Kitabı oku: «The Alexanders of Beverly Hills»
He’s tempting her in ways she never imagined…
Working undercover has its advantages…especially when Ryan Manning encounters one of the most beautiful women he’s ever seen. The investigative reporter took to the streets of Beverly Hills to expose the plight of the homeless. Now he’s installed in Sage Alexander’s fabulous luxury resort and spa…being given the royal five-star treatment by the hotel heiress herself!
Something about the tall, handsome stranger in rugged clothing touches Sage’s heart—until she discovers who he really is. Stung by his deception, Sage vows to keep her distance from Ryan. But it’s too late, she can’t control her feelings—or her passion—for the courageous journalist. Ryan’s masquerade is over, but is their love affair just beginning?
Sage loved the way Ryan’s kissable lips parted when he laughed that deep,
throaty laugh. He was a very handsome and sexy man—a striking contrast
to when she’d met him for the first time.
At the end of the evening, Ryan escorted her up to her place.
Sage unlocked her door, then turned to face Ryan. He leaned over and kissed her. “I really enjoyed our first date.”
She resisted the urge to touch the place where his lips had been. Her heart was racing, and Sage could feel her blood rushing through her veins.
She glanced up at Ryan, who said, “I didn’t offend you just now, did I?”
“No, you didn’t,” she answered quickly. Sage’s heart fluttered wildly in her chest
His nearness sent a shiver of wanting through her. “Not at all.”
Ryan pulled Sage into his arms, his mouth covering hers hungrily.
She returned his kiss with a hunger that belied her outward calm. Burying her face in his neck, Sage breathed a kiss there.
“You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to kiss you,” Ryan confessed.
“Probably as many times as I’ve wanted you to kiss me.”
JACQUELIN THOMAS
is an award-winning, bestselling author with more than thirty-five books in print. When she is not writing, she is busy working toward a degree in psychology. Jacquelin and her family live in North Carolina.
Five Star Temptation
ESSENCE BESTSELLING AUTHOR
Jacquelin
Thomas
MILLS & BOON
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Dear Reader,
How many times do we walk past someone who is homeless? How many times do we take a few minutes just to get to know the person? It’s one thing to give a few dollars, but Sage Alexander decided to do something more. In the second book of The Alexanders of Beverly Hills series, Sage encounters a man on the street who will forever change her life. Ryan Manning is an investigative reporter who is passionate when it comes to the plight of the homeless. He goes undercover and is surprised not only by Sage Alexander’s generous and caring nature, but also by his feelings for her.
This is a cause I have been involved in for years, so it’s natural that I would want to write a story about the plight of the homeless. It is my goal to entertain you with a romantic story, but also give you pause for thought the next time you encounter someone down on his/her luck. I hope you will enjoy the ride as you learn more about Ryan and Sage.
May you find it a temptation that is much too hard to resist.
Best regards,
Jacquelin
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Epilogue
Chapter 1
“Every woman I know—no matter how successful and ambitious, how financially and emotionally secure—feels panic, occasionally coupled with desperation, if she hits thirty and finds herself unmarried.”
Sage Alexander huffed after reading aloud an article by R. G. McCall. “I think panic overstates it, let alone desperation.” She tossed the magazine on the coffee table, nearly knocking over her glass of lemonade.
In a swift move, Sage rescued the glass and took a sip. Still fuming over the article, she uttered, “He’s a man. What does he really know about women?”
“Perhaps you should finish the article before passing judgment, dear?” her mother suggested with a tiny smile. “Besides, R.G. may be a woman.” Barbara Alexander took a long sip of the ice-cold lemonade before setting her glass down on a side table.
Barbara Alexander had decided to spend the day in Beverly Hills, leaving the peaceful estate home in Pacific Palisades she had come to love. She spent the morning talking to employees and hotel patrons. Sage had prepared a light lunch of grilled chicken salad, yeast rolls and steamed broccoli. They had just finished eating and sat down to relax in the living room while finishing off their glasses of lemonade.
Sage set her glass down, making sure it was secure on the Brazilian-cherry coaster. She wrinkled her nose and shook her head, saying, “Oh, he’s definitely a man, Mama. I can tell from the tone of his articles. He comes across as cynical and bitter in his writing as far as I’m concerned. He is someone with a serious chip on his shoulder.”
She ran her fingers through her soft curls. “I have no idea why Kellen likes his work so much.” Sage made a mental note to ask her brother why he was such a fan of R. G. McCall. “Maybe it’s because he’s so mysterious. All anyone really knows about him is his name,” Sage said.
“I’ve read a few of his articles,” Barbara stated. “I can certainly understand why he is so protective of his identity. He tends to get to the heart of the matter, and a lot of people would prefer to keep the truth buried. I think he’s usually unbiased in his articles.”
“What he does is throw rocks at you and then hides his hand,” Sage sniped. She had no idea why she’d allowed this writer—a man she had never met—to get under her skin like this. Maybe it was because he had chosen a topic that was a bit too close for comfort for Sage.
That topic was her state of singleness.
Barbara chuckled. “Well, he’s certainly got you riled up this afternoon. Maybe it’s a good thing that you didn’t finish reading the article.”
Sage gave a grudging nod. “Mama, I’m going to be thirty in October. I really don’t need R. G. McCall telling me that I’m in panic mode or desperate just because I would like to settle down and have a family. That man has rubbed me the wrong way this time with his choice in subject.”
“Don’t take it so personally, dear.”
Her mother was right, but it was hard to just ignore the article. It was just one of many on the subject of women reaching the thirty-year mark. It was Sage’s birthday wish to find the man of her dreams, although deep down she felt as if her knight in shining armor was nothing more than a dream that would never come true.
Sage had dated a few times since her arrival in Los Angeles, and some of the men were really nice, but they were not the type of man she wanted in her life long-term for various reasons. Sage knew that she had to really be careful in her choices of men due in part to her sudden fame. The Alexander family had been thrust into the limelight, and Sage soon found herself with no shortage of admirers—mostly men who were hoping to land a wealthy heiress.
Her father had inherited the late Robert DePaul’s vast estate nearly a year ago, which included the luxury chain of what was now known as the Alexander-DePaul Hotel & Spa. Before the inheritance, they were just a family living a normal life in the small town of Aspen, Georgia, located forty miles west of Atlanta. They were still the same people before the fame and money, but it seemed as though everyone else had changed around them. People close to them treated them differently.
“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with wanting to be married and ready to start a family before thirty-five,” Sage blurted. “I want to be able to enjoy my children before I’m too old.”
“You’re right, sweetie,” Barbara agreed. “There’s nothing wrong with the way you feel. As for a family, I wouldn’t worry about it. Just trust that the Lord will bring the right man at the right time.”
Sage embraced her mother. “Thanks, Mama. I’m so glad I decided to come to Los Angeles. I would have hated being so far away from you.” Sage and her brothers Ari, Blaze and Drayden all relocated to Los Angeles to work with their parents at the newly named Alexander-DePaul corporate offices. Her expertise was in real estate, which is why her father had given Sage the responsibility for overall sales of the portfolio of residences located at the hotel in the heart of Beverly Hills and steps from renowned Rodeo Drive.
“I’m glad you’re here, too,” Barbara responded. “I don’t know if Malcolm could handle all this without his children.” She rose to her feet. “Thanks so much for lunch and the conversation. I’m supposed to meet your daddy in an hour. I’ve finally convinced him to give his wardrobe a face-lift.”
Sage broke into a grin. “Good luck with that.” Her father hated shopping with a passion.
She and Barbara embraced and then headed to the door.
They took the private elevator down to the garage.
“I’ll give you a call later in the week,” Sage told her mother. “If you and Daddy don’t have any plans, I might drive out to the house this weekend. I want to see the new renovations.” Her parents had decided to change some things in the house. They wanted their blended personalities echoed throughout every room.
“We’ll be home,” Barbara responded.
They embraced again in the parking garage before Barbara headed to her car.
Sage watched her mother get into the car, and she remained glued to the spot until Barbara drove away.
Instead of returning to her penthouse, Sage decided to walk through the hotel. The Beverly Hills property had been inspired by the Spanish Revival architecture and Mediterranean styling that was so prevalent in the area. The interior evoked timeless elegance in sun-drenched colors of gold, salmon, coral and cream, which Sage found awe-inspiring and beautiful.
Her life was perfect, Sage thought to herself.
But it would be even better if she had someone to share it with.
* * *
Ryan Manning—aka R. G. McCall—was thirty-two years old, living in New York, and had been working as an investigative reporter for the past ten years with a major newspaper. After his painful divorce and suffering from writer’s block, Ryan decided to take a year off. His other love was cooking, so he opened a restaurant in Manhattan. However, his passion for the written word and the truth called him back into news reporting—this time as a freelance writer. His restaurant had turned out to be a very successful venture and was currently managed by his brother.
A news short on television caught Ryan’s eye.
The story of Malcolm Alexander inheriting the DePaul estate was still news, even though Robert DePaul had been gone for almost a year. People were still hungry for any information about this family from a small town in Georgia who had captured the hearts of the people in Los Angeles.
What’s so special about them? he wondered—outside of being fortunate enough to have Robert DePaul’s blood running through their veins.
The late Robert DePaul had been a very generous man during his lifetime. Ryan had heard many stories of Robert paying off medical bills of complete strangers, bestowing cars upon some who could not afford to buy one and even taking in a homeless man, giving him a job. He had often championed the rights of the homeless over the years.
Ryan’s current project was going to be a series of articles on the plight of homeless people in large cities—more specifically, Beverly Hills and some of the wealthier areas across the country. He had always been vocal in his criticism of how many of the wealthy residents complain about the homeless, but instead of trying to help, they treat them like criminals. There were those who were eager to spend thousands on a pair of shoes instead of giving a few dollars to a homeless person. To prove his point, Ryan spent some time on the streets of New York gathering firsthand information for his article.
Later that evening, he was flying to Los Angeles. He was going undercover as a homeless man in Beverly Hills. He wanted to profile some of the homeless people who lived in the shadows of Southern California’s most affluent areas.
Ryan decided to include the Alexander family in his series along with a select group of celebrities. He wanted to see whether Malcolm Alexander had inherited his father’s philanthropic nature. He was curious to see if the Alexander family was as wonderful as everyone assumed. People could only keep up an act for so long.
He knew that the members of the family would eventually slip up, and then the truth would come out about them. Ryan intended to be the one to report it.
* * *
To pass the time on the airplane, Ryan decided to draft parts of his article. He hoped that his writing on the subject of homelessness challenged those who were more fortunate to experience what these people had to deal with on a daily basis and moved them to take action.
His hands tapped a steady rhythm on the keyboard of his laptop.
In this manicured community of 35,000, Rolls-Royces and Lamborghinis glide around the city streets of Beverly Hills and movie stars live in grand mansions….
Ryan paused a moment, reading what he had typed, then he added, However, this city does not just boast of celebrities but is also well-known for its small population of scruffy residents who live in parks, bus shelters and alleys.
He was not sure that was exactly how he would begin the article, but it worked for the moment.
Ryan leaned his head back and closed his eyes, resting them. He had not realized just how exhausted he was until this very moment. Before leaving New York, he’d had to make sure that his brother had everything under control at the restaurant. Ryan had also wanted to finish another project, so he’d stayed up late last night and woke up early. He closed up the laptop and put it away before falling asleep.
He woke up an hour later. They would not be landing in Los Angeles for another two hours, so Ryan retrieved his laptop and opened it. He decided to attempt to complete the introduction for his article.
The hair on the back of his neck stood up.
Ryan glanced around until he met the gaze of a beautiful young woman. She smiled brightly, pleased that she had caught his attention.
He smiled in return.
Ryan had dated some since his divorce, but his constant traveling prevented him from investing any real time into a relationship. However, Sandra had put him through two years of pure hell. Ryan was pretty sure that he would never marry again.
He refused to allow another woman to shatter his heart into a million pieces ever again.
Chapter 2
Sage and her future sister-in-law, Natasha LeBlanc, exited the Alexander-DePaul Beverly Hills Hotel, heading to a nearby bridal shop on foot.
It was a beautiful and sunny June day, perfect for a stroll. Sage loved the outdoors and often walked to many of the nearby shops and eateries.
“I love seeing Ari with Joshua,” Sage commented as they walked. “I’m so glad that he has you both in his life.”
Natasha smiled. “He’s not my son’s biological father, but I couldn’t ask for anyone more wonderful than Ari.”
Her oldest brother had married his childhood sweetheart right out of college, but lost her to cancer a couple years ago. She had worried that Ari would never stop grieving for April. Then Natasha and her son, Joshua, entered his life a year ago, giving Ari a reason for living again.
“But after tomorrow, it will be official,” Natasha stated. “I’m relieved that the adoption has gone through without a hitch. Although I have to confess that there is this tiny part of me that resents the fact that my ex-husband wants nothing to do with his son.” She released a short sigh. “No need to worry about the past, though. I have Ari.”
“If you say he completes you, I’m going to barf,” Sage interjected with a small chuckle.
Natasha laughed.
Out of the corner of her eye, Sage noticed a lone homeless man standing near the entrance.
Her steps slowed as their eyes met and held.
The trance was broken when two hotel security members walked outside, gesturing for him to leave the property grounds.
Sage quickly intervened. “He’s not doing anything.”
One of the men told her, “Some of the guests have complained, Miss Alexander—”
“I understand that you’re doing your job, Tom,” she responded. “But everything is fine. You can go back inside now.”
Sage told Natasha, “Wait here a moment, please.” She walked over to the stranger in clothes that had seen better days and said, “I’m sorry for the actions of my security personnel.” She pulled a hundred-dollar bill out of her wallet and offered it to the homeless man. “I hope this will help you in some way.”
He was clearly surprised by her generosity. “Thank you. I appreciate your kindness.”
Sage noted the rich timbre of his baritone voice.
“If you’re hungry, I can arrange a meal for you,” Sage said.
He held up the money and responded, “This is more than enough.”
He thanked her again before walking away.
Sage watched him for a moment as he headed in the other direction. “I feel so bad for him,” she said in a low voice.
“That was really nice of you,” Natasha murmured.
“He definitely needs it more than I do,” Sage responded as they continued on to the bridal shop.
Although she considered him a fleeting thought, Sage found she could not force him out of her mind. It was as if some invisible thread drew her to him. It was not something she could fully explain because she did not understand it herself.
This unknown stranger who had fallen on hard times had left an indelible impression on her.
* * *
Ryan stared down at the hundred-dollar bill in his hand in disbelief.
The daughter of Malcolm Alexander had given him the money without any hesitation. It was almost as if she had been expecting him.
He had seen enough pictures of her to recognize Sage Alexander. However, none of the photos truly did her justice.
She was gorgeous.
He had the pleasure of meeting Robert DePaul a few years ago at a political fundraiser. Ryan found that she possessed those same steel-gray eyes as her father and Robert, her grandfather. She was tall and slender, with curves in all the right places. She wore her long dark brown hair in its natural curly state.
Ryan’s eyes stayed on Sage as she and her friend strolled down the sidewalk and across the street to a bridal shop. He couldn’t help but wonder if she was always this generous or if this had just been some random act of kindness.
He heard the whine of a baby and glanced over his shoulder.
A young woman who looked to be in her early twenties was trying to soothe a tiny infant swaddled tightly in a blanket. She held the baby close to her heart and appeared to be whispering to the child.
She reached into the shopping cart, fumbled through a few bags and then frowned. Whatever she was looking for was long gone. She kissed the top of her baby’s head and continued to try and comfort the infant. Her blue eyes were dull and pained and her blond hair looked as if it could use a good washing.
Without a second thought, Ryan strode over to her.
“Miss, can I help you with anything?”
She silently surveyed him from head to toe before shaking her head. “I’m fine.”
“The baby—”
“She needs to be changed,” the young woman murmured.
Ryan glanced down into the shopping cart. She didn’t possess much, but there was no sign of diapers—cloth or otherwise.
“This woman just walked out of the hotel and gave me this money, but I want you to have it. Looks like you may need to purchase diapers.”
Her eyes widened in surprise when she saw the hundred-dollar bill in his hand.
“I can’t take this from you,” she whispered, tears in her eyes. Her gaze traveled slowly over his attire. “You need it as much as I do.”
“I’ll be okay,” Ryan assured her. “I want you to have it. Use it for the baby.” He could tell that the infant was only a few weeks old. “She’s beautiful.”
After a short deliberation, she accepted the money and smiled. “God bless you for your kindness. Thank you so much.”
“When was the last time you had a hot meal?” Ryan asked.
“A few days now,” she responded. “My milk is drying up, so I think I’m going to have to get formula.”
“Hey, I’m about to get something to eat. Why don’t you and your beautiful little daughter join me? We can stop somewhere and get the diapers so you can change her first.”
He saw the hesitation in her eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. My name is Ryan, and I have nothing but honorable intentions.”
“I’m Paige, and this is Cassie. Ryan, you’ve done so much already. We really don’t want to take advantage of your kindness.”
“You wouldn’t be,” he said. “Paige, it looks like you need a friend. I assure you that I am not looking for anything in return.”
They walked until they found a corner store and bought diapers, a set of bottles, formula and some onesies for the baby.
Ryan pointed to the restaurant across the street. “We can eat there.”
Together, they crossed the street.
“I’ll wait out here,” Paige said, looking uncomfortable. “I need to change Cassie anyway. Besides, I’m pretty sure they don’t want us to come inside.”
Just as he was about to enter the restaurant, a young man dressed like one of the waitstaff met him at the door.
“I can take your order,” he said, “if you have money to pay.”
Ryan had forgotten he was dressed like a homeless person. It was clear that the waiter feared they would offend the other patrons. He stepped away from the door. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t have money,” he retorted. “I want to order two burgers, fries and drinks to go.”
“You sure you have enough money to pay for all this?” the young man asked.
“Like I said, I wouldn’t have ordered it if I didn’t,” Ryan responded, angered by the look of disdain on the waiter’s face. He pulled out two twenty-dollar bills. “Keep the change.”
Embarrassed, the waiter muttered, “I’ll place your order right now. It’ll be about ten minutes.”
Ryan strolled over to one of the outdoor tables where Paige sat playing with her baby girl.
“Why are you out here on the streets, Ryan?” Paige asked. “You obviously have money.”
“The only reason I have this money is because some rich woman gave it to me when I was standing outside the Alexander-DePaul Hotel,” he responded honestly. “Then I saw you, and I wanted to help. A young mother and her baby should not be on the streets.”
The waiter appeared with two tall glasses of ice water and two sodas. He set them down on the table and left as discreetly as he had arrived. He returned a few minutes later with their food.
“Where are you from?” Ryan inquired. He could hear a hint of a Southern accent in her voice.
“I’m from Atlanta, Georgia,” Paige responded. “I came to Los Angeles to be with my boyfriend. He plays the sax, and he’s trying to get into the music business. Things were good between us until I got pregnant. Then we started to argue and fight all the time. After Cassie was born, I thought we were getting back on track, but two weeks ago, he left to buy diapers and never returned. I couldn’t pay the rent for the hotel we were staying in, so I had to leave.”
Ryan felt a surge of anger rise in him as he listened to Paige’s story. What man could just walk away from his child like that?
It was obvious that this man never really cared for Paige. Ryan was careful not to voice his opinion aloud. He did not want to say anything that would add to the young woman’s pain.
* * *
“Have you decided on your color scheme yet?” Sage inquired.
“I was actually thinking about a mint-green and vintage-purple theme,” Natasha said. “They are two of my favorite colors.” She paused a moment before adding, “Oh, and I’ve found what I think is the perfect bridesmaid dress. It’s by Alvina Valenta. She is an extraordinary designer, and her dresses are known for their details and elegance.”
“I’m just glad that you didn’t choose soft pastel colors,” Sage announced as they entered the bridal shop. “They do absolutely nothing for my complexion. You know weddings are all about the bridesmaids, don’t you?”
Laughing, Natasha walked up to the counter to check in for their appointment.
While they waited, Sage’s gaze traveled the length of the shop, eyeing the vast number of wedding gowns, bridesmaid dresses and other formal wear. She couldn’t wait for the day when it would be her turn to get married.
Her dream wedding wasn’t filled with lots of glitz, glamour and hundreds of wedding guests. Instead, she wanted a more intimate and romantic ceremony—perhaps a destination wedding.
“What do you think about this one?” Natasha asked, drawing Sage out of her reverie.
She surveyed the gown in her future sister-in-law’s hand. “It’s pretty, but I don’t think it looks like you.”
“Really?”
Sage nodded. “I don’t know why, but I just can’t really see you in this dress. Maybe it’s because there’s so much lace. You don’t strike me as the ribbons, ruffles or bows type of girl.”
“You’re right,” Natasha agreed. “I prefer more simple lines but thought I’d do something different for my wedding.”
“No,” Sage interjected. “Your gown should definitely echo your personality.” She walked over to a nearby rack and selected a dress. “Now, I think that this one looks like you, Natasha.”
“Oh, my…” Natasha murmured as she fingered the soft, delicate chiffon. “This is stunning.”
Sage agreed. “You should try it on.”
Anna, the bridal consultant standing nearby, walked over to them. “I’ll take this to the dressing room.”
“Ari told me that I could have my dress designed, but I think I’d rather buy one off the rack.” Natasha pressed the dress against her body. “I really love this one.”
“Try it on,” Sage encouraged.
She strolled around the store, pausing every now and then to look at a gown. Sage already knew how she wanted her dress to look. While Natasha wasn’t interested in having a one-of-a-kind wedding gown, Sage felt otherwise.
Natasha walked out of the dressing room with the assistance of Anna. She looked like a vision from heaven in the eggshell-tinted strapless gown made of Tomen chiffon and lace embellished with Swarovski crystals and a sweetheart neckline. The unbelievable draping across Natasha’s torso completed the elegant vision.
“So what do you think?” Natasha prompted.
“You look beautiful,” Sage murmured. “I think this is the one for you.”
“Ms. LeBlanc, you look exquisite,” Anne complimented. “From everything you’ve told me, I agree with Ms. Alexander. This is the wedding dress for you.”
Natasha continued to gaze at her reflection.
“I’m loving it,” Sage said. “I can’t wait for my brother to see you in this gown.”
“I love it, too,” Natasha responded. “This is the dress for me. My search is over for the perfect wedding gown.” She glanced over at Anna and said, “Would you bring out the dress I selected for the bridesmaids, please? I want Sage’s opinion on the choice.”
Anna walked into a back room and returned a few minutes later, carrying a stunning knee-length satin sheath in a purple/platinum duet.
Sage fell in love with the draped strapless sweetheart neckline with natural waist and draped skirt. “Natasha, it’s gorgeous. I love it.”
“I thought that you would,” she responded. “It’s going to look great on you, Zaire and my sister.”
Sage held the dress up to her and eyed her reflection in the mirror. “This is a beautiful dress. I especially like that it’s one I can wear again. I have a closet full of bridesmaid gowns that were only for that one day.”
“I’ll set up a dressing room for you,” Anna stated. “While you change, I’ll have the seamstress come out to perform the fitting for Ms. LeBlanc.”
Sage hummed softly as she strolled into a nearby dressing room to try it on. She couldn’t wait to see how the dress looked on her body.
“You look beautiful,” Natasha said when Sage walked out. “You need very few alterations. It nearly fits you perfectly.”
Sage agreed. “Natasha, I really love this dress. This dress is so me.”
“How do you think Zaire will feel about it?”
“Natasha, she’s going to love it, as well,” Sage assured her. “My sister and I have similar taste when it comes to clothes. We’re also the same size, so you don’t have to worry about having her dress altered. Besides, she’s planning to come out here in a couple of weeks. Zaire says that school has been hectic for her and she needs a little break. I know that grad school is intense, but I think my little sister is missing the family. She can’t just leave Atlanta and be home in an hour anymore.”
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