden had to admit he was shocked by what he’d read in the file. He recalled how devastated Maya had been the night she’d come to him after discovering her sister in bed with her boyfriend. If she was returning, it had to mean she’d forgiven them. Surely that meant good news for him? He could ask her to come back to Stewart Investments, and things would be different between them now. After all, it had been years since Ayden had seen her. Although he might have had the odd fantasy about her, on his part, any residual feelings from their night together five years ago were long gone. Ayden had been with many women since Maya. More beautiful. More stunning.

      He and Maya had always enjoyed an excellent working relationship. He was certain they could get past this if she was willing to forgive him for his lack of sensitivity and give them another chance. He knew it was a long shot, but there was only one way to find out. He had to go to her, and he wasn’t leaving until her answer was yes.

      From the bathroom of the Baptist church, Maya fretted as she smoothed down the dress she’d chosen to wear to Nysha’s baptism. Should she have come?

      Throughout the years, Raven had tried to extend an olive branch, but Maya had rebuffed each and every effort. Why? Because Maya was jealous. Raven was living the life that should have been hers. If she was honest, Maya would have loved that life with Ayden, but he hadn’t wanted her five years ago. Or not in the way she’d hoped.

      So why come back?

      Because she couldn’t go on living this way, holding on to past hurts and hiding away from the world. It was time to move on with her life. She’d come to make peace with her sister.

      She glanced at herself in the mirror. The sleeveless plum dress had a deep V showing a swell of cleavage, thanks to the push-up bra she’d spent a fortune on in the hopes it would give her a bosom. Her long black hair, her best feature, was coiffed and hung in big curls down her back. She’d even allowed her hair stylist, who doubled as a makeup artist, to do her face. After all these years, she had to look her best because, Lord knows, her mother would be in full diva mode. Raven, of course, wouldn’t have to try hard because she was naturally beautiful.

      And now it was time to face the music. She couldn’t very well hang out in the church bathroom forever. Grabbing her clutch purse, she made for the door. Sophia Richardson was greeting guests at the church entrance. From where Maya stood, she noted her mother’s stylish salt-and-pepper updo and what looked like her Sunday-best suit, complete with pumps. But rather than looking the picture of a radiant grandma, her mother had lost weight and appeared a bit gaunt with sunken cheeks. Her normal caramel skin looked sallow.

      Maya braced herself as she walked toward her. “Mother.”

      “Maya?” On cue, Sophia looked her over from head to toe—from the designer sandals to the simple Marc Jacobs sheath to the designer handbag. Apparently she passed muster, because her mother said, “I’m happy you’ve finally chosen to put the past behind you and return to the fold.”

      She held open her arms and Maya reluctantly walked into them. As expected, the embrace was brief. Maya suspected she’d received it because several guests had walked in and her mother wouldn’t dare make a scene.

      “Raven and Thomas will be so happy to see you,” Sophia whispered in her ear. “Please go in.” She motioned Maya toward the pews.

      Would they be happy to see her? Or would her presence be a reminder of their past transgressions? Maya forced herself to put one foot in front of the other and enter the hall. Raven and Thomas were at the end of the aisle talking with the pastor. Her sister looked as stunning as ever even though she’d just had the baby two months ago. She was wearing a cream suit and had her hair in a French roll. Raven was already back to her svelte size-six figure. Thomas wore a suit and striped tie and beamed by her side, holding the baby.

      Maya walked toward them. When Raven turned around and saw Maya, Maya felt her heart constrict. It had hurt being estranged from her baby sister.

      “Maya?” Raven said as she drew near.

      Maya glanced at Thomas and gave him a nod, stepping toward Raven. “Yes, I’m here.”

      Tears welled in her sister’s eyes. “Oh, thank God, our prayers were answered. I’ve asked God for forgiveness every day for what we—” she glanced at her husband “—did to you. And now, I’m blessed to have you back in my life, in our daughter’s life.”

      “Don’t get carried away, Raven,” Maya responded. “All is not swept under the rug.”

      “Of course not,” Raven said. “I owe you a long overdue apology.” She reached for Maya’s hands and grasped them in her own. “I’m so sorry for hurting you, Maya. Can you please find it in your heart to forgive me?”

      Maya stared at her in stunned disbelief. She had never expected an apology. Least of all, from Raven, who’d always been self-centered. But then again she’d never given her the chance.

      “We’re both sorry,” Thomas said from Raven’s side. “You deserved better than how we treated you. You deserved the truth. We should never have sneaked behind your back. It was wrong and I’m sorry.”

      Maya swallowed and nodded. She was too overcome to speak. She didn’t know what she’d thought would happen during the visit, but clearly Raven and Thomas had matured enough to admit their mistakes.

      “Would you like to meet your niece?” Raven asked, tears brimming in her eyes.

      “Y-yes, I’d like that very much.”

      Raven walked over to Thomas, took their daughter out of his arms and placed the sleeping baby in Maya’s. Her niece was the most beautiful little girl Maya had ever seen, with her

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