Tempting the Heiress

by Martha Kennerson

  John held Felicia’s gaze. “You have to understand. After the divorce and finding out that she might not be able to conceive with her own eggs—that her chances were extremely limited—Valerie lost her way a little,” John said, tapping the side of his temple with his index finger.

  “A little?”

  “Okay, a lot,” he corrected. “Valerie became obsessed with having a perfect and healthy child by the perfect guy. Again, her words.”

  “So she decided to steal one, so to speak—Griffin’s. Then just give it to me...like it’s some type of gift. And why me, especially if she didn’t like me as much as you say?” Felicia shook her head in disbelief.

  “I think she felt guilty for what she did,” he said, breaking eye contact for a brief moment.

  “How could she even get away with such a thing?”

  “Money...the power it gives. You of all people should know that,” he said, and she wasn’t sure if that was censure she heard in his tone. “Money can move mountains.”

  Felicia got to her feet fisting her hands at her sides before slowly pacing around the room. “I think everyone involved in this mess should be arrested and I want that place shut down.” Felicia recognized her righteous indignation toward the situation and that her reaction to what Valerie had done was laced with a bit of envy. It wasn’t right, but Valerie knew what she wanted and wouldn’t let anything or anyone stop her from having it. That was something Felicia only did when it came to her career. She’d never had the courage to go after Griffin and a possible future together when she had the opportunity, and now Valerie had done something she never would; she’d borne Griffin’s child.

  A lengthy pause ensued, as though he was weighing his response carefully.

  “I understand you want some type of retribution and that you’re angry—”

  “Angry doesn’t even come close,” she snapped. “And I hope you don’t think this is about money. It most certainly won’t be once Griffin finds out about all this.”

  John’s eyes grew wide as golf balls. “You’re going to tell him?”

  “Of course,” she said, glaring at John. “He has more rights to Valerie’s child than I do.”

  “He relinquished his rights when he donated his sperm, and notifying Griffin isn’t exactly what she wanted. Legally, she’s yours,” John said, scratching his temple.

  Felicia stopped in her tracks. “I don’t give a damn what she wanted and I’m not sure any of this is legal,” she said with a heated glare and hands on her hips. “Valerie brought me into this mess and I’ll handle things the best way I see fit.”

  “Of course, but think about the publicity this will bring if what happened gets out,” he replied smoothly. “Publicity for everyone involved, including the baby...your daughter.”

  Felicia’s legs almost failed to hold her upon hearing those last two words again; only this time she reached for her chair and sat back down. “My daughter...”

  “Yes, your daughter...she needs you.” John reached for the folder on his desk, removed a small photograph and handed it to her. “Valerie named her Alyia Blake Kaile Washington.”

  Felicia accepted the picture without looking.

  She took a deep breath and then lowered her gaze. The round face, a light brown color, complete with gray eyes and topped by a head full of black curls, offered a toothless grin that tugged at Felicia’s heart. She stared at the beautiful image staring back at her through the photo, a miniature version of her father. The eyes were very familiar. This was Griffin’s child.

  “Why me?” Felicia asked, keeping her eyes on the photo. “I mean, Valerie had already ruined any opportunity I might have had with Griffin years ago. I still can’t believe I let her convince me to stay away from him.” And it didn’t take much to convince your scared behind, either. “Why bring me into this mess now?”

  “She felt like she owed you something.” John took a seat behind his desk.

  “What?” Felicia’s eyes widened.

  “Let me explain,” he said, sounding anxious. “About three months into the pregnancy, Valerie started feeling tired. Actually, too tired. A doctor confirmed that the cancer had returned and this time it had spread.”

  Felicia’s right hand flew to her chest. “Oh, how horrible. She got such news at a time when she should have been celebrating.” No matter how angry she might have been at Valerie’s betrayal, she knew what she had gone through before, coming to grips and fighting the cancer, and Felicia couldn’t help but feel sorry for her.

  An injured look spread across John’s face. Obviously he’d cared deeply for Valerie. He stood and turned to stare out the window. “Everyone told her that her best option was to terminate the pregnancy. She needed to start fighting for her own life.”

  “Everyone?”

  “Yes. Her doctors...me,” he whispered. “But she wouldn’t hear of it.” The emotion in his voice was almost visible. “All she cared about was having that baby.” Each word was laced in sadness.

  Felicia tilted her head slightly, peering at him through narrowed eyes. “John, just how close were you and Valerie?”

  He remained silent so long that she thought he wasn’t going to answer. John’s back stayed to Felicia as he stood cracking his knuckles for several moments before his shoulders dropped and he turned to face her. “I loved her, but Valerie never knew it. Our relationship was friendly at best.”

  “So you never told her how you felt?”

  “No. After the divorce, Valerie was determined to start over...on her own. I figured she just needed time, but before I knew it she was pregnant and dying,” John explained, and it was clear that he was still grieving his loss.

  Felicia’s heart sank and her feelings must’ve showed in her expression because John asked, “Are you okay? Do you need some water or anything?”

  “No, I’m fine. Really.”

  John took his seat behind the extra-wide desk. “Valerie decided she’d have the baby and fight the cancer after giving birth. She figured she’d beaten it before and she could do it again,” he said, shaking his head. “Unfortunately that wouldn’t be the case.”

  “I’m sorry for your loss.” Felicia’s emotions were taking her on a crazy roller-coaster ride between disbelief, anger and sadness.

  John offered a quick nod and continued. “After she gave birth to Alyia, she was told she had less than a year, so Valerie set out to do what she thought was right at the time.”

  “Which was what exactly?” Felicia frowned and sat straighter in the chair.

  John opened his file again, pulled out several documents and handed them to Felicia. She scanned the papers, then she speared John with a look that had him raising his hands in surrender.

  “I knew nothing about that until later...much later,” he confessed. “I would’ve tried to convince her to go in another direction, the right direction, much earlier than she did.”

  Felicia glanced at the paperwork again. “She actually tried to have Griffin’s baby adopted. Why?”

  “Valerie thought about telling both you and Griffin, so she had you both checked out. But she thought your careers would always come first, that neither of you would ever want the responsibility of a child. She certainly didn’t want Alyia to end up alone and in the foster care system...without a family of her own.”

  The image of the pretty little girl and the possibility of what could happen to her if she ended up in the system sent a chill down Felicia’s spin.

  “So she figured that while she could, she’d do everything in her power to find her the perfect home.”

  Felicia stood; she almost went for the whiskey bottle again, an uncharacteristic move for her since she clearly wasn’t much of a drinker. Instead she started pacing the room again. “How dare she make such an assumption? I’d never let Alyia end up in foster care. She di
d all these crazy things just to have Griffin’s child and now she was prepared to do yet another crazy thing.”

  John made his way around his desk and reached out to stop Felicia’s progress. “You have to understand what Valerie was going through. She wasn’t thinking straight. Her emotions were all over the place.”

  “No, I don’t. I don’t have to understand any of this.” Felicia could feel her own mixed emotions beginning to boil over to the point she trembled with unspoken rage.

  John pulled her into a comforting hug before walking her back to the sofa. “Please sit down. You sure you don’t want anything?”

  “No,” she murmured, wiping away tears with her index finger. “Where is she? Where is Alyia right now?”

  “She’s being well taken care of, don’t worry,” John reassured her.

  “Don’t worry? Are you serious? This child that’s suddenly mine...I’m not supposed to worry about?” she asked. “Who’s taking care of her?”

  “Her nanny, Ellen Lewis. She’s been there since the day she was born,” he replied. “Alyia’s in excellent hands.”

  “Pardon me if I don’t trust Valerie’s judgment in selecting caregivers. I assume you have information on this Ellen Lewis. I want to see it,” she demanded.

  “Yes, of course,” he said, returning to his desk and the documents spread across the top. Felicia followed suit and reclaimed her seat. She accepted the documents he handed her and quickly read through them all.

  “Looks like she is well qualified,” Felicia said, perusing the résumé. “Does she know the truth about all this?”

  “She does now. In fact, she insisted that we find you right away.”

  “Well, that says something,” Felicia said, not intending to sound sarcastic, but with the information overload there was no other way to feel.

  “That says a lot,” he countered. “Ms. Ellen had nothing to do with any of this. She was the wonderful nurse that took care of Alyia when she was at the hospital and Valerie hired her to work in a private capacity. The only reason she accepted was because she thought Valerie was a sick new mother that needed her help.”

  “Valerie fooled her, too,” she snarled, looking up from the documents.

  John offered her a tight smile but remained quiet as there was probably no more defense he could offer.

  “I’ve heard enough,” she said. “I want to see Alyia. Now!”

  Chapter 4

  “Oh...Griffin,” Felicia moaned.

  “You like that, baby?” Griffin whispered in Felicia’s ear.

  “Yes, Griffin...oh, yes!”

  Griffin slid his lips along the side of Felicia’s neck, stopping long enough to kiss her left shoulder. He raised his head, buried his hands in her hair and captured her mouth in a gluttonous kiss.

  “You’ve...kept me...waiting,” Felicia managed to say between each sensual kiss.

  “Our wait is over,” he declared.

  Suddenly they were both naked and Griffin’s tongue exploration of Felicia’s body had her reaching for Griffin’s engorged and throbbing sex...

  * * *

  The sound of the opening door brought Griffin out of his sexy daydream, a fantasy he couldn’t seem to shake, and he was very thankful the newspaper he’d been reading was strategically placed across his lap. It could be a very embarrassing moment for both him and whoever was entering the room.

  Mel walked into the lounge. “Dude, you do have an office, you know.”

  “I know, and everyone knows where it is, too,” he replied, keeping his eyes closed.

  Mel dropped down in the leather seat across from Griffin. “So you’re hiding out in the executive doctors’ lounge.” He checked his watch. “You’ve been out of surgery for a couple of hours now.”

  “Seeing how I’m stretched out in the middle of the room, I’m not exactly hiding, now, am I?” His tone was full of sarcasm.

  “Who’s a cranky bastard?” Mel said, laughing. “Why don’t you just go home?”

  Griffin sighed, opened his eyes and glared at his friend. “If you must know, smart-ass, Bishop asked me to take his last two hours of call time. It’s his anniversary and he needed to take off early.”

  “What? Our newly appointed chief—head of the cardiac gods—taking one of his junior doctor’s on-call times? No wonder everyone thinks you’re some kind of saint.” Mel shook his head. “If they could only see how ruthless you are on the basketball court.”

  “And why are you still here?” Griffin asked, sitting up, planting his feet on the floor. “Your shift ended an hour ago.”

  “I was chatting up that new, cute, redheaded nurse in Labor and Delivery. We’re going out this weekend. What about you? You and your old girl got plans?”

  The corner of Griffin’s mouth curved upward. “I don’t think Jia would appreciate being called old.”

  “I’m sure, but I wasn’t referring to your family’s handpicked girlfriend,” he said.

  “Then who—?”

  “The woman from the airport,” Mel said, smiling and nodding.

  Griffin rose and went to the refrigerator where he removed a vanilla and strawberry yogurt.

  “Hand me one of those juice bottles while you’re in there.”

  Griffin tossed him the drink. “Where are the plastic spoons?” he asked, pulling open drawers.

  “Check that box on top of the refrigerator. Come on, man. Spill. What gives?” he asked, cracking the seal of his bottle.

  Griffin returned to his spot on the sofa where he sat and stirred his yogurt. “She’s...complicated.”

  “Hell, all women are complicated.” Mel took a swig of his drink.

  “True, but Felicia’s—”

  “Wait... Felicia, the one from medical school you told me about? The if only woman.”

  “Yes, that’s the one.” Griffin tasted his yogurt.

  “So what are you going to do?”

  “There’s nothing to do. She’s only in town for the day. I don’t even know how to get in touch with her.” Griffin ate several more scoops of his yogurt.

  “Really?” Mel pulled out his phone. “What’s her last name?”

  “Blake. Why?” he asked, his eyebrows knitting together.

  “I’m looking her up. You know there’s this new thing out there called the internet,” Mel said, tapping her name into his phone. “You can do some amazing things on it. You should give it a try sometime... Damn, she’s a fox and got a lot of awards and commendations, too. Oh, look, there’s a number for her company. I bet someone there can get a message to her.”

  “I’m sure.” Griffin tossed his empty container and spoon in the trash. “But did you forget the fact that I told you she works for the government on the other side of the world?”

  “And?”

  Griffin stood. “I’m going to go round Bishop’s patients and then I’m heading out.”

  “And?” Mel echoed.

  “And...me and Felicia? Our time has passed.” Between Valerie’s warning back in medical school and Felicia blowing him off at the airport, he could take a hint. Griffin walked out the door.

  * * *

  Felicia sat in the back of the limousine with her hands intertwined in her lap. Her whole body was tense and she felt as though her insides were raging and at war. Felicia took a deep breath in an effort to calm herself. They passed several large, immaculately kept homes before turning onto a private street where they traveled an additional few miles before pulling into a circular driveway of what could only be described as a mini mansion.

  “Oh, my, what a beautiful home.” The two-story, gray-and-white house with large windows screamed elegance.

  “Yes, Valerie had excellent taste,” John said, the sadness in his voice hard to miss. “There is a five-c
ar garage out back with three cars and a couple of jet skis she takes out on Lake Lanier. Valerie liked her toys.” That thought made him smile.

  “And this house belongs to Valerie?”

  “To you and Alyia now. It’s totally up to you to do with as you see fit.” John handed her a set of keys. The limo came to a halt as Felicia stared down at the keys.

  Within seconds, the door was opened. “Shall we?” John offered his hand.

  Felicia gave her head a small shake. “Yes, of course.” She exited the limo and walked toward a set of wide, white wooden steps that led to a large porch and a white wooden door.

  John reached for the door handle and slowly turned it.

  “It’s open?” Felicia asked, her eyebrows knitting together.

  “I texted Ms. Lewis and asked her to unlock it a few minutes ago. Just as we turned onto the street. I figured you’d need a minute before seeing Alyia.”

  “Oh... You’re right, thanks.”

  The two entered the house and were greeted by a beautiful foyer with white marble floors as far as she could see. To the left of the entrance was a formal dining room with a twelve-seat, wood and steel table. To the right was a formal living room area with expensive paintings on the walls and contemporary furnishings.

  They passed the two rooms and the large marble staircase, into a large open-concept family room. The hardwood floors were covered in beautiful, colored Oriental rugs beneath a half-moon, white-leather sofa with matching chairs. The room was second in beauty to the breathtaking view of the outdoor entertainment area that sat in front of a black-bottomed pool. The place was cold but beautiful, a showcase of wealth with no real signs of life.

  “Wow, this place really is something else.”

  “Wait until you see the rest of it. Upstairs in Alyia’s nursery is a sight to behold,” John said.

  “I’m sure it is, but that can wait,” Felicia insisted. “Where is she?”

  “I’ll go—”

  “No need. Here we are,” a voice from behind Felicia replied.