Five Star Desire

by Jacquelin Thomas

  More important, he wasn’t trying to seduce her, either. Kellen had no desire to chase a woman who was throwing up caution signs all over the place. Addison was more of a road-totally-closed type of woman. But he wanted Addison, and the desire was so strong that it had him seriously considering making an exception.

  Addison had promptly shut down the thought of a relationship, even though she enjoyed the kiss as much as he had. Kellen recalled in vivid detail how she moaned softly as his mouth slid from hers and dropped fleeting kisses on her cheeks, her eyes and the tip of her ear.

  He knew exactly what was happening. He was falling in love with Addison.

  Kellen had to find out if she felt the same way.

  As soon as Addison arrived, he gave her enough time to get her day organized before going to see her.

  She looked as if she had been waiting for him.

  “I’m glad you’re here,” Addison began. “I enjoyed our time together yesterday in San Francisco, but I want to make sure that you understand I have no intentions of fast-tracking my career by sleeping with Malcolm Alexander’s son.”

  “Glad to hear it,” he responded.

  “I like you, and I think...”

  She barely got the words out of her mouth before his lips touched hers. Gently at first, his lips teased and tormented, until finally, Addison opened her mouth to encourage him to deepen the kiss.

  And he did.

  His arms tightened around her as the fire in his kiss stole her breath away. It had been so long, so achingly long since she’d felt wanted—it had been a long time since she’d wanted a man as much as she desired Kellen. He kissed her with a natural mastery that thrilled and surprised her.

  He tenderly broke the kiss.

  “Kellen...what are we doing?” Addison asked with a shake of her head.

  “I wanted to be sure of your feelings for me,” he murmured in response.

  “We’ve been through this already, Kellen. We can’t do this.”

  “Why not? Because of what other people may think?” he responded, looking confused. “It’s clear that I want you, and you feel the same way.”

  “What it is—is inappropriate behavior,” Addison uttered. “Kellen, listen to me. I can’t get involved with you for several reasons, but the main reason is that I’m not willing to get involved with you. I’m sorry.”

  “I’ll respect your wishes, Addison. I hope you won’t hold it against me, but I just wanted to give it one more try. I really care about you.”

  “I care about you, as well...as a friend.”

  He gestured toward the door. “I have some work to do. I’d better get back to it.”

  * * *

  Addison remembered all too well how good it felt to be held in Kellen’s arms, the warmth and strength of his embrace comforting and yet enticing and exciting. The kisses they had shared had heated her body to the extent that she felt completely alive and whole, and all she’d been able to think about was the fire of his kiss, which warmed her from head to toe and left her wanting more of him.

  He kept telling her that he had feelings for her. Addison wanted to believe him. The risk-taker in her continued to beg to be freed—she wanted to let go with Kellen and see where it led, but deep down she was afraid. She feared letting someone like him get close to her—someone who could distract her away from her goals.

  She had done nothing but think of him lately, which is what Addison did not want to happen, but it was no use to pretend. She wanted him.

  Falling in love with Kellen would be as easy as breathing, but Addison knew that certain heartbreak loomed ahead like a dark cloud. She could not afford to look in that direction. She had worked too hard to get to this place in her life. Her career meant everything to her, and Addison vowed nothing would keep her from her goal of upper-level management.

  * * *

  “I’m worried about Dreyden,” Sage stated at the dinner table. She and her family had joined her parents and Kellen for Sunday dinner. “I know that there’s something wrong with him. He really doesn’t look like himself at all.”

  Ryan agreed. “Honey, I’m sure if it were anything serious, Dreyden would’ve said something to you all.”

  Kellen wiped his mouth over the edge of his napkin. “Dreyden’s lost a lot of weight, and it’s not like he’s losing it intentionally. Then his skin—it doesn’t look right.”

  Barbara took a sip of iced tea before saying, “I must admit that I’ve been concerned about him, as well. I talked to him last night and he’s promised to stop putting off seeing a doctor.”

  “He’s been really stubborn about this,” Sage stated. “I don’t understand why.”

  “When I spoke with Dreyden earlier, he said he was calling the doctor after we hung up,” Malcolm interjected. “I just hope that his doctor can see him soon.”

  Kellen checked his phone. “He just sent me a text. His appointment is on Friday morning. I think he sent it to you and Mom, too.”

  Barbara released a small sigh of relief. “This is good news.”

  “I just hope that it’s nothing serious,” Sage uttered.

  “I don’t think it is,” Kellen responded. “Dreyden is the most health conscious of all of us.”

  Sage took a sip of her iced tea. “Except when it comes to seeing a doctor.”

  “He’s hardly ever been sick.” Kellen sliced off a piece of chicken and stuck it into his mouth.

  “You both should have regular checkups,” Barbara advised. “It’s important to stay in tune with your body.”

  Kellen smiled but did not comment. He wasn’t in the mood for a lecture on health and wellness.

  “How are things going at the office?” Sage inquired as she reached for her water glass.

  “Great,” he responded. “Addison and I are getting along. Mostly, I’m enjoying the project I’m currently working on.”

  “That’s good,” Malcolm stated. “You’ve impressed everyone at the firm, from what I’ve been told.”

  Kellen was curious if Addison was the person his dad had spoken with, but decided not to ask.

  * * *

  Kellen began creating project stacks on his desk since he had been assigned to more projects. He had a routine of clearing his desk by Monday only to have stacks of projects by Friday. He always felt such a strong sense of satisfaction whenever he finished a task assignment. It was exhilarating.

  His eyes traveled the length of his office. Ten rolls of onion-skin paper were stacked in one corner near a set of bookshelves. One side was filled with architectural reference books and manuals, while the other side held stacks of magazines he used for inspiration.

  Whistling softly, Kellen picked up his master measure calculator. When it came to his projects, he never relied on his brain when adding up dimensions. One miscalculation could end up costing thousands of dollars.

  He loved his job and had settled into his schedule comfortably.

  “Here are the interior structures for the Arizona project,” Kellen announced when he walked into Addison’s office.

  He sat quietly while she reviewed the rendering.

  “Good work,” Addison told him as she turned page after page. “Oh, what’s this?”

  He leaned forward. “That’s just something I was working on. It wasn’t supposed to be in there.” Kellen had forgotten that he’d tossed all of his renderings into his portfolio last night before going to bed.

  Addison eyed the drawing. “Kellen, this is great work,” she said with a smile. “You know, I’m surprised you don’t want to design buildings.”

  “I enjoy it, but I didn’t want to just focus on the exterior. I also wanted to be able to design the interior, as well.”

  “You should show this to Jonathan. He’s the lead architect on the Alexander-DeP
aul Hotels. I think he’d be interested in discussing it with you.” She smiled again. “This is really nice.”

  Her words boosted his confidence. She believed in him.

  Strangely, this mattered to Kellen. Addison was important to him, despite the fact that she wanted to remain friends. He cared for her more than he ever could have imagined possible.

  Chapter 9

  Kellen left work and drove straight to Dreyden’s condo. The family had finally convinced or, according to Dreyden, nagged him to see his doctor. He was eager to find out how the appointment went.

  “How did it go with the doctor?” he asked as soon as Dreyden opened the door.

  “Hello to you, too.”

  “I’m sorry,” Kellen responded. “I didn’t mean to be rude. I just want to know what the doctor had to say.”

  “He gave me a physical and ordered some tests,” Dreyden explained as they settled down in the living room. “He basically just asked about the nature of my symptoms and how long I’ve been experiencing them. He did feel some type of mass in my abdomen. That’s why he ordered the lab work. I didn’t get the impression that it was anything really serious. He did say that he might want me to see a specialist, depending on the results.”

  Kellen released a long sigh of relief. “I’m glad you saw a doctor. I’m sure it’s nothing serious, but we want to keep it that way.”

  Dreyden nodded in agreement. “I guess I should hear something back in a few days.”

  He studied his brother for a moment. “Let me know as soon as you hear.”

  “I will,” Dreyden promised.

  Kellen could not ignore the tiny wave of apprehension that washed over him. He wanted desperately to believe that there was nothing wrong with his brother. “Have you eaten?” he asked. “We can order something and have it delivered.”

  Dreyden waved his hand in dismissal. “Get something for you, but I’m not hungry.”

  “You have to eat something,” Kellen stated. “You don’t need to lose any more weight, bro. At this rate, you won’t have a six-pack—it’ll be more like a two-pack. Think about the effect that will have on your love life.”

  Dreyden chuckled. “I’m not looking for a wife, Kellen.”

  “Hey, you’re next in line to get married. Mom already knows that it’s the last thing on my mind. She hasn’t given up on you, though.”

  “She did ask me if I was thinking about settling down.”

  Kellen burst into laughter. “See? I told you.”

  Dreyden tossed the remote to him. “Find something on television that’s a lot more entertaining than you.”

  * * *

  “Do any of you know why we’ve been called here?” Kellen asked a couple of days later. He met his parents outside of Dreyden’s condo. “Did he get the results from his doctor?”

  Malcolm shook his head. “He just called and requested our presence.”

  Sage and Ryan stepped off the elevator. They rushed over to join Kellen and their parents.

  “What’s going on?” she asked.

  “We don’t know,” Kellen responded, ringing the doorbell. “It must be important, though.”

  His brother opened the door and stepped aside to let them enter.

  “Dreyden...” Barbara began. “Honey, is everything okay?”

  “I want to wait until everybody gets here.”

  Kellen tried to gauge his expression, but Dreyden had always been good about hiding his emotions.

  They made small talk while they waited for the rest of the family members to arrive.

  When everyone had arrived, Dreyden didn’t keep them guessing. For a moment it seemed he was searching for the right words. Finally, he said, “I got the results back from my doctor.”

  Kellen met his gaze. “What did he have to say?”

  “He found that my bile flow is blocked and that I have a mass in my abdomen. Dr. Winston referred me to an oncologist. I saw him this morning and he wants to have more tests done.”

  “Well, what kind of tests, son?” Malcolm asked.

  “He wants to get more detailed images on the inside of my abdomen. They are doing a CT scan and an ultrasound. He even mentioned an MRI.”

  “That’s a lot of tests,” Sage commented, a worried expression on her face.

  Are they saying you have cancer? Kellen wanted to know. His stomach was filled with apprehension. He wished they had been able to convince Dreyden to see a doctor sooner.

  “Dr. Winston said that he wants me to have a biopsy.”

  Kellen’s body went rigid. Before he could get the question out, his mother asked, “Does he think you have cancer?”

  “The biopsy can confirm whether or not the mass is cancerous.”

  “Oh, Lord...” his mother murmured.

  “Mom, it’s going to be okay,” Dreyden said. “This may turn into nothing.”

  “When is the biopsy scheduled?” Ari questioned.

  “Friday morning.”

  Kellen shook his head. “You can’t have cancer.” He refused to believe that something like this could happen to his brother. He was in great shape despite the past few weeks.

  “This is my wish,” Dreyden stated. “I’m hoping that they won’t find anything, but if they do—I hope that it’s in the very early stages.”

  “I hope so, too,” he responded. Kellen thought about the months of nagging Dreyden just to see the doctor. He hoped his brother was going to be fine. No one in his family had ever been directly affected by cancer, so this was new to them.

  Malcolm got up and placed a hand on Dreyden’s shoulder. “We will get through this, no matter what.”

  They all agreed.

  Kellen tried not to show it, but he was afraid for his brother.

  * * *

  “Kellen, what’s wrong?” Addison inquired as soon as he walked through the glass double doors early the next morning. “You look terrible.” He was usually in a good mood whenever he arrived, but today was different.

  “Right now, I’d have to say that’s a whole lot better than I feel,” he responded without emotion. “I had a bad night.”

  She stood in his path. “Do you want to talk about it? We can go into my office.” Addison was concerned as she’d never seen him like this.

  He shook his head. “Thanks, but I’ll be okay. I just need to get to work.”

  “I have a better idea. Why don’t you take the day off?” Addison suggested. “Go home and try to get some rest.”

  “No, I would rather stay here,” Kellen responded. “I really need to stay busy.”

  She surveyed his face. “Are you sure?”

  “Yeah,” he answered.

  Kellen turned away from Addison and headed toward his office.

  Inside, he dropped his backpack on his desk and opened it, removing the laptop.

  He walked around the desk and sat down, facing the monitor.

  Addison watched him for a moment from the hallway before navigating back to her office. He was always in a cheerful mood, but now he looked so sad, and it really bothered her seeing him this way.

  Kellen stayed in his office most of the day.

  She checked on him around lunchtime. “Are you hungry?”

  “Not really,” he responded.

  “You have to eat sometime,” Addison reminded him. “Why don’t I order something from the deli on the next block and have it delivered?”

  “Sure, that’s fine. Thanks, Addison.”

  “No problem.”

  She left his office a few minutes later.

  Addison returned after his lunch had been delivered. “Here’s your food. I want you to eat it.”

  “I never realized just how bossy you really are,” Kellen murmured.
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  She smiled. “Only when I need to be.”

  “Kellen, I don’t know what’s happened, but I can see that it’s really bothering you.”

  “This is something I’ve never had to encounter, Addison. For the first time in a very long time—I’m scared.”

  She couldn’t imagine what could possibly scare a man like Kellen, but whatever it was—it had to be something really bad.

  Addison placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. “I’m here if you need me, Kellen.”

  He covered her hand with his own. “Thank you.”

  The bond she shared with him had deepened because Addison could feel his pain.

  * * *

  “Dreyden had a biopsy this morning,” Kellen announced two days later. “He hasn’t been feeling well for the past few months. He went to the doctor and they ran a bunch of tests, but we don’t know anything for sure until the results of the biopsy come through.” He shook his head sadly. “Addison, I haven’t said this to my family, but I have a really bad feeling about this.”

  “I’m so sorry,” she murmured. She resisted the urge to wrap her arms around him and offer comfort. “Your brother is a really nice man. Kellen, it could turn out to be nothing at all.”

  “I hope that you’re right.”

  “I can see that you’re really worried about him.”

  Kellen nodded. “Dreyden’s always been healthy. He was hardly sick when we were growing up, so this is something I’m not used to. Addison, he’s lost so much weight.”

  “Why don’t you go to him? Go be with your brother.”

  He gave her a tight smile. “Thank you, Addison. I’m taking my laptop with me. I’ll work from his place.”

  “I hope everything works out for the best for Dreyden.”

  “Thanks for your understanding,” Kellen told her. “Nothing is more important to me than my family.”

  “I understand completely,” Addison murmured. “I’ll keep your brother in my prayers.”