Читать книгу Five Star Temptation - Jacquelin Thomas - Страница 11

Chapter 3

“How long have you been living on the streets?” Ryan asked before biting into his hamburger. He chewed slowly, savoring the combination of lettuce, tomato and grilled onions. After living on the streets of New York, he had a renewed appreciation for something as simple as a hamburger.

“Just a few days off and on since my boyfriend left,” Paige answered before wiping her mouth on the edge of the paper napkin. “I was able to stay at the shelter for four nights, but last night they didn’t have any more beds. I’ve been trying to find a job, but I don’t have a babysitter, so I have to take Cassie with me.”

“Have you considered moving back home?” Ryan questioned.

Paige nodded. “I could do that, but it’s not what I want. My mama has enough to take care of, and she don’t need me and Cassie adding to her burden. She raised six kids all by herself, and now she is raising three of my nieces. All I need is a job, and I can take it from there. I’m not afraid of hard work.”

“What type of work are you looking for?” Ryan inquired.

“Anything,” Paige responded. “I have general office skills and only two years of college, but I’ll clean houses or hotels, babysit—anything outside of breaking the law.”

Ryan smiled. “I’m glad to hear that. I don’t think I have enough money to bail you out of jail.”

She laughed. “Ryan, I really appreciate all you’ve done for me.”

“I’m glad I could help.”

Paige bit into her burger. “This is so delicious. I don’t remember the last time I had a hamburger.” She shook her head sadly. “I just wish that I could find a job. I’d work two jobs if it would help me get a place to live and take care of my baby.”

Ryan wiped his mouth. “Paige, I’m going to pay for you and Cassie to stay in a hotel for a month. Hopefully, this will give you some time to find work and a babysitter.”

She gasped in surprise and leaned forward, saying, “That lady must have given you a lot of money. Ryan, I can’t have you doing this for me. You should be spending this money on yourself.”

He shook his head no. “I don’t have a new baby, Paige.”

She teared up once more. “Ryan, you don’t even know me. Why are you being so kind?”

“This woman I ran into earlier knows nothing about me, yet she was kind enough to care and try to make my life a little more comfortable. I’m just paying it forward.”

“We can share the hotel room as friends,” Paige suggested. “You can get one with two beds.”

Ryan was touched by her sensitivity. “I’ll be just fine, Paige. You don’t have to worry about me.”

“You really don’t have to do this, Ryan. I’ll manage somehow.”

He shook his head. “It’s all settled, Paige. You and Cassie will stay at the hotel. I feel confident that you are going to find a job soon. I’ll watch the baby for you when you have interviews if you need me to.”

“How do I reach you?” she asked. “Don’t tell me that this woman gave you a cell phone, too.”

Ryan chuckled. “I’ll come by and check with you every day.”

“Why won’t you just stay at the hotel with me? Wouldn’t that be easier? Actually, I think I’d feel safer if you were there,” Paige confessed. “Cassie’s a pretty good baby, too. She only wakes up once a night usually.”

“Maybe just a couple of nights,” he responded after a moment.

They left the restaurant and walked to the bus stop. Ryan removed Paige’s contents from the shopping cart and carried the meager possessions.

Although he secretly preferred to set them up in a much nicer hotel, Ryan had to settle for a motel. He was undercover and had to remain so until all of his research was complete. Ryan would not risk placing his work in jeopardy by sharing his real identity with Paige. He had probably done too much for her already, but he couldn’t just leave a young mother and her child out on the streets.

While the baby slept, Paige went into the bathroom to take a shower. Ryan used this time to quickly jot down notes of his time with Paige and how she ended up on the streets. She was defenseless with a newborn, and he feared that if he didn’t do everything in his power to help her, Paige would become a prostitute—willingly or unwillingly. Worse, she could become hooked on drugs, and there’s no telling how the baby would fare in either situation.

* * *

After her bath, Sage slipped on a pair of denim shorts and a T-shirt. She sat down on the plush sofa in her living room and removed her sandals. She stretched out her full length on the piece of furniture and closed her eyes. She thought again about the homeless man who had been standing outside the hotel.

Sage hoped that the money would enable him to enjoy a good meal and maybe even a clean shirt or two. She prayed that he would not use the money for drugs, although he did not seem like a drug abuser.

She drifted off to sleep.

It was almost six when she awakened forty-five minutes later.

Sage had to get ready for a fundraising event. She and her mother were attending the auction benefiting breast cancer. Thankfully, it was being held here at the hotel, so Sage didn’t have to worry about traffic or arriving late. She still hadn’t gotten used to traveling along the congested Los Angeles freeways.

She rose to her feet and walked barefoot across the hardwood floors to her bedroom.

Sage dressed in a one-shoulder Grecian-style gown in a teal-blue color with shimmering gold highlights. She ran her fingers through soft waves, fluffing her hair to give it a fuller look.

Sage checked the clock on her nightstand. She had to meet her mother downstairs in less than fifteen minutes.

While waiting for Barbara to arrive, Sage spent a few minutes in one of the boutiques, surveying a newly arrived collection of jewelry.

“You have never been one much for jewelry,” a voice said behind her.

Sage turned around to face Drayden. “They have some beautiful pieces in this collection, but as you said, I’m not much for jewelry.” She glanced down at her ringless fingers. “The only ring I’ll ever wear is a wedding ring.” She took note of his tuxedo and asked, “Where are you going?”

“Mom rangled me and Blaze into attending this fundraiser, too,” Drayden replied. “Ari and Natasha are also attending. If Dad wasn’t flying out to San Francisco tonight, I’m sure he’d be here with us.”

Sage gave him a knowing smile. “Fundraisers are a family event, according to Mama.”

Shortly after the rest of her family arrived, they headed toward the ballroom. Sage pretended to be attentive, but her mind was preoccupied. She was still thinking about the homeless man. She was curious about him.

She had seen enough homeless people on the streets and in the shelters to recognize that there was something different about him. He did not wear that same look of hopelessness, that yearning-to-be-whole-again vibe that hung on their bodies like a blanket. His downward spiral was something that he had suffered recently.

“What are you thinking about?” Blaze leaned over and whispered in her ear. “You look a million miles away.”

“I was thinking about this person I saw earlier today. He was homeless.”

Blaze met her gaze. “You gave him money, didn’t you?”

She nodded. “I know how you feel about that, but I have good instincts about people, and this guy is no drug addict or alcoholic.”

“But he could be gambling,” Blaze suggested. “There is a reason he is on the streets, sis.”

“Or he could have lost his job and his home,” Sage countered. “Blaze, not everyone who is homeless is on the streets because of vices. Sometimes it is just plain bad luck.”

“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.