Jacquelin Thomas - Five Star Temptation

“I agree,” Blaze stated, “but they are the minority.”

“You should come to the shelter with me next weekend.” Sage took a sip of her ice water. “Once you meet some of these people, I think your opinion will change greatly.”

“I’ll think about it,” he responded. Blaze rose to his feet and held out his hand. “C’mon, let’s go show these people how we used to get down in Georgia.”

Sage chuckled. “I’ll sit this one out. You go ahead. I’m sure you won’t have a problem finding a dance partner.”

* * *

Shortly after eleven, Barbara confessed she was tired and ready to leave.

Both of her brothers couldn’t have been more relieved by their mother’s decision. Sage picked up her purse, and they left as they had arrived—as a family.

Blaze joined Sage in her residence when they left the fundraiser.

“So, how do you like living in Beverly Hills?” she asked her brother after they settled down in the living room. “Do you ever regret moving out here?” Sage removed her designer high heels; they were cute but uncomfortable.

“Why do you ask?”

“Sometimes you look really sad, Blaze.” Sage shrugged. “Ever since you came back from Las Vegas last year, you haven’t really seemed yourself.” She paused a moment before asking, “Blaze, did something happen while you were there?”

His expression was instantly guarded. “Like what?”

“Did you meet someone?” Sage inquired.

Blaze waited a moment before responding, as if searching for the right words. “I met someone, but it didn’t last long. I guess it was over before it really started.”

“It seems like you really cared for her, especially if you are still haunted by her. Do you want to talk about it?”

He shook his head no. “There’s really nothing to talk about, sis.”

Sage didn’t press her brother. She knew Blaze well enough to know that he would open up whenever he was ready. Until then, it was best to drop the subject.

“How about you?” Blaze asked. “How’s your love life going?”

She broke into laughter. “What love life? I don’t know what that is.”

“Have you found it harder to meet someone since our lives have changed?”

Sage nodded. “I don’t trust as easily as I did in the past. I guess it’s because I have to wonder if it’s me or our father’s money that guys want.” Sighing softly, she leaned back against the cushions. “I’m happy for Daddy and I love my job and even living here in Beverly Hills, but I hate being the focus of the media, dealing with cousin Harold and his drama and wondering if people like us for ourselves.”

Blaze nodded in agreement. “Some of the women I’ve gone out with once or twice expect me to take them shopping or pay their bills. It’s crazy. It’s just dinner and a movie. I’m not trying to marry them.”

“I want a man who wants me for me and not for what our parents have. He inherited Robert DePaul’s money—not us.”

“We are his heirs, though,” Blaze interjected. “Sage, you might as well get used to the reality that we will never be able to escape the DePaul legacy.”

* * *

Ryan made sure that Paige had everything she needed before leaving her and the baby at a small motel on Sunset Boulevard.

He promised to check up on her later in the day. She was a nice young woman who needed a break in life. He was going to make sure that she received one, too.

Ryan was on his way back to the Alexander-DePaul Hotel in Beverly Hills. He was hoping to see the beautiful heiress who had locked eyes with him and given him money without so much as a second thought. A few people passing by tossed a dollar or two his way, but Sage Alexander had been the only one who dared to look him in the eye. She never once averted her gaze—a quality Ryan liked in people. His first impression of her was a good one.

Sage’s unselfish gesture had given him a great intro for his article. Her family was one of the main subjects in the article, and it pleased Ryan that Sage appeared to be as generous a benefactor as her grandfather.

There was much more he wanted to learn about Sage and her family.

Sage Alexander.

Her beauty mesmerized him. She was an unforgettable woman, and Ryan found himself wanting to know more about her on both a professional and personal level.

Giving him a hundred dollars was one thing but actually holding a conversation with a homeless man was another story. Ryan didn’t want to frighten Sage in any way, so he had to be careful in his approach.

He had been careful not to settle too close to the hotel property upon his arrival. Ryan did not want to risk police involvement or getting arrested. No one knew the real identity of R. G. McCall outside of his editors, and Ryan wanted to keep it this way.

Ryan wanted to stay as anonymous as possible.

Chapter 4

A black Mercedes pulled up and parked in front of the hotel doors.

Ryan watched as Drayden Alexander stepped out of the driver’s seat and walked around the car, handing the keys to the valet. He was dressed in a suit that fit nicely but was off the rack. Ryan wasn’t much for custom-tailored suits either.

Drayden never once glanced in Ryan’s direction; instead, he seemed focused and walked with purpose.

Ryan noted Drayden made a point to greet everyone by name, although he didn’t break his stride.

He saw security walking toward the entrance and quickly moved away from the side of the building. Ryan kept walking until he reached the end of the property.

“Get a job, you bum,” someone yelled out of a passing car.

He shook his head sadly. Some people could be so ignorant at times. Most people were not homeless by choice or because they didn’t want to work. For most, it was an aftershock of the earthquake in their lives that had attempted to destroy them. Rebuilding lives after an earthquake took time, and often victims needed help financially and emotionally.

A man pushing a shopping cart paused and asked, “You find any good eats ’round here?”

Ryan shook his head. “Not yet. I heard that the restaurant on the corner will give you a hot meal.”

The man snorted and then moved on.

Ryan resisted the urge to try and hold a conversation with the man, because he wanted to see Sage again. He didn’t know why or how, but a connection had been made and Ryan always followed his instincts.

* * *

Sage showed off a vacant residence to a couple of prospective buyers. “The bedrooms are all spacious,” she told them. “There are a limited number of residences ranging from two to five bedrooms with ample square footage to accommodate housekeepers, personal assistants or nannies.”

“Is there a private garage for residents?” the husband inquired. “And is it a two-car garage?”

“Each residence comes with a two-car garage,” Sage responded. “The residents have a personal valet. You can just drop your keys with the valet and take the private elevator up to the penthouse floors.”

She allowed them some privacy as they walked through the residence. Sage could tell that they were already falling in love with the place. She expected to write a contract before they left her office. The Broadway producer and his wife were here in town for a promotional tour and decided to check out some properties for a Los Angeles–based home.

She called Ari as soon as the couple left an hour later.

“Guess what I have in my hand…?”

“I have no idea,” Ari replied. “What is it?”

“I just sold unit 802,” she announced.

“Really? That’s wonderful,” he told Sage. “That’s the one like Mom and Dad’s, right?”

“Yes,” she confirmed. “And they didn’t even haggle over the asking price. The wife was the one who really loved the unit. I should probably give her a commission because she was the one who really sold her husband on the place. I think he would’ve preferred something near the beach.”