Five Star Romance. Jacquelin Thomas

accommodating to the press. As various cameras flashed, he silently counted down to when this would end. The family had been talking with reporters for nearly an hour.

      Blaze released a soft sigh as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. He tried to disguise his irritation in front of the representatives from the various media outlets. The corner of his mouth twisted with exasperation.

      “I’m glad that’s over,” he whispered to Ari as the members of the media packed up and prepared to leave. Ari was his oldest brother and the general manager of the Alexander-DePaul Hotel Group. “I don’t like posing for pictures and I can’t stand having my personal life played out for public entertainment. I don’t know why Dad insists on having the whole family present for these events.”

      Ari laughed. “It doesn’t matter. If he wants us there—we do as he asks. Dad never missed any of our football or basketball games. He was there for all our school programs.”

      Blaze reluctantly nodded in agreement. “He and Mom both put all of us before anything having to do with business.”

      “That’s why we can’t let them down,” Ari stated.

      “You’re right. Our parents have always been there for us, especially for me,” Blaze conceded. “I was the one who gave them the most grief.” He winced at the memory of his teenage years.

      “Well, at least we don’t have to worry about you showing up on some reality TV show.”

      Blaze shook his head. “Never in a million years. Kellen might be another story, however. He loves attention.”

      “What are you two boys whispering about over here?” Sage asked as she joined them.

      “Nothing important,” Blaze answered, meeting his sister’s gaze with a smile. Sage and Ari were near-perfect children growing up. His other siblings, Drayden, Zaire and Kellen had been mischievous in their youth, but never did any real harm. Despite his boyhood antics and troublemaking, Blaze was very close to his family.

      “So what are we celebrating tonight?” Ari inquired. “This is why you and Ryan are hosting a dinner, right? We have something to celebrate?”

      “We just wanted to have a nice dinner with the family,” Sage responded. “That’s all.”

      She glanced over her shoulder, then back at Ari. “I’ll see you all tonight. Ryan and I need to get going. We have a lot to do before this evening.”

      When Sage strolled away, Ari glanced at Blaze and asked, “Do you believe her?”

      “She’s probably pregnant,” Blaze stated matter-of-factly. “She and Ryan have been married for a couple of months now, so I wouldn’t be surprised. I think they were planning to start a family right away. Look at her. She’s practically floating on air.”

      Ari nodded in agreement.

      Blaze checked his watch before walking to where his parents stood. “Hey, I have to get to a meeting, but I’ll see you later tonight.”

      He wrapped his arms around his mother. “I love you.”

      “I love you, too,” Barbara responded. “Thank you for coming. I know how much you hate all the attention, but it’s for a good cause.”

      He smiled. “You know I’d do anything for you.”

      “I’ll see you later on tonight, dear.”

      Blaze turned to his dad. “I need to get going, but I’ll see you in the office.”

      “I’m not sure I’m coming in today.” Malcolm awarded him a warm smile. “Your mother gently reminded me that we were supposed to spend the day together. She’s planned a picnic on the beach.”

      Blaze noted the way his father’s eyes lit up at the mention of his mother. His parents were still very much in love.

      They were joined by Barbara.

      Malcolm immediately took her hand in his. “I need to talk to one more person before we leave, honey. I’m all yours after that.”

      Blaze smiled at the look of love Barbara flashed at his father.

      She kissed Malcolm on the cheek, and then announced, “I’m going to walk down to the car with Blaze.”

      Blaze said goodbye to his five siblings before escorting his mother down the grassy knoll toward the waiting cars.

      There were still a few reporters hanging around. Probably hoping to overhear a juicy tidbit to splash all over the tabloids, Blaze thought angrily.

      He had nothing against reporters except that they did not always seem to know where to draw the line when it came to reporting the news. Blaze valued his privacy, which was why he opted against living in one of the DePaul penthouse residences located in the Alexander-DePaul Hotel & Spa Resort.

      At thirty-three years old, Blaze preferred not to live in what he considered the family compound. He loved his family dearly, but he did not want to have to listen to his mother’s frequent suggestions that he should find a wife and settle down. He did not like disappointing her, but his mother just would not accept that Blaze had no interest in getting married. In fact, there was only one woman he could remember who held his attention. Her name was Livi and they had met a couple of years ago in Las Vegas.

      The feelings she’d evoked in him during the time they’d spent together in Vegas returned from time to time. His heart ached as he hungered for Livi’s presence in his life. He felt a certain warmth as the prolonged anticipation of seeing her again was almost unbearable. Blaze wanted to find Livi, but he just did not have enough concrete information about her—including her last name—to locate her.

      * * *

      Two years ago, Blaze had gone to Las Vegas with some of his fraternity brothers and, as fate would have it, he and Livi were staying in the same hotel. From the moment they saw each other, their mutual attraction was electric. The more he’d learned about her, the more the attraction deepened and eventually became something more.

      During the brief time they’d spent together, she had mentioned that she lived in Los Angeles, but that was about it. He’d decided that her actions meant that she most likely did not want to be found.

      He made a mental note to interview private detectives in the coming weeks. Blaze desperately wanted to find Livi. They had spent three fun-filled days together. Blaze hoped that their time together had meant something to her, as well.

      Blaze wasn’t sure when it happened, but Livi had left an imprint on his heart. It was as if she had unlocked his heart and soul, leaving his emotions as raw and erratic as a summer storm. His entire being seemed to be filled with wanting. Blaze desperately needed to see her again. If only to discover that Livi felt what they’d shared in Vegas was memorable, if fleeting.

      During this time Blaze’s father was notified that he was the sole heir of the late Robert DePaul’s multimillion-dollar estate. When Blaze returned home from Vegas, he found out about the inheritance.

      Blaze was thrilled for his parents, although he noted the mixed emotions evident on his father’s face, and Malcolm’s heartache at finding out that his parents had lied to him about something as important as his roots. Malcolm had grown up believing that Theodore Alexander was his father, but his mother had taken the truth to her grave.

      After his wild teenage years, Blaze had vowed to be a man his father could be proud of. It was Blaze who’d stolen the car and took his friends joyriding late at night, although he did not have a driver’s license. It was Blaze who’d tried to use a fake ID to buy booze. It was Blaze who’d got caught in one of the hotel rooms seducing his high school girlfriend. It was Blaze who’d chosen the wrong type of friends and ended up in jail over a home invasion and burglary—a crime he did not commit, but was arrested for along with the teens who had the stolen items in their possession.

      He was what his mother called a wild child. His siblings called him the black sheep of the