Tempting the Heiress

by Martha Kennerson

“Sorry, sir. Stressful morning. What can I do for you?”

  “I need you to reach out to Dr. Stacy Gray while you’re in Atlanta.”

  Felicia sat straighter. “The new head of the CDC? Why, what’s going on?”

  “There’s been an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in New York, California, Illinois, Texas and now Georgia.”

  “That kind of disease can ravage the lungs quickly,” she said. “Has it been contained?”

  “We hope so,” he replied, but his voice was haunted more so than she could ever recall it being before. “They’ve already issued warnings, so every hospital in the country is on alert. I’ve deployed teams in each state to start building an assessment of each case. While the CDC will take the lead in helping the states recover and restore public health functions, we have to find out how and why this happened.”

  “Let me guess. You want me to oversee the processing of the specimens when they come in,” she said, falling back onto her bed. The idea of a massive outbreak happening right in her immediate vicinity was a scary proposition, more so now that she had Alyia.

  “You are my expert and you’re already in town,” he reminded her.

  “Yes, and I’m on maternity leave. I’m only in town to handle some family business,” she countered.

  “Well, this is the world’s business, and you might as well get used to life-changing interruptions, because once you take over my job, it will be your new way of life,” Steven explained, his voice flat.

  Felicia wasn’t sure she could handle any more life-changing interruptions now that she had a child. “I haven’t accepted your job yet.”

  “We both know you will,” he shot back. “You’ve dedicated your life to this work and worked your young ass off for this job—taking and solving assignments that have saved millions of lives. There is no one more qualified...and before you start with the seniority thing—”

  “Look who’s reading minds now.”

  Steven laughed. “All you’ve accomplished here in the last three years has been outstanding. We have folks here that haven’t contributed one-fourth of what you have to keep the world safe. So of course you would be the logical and most appropriate person to take the job. How about this? As soon as you’re done with this case, you can take a few more weeks off before your new assignment. You can get your apartment ready and get to know the team you’ll be working with. I hear Paris is beautiful in January.”

  “Paris is beautiful any time of year,” she agreed.

  Steven sighed. “Well, there you go. You deserve this promotion.”

  “Thanks, but I have a lot to think about.”

  “Don’t think too long,” Steven said encouragingly. “My wife’s past ready for me to retire.”

  Felicia laughed, repositioning on the bed. “When can I expect the first batch of cultures?”

  “In a couple of days.”

  “Okay, thanks.”

  “Good luck,” Steven said before ending the call.

  Felicia dusted her face with a little powder and put on some lip gloss. She slipped her feet into a pair of black sandals, glanced in the mirror and said, “Here goes nothing.”

  She walked into the living room to find that Griffin had removed his suit coat and was now kneeling next to the playpen, talking to Alyia, and her heart skipped several beats. All the morning’s dishes had been removed and Ms. Ellen was keeping a watchful eye on things from the kitchenette.

  “Ms. Ellen, I think we’ll have to take a trip to the children’s museum on our next visit,” Felicia announced.

  “I understand. Would you like me to take Alyia so you and your friend can speak in private?”

  Felicia could feel Griffin’s eyes on her and her body was responding to his attention in a manner she wasn’t used to. Embarrassment was burning a hole in her resolve. “No, I think we’ll be fine. If we need you, we’ll call out.”

  “Okay, then. She’s full and dry, so she shouldn’t be any trouble. I’ll just go do a little reading.” She left the kitchenette and came to stand next to the playpen. “It was nice meeting you, Griffin.”

  “Nice meeting you, too.” Griffin watched as Ms. Ellen gave Alyia a kiss on the cheek, then disappeared down the hall.

  Griffin, who was now sitting on the floor next to the playpen, patted the floor. “Care to join me?”

  Felicia grinned and settled on the Berber carpet with her legs bent to the side.

  They both sat in silence for several minutes and watched Alyia bounce herself up and down in her playpen. Her contentment made them both smile.

  “So,” Griffin finally said, locking a gaze on Felicia. “Looks like we have a daughter.”

  Chapter 12

  Felicia wasn’t sure if she should feel relieved or concerned by Griffin’s seemly changed mood. “I guess it’s safe to assume that you read the letter and reviewed the DNA test results?”

  “You mean Valerie’s so-called confession and apology letter?” Griffin asked, frowning. “Yes, I read it. I was more interested in the DNA results.”

  “I’m sure you were. You’re welcome to take your own test, but I’m pretty sure she’s your biological daughter,” Felicia offered.

  “I have no doubts. Look at her.” Griffin turned his attention back to the baby who was now lying on her back, trying to put her foot in her mouth. “She looks like me...she even has my eyes.”

  Felicia laughed. “And your attention to detail, if I’m remembering correctly.”

  “What do you mean?” Griffin’s eyes found hers and his eyebrows came to attention.

  “You saw the way she played with her toys and her feet, examining every inch. It’s like she has to know everything about them before she can put one in her mouth,” she explained, smiling.

  “Well, I don’t blame her there. You can’t go around just putting anything in your mouth these days,” he said, offering Felicia a sexy, suggestive smile.

  Felicia’s face, as well as other parts of her body, flamed at the thought of what she’d love to do to his mouth. “She’s also easily bored,” she said, breaking eye contact and changing the subject. “Which is what, now that she’s sitting back up looking sleepy, tells me she’ll be out soon—both traits of yours, too.”

  “Oh, really?”

  “Yes, really. Remember Dr. Randall’s class while we were waiting for our turn to present our project?” Felicia recalled a vivid image of him being so far into a nap that he’d nearly slid out of his chair.

  Griffin threw his head back and laughed. “I can’t believe you actually remember that. Anyway, I’d had a long night.”

  “I bet you did,” she murmured.

  “What was that?” Griffin asked.

  “Never mind.” Felicia reached into the playpen and laid Alyia down on her side. She pulled down a pink blanket and covered the sleeping baby.

  “This has to be very strange for you, too,” Griffin suggested.

  “You have no idea.”

  “Then tell me about it,” he whispered.

  “Tell you what?” Felicia asked, taking a seat in a chair next to the playpen.

  Griffin followed suit and positioned his over six-foot frame on the sofa across from her chair. “How did you find out about all of this...about her?” Griffin questioned, briefly looking at Alyia’s sleeping form.

  Felicia remained silent for a moment before saying, “That could take a minute.”

  Griffin sat back in his chair. “I’ve cleared my calendar and I’d really like to know everything, including more about the lovely Ms. Ellen, who’s been taking care of my daughter.”

  His daughter. Two words that signaled a problem she was hoping not to have. Felicia went to the kitchenette and poured herself another cup of coffee. “Care to join me?” she offered, holding up the pot.r />
  “Sure, black is fine. Thank you.”

  She returned and handed Griffin his cup, reclaiming her previous spot. She took several sips before she started explaining how their lives had suddenly intersected.

  Twenty minutes into the conversation, Griffin said, “Wow...unbelievable. I don’t know how I would have reacted at such news,” he offered.

  “Oh, I most certainly do,” she countered. “You accused me of lying and being after your money, remember?”

  “Oh, yeah, about that—”

  “Don’t worry about it.” Felicia gave an unconcerned wave. “We all handle shock differently. I damn near passed out...you were rude,” she teased with a grin.

  Griffin looked away for a moment before meeting her gaze. “I sincerely apologize for my behavior.”

  “You’re forgiven. Shall I continue?”

  “Please...”

  Felicia took another sip of her coffee before launching into the rest of the story.

  Griffin exhaled. He was sitting forward with his elbows on his knees, resting his chin on his hands. “I’m not sure what to say...what to even think about all this.” He dropped his hands and sat back. “So you knew she was my daughter the first time you saw her?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then why did you wait so long to get in touch with me?” His voice rose slightly, a tinge of impatience in his tone.

  “I tried to contact you several times and multiple ways. You know this already.” Felicia took both cups back to the kitchenette and placed them in the sink. “You didn’t respond, which prompted my visit to last night’s event.”

  Griffin came and stood in front of Felicia, his arms folded across his chest. “I never got any messages,” he declared in a raised voice.

  Felicia raised her chin, pushed her shoulders back and said, “Not my issue!”

  They stood staring at each other for several moments. Alyia’s deep-sleep sigh broke their silent standoff. They rushed to the playpen to find her still sleeping but lying on her back, smiling.

  “Can I ask you a question?” Felicia whispered, keeping her eyes on Alyia and off the man who was sending waves of desire throughout her body.

  “Of course,” he replied, shifting his gaze to Felicia.

  “Why did you do it? I know several of our friends did, and it was for a good cause and all, but you don’t seem like the type to donate sperm,” Felicia said, finding the strength to look him in those hypnotic gray eyes.

  Griffin flinched. “I didn’t donate my sperm. Not the way you think.”

  “What?”

  He kept his voice low as he explained. “After Valerie’s diagnosis and all that talk about young people and our mortality, it got me to thinking. What if something happened to me? There would be no part of me or our family left behind. I’m my parents’ only child. So I decided to store my sperm, not donate it. But when I got to the clinic they started talking to me about using some of my deposit for stem cell research.”

  Felicia nodded, flicking a quick look toward Alyia. “That makes sense. Cell research was a big deal to you back then.”

  “Still is, and I love how you remember that.” Griffin smiled down at her. “The information on where the sperm could be found is in my will with my lawyer. The only people that knew what I’d done were the guys I’d gone with. I have no idea how Valerie found out about it or where it had gone.”

  “I think I can help with that. Valerie hooked up with your old roommate at the time. Didn’t Todd make deposits on a regular basis because he needed the money?”

  Griffin nodded and then his lips set in a thin line.

  Felicia could almost see the light in his head flicker on. “Well, if he was one of the guys that went with you—”

  “He was,” Griffin confirmed.

  “Then all he had to do was mention that to Valerie. The rest, as they say...”

  “Unbelievable,” he said, shaking his head.

  “Can I ask you one more question?”

  “Anything.”

  Felicia captured her lip between her teeth for a moment; she wasn’t sure she really wanted to know the answer to the question. “What happened between you and Valerie? I mean, something had to have happened. Her obsession for you was too intense. She went through such extreme measures to have your child.”

  “I really don’t know,” he said, scratching his chin. “It wasn’t that serious.”

  “What wasn’t?”

  “I’d finally worked up the nerve to ask you out after our brief career as dishwashers,” he admitted, the corners of his mouth rising. “Remember that night?”

  Felicia giggled. “I do.”

  “When I stopped by your place, Valerie beat me to the punch and asked me out. I told her I wasn’t interested...as nicely as I could, of course, but I could see her feelings were hurt.”

  “Oh, no...”

  Griffin shrugged. “She seemed fine, or at least she covered really well. She even said it was cool, that she just wanted someone that wasn’t female to hang out with. But...”

  “But what?” A crease appeared between her eyes.

  “I think she figured out I was interested in you,” he offered.

  “How?”

  “I brought you some calla lilies.”

  Felicia smiled. “You did?” she whispered.

  “It was your favorite flower back then.”

  “Still is,” she said.

  “Valerie noticed the flowers and commented on how she knew they were your favorites.”

  “I don’t remember getting anything from you.”

  Griffin nodded. “That’s because I didn’t leave them. I thought it might be awkward for you, especially if you weren’t interested in me like I was in you.”

  “That’s just it. I was—and Valerie knew it.”

  Griffin smiled. “You were?”

  “Yes. I just wasn’t interested in being part of a harem.”

  “A what?” he asked, frowning.

  “Come on, now.” Felicia gave him a sideways glance. “You were dating both Miriam and Santana from our lab group at the same time, and I use the term dating loosely.”

  Griffin’s frown deepened. “What are you talking about? I didn’t date anyone from our school, let alone our lab group. I never dated anyone I was taking a class with. Who told you...?” His eyes narrowed.

  Felicia dropped her head in her hands and shook it.

  “Valerie...” Griffin nearly growled.

  Felicia nodded, keeping her head down. “She made me think you were a player,” she explained through her hands. Shame and anger were circling Felicia like a fog; shame for not seeing through Valerie’s manipulation and anger over their lost opportunity.

  “So I guess you weren’t dating someone from home, either.”

  “What?” Felicia dropped her hands and stared up into his eyes.

  “Valerie told me you were with someone that worked for your father. That you only dated men that either worked with or for your family’s company. Something about your dad checking out all the guys you date, so it’d just be easier if you dated someone he already knew. I’m not sure why I believed her, but I did.”

  All the guys... What guys? How could you? “No, I wasn’t,” she declared. “Is that why you didn’t try to ask me out again?”

  “Yes, and you have no idea how much I wanted to, too.” They stared at each other in silence.

  Griffin cupped Felicia’s face with his right hand and ran his thumb slowly across her lips. Her breath caught and a shiver ran down her back. Griffin captured Felicia’s chin between his thumb and index finger and began lowering his head when Alyia released a deep sigh. They both turned and looked at her.

  Satisfied that Alyia was fine, and needing to put
some space between her and Griffin, Felicia went to the refrigerator and pulled out a glass pitcher of sweet tea. “Would you like something to drink before I tell you the rest of the story? I can’t have any more coffee.”

  “No, I’m fine,” he replied, keeping his eye on Alyia, almost as if he needed to confirm everything he was feeling and experiencing was really happening.

  Felicia wasn’t sure if the moment she and Griffin had just shared would return, but she hoped that it would, that they’d get the chance to revisit an opportunity that they’d been denied. They both returned to their seats and Felicia continued to explain things as she knew them.

  Chapter 13

  “After everything she’d done, Valerie actually tried to have my daughter adopted?” Griffin nearly roared, gray eyes flashing with anger. He already knew the answer and wasn’t expecting one.

  “Yes, she figured we would be too busy to raise a child.”

  Griffin shifted his gaze to the little girl. He’d been dealing with a whirlwind of emotions as he’d sat and listened to Felicia recall her experiences about their child. The thought of some stranger raising her sent him to a place of fury he was fighting hard to contain.

  Griffin stood and walked over to the playpen to stare down at his sleeping baby. Adoption? Foster care? She could’ve have landed in the care of people who had no clue of how much she would mean to him.

  He rubbed his right knuckles in the palm of his left hand, trying to prevent an internal volcano from erupting. Then he felt a soft hand slowly slide down his back. With each stroke of that hand a sense of calm returned and in its place a yearning for the woman that hand belonged to emerged. After several moments his hands and shoulders lowered and his eyes closed, enjoying the sensation of her touch. It was a move few knew would work.

  “We need you to stay calm,” Felicia whispered, glancing down at Alyia.

  “You remembered,” he finally said, opening his eyes, then turning to face her before intertwining their hands.

  “How could I forget? It was the only thing that stopped you from hurting that poor kid who’d accused you of stealing his idea for that project.”