His Family

by Sheila Kell

  “Is there a cure?”

  Her smile disappeared all together. “Sadly, no. Which is why foundations such as mine are so important. Building awareness and helping fund research are crucial in our attempts to beat this disease.”

  They spoke more in depth about her foundation. With each fervent word she spoke, her passion about the project exploded to the surface as her face glowed and a light burned bright in her eyes. Her response stirred him and made him wonder if she’d be this passionate in bed.

  Before that night, he hadn’t been enjoying a robust sex life. Months ago, his latest mistress had wanted marriage, and he’d refused, so she’d walked. He imagined—knowing her—she expected him to come running back with his tail tucked between his legs when he realized how much he missed her. He only missed sex. She’d even taken the fun out of it until it was just plain old screwing.

  He’d come to the realization that was all there was at his age. Hell, it wouldn’t be much longer, and he’d have to have pills to get it up. At least that was what he’d been told. Right now his dick worked fine. It just needed a good, warm place to park itself.

  After the event, he’d gotten out of Drew that there wasn’t a relationship between him and Elizabeth. Never before had he thought to put a woman over friendship, but with her, he would do it. He informed Drew that he planned to make a play for her. Laughing, his friend told him that she’d yet to choose anyone vying for her attention so Blake could waste his time beside him and others.

  After years of working together, Drew should know that Blake didn’t waste time, and he didn’t lose.

  IT had taken a few months, but with a full-court press to gain Elizabeth’s attention, he’d won. It hadn’t been easy. She didn’t play coy, but she hadn’t wanted a relationship—with anyone. She’d been quite happy with her solitary life. But he hadn’t given up and finally Elizabeth was his.

  They’d been seeing each other ever since. They hadn’t been a public couple, preferring to keep their relationship secret, but they’d been seen together at several events over the past year. A few people had figured out something was happening, but preferred to speculate with their friends instead of asking.

  And if they had asked, he’d have told them the truth—he’d fallen head over heels in love with her and planned to make her his wife. As far as he knew, she had no idea he was that serious about their relationship. Sure they’d said they loved each other, but the heads-over-heels crap hadn’t been discussed. He considered that the final level before taking the plunge—something he swore he’d never do again after his marriage to Camilla.

  He wouldn’t allow his mind to divert to his late wife. Marriage would work with Elizabeth. He just knew it. As for his kids, Elizabeth would be their stepmother, even though they were too old to have one, so he wanted their approval. Since he made all his calls and Facetime with his kids all about them, they hadn’t met Elizabeth and Blake hadn’t spoken of her. Even if his children didn’t approve—which he couldn’t see how since she was absolutely perfect—he’d still propose, but he’d prefer their blessing.

  So, he set up a family affair at their Oxford home to introduce Elizabeth to his children and grandchildren. Her future children and grandchildren by marriage. He’d have a day with her with no hectic social or work calendar to intrude, then the entire family was arriving. Then, proposing.

  A knock sounded on the door to his study in his DC townhouse effectively bringing his mind back to focus on his current task—get the hell out of here as quickly as possible and pick up Elizabeth.

  “Come,” he said more gruffly than he’d meant. It wasn’t his assistant’s fault he wanted to be gone.

  Approaching the desk, Randy Rollins, the young kid he’d taken a chance on a few years ago wore an uncommon frown.

  Drawing his brows in, his gut clenching, Blake asked, “What’s going on?”

  Randy reached a shaky hand and slid a single sheet of paper on Blake’s desk. “They sent another one. I already called to have it traced, but it could be like the last couple and end up a dead end.”

  He reached across the desk, trepidation in his movement. With his fingers on the paper, Blake pulled it to him and read the same note they’d sent before. The same thing that confused the hell out of him.

  Vote our way or you die.

  How the hell did whoever sent this expect him to know which way to vote? On what? Not that he’d allow a threat to dictate that. But if they knew any of the Ws—who, what, why—they could stop the idiots sending these notes.

  Death threats weren’t uncommon, but the inability to track these brief messages told of someone a bit more intelligent than the average person who sends a threat. Yet, they’ve not said how to vote, so maybe they aren’t all that brilliant after all.

  With a heavy sigh that emptied his lungs, Blake leaned back in his office chair. “Maybe this time they screwed up.”

  “Do you think it’s time to get some protection?”

  Thinking for a moment, he shook his head. “No. It says if I don’t vote, then I die. They obviously want me to vote on something, so it stands to reason they won’t harm me.” Yet. “I don’t have anything to vote on until after I return from vacation. When I return, we’ll reevaluate it then.”

  “Good luck on the proposal, sir.” Randy nodded. “She’ll say yes.”

  His gut clenched. He wouldn’t accept any other answer from her but yes. Even if that meant kidnapping her and holding her hostage until it happened. Even though he joked, his gut clenched at the thought of something so terrible happening to her. No way would he hurt a hair on her precious head. God help the man who ever did.

  “I’M TELLING YOU, Beth, he’s going to propose,” Crystal said fervently.

  Elizabeth Page gripped the phone and pushed it tighter to her ear. If only he would. “He’d best,” she stated in response even though one wasn’t required. It generally wasn’t with her friend who made bold statements without thinking them through before they left her mouth. “If not, I’ll do it.” She nodded even though Crystal couldn’t see her. “We’ve been together more than long enough. Marriage is the next logical step.” And I want to marry Blake Hamilton with all my heart.

  A gasp sounded on the other line. “You wouldn’t.”

  Standing straighter, Elizabeth jutted her chin out and huffed a little breath in commitment. Yes, she would. In a heartbeat. In fact, she probably should’ve done it to move things along with the two of them. Lord knew he was taking his sweet time. “I’m tired of never being able to spend our full nights together or touching in public because he’s worried about my reputation and how it would impact my foundation.” Before Blake, her foundation had been everything to her. It was her only link to her daughter. Now, he took a slice of that everything pie. And she wouldn’t give up either him or the foundation, or knowingly do damage to either.

  Exhaling on a long sigh, her shoulders relaxed from their tense stance. He’d been right in his beliefs—as old-fashioned as they sounded. People might misconstrue their relationship and call her playing the whore for donations since he’d made a very substantial one and invited his friends to events and helped solicit contributions.

  But oh, she wanted it all. The happy ending she knew only he could provide. She’d loved her dearly departed husband, but not with the ferocity of her love for Blake. Or the passion. That sweet passion where they almost ignited being near each other.

  Blake Hamilton represented everything good in men and in politics. Always voting with his conscience and not just with his party, earned him a great deal of grief from time to time, but he was able to sleep at night by voting for what was right. And when he was passionate about something, he’d stop at nothing to get his message out and sway those he needed to win his vote. He worked for the people, not a party.

  He also still opened doors for her, carried her bags, all the stuff gentlemen of old used to do. The things you didn’t see anymore, mostly due to the lack of common courtesy seen demonst
rated more often today. Sure, she could do her own things, and would, but if he offered, it didn’t offend her—it endeared him to her.

  Heck, add a few flashy weapons on him, and he’d be Captain America in her mind.

  That image did generate a chuckle from her that Crystal ignored as she kept rambling. Thank goodness because she’d hate to explain that image to her friend.

  “But that’s a good thing he’s done that. Now he’s taking you away for a long weekend, and you’re meeting his children. He’s going to propose,” Crystal reiterated with just as much passion as the first time.

  Laughing, Elizabeth turned the call on speaker phone, she set it down on the bed beside her suitcase so she could pack while talking. Picking up a cream blouse, she folded it while she got her laughter under control. “You sound like a broken record.” After placing the blouse in her suitcase, she picked up a pair of navy slacks and proceeded to fold them. She knew she was overpacking, but she had no idea what to expect, except heat and humidity. A shudder spiraled up her spine at what occurred when she met the two elements. She pictured everything sticking to her, soaking wet, and her hair plastered to her head. Sure Blake said it wasn’t that bad in August, but he was used to it and probably didn’t realize how bad it truly was for someone who didn’t live or frequent Mississippi.

  “What kind of ring do you think he’s purchased? Princess? Diamond cut? Ooh, maybe an emerald surrounded by diamonds.”

  Elizabeth shook her head. She’d had enough of the conversation. Instead of getting her hopes up, she should practice how she’d propose to him. She could do it. Okay, she might be a smidge nervous… maybe a bit cowardly on the idea, but she had to have a game plan.

  One thing was for certain, she had to win over his children. She and Blake had agreed, when they’d discussed keeping their relationship secret, not to tell his children. Which could’ve been his simple code for “I don’t want my kids bugging me about us whenever we talk.” She just went with it since it was his family.

  Blake’s children were about all that he spoke about. His love for them was monumental. If only she could grasp a slice of it, then life would be perfect.

  Her spine snapped straight. What if his kids didn’t like her and that meant he wouldn’t propose? With a sinking heart, she turned over the idea in her mind. Something roared inside her that told her Blake was his own man and his children were grown. Nothing would stop him if that was what he wanted. But did he want it?

  The doorbell interrupted her response to Crystal. “Hold on a second. Someone’s here.”

  “Who?” Crystal asked in a serious tone.

  That was a good question. She checked her watch to make sure it wasn’t Blake’s driver picking her up. No, she had plenty of time. Plenty of time provided this wasn’t a visitor who expected to be entertained.

  Out of habit, she picked up her phone then walked to the front door. Peeking outside, she saw a deliveryman, but he didn’t have the flowers Blake typically sent her. Then again, it wouldn’t make sense for him to send flowers today since she wouldn’t return until they were dead or close to it.

  Easing the door open, with the cell phone in her hand at her side, she smiled when she saw the heavyset man held a gift basket in his hands.

  “Delivery for Elizabeth Page,” he said in a bored voice.

  Wow. He definitely didn’t care about tips with that attitude. She always believed in giving them something, though. Since Blake had taken to sending her flowers regularly, she’d stashed away some ones and fives in a little container on a small table near the front door so she didn’t have to search out her purse each time.

  “I’m Elizabeth,” she finally said with her interest piqued at the contents of the basket.

  The man extended the basket, and she grabbed it by the handle. Not too heavy, but it appeared full of stuff. She saw a travel pillow and smiled. Curiosity flowed through her at what else the man she loved had put together for her.

  “Hold on a moment.” She stepped back and set the basket on the floor right inside her home and dropped the phone on the table and reached for her container. After grabbing a few bills, she turned back and extended them to the deliveryman. “Thank you.”

  He nodded and walked away. Grouch. Then she almost snickered out loud at that thought.

  After closing the door, Crystal shouted from the phone she’d forgotten on the small table. “Who was it? It sounded like a delivery. Did you get more roses?”

  With a little pep in her step, she picked up the phone and the basket and moved swiftly to her bedroom. “It’s a basket. I don’t know what’s all in it yet. Give me a minute.”

  “Is it from Blake? Never mind, stupid question. Of course it’s from Blake. The man should just employ his own deliveryman.”

  Laughing, she set the phone down on the bed, then flipped the lid of the suitcase closed to make room for the basket. Once on the bed, she untied the top and opened the cellophane wrap. She covered her mouth with a gasp and then a big smile split her face. He remembered.

  “What is it?” her friend persisted in asking.

  Giggling, she said, “It’s a travel basket. He remembered I get motion sickness sometimes.”

  “So what—he sent you Dramamine?”

  She nodded, then remembered Crystal couldn’t see her. “Among other things.” She began emptying the basket. “A travel pillow to sleep on the plane. Dramamine tied to a travel blanket. A small size of peach antibacterial lotion. Peach lip balm. A bag of cashews. A bag of dried peaches. And a dark chocolate bar.”

  The thought that went into the basket overwhelmed her. She dropped on the small space open on the bed. He’d truly listened to her and what she liked. He’d asked once and remembered.

  “Wow, Beth, that’s… amazing.” The awe in her friend’s voice matched the awe inside her.

  “I know.”

  “Does it have a note?”

  Elizabeth started at that. She’d seen one but had been too excited about the items. “Hang on.” Reaching in the basket, she noticed her hand trembling as she retrieved the note.

  My love,

  My arms are always there for you, but I thought these items might bring you comfort during our travels.

  B.

  She read the letter to her friend.

  “Yep, he’s going to propose,” Crystal said before Elizabeth had finished saying the letter B.

  “How do you get it from this note? There’s nothing special in there to allude to that.” Elizabeth read it again and love rolled through her veins. She’d found the most wonderful man alive, and she wasn’t going to let him get out her grasp.

  “Just trust me.”

  Knowing the conversation would go nowhere else and the fact she had to pack, she decided to end her call with her friend. “I need to get packing. Goodbye, Crystal.”

  “Okay, have a good trip and call me as soon as he proposes.”

  She shook her head. “Bye.”

  So he might propose, but he might not. At this point, she didn’t care. No way would she allow that man to get lose of her grasp. She wanted a full life with him. To be his wife. To be in his bed every night. Yep, there was nothing else to do. She’d have to propose to him.

  EVERY TIME HE rode up to the house in Oxford, his heart swelled with joy at all of the memories of vacations spent here with the kids. If he’d allowed, Camilla would’ve moved her and the kids here while he slaved away in D.C.

  Lacking normal family vacations, he’d spent most of his time here to attend Ole Miss sports events. With his attending there and then his twin sons—Brad and Matt—doing the same, the house was lively every game weekend. And in Oxford during game weekend, having a guaranteed place to stay during that time was a must.

  But he wasn’t selfish.

  This home belonged to the entire family for whenever they wanted to get away from it all. Some had vacationed with friends, and it pleased the hell out of Mary, their housekeeper, to have them come back to visit. She hadn�
�t been there when the kids had been small, but they’d been small enough in her eyes for her to adopt them as her own.

  As for the house, heck, his sons who owned Hamilton Investigation & Security, had used it as a safe house before when they’d been protecting clients. Pride radiated through him at all his sons had accomplished. Although now he shouldn’t say sons since his daughter Emily had joined them at HIS, as they were more commonly called. And Jesse had nothing but high praise for her abilities. In fact, once they’d hidden her and his granddaughter Amber here when someone was after them.

  His heart nearly stilled thinking about that trip when things had gone horribly wrong. But he wouldn’t go there now. This was a happy time.

  “Oh my,” Elizabeth said beside him. “It’s lovely. I love the wraparound porch with all of the azalea bushes.”

  The yellow, wooden two-story home had been a favorite of the entire family. With the guest house, he could just squeeze in the group this time, provided the younger girls slept together in one room and the twins still bunked in the same room. That was how they’d sleep this trip once they arrived. He hoped Mary had the place ready for the bunch. Hell, he probably should’ve told her to hire some help, although he imagined his daughters-in-law wouldn’t take to being pampered in a family home.

  Driving his rental car past the oak- and magnolia-lined drive, he thought to the purpose of the trip. He’d never been so nervous in his life. There’d been no indication from Elizabeth that they should move to the next step. Doubt crept into his mind, but he shoved it aside. He wanted this and he could only try.

  First, he had two tasks to accomplish, and he didn’t relish doing either. Elizabeth had to know the truth about what happened in his first marriage and what he’d done. He had to assure her that he’d be true, even though his track record dictated otherwise. Second, he wanted to tell his children first that he planned to ask her to marry him. While he didn’t need to garner their approval, he hoped for it. They’d never know the truth about his marriage to their mother, because he’d never tarnish her memory in their eyes, but he deserved someone who loved him for him, not for his position or what could be in the future.