Loe raamatut: «The Blake Sisters»

Chapter 1

After a long day of traveling, an exhausted Dr. Felicia Blake, wearing blue jeans and a white T-shirt, her long, curly hair up in a messy bun, made her way through the busy Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport. As the third-born of the beautiful, highly accomplished Blake triplets and heir to her family’s billion-dollar international security firm, Felicia was one of the brilliant physicians working for the CIA as a medical research scientist specializing in biochemistry.

Felicia often found herself traveling the world, chasing down many different types of deadly diseases to learn their origin. While Felicia loved the time she spent working in South Korea, she was happy to be back in the United States.

Felicia had just cleared customs and was waiting to collect her bag when she overheard two young women talking. The taller of the two said, “Girl, I’m telling you he’s got to be.”

“How do you know he’s a celebrity?” her friend replied, giving her the side-eye.

“Celebrities love coming to the ATL,” she said, snapping her fingers twice in the air. “Look at the way he’s dressed. Anyway, he’s too fine not to be famous.”

Both women laughed.

Felicia’s natural curiosity got the best of the good doctor. She raised her head and scanned the area where the two women were staring. Felicia’s eyes collided with a uniquely stunning but very familiar set of gray eyes. “Griffin,” she murmured. Felicia stood staring at the only man that had ever touched her heart but never knew it. He’d challenged Felicia to go beyond her own perceived limits, while making the shy young woman feel safe enough to open up and let others get to know her. Griffin had taught Felicia how to manage different types of relationships, and that growth had helped her become a better doctor. Felicia hadn’t realized just how much she’d missed their friendship until now. Felicia’s mind flashed back to the first moment they’d met...

* * *

Thinking she was running late to her first medical school lecture, Felicia ran down the hall and into the room only to find the most handsome, bronze-skinned man she’d ever seen. He was sitting in the front row, slouched in a theater-style chair, long legs stretched out before him, his eyes closed. His finely trimmed beard, short hair and perfect physique reminded her of someone that belonged in the pages of GQ magazine instead of a classroom for those who aspired to become doctors.

“Excuse me, I don’t mean to disturb you, but is this Dr. Jacobson’s microbiology class?”

“Yes,” he responded without moving or opening his eyes.

“Then where is everyone?” Felicia asked, scanning the empty room, wondering if she’d missed something.

The gorgeous man sighed deeply, tilted his head toward her and slowly opened his eyes. Felicia offered what she hoped was a friendly smile.

The man sat up slowly as his gaze roamed her body while still not bothering to answer the question.

“This is Dr. Jacobson’s Tuesday microbiology class, right?” Felicia asked again, checking the schedule she held. His open stare caused her to look down at her outfit to ensure she hadn’t worn the wrong color scrubs or wonder if her messy, high ponytail might have been too much so.

He nodded and Felicia shifted her weight from one leg to the other and bit her bottom lip, a habit she was trying to break. “The class got pushed back by forty-five minutes. Didn’t you get the text?”

Felicia rummaged in her backpack, came up empty, shook her head. “I left my phone in my room.”

“I’m Griffin Kaile, by the way,” he said, standing and walking slowly toward her. “Third year.”

Felicia’s breath caught and her heart skipped several beats with each step he took. “I—I’m...I’m Felicia Blake, first year,” she replied, offering her hand and staring up into a beautiful set of gray eyes. “Pleased to meet you.”

“Trust me, the pleasure is all mine,” he said, holding her gaze as he took her hand and gave it a small shake.

The moment he touched her, a charge went through Felicia’s body unlike anything she’d ever felt before...

* * *

The women’s laughter brought Felicia back to the present, where she stood and stared at the gorgeous figure from her past. A dazzlingly handsome blend of his African-American and Chinese-American heritages, he was the only man who would have been capable of making Felicia reconsider where she would be starting her career after medical school.

* * *

Dr. Griffin Kaile Jr., a tall, athletically built, outstandingly gifted cardiovascular surgeon and sole heir to his family’s billion-dollar multimedia conglomerates, stood with his arms folded across his chest in front of the baggage carousel, wearing a black suit that was cut perfectly for his frame, when his cell phone rang. He reached into his jacket pocket, retrieved the phone and read the screen.

“Kaile,” Griffin answered.

“Kaile, it’s Mel. You back in town?”

“Just. What’s up?” Griffin asked.

“You headed home?” Mel inquired.

“After I stop by the hospital.”

“Cool, I just have a few test results I need you to take a look at,” Mel said.

“Anything urgent?” Griffin asked.

“Really? Don’t you trust that your brilliant physician’s assistant would hit you up if there were something critical for you to handle?”

“Of course I do. Otherwise you wouldn’t be my brilliant physician’s assistant,” Griffin replied, his tone flat.

No matter how necessary it may have been or how talented his team members were, Griffin struggled with delegating anything he believed was ultimately his responsibility. As an only child, Griffin had never mastered the art of sharing.

“How did it go? Did you get to meet with everyone?” Mel’s voice escalated slightly.

“Yes, and they all seem extremely capable,” Griffin confirmed.

“Capable? Those are some of the best fellows in the country and they’re all chomping at the bit to come work for you, and you call them capable,” he said, laughing. “Have you decided which two you’re going to pick?”

“Not yet. I’ll decide by the end of the week. See you in a while.”

Griffin was putting away his phone when he felt a pair of eyes on him. The child of successful public figures who were also media moguls, he was used to often-unwanted attention; only this time something felt different. Griffin’s eyes snapped up and lased in on his target. His heart raced as his eyes were held captive by the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. “Can’t be,” Griffin whispered to himself.

Griffin stood staring at the only woman he’d ever really wanted but could never have. The woman he often thought about—still fantasized about...and compared others to—was standing mere feet away. As if he’d been polarized by a magnet, Griffin felt himself being drawn forward. She was a physically fit, olive-skinned beauty with high cheekbones, luxuriously long jet-black hair and a heart-shaped face bestowed on her by her parents—an Italian mother and African-American and Hispanic father.

* * *

“Felicia... Felicia Blake,” she heard a baritone voice call, her heart skipping several beats. Felicia bit her bottom lip and nodded slowly. Still not sure she wasn’t imagining that her long-lost love was coming toward her, Felicia looked to the two women standing next to her for confirmation. Their wide and flirtatious smiles were all the affirmation she needed.

First, Felicia was summoned to Atlanta to receive some mysterious bequest from her late best friend from medical school, and now she came face-to-face with her favorite lab partner and secret crush.

“Dr. Griffin Kaile,” Felicia said, pulling herself together. “It’s been a while... Six years.”

“Yes, it has, and you haven’t changed a bit. You look amazing,” he said, smiling.

Felicia looked down at her outfit and frowned. “Not really, but thanks. You look...professional.”

Griffin smirked. “Thanks.”

Professional. Really, Felicia? “How have you been?” she asked, breaking eye contact when she spied the gift from her sisters—red Valextra Avietta luggage—making its way down the carousel’s runway. Felicia reached for the large wheeled trolley.

“I got it,” Griffin said, placing his hand over hers.

Griffin’s touch sent a charge through her body that she’d only felt one other time before, delivered by the same man. Felicia quickly pulled her hand from his and took a step back. “I’m doing well.” Griffin picked up the large bag and placed it next to Felicia before reaching for his own leather suitcase.

“What a gentleman,” Felicia heard the two women say.

“Thanks,” Felicia said, smiling up at Griffin.

“Last I heard, you were working somewhere overseas,” Griffin said.

Felicia nodded. “I’ve spent the last year working in Asia.”

“Wow, I bet that was an adventure. Are you in town long? We should get together...catch up,” Griffin suggested, the corners of his mouth rising slowly.

“I...I’d really like that, but I’m only in town for the day. Unexpected and urgent business I have to tend to.”

“I can’t convince you to extend your trip?” Griffin asked, offering her a wide smile.

“You can convince me of anything,” the shorter of the two women offered, not bothering to hide her eavesdropping.

Felicia smirked at the unsolicited commentary. “I wish I could, but my family is sending the plane for me right after my meeting. If I’m not on it, there will be hell to pay. I haven’t seen them in a while.”

“I understand. Do you have a card?” Griffin asked, reaching into his pocket and pulling out one of his own. “Here is mine. It has my home number on it, too.”

“Sorry, I haven’t had much use for cards in the last year,” she said, accepting his.

“Well—”

“Excuse me, sir,” a tall man dressed in hospital scrubs interrupted. “The car is here.”

“Thanks, Doug. I’ll be right there,” Griffin replied before turning his attention back to Felicia. “When you get settled, give me a call. I’d really like to hear what you’ve been up to,” he reiterated.

“Sure.”

“It really was great seeing you again.” Griffin smiled, picked up his bag and headed toward the exit.

“‘Sure’? Could you be a bigger geek?” Felicia chastised herself.

“Nope,” the two women said, laughing as they left with their bags in hand.

Felicia’s shoulders dropped. Even after all these years and her many accomplishments, Griffin could still turn Felicia’s brain to mush and make her weak in the knees. Griffin was one of the few people Felicia had been closest to during her tenure at medical school. While Felicia had been the youngest in their group of friends, a twenty-year-old first-year student, he’d never treated her as though she was lesser in any way, and she would always be grateful for that.

Running into Griffin today of all days was such a real, serendipitous moment that Felicia couldn’t help but wonder if it might mean something. She extended the handle on her travel trolley and made her way toward the exit. Felicia spotted a driver holding a sign with her name on it. “Excuse me, I’m Dr. Felicia Blake.”

The driver removed his hat and offered up a quick nod. “I’m Jeff from Atlanta Limousine Express,” he said, introducing himself before reaching for her bag. “Follow me. We’re right outside.”

Jeff led Felicia through a set of double glass doors and she was immediately hit by the bright sunlight. She reached into her purse and removed another must-have gift from her sisters—a pair of Chanel sunglasses. “Do you know where we’re going?” Felicia asked, placing the glasses over her squinted eyes.

“Yes, ma’am. The downtown law offices of McCormick and Associates,” he recited.

Felicia stopped at the sight of the large black vehicle. “What in the world...”

“The person requesting the car asked for the Sprinter Limo Coach,” he explained.

Felicia’s forehead creased. “The what?”

“A limousine-style van. I was told you’d need privacy and room to change.” Jeff’s eyes scanned her attire.

“Farrah.” Felicia looked down at herself again. “I guess I should freshen up a bit.”

“Yes, ma’am. We’ll be there in about thirty minutes,” he explained, helping her into the van.