Blind Date with the Spare Heir

by Yahrah St. John

“I’ll drive you.” Andrea was instantly by her side and Elyse rushed for the elevators. She couldn’t lose her father, too. She had only one parent left.

  * * *

  “These are beautiful,” Angelique told Julian when he presented her with the red roses Elyse had delivered to his office earlier that morning. “Where did you get them?”

  “They were delivered.”

  “From Elyse?” his mother asked as she stirred a pot of gumbo on the stove. If anything would make him feel better, it was a pot of his mama’s famous gumbo. She’d been upset to learn of Elyse’s duplicity because she’d thought so highly of her and felt they had a relationship that might go the distance.

  “Yeah.” Julian sat on one of the bar stools and watched her add the meats she’d already prepared. Chicken, shrimp and andouille. He’d come over to the house not just to drop off the flowers and to have a home-cooked meal, but for a change of scenery. It felt as if his and Elyse’s best moments were being played like a movie reel over and over again in his head. He couldn’t go through a single minute of the day without thinking of her.

  “Have you spoken to her yet?”

  “Noooo.” Julian wasn’t sure when or if he’d ever be ready to speak to her. And that hurt. It was like a pain in his chest because he couldn’t believe how gullible he’d been to her charms. He didn’t trust that he could be sensible when it came to her. He literally ached for her. His body seemed to be in a perpetual state of physical torment from missing hers. And then there was the L word. The word he couldn’t think of and kept trying to put out of his mind.

  “And your father?” When Julian had told his mother his father had looked into Elyse’s past and had a dossier completed, she’d been livid. He suspected it was the cause of some strain in their marriage because, at today’s meeting, his father had glowered at Julian from across the table despite Roman’s good news that Elyse’s PR efforts had been successful and Curtis’s good name was on the mend.

  “You know Dad and I will never see eye to eye.” He popped one of the cooked shrimp sitting in a bowl on the counter into his mouth. He loved how his mother stayed true to her Creole roots. She could have a team of chefs in the kitchen but a couple of nights a week she preferred to cook. She said it kept her skills in the kitchen sharp.

  “You know he meant well.” She strained the crab legs cooking in another pot and tossed them and the shrimp into the bubbling gumbo mixture.

  “Did he, though?” Julian wasn’t so sure. He’d seen the damage his father had caused to Roman and Shantel’s relationship when he’d threatened to disown Roman if he didn’t get a prenup. Roman had threatened to leave the company until Josiah stepped down as General Manager.

  “Why are you two so hard on each other?” his mother asked, turning to face him and placing her spoon on the holder.

  “Because I’ve never been Rome or Xavier,” Julian responded. “And I’m never going to be. I’ve never been athletically inclined and therefore we’ve never had much in common. I’ve always been more like you, Mom, and you know it.”

  She shrugged. “I suppose, of all my children, you’re the most like me. But surely you can find some common ground with your father. I don’t like dissension in the family.”

  “For you, I’ll try. How about that?”

  “Fair enough. And Elyse?”

  “What about her?”

  “Julian?” His mother wiped her hands on her apron and then came over to cup his cheeks with her hands. “People make mistakes. We’re not perfect.”

  “I know that.”

  “Then forgive her.”

  “How can I, Mama, after what she’s done?”

  “It won’t be easy, but you love her, don’t you? And you’re miserable without her. I can see it in your eyes.”

  He frowned as he peered into her eyes. “How did you know?”

  “I’m your mama, boy. I raised you. I know you better than anyone. And it’s because I do that I know you have the capacity to forgive.” She softly caressed his cheek. “Think about it.”

  “I will.”

  His mother’s words lingered with Julian long after he’d left the house. Was she right? Could he forgive Elyse? Did he want to? He’d laid so much on the line with Elyse, allowed her into dark places he’d never let anyone else. He supposed that’s why her lies and half-truths had hurt so much, because he did care for her.

  No, he was being honest.

  He loved Elyse.

  Julian didn’t know when it happened, but somehow it had snuck up on him, and he didn’t know what to do with the emotion. If this is what love felt like, if it made you hurt like hell, then Julian wanted no part of it. He could live his life without love. He’d done it before. So why did the thought now make him feel hollow inside?

  * * *

  “It’s alcohol poisoning, Ms. Harper,” the doctor told Elyse when she arrived at the hospital emergency room to find out what happened to her father.

  “Omigod!” Elyse’s hand flew to her mouth.

  “Because of your father’s binge drinking, he lost consciousness. His blood alcohol level was point one five. He has all the classic symptoms—confusion, abnormal breathing and, of course, severe nausea. We had to pump your father’s stomach.”

  “What do we do now?”

  “Wait for his alcohol levels to gradually drop but, Ms. Harper, can I be frank?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  “Your father needs to get into a rehabilitation program. As you know, this isn’t his first visit to the hospital.”

  “It’s been so hard to get him to agree.”

  “To save his life, you must. The next time, he could have a heart attack, go into a coma or, even worse, lose his kidneys.”

  Andrea squeezed Elyse’s shoulder after the doctor left. “It’s going to be okay.”

  “I don’t know,” Elyse cried, and her head fell into Andrea’s lap. “I’ve tried everything I can to get him into a rehab program, but he never goes.”

  “Maybe this time will be different.”

  Elyse nodded. She would have to try because she refused to lose her father to this illness.

  * * *

  Julian called Elyse’s office the next day from his office at the arena. He didn’t know why. He just knew he had to. He’d stayed up half the night thinking about what his mother had said about forgiveness. Elyse could have buried his family under bad press. She knew how. Instead, she’d helped Curtis, one of their star players, and consequently the Atlanta Cougars had a better reputation than ever before.

  “Can I speak to Elyse Harper.”

  “I’m sorry, she isn’t here,” the receptionist replied.

  After getting nowhere with the receptionist she patched him through to Pierre, who informed him she was in the hospital.

  Julian barely heard the name—and heard nothing else—because he was already rushing toward the elevator bank.

  Thankfully, the elevator had just arrived and he hopped inside. His mind went to the last few days and all the calls and texts she’d sent him, which he’d ignored because he’d been so angry at her, so hurt. But he would never want anything to happen to her.

  Dear God. He hoped everything was okay. It had to be. Elyse was the picture of health. Why on earth would she be in the hospital? He called her on her phone, but the call went immediately to her voice mail. Julian’s mind raced with the worst things imaginable. She’d been in a car crash or hit her head in her apartment. All sorts of crazy ideas sprang into his mind as he raced to the hospital.

  He slid his Bugatti Veyron into a visitor parking space and quickly ran inside to the emergency room. He charged up to the nurses’ station and asked for Elyse Harper, but the staffer stated no one was there with that name.

  “What do you mean?” he roared. “I know she’s here. Her boss told me.”

  “I�
��m sorry, sir, but she isn’t here,” the nurse stated firmly.

  Julian ran his fingers through his hair and paced around in a circle. That’s when he saw her. Elyse, holding a coffee cup and wearing sweats, was coming down the hall with her friend Andrea.

  “Julian?” she said when she came within a few feet of him. Her eyes were red-rimmed, as if she’d been crying all night. “What are you doing here?”

  Julian let out a long sigh of relief. “Thank God, you’re all right. When I heard you were at the hospital, I nearly lost my mind. I thought...”

  “You thought what?” she asked, confusion crossing her beautiful features.

  “I’m just going to go,” Julian heard Andrea whisper from somewhere off in the distance.

  “I thought something had happened to you, and I couldn’t bear it.” He reached for her, pulling her by the waist and clutching her to him. “I couldn’t bear it because I love you so, so much, Elyse.” He kissed the top of her head. At first, Elyse didn’t return the hug, but within seconds she was gripping him back, holding on to him as if her life depended on it.

  When they finally separated, there were tears in Elyse’s eyes. “I love you, too, Julian. And I’m sorry for everything. I got so caught up in the past and in right and wrong, revenge and justice, that I lost sight of what was important. But never again.” She glanced up at him and he could see the truth in her eyes. “I promise you, if you give me another chance, I will never lie to you again. Your heart is safe with me.”

  He framed her face with hands. “And you, Elyse, are everything I could ever want. You complete me and challenge me in a way I never imagined. I thought my life plan was perfect, but then I met you and it made me realize what I was missing. This week has been half a life without you.”

  “Same here. I was just hoping against hope that you would find some way to forgive me. I made a terrible mistake in not telling you the truth.”

  “I forgive you,” Julian said, because he knew she needed to hear him to say the words. “Okay. So let’s put the past in the past and be together. You’re not alone anymore, Elyse. You can lean on me. I’ll help you through all of this.”

  “I love you more than I can say,” Elyse responded.

  Julian lowered his mouth to hers and the happiness he hadn’t known all week surged through him. He knew that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with this woman. He’d spent most of his adulthood running away from commitment, but no more.

  Eventually, they pulled apart, both breathing hard, as if they’d run a marathon.

  “Come.” He pulled her over to the nearest section of chairs in the waiting room and they sat side by side. Julian held Elyse’s small hand in his. “So tell me what’s going on,” he said. “Why are you here at the hospital?”

  “It’s my dad. He has alcohol poisoning and was admitted. He’s in serious condition, Julian.”

  “I’m so sorry, baby.” Julian pulled her to him again. He couldn’t stop holding her, touching her. It had been several long agonizing days that he never wanted to repeat again.

  “If he comes out of this—”

  “When he comes out of this...” Julian corrected.

  “When he does, I’m taking him to rehab. I don’t care if he’s kicking and screaming, but this has to stop. I can’t lose another parent. I just can’t.”

  She wept aloud, rocking back and forth, and Julian held her, whispering words of comfort. “You won’t. We’ll get him into the best program there is.”

  “We?” She glanced up as if finally hearing him.

  “Yes, we.” Julian wiped away her tears with the back of his hand. “I’m never going to leave your side again, Elyse Harper Robinson. So you’re stuck with me.”

  “I’m happy to be stuck with you, Julian.”

  “Good,” he said and, without thinking or caring where he was, he got down on one knee. “Will you marry me, Elyse? Will you spend the rest of your life with me?”

  Elyse peered down at him and then pressed a soft kiss to his mouth. “Yes, I’ll marry you, Julian.”

  Seventeen

  Elyse lifted her fingers to her lips and the magic of his kiss. She couldn’t believe Julian was forgiving her. It was more than she could have ever hoped for. And wasn’t that why she loved him? He had a big heart, capable of love. She was just happy to be a recipient of his love and that’s why his arms felt like home. She did as Julian suggested. She leaned on him, drew strength from him. As her tired eyes closed and she fell asleep, Julian’s strong arms tightened around her and she felt safe, loved, cared for.

  Julian remained at Elyse’s side until her father regained consciousness hours later. And when he did, Elyse was prepared to lay down the law about rehab, but her father beat her to the punch.

  “I’m so sorry, baby girl,” Frank said when he spoke to her from his hospital bed. “And seeing what I’ve put you through has made me realize that I need to get help.”

  “It’s time, Daddy.” Elyse wiped an errant tear from her cheek. “I’ve found a great place and they can take you as soon as you’re released.”

  He nodded. “And you?” He inclined his head at Julian, who hadn’t left her side since he’d arrived. “I assume you’re the Lockett my daughter has fallen for?”

  “My name is Julian Lockett, sir, and I love Elyse.” Julian grasped one of her hands at her side. “I’ve asked her to be my wife. I’m sorry for not getting your blessing beforehand. My proposal was kind of spontaneous.”

  Her father glanced at Elyse. “Marriage? Isn’t this kind of sudden?”

  “Maybe,” Elyse replied. “But it’s kind of like what you said happened with you and Mama. When you know, you just know.”

  Her father’s eyes filled with tears. “My heart was so full of love for your mother. She was m-my wh-whole world.” His voice shook.

  “I know, Daddy.”

  “When I lost her...” He paused. “I lost myself and I couldn’t recover from the heartache. I used alcohol and gambling as a refuge from the pain, but they only made life worse for me and for you.” He glanced in her direction. “Because of it, you had to grow up way too soon and take care of me. I’m sorry for that, you didn’t get to be a kid.”

  “It’s okay.”

  “No, it’s not.” He shook his head fervently. “I owe you a debt of gratitude and I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you.”

  “You’re my father. You owe me nothing but your love and to get better.”

  “And the truth. I owe you that.”

  Elyse’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”

  “I wasn’t completely forthcoming when I spoke to you about Josiah. I told you that he swindled me out of my shares of the Atlanta Cougars when, in fact, it was quite the opposite.”

  “But you said—”

  “I embellished the truth,” he interrupted. “Josiah tried to get me to quit gambling, but once I’d started, I was addicted to the high. Add the alcohol... Both were an escape from the pain of losing your mother. The more I played, the worse it got, until I’d mortgaged our house to the hilt. Josiah asked me to go to rehab, but I refused. I thought I had it under control, until one day there was nothing but my shares. I sold them to Josiah.”

  “Did he pay you a fair price?” Julian inquired.

  Her father nodded. “Probably more than what they were worth at the time because, back then, the team wasn’t what it is now.”

  “Thank you for telling me, Mr. Robinson,” Julian said. “My father can be pretty ruthless, so I wasn’t sure what to believe.”

  “I’m telling you both, so you—” he looked at Elyse “—can let go of any animosity you might have about the past. I don’t want you trying to exact a revenge for a wrong that was never committed. The past needs to be left in the past.”

  “I can’t believe you lied to me,” Elyse cried, shaking her he
ad in dismay. “After everything we’ve been through.” She’d tried to destroy a family who’d done nothing wrong.

  “I’m sorry, baby girl. I didn’t know how to tell you the truth. It was bad enough I’d fallen so far down from that pedestal you had me on. I didn’t want to disappoint you further.”

  “The lies hurt me more, Daddy, more than the truth ever could. We have to stop lying to each other and ourselves.” Because she wasn’t blameless, either, considering that she’d lied to Julian, his family, and even her father about her relationship with Julian. “Do you think we can do that?”

  Frank nodded.

  “Oh, Daddy.” Elyse threw herself in his arms. He caught her and hugged her tight.

  “I love you, Elyse. You’re the only thing this old man has ever done right in this life. I don’t want you to lose out on your happy-ever-after.”

  Elyse lifted her head to look into her father’s dark brown eyes, but it was Julian who spoke. “She won’t.”

  After their heart-to-heart with her father, they left him to rest and Julian took Elyse back to his condo. For the first time in a long time, Elyse felt completely free. Free to be who she was. Free to love Julian.

  And in his bedroom that night, she expressed her love and covered his mouth with her kisses that made the ache inside her body rise to fever pitch. It had been nearly a week since they’d been together and she could see the effect it had on Julian. His jaw was stubbly, as if he hadn’t shaved in days, but that was just fine with her.

  She welcomed the raw feel of him in her arms again and when he surged into her after donning a condom, Elyse’s senses spun out of control. She was tossed into a maelstrom of emotions because this time, after declaring their love, they were making love.

  And as Julian thrust deeply and rhythmically inside her, the pressure built. “I missed you,” he blurted. And then he pumped into her until they reached breaking point.

  “Yes!” Elyse cried, her nails curling into his rigid muscles as she held him tightly. She’d missed him so much. Julian was right behind her in the throes of their passion and roared as he reached an earth-shattering climax that made her shudder and him quake as ripple after ripple traveled through them.