No One But You

longer the girl who’d loved him. She didn’t want to be.
    “That came out of nowhere for me, too.” Pain darkened his features. “I didn’t plan it. It just…happened.”
    “You mean it almost happened.”
    “Yes. It’s a good thing it didn’t. What was I thinking?” He grimaced again, stopped and shook his head. “After my marriage ended, that was it for me. I’ve been through so much loss. My heart was too broken. I can’t go there again.”
    He faltered, raw grief showing.
    What had happened to him? Mariah wanted to ask, but he moved in and opened her door.
    “Drive safe. Make sure Jake contacts me about the hoop fest. I’d like to sponsor him, if that’s all right with you.”
    “Sure.” She slipped into her seat, a little dazed and even more confused.
    “Take care, Mariah. Thanks for including me tonight. You have no idea the good it did me.” The door closed, shutting him out and her safely in. The man who walked away, as dark as the shadows, a part of the night, took a piece of her with him.
    * * *
    He fished his keys out of his pocket, unlocked his car door, then the beep beep of a horn snagged his attention. He looked up in time to catch Jake waving behind the window of Mariah’s SUV as it motored by on the street.
    A hard squeeze gripped him. Funny kid.
    Wyatt dropped into his seat, started the engine and hit the overhead light.
    “Well, Sebastian,” he said, cracking open his wallet to look at the picture of a blond, blue-eyed boy. “I’m doing better. I actually had fun tonight.”
    Only silence answered. There had been a time when he would have hauled out his cell and hit number one on speed dial. There had been a long string of dark days when he’d automatically reached for the phone, needing to hear the child’s voice and the funny recap of his school day, even knowing it could never happen again. Now it was a habit finally broken. Wyatt tucked his wallet back into his pocket, put the car in gear and pulled out of the lot.
    The happiness of the evening trailed him, along with the memory of Mariah’s smile. Mariah was a light that kept shining. A brightness that lingered as he navigated back to the hotel he called home, handed his keys to the valet and headed for the penthouse elevator. He wished he had more heart to give her, because he really wanted to see her again.

Chapter Six
    She’d gotten closer to Wyatt than she’d meant to. He kept creeping into her thoughts as the work week passed. Not even organizing the hoop fest or the demands of getting the paperwork together to close the property deal and start construction seemed to be able to stop it. Every time she remembered that near kiss, her stomach swooped against her will.
    “Mariah?” A voice cut into her thoughts.
    “I’m sorry, Kalinda. Too much on my mind.” She focused on the architect awaiting her answer. It was Friday afternoon and she still couldn’t get enough distance. “I’ll take this to the board. I’m sure they’ll be pleased. I can’t thank you enough. You charged us less than a quarter of any other firm.”
    “Happy to help.” Kalinda rolled up the blueprints and popped them into a canister. “My boss’s mother was killed by his father. It’s important work your shelter does.”
    Kalinda’s words stuck with Mariah as she said her goodbyes and rode down in the elevator. Spring sunshine lit her path as she crossed at the intersection and set off down the busy sidewalk. She had been one of the lucky ones, who’d left before her husband’s self-hatred and lack of self-control had spiraled even lower. The fact was that many abusers became the most dangerous when they lost control—when women left. It was Mariah’s deepest prayer that every woman being hurt and oppressed by the man she loved would reach out for the help she deserved.
    One day soon, she thought, studying the property that would belong to the shelter in just a short time. She imagined the tall building with gleaming windows. Inside there would be comfy rooms, more office space and more classrooms for learning everything from English as a second language to money management. They would expand their youth programs and community outreach, and offer more aftercare support. This would be a place for women to start finding better futures. Just like Nellie’s had helped her to do.
    A sleek black Mercedes pulled up to the curb. One that looked quite familiar, as did the dark-haired man emerging from it, keys and cell phone