laughed.
“I read that married men live an average of ten years longer than single men,” Zaire contributed.
Blaze looked at Ryan. “So you’re trying to tell me that I’ll die sooner than you, Dad and Ari because I don’t have a wife.”
“Blaze, if I were you, I’d be looking for my better half,” Zaire said with a chuckle.
Sage cleared her throat loudly when everyone was almost done eating. “I know that everyone is wondering why Ryan and I wanted to have this dinner,” she began. “Well, we do have some news we’d like to share.” Reaching over, Sage took Ryan’s hand in hers. “We’re pregnant.”
Everyone around the table uttered well wishes and congratulations.
“Looks like my little niece or nephew will have a playmate,” Ari blurted out. “Natasha and I are also having a baby.”
“What?” Zaire uttered in surprise. “Two babies.”
Blaze was thrilled at the idea of becoming an uncle again. He adored Joshua.
“This is wonderful,” a beaming Barbara murmured. “Two precious babies.” She reached over and gave Malcolm’s hand a gentle squeeze. “We’re going to have two more grandchildren to spoil. Isn’t that wonderful?”
Malcolm kissed her hand. “It sure is, honey.”
While his parents were congratulating the expectant parents, Kellen leaned over and said in a low voice, “We’re having a meeting tonight after the parents leave to discuss a surprise party to celebrate Dad’s birthday.”
“Okay,” Blaze responded. He reached for his glass of iced tea and took a long sip.
He stole a peek at Sage. She really was glowing with happiness, prompting a smile from Blaze. Sage and Ari had both found their soul mates since moving to Los Angeles, and he was thrilled for them.
Blaze was convinced that he was destined to be a bachelor for life. He could never see himself as a family man. He was nothing like Ari or his father. Blaze enjoyed his job and it required a lot of travel. The life he had created for himself did not allow him the luxury of family.
His parents were great role models, but Blaze knew that he was not cut from the same cloth. He was devoted to his work and that left little time for anything else.
Barbara stifled a yawn as Sage and Zaire cleared away the dessert dishes.
“I guess I need to get your mother home,” Malcolm announced. “She’s getting sleepy.”
She nodded. “Yes, I think we should head back home. It’s been a long day for us both, but it’s your daddy who needs his rest. He thought he could hang with some of the teens on the beach today. He played volleyball.”
“I think that volleyball played me,” Malcolm confessed.
They all laughed.
Barbara embraced each one of her children and then their spouses. Malcolm saluted them and grinned, and then helped Barbara gather her things. Ryan and Sage escorted them to the door. The remaining siblings gathered in the family room that was washed in a gold-and-olive-green motif. The modern furnishings were lavish, but not extravagant. Blaze and Kellen settled down on the Brazilian Cherry hardwood floor. Ari and Natasha took to the sofa along with Zaire. Drayden sat down in the overstuffed club chair.
Their parents gone, Ryan and Sage joined them and sat down on the love seat.
“I talked to Mom and she wants to have the party on their yacht,” Zaire announced.
“Sounds good to me,” Drayden said.
Blaze nodded in agreement. “If that’s what Mom wants to do, then it’s decided.”
With everyone in agreement about the venue, they moved on to the event itself. They would let their mother choose the menu.
After the meeting, Blaze took the elevator down to the ground floor with Drayden.
“I hope you have a date,” Drayden joked. “You seem to be in a big hurry to get out of here.”
Blaze chuckled. “No, I’m just tired.”
“Man, when was the last time you had a date? I haven’t seen you with anyone in a while.”
“I’ve had a few dates,” Blaze responded. However, those dates progressed into nothing because he kept searching for the feeling and level of excitement he shared with Livi. “Right now my focus is on my work. There’s a lot going on with the hotels, but you wouldn’t know that since you chose to start your own firm.”
“Don’t start,” Drayden said. “Mom and Dad are fine with my decision.”
“I’m just giving you a hard time,” Blaze said with a chuckle. “I actually respect your decision to do your own thing.”
When the elevator doors opened, Blaze glimpsed a woman who reminded him of Livi, but she strolled past too quickly for him to be certain.
He cut his conversation short with Drayden and rushed out, looking for her.
“What’s up?” his brother asked. “You look like you’ve just seen a ghost.”
Blaze’s eyes scanned his surroundings, but the woman was nowhere to be found.
“Bro, are you okay?”
He nodded. “Yeah. I’m fine.”
Blaze made another quick sweep of their surroundings with his gaze. “I thought I saw someone I knew.” When the words left his mouth, he felt a tingling sensation, the same sensation he always felt when he thought of Livi.
* * *
It was after 11:00 p.m. and Blaze preferred not to eat heavy when it was late. He made a salad and heated up a piece of grilled salmon left over from the dinner earlier with his family.
He could not stop thinking about Livi. The image of the woman near the elevator floated to the forefront of his mind.
Blaze released a long sigh. “Where are you, Livi?” he whispered.
He finished up his meal and then headed to his bedroom.
Blaze showered and changed into a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt. He settled down in his living room to watch television, although his mind was troubled. He did not know why, but he felt anxious. Maybe it was all the media attention on his family because of the new center they were building—Blaze had no idea, but he did not like the way he was feeling.
He focused instead on his father’s upcoming birthday party. Blaze was looking forward to the celebration. Malcolm certainly deserved this event, and it would serve as a token of appreciation for how much he was loved and respected.
Blaze tried to think of who he could ask to accompany him to the party. An image of Livi formed in his mind once more. Groaning in frustration, he tossed a pillow across the room.
Chapter 3
Livi laid her newspaper down on her breakfast table. The Alexander family continued to make daily headlines with the new center they were building to assist the L.A. homeless population.
Right after college, Livi had worked as Robert DePaul’s assistant until he grew ill and stepped away from the business. Livi left the company shortly after his death, but returned a month ago, to take over as manager and buyer of the Parisian Maison Boutique located in the DePaul Hotel in Beverly Hills.
With Robert DePaul’s son now at the reins, many of the employees decided to stay with the company. Livi had worked closely with Robert and trusted him. He was strategic in all of his decisions, so when he chose to leave everything to a son no one knew existed—Livi was not at all surprised by his actions.
As it turns out, the Alexanders were wonderful employers