THANKS to Sasha at cockyhead for the revised book cover.

Life upset Rena Blackshear.  One phone call had turned her perfect world upside down and now she was in a place that she'd rather not be.  She'd rather be in her penthouse at the Le Meridian, the 5 star hotel she managed in New York, or at her condominium in Cobble Hill.  Rena left Savannah, GA years ago and had only returned to bring her father's body back to the south and to attend his funeral.  There were no memories that she wished to remember about her former home or family.  The price she'd paid for emotional memories was too high. Rena Blackshear was an expert at forgetting the past. 

She was tired from the trip, upset that one of her bags was mistakenly sent to the east coast, and now her brother Ian was late.  She struggled to remove her other heavy suitcases from the carousel.

"He should have been here to help me.  All I asked him to do was to show up at baggage claims, help me with my bags and take me home.  He was never good for anything,"

The final bag she tried to pull from the carousel popped her finely-manicured nail tip.  She winced, looking down at her finger.  A popped nail tip added to her growing frustration.  Rena Blackshear was perfect from head to toe when she had left the office today and hopped on the plane. 

"Ugh!  I'm going to kill him.  He should've been here helping me."  She was even more frustrated when the bag slipped, sending it back around the carousel again.  She stomped her foot in frustration.

A man chuckled from behind her.  She was in no mood for someone to take pleasure in her situation.  She turned abruptly.

"Excuse me, did I do something humorous?"

She felt the color drain from her face as she turned, seeing the man standing behind her.  "Blake."

She lost her balance at the sight of him.  Her gut wrenched.  He grabbed her arm to steady her.  She hadn't felt a jolt like that since the time she was under the influence of his last mind-bending kiss.  Their eyes locked.  Rena saw awareness in his eyes that let her know she wasn't the only one who felt the rippling shock.  She quickly reined those steamy emotions inward.  Rena Blackshear was long past her relationship with Blake Glass. 

The last time she'd seen him was ten years ago, while she was home for her father's funeral.  He'd aged, but handsomely.  Those grey eyes were as magnetic today as they were then.  The five-o'clock shadow and a few streaks of grey in his wavy black hair were the only signs of aging from 26 to 36.  Everything else showed that he was ripped and buff.  He'd always loved walking on the beach and swimming to enhance his body's flawless form.

"Ian couldn't make it.  They called him to pick up your mom from the hospital."  He leaned over as the large bag made its way back through the carousel, and picked it up effortlessly.  Rena was still dazed from seeing Blake.

"Is Mom okay?"

"She has her good days and her bad days."

"Why didn't anyone tell me sooner that she was getting worse?"

There was a long pause between them, long enough to know that there were lots of words unspoken and deeds undone between the life that Rena now led and the life that Rena once had.  Rena watched Blake's jaw clench as if he were biting back words.  She was not going to open this can.  She'd keep it closed, as she was too tired to deal with it.

"I heard that you'd moved to Florida to start a restaurant.  When did you come back to Savannah?"

"Three years ago." 

He'd brought a small cart and started piling her bags on it and strapping them down.  Rena paused at his words – three years ago. That's when her mother had been diagnosed with lymphoma.  These were dots she didn't want to connect.  Did Blake come home to take care of her mother when she failed to do so?  There was no way she was going to ask.

"Did the restaurant close and you moved back home?"

He smiled, and then placed his hand on the small of her back, moving her along.  Every nerve in her body was firing at his gentle touch.  Her body betrayed the firmly-held declaration that she'd kept for years. 

Rena had declared that her former life in Savannah held absolutely no relevance in her life.  She'd declared that she was currently here to handle her family business and would be back on the plane, returning to New York with deliberate speed.  

"The restaurants in Florida are fine, and so are the ones in Tennessee, Alabama, and the coffee shop in Savannah."

Blake opened a coffee shop in Savannah and nobody told her? Yes, she'd kept her distance, but she did have a few high-school friends that kept her up to date, since they knew of her strained relationship with her family.  The coffee shop would've been news.  And he had multiple restaurants in 3 states.  Blake used to dream of becoming a chef, but all she could remember was the bus boy cleaning tables at her mother's simple, family-style restaurant – The Chicken and Waffle Inn.

Before she knew it, Rena and Blake were in his black Mercedes headed to her home.  This was a big upgrade from the pick-up he used to have.  Life was treating him well.   

Blake didn't say anything for a long time during the drive, and neither did she.  Rena stole glances of him out of the corner of her eye.  Why does he have to be so damn handsome?  Why does he have the power to stir me so?  Blake was a long, dormant memory.  Today, she was fully awake and was struggling with the reality of it.

Things had not been the same between them for a long time.  They'd grown up together.  Both of their families had deep roots in Savannah.  The Chicken and Waffle Inn belonged to her grandmother, and Blake's family had been in politics for what seemed like forever.  He had wanted no part of that.

Blake had two brothers.  Ryan became a lawyer and Dustin was the mayor of some city on the east coast.  Blake's father wanted him to take the same path, but he rejected the pressure and spent most of his time at the restaurant.  Over the years, people told Rena that her mom let Blake move up from the bus boy to the head cook, but she never took it seriously.  She always thought Blake would gravitate towards his political roots.  She never thought he had the endurance to stand up under the pressure of Senator Glass.  Ryan and Dustin had other ambitions, but they had caved under the pressure.  It surprised her that Blake had held out and now owned several restaurants.

He finally said something.  "So, how is New York?"

His words were like a spell, commanding her attention and touching a part of her that she'd proclaimed dead.  He never had to say much.  Blake's voice was rugged, masculine – fully capable of controlling her demeanor.  He could invoke her to love him.  She wouldn't have it, not today, not ever again.  "It couldn't be better.  I really love it there." 

Even as Rena spoke those words she knew her heart was melting for all the historic charm that surrounded her.  As she looked at the tree-lined streets, the picturesque houses, and smelled the salty coastal air, she knew that she missed home.  There was no place as beautiful as Savannah. 

"Are you still in the hospitality industry?"

"Yes, I manage the Le Meridian hotel.  It's part 5 star hotel and part condominiums for the affluent in New York.  We have 1300 residents plus constant events and business functions that keep the hotel filled to capacity.  All of my restaurant training certainly came in handy, and dad footed the rest by paying for my degree in hotel management."

They just couldn't seem to get a conversation going.  Blake turned on the radio.  He still loved country music.  She hadn't heard the sound of strumming guitars in a long time.  Since living in New York she'd learn to love symphonies, plays and operas. She remembered sitting in the back of a pick-up truck with Blake, singing loud country music on the beach under the stars.

"Why didn't you come home when Ian first gave you the news?"

"You knew I couldn't't do that."

Rena's heart was racing.  She knew this was coming.  Her life had been flipped the moment her mother sent her packing.  There were years of discord between them.  "I don't know why everybody thought I was supposed to be the dutiful daughter then.  I certainly don't intend to be the dutiful daughter now."

Blake glanced at Rena.  She saw the disappointment in his eyes. "She's changed and she needs you."

"My mother abandoned me.  She has Ian." 

Rena couldn't wait for this ride to be over.  She was so glad when she began to see landmarks showing that they were closer to her home.  When he made a detour she was a bit frustrated, but then she saw he was headed towards the Chicken and Waffle Inn.  She hadn't seen that place since her mom packed her on the plane and shipped her off to her father at the tender age of seventeen.

What child wants to be uprooted from a life that is loved and a friend that had been there since childhood?  This was the result of a divorce.  The divorce wasn't her fault, yet she felt that she had to pay for it.  Ian got to stay and she had to leave. 

Blake parked the car. "Ian doesn't cook.  I know you must be tired and hungry.  Do you want to come in?  There will be a lot of people in there who are glad to know you're in town."

"No."

The way Blake looked at her stopped her heart.  She couldn't believe that he could still arrest her with one glance.  I wonder if he's ever given me a thought since the last time I saw him.  I wish my heart would just slow down.  This is too much.  Their attraction was undeniable. Was she losing her mind?  Blake is not on my agenda.  This couldn't possibly be happening to me.

****Author Note:

I would like to thank all of you wonderful readers for your kindness and support. I'm just beginning to understand the Wattpad community and you are an amazing group. I've gotten so much encouragement that I'm literally inspired to write. I'm working on new stuff! Thanks all.