Even though it was only for a short time, I’ll never regret it.
Neither one of them had brought up the topic of their frenzied sexual activities that night. Jared appeared to be more determined to protect her than he was to fuck her ever since that incredible day. Obviously, there would be no repeat performance, and Mara wasn’t sure if being together like that again would even be wise now that she had her head more together again. She was coming to like and understand Jared more and more the longer she spent time with him, learning new things about him every day. Getting too close to him, being with him again like she had that day, could prove disastrous. She could very easily become infatuated with him, and Jared wasn’t the kind of man who wanted attachments.
Mara chuckled softly as she familiarized herself with her new temporary home, thinking about some of the more humorous things she’d learned about Jared in the last few days of staying with him in the big house. The guy was a complete and total sweets and coffee addict. He didn’t function well without his coffee, and he ate sweets like they were an orgasmic experience. She’d laughed outrageously when she read the directions for his coffeemaker, quickly figuring out that Jared was yanking off the tops of the little containers of coffee rather than putting them into the device intact. The appliance made a perfect beverage; Jared had not. She’d snickered as he’d looked at her like she was a goddess because she could make a perfect cup of coffee. Since then, he’d mastered the simple task after he’d laughed at himself for the highly uncomplicated error. Of course, he’d grumbled when she’d teased him about everything being in the directions for the electronic device.
The taffy he’d gotten from her had been gone within the first day, and his supply of jam was dwindling since he seemed to pile it on his toast or bagel in the morning liberally. He usually preferred to watch movies or read in lieu of regular television shows, and he had a preference for classical music. He did indeed work out every single day, hitting his gym in the basement after he’d woken up with at least two cups of coffee and toast or a bagel slathered with her jam in the morning.
However, her most important discovery of all was that he cared about people, whether he wanted to show that side of himself to others or not. He’d coddled her for days, helping her fill out the forms to get her important documents replaced. One of the few things that had been recovered was her charred, soot-covered purse. It had been in the kitchen, and she’d been able to save her cards, checkbook, and her driver’s license, so it left her fewer documents to replace. But with the fire investigation ongoing, and all of the things she had to do to prepare to take Kristin’s place in Sarah’s wedding, she was going to be busy.
She and Jared had scanned the Internet, looking at website designs, logos, equipment, and all of the other online details that needed to be discussed if the business was going primarily on the net.
Mara had wanted “Sinclair” to go into the business name. After all, Jared was financing it. He’d insisted that the business was hers, he couldn’t cook worth a shit so the “Sinclair” would be a lousy endorsement, and he wanted to name it Mara’s Kitchen. After an afternoon of furious debate, the Mara’s Kitchen name had stuck, and he’d won, giving her a reasonable list of reasons why the name would be better and more focused toward their target customers—women. The business was going to be hers by name, and her efforts would either succeed or fail. Luckily, she had no intentions of failing.
It’s going to bear my name. My reputation will be on the line.
It was frightening and exhilarating at the same time.
Now, three days after the fire, the swelling had gone down on her ankle and she could move around comfortably, which had prompted her to search out her own space. Well . . . okay . . . maybe it was still Jared’s space, but it would get her out from under his feet in his own home. Staying immobile had been difficult for her, and Jared had insisted on carrying her everywhere, even to the bathroom, like she was completely incapable of walking on her own.
Kneeling down in the kitchen of the guest house, she opened the large cupboards beneath the countertops, smiling happily as she eyed the large kettles stored there. They weren’t commercial size, but they’d make twice as much—if not more—than she could make at home. And she could do one batch after the other because she had the time now. Pulling the pots out of their resting place, her heart again aching because she really no longer had a home of her own, she set them on top of the stove in preparation for cooking the mixtures she was going to need. Regardless of whether Jared objected or not, she was going to the market in a few days, and she wanted as much product to sell as possible to start infusing her own cash into the business. Looking at the costs for commercial equipment and all of the other expenses there were to starting up even a small business like hers had made her queasy. She’d cringed as she’d watched Jared order more and more stuff for her new business without a moment’s hesitation. Sure . . . he was a billionaire and this start-up was pocket change for him, but spending that much money had scared the bejesus out of her. Ultimately, her business would be in debt to Jared until he was paid back. Then, they could share profits. Mara didn’t care if the money meant nothing to him. It meant something to her, and she’d never feel right taking the majority of the profits and not seeing him reimbursed for everything he was pouring out for her business right now. They would make a contract, and she’d bust her ass to see those conditions met. That was one battle she planned on winning.