Five Star Temptation Read online

  This is so crazy, she thought. Why do I feel such a strong connection with this man?

  Am I so desperate that I’d be interested in a homeless man?

  Sage thought about R. G. McCall’s article and shook her head in despair.

  Chapter 6

  When Franklin showed up at the door of Ryan’s hotel room with a shopping bag overflowing with clothing, he surveyed the man from head to toe. If he was suspicious, he kept his thoughts to himself.

  “Ms. Alexander thought you would be more comfortable in these,” he told Ryan upon entering into the room.

  Sage had been honest about Franklin coming to the suite to check Ryan out. For whatever reason, she wanted a second opinion on him.

  It didn’t really bother Ryan.

  “You haven’t been on the streets very long,” Franklin commented. “You should consider yourself very lucky to have found favor with Ms. Alexander. She has elected to become your guardian angel.”

  “I am very grateful,” Ryan stated.

  “Where are you from?” Franklin inquired. “I would guess New York.”

  “You would be correct,” Ryan responded. “You have an ear for accents, I see.”

  “How did you come to be in Los Angeles?”

  Ryan knew that his story had to be a good one. “I moved out here to start a business. I used to be a chef and I wanted my own restaurant. Turns out, running a business like that is much harder than I thought. I lost my business and my home when I filed bankruptcy. Moved to Los Angeles to start over and was living in my car until it got impounded. I haven’t been able to really find a job, so I don’t have the money get the car back. Been on the streets ever since then.”

  “I’ve been there,” Franklin said. “I certainly understand when you’re in the midst of a storm. The Alexander family is nice people, and they care about others. Some people will try to take advantage of them, but I intend to do everything in my power to make sure it doesn’t happen.”

  “Understood,” Ryan said.

  Franklin left the suite a few minutes later.

  Ryan removed the plush hotel robe and put on the clothing. Franklin had called the room to verify sizes before making his purchases, so everything fit perfectly.

  Ten minutes later, there was a soft knock on the door.

  He was thrilled to see Sage standing there but buried his true feelings.

  Ryan could feel Sage’s eyes studying him. He kept his gaze glued to the floor, not wanting to give up his ruse.

  “Great, you’re all dressed,” she said. “I hope that you’re pleased with Franklin’s selections.”

  “He could have brought me a paper bag, and I would be appreciative,” Ryan stated.

  Sage grinned, silently noting how handsome he looked in the crisp, white shirt and black denim jeans.

  Oh, my goodness! This man is so gorgeous.

  She gestured toward the sofa and asked if they could talk.

  Ryan allowed her to lead the way and took a seat.

  “I hope you don’t think that I’m being too nosy, but I’m curious. I can tell that you haven’t been on the streets very long.”

  “Why do you say that?” Ryan wanted to know.

  “You don’t look like the other homeless people,” she responded. “I volunteer at one of the homeless shelters, so I’m around the homeless a lot.”

  Ryan recalled that Sage volunteered at one of the shelters. There were many facets to her and he wanted to get to know them all.

  His eyes drank in her beauty.

  “How did you come to this road in your life?” she inquired softly, drawing Ryan’s attention back to their conversation.

  He repeated what he had told Franklin.

  “I’m so sorry,” Sage murmured. “I’m sure this has been a very difficult time for you.”

  “It has,” Ryan responded. “But I’ve never been a quitter.”

  “I’m so glad to hear that,” she said. “So you know how to cook?”

  He nodded. “Apparently not good enough to keep my restaurant afloat, though.”

  “What type of restaurant did you own?”

  “Southern, believe it or not. I grew up in New Orleans. I specialized in authentic Southern cooking.”

  “How would you cook shrimp and grits?” Sage questioned.

  He looked surprised by her inquiry but answered anyway. “I’d take yellow stone-ground grits, milk, onion, butter and extra virgin olive oil.” He grinned. “Can’t forget the shrimp.”

  “You make the ingredients sound yummy,” Sage told Ryan. “Do you know how to make seafood gumbo?”

  “I may have a New York accent, but my heart belongs to my New Orleans roots. I know how to make gumbo, jambalaya, crawfish étouffée and po’boys.” He met her gaze. “Why do you ask?”

  “We’re opening a new restaurant here in the hotel,” she announced. “Le Magnifique was born from a passionate desire to offer an authentic dining experience that far exceeded the average ‘hotel restaurant’ offering of today. Our goal is to serve up a Louisiana flavor because we believe such fare has broad appeal and can be both comfort food as well as a gourmet experience for our guests. We want a delicious combination of Louisiana cuisines, incorporating Cajun, Bayou, Creole and other local cultural tastes and ingredients. We are looking for someone to manage it. After talking to you, I believe that we’ve found one.”

  Ryan didn’t bother to hide his surprise. “Are you offering me a job?”

  Sage smiled and nodded. “I still have to run it by my parents and my brother Ari, but I am sure it’s a done deal—that is, if you want the job.”

  Ryan shook his head in disbelief.

  “You don’t want it?” Sage asked.

  “Oh, no, that’s not what… Ms. Alexander…” Ryan searched for the right words. “I’m just surprised.”

  “You’ve been through a lot, Ryan. What I’m offering you is a second chance.”

  “I accept, Ms. Alexander.”

  “It’s just Sage,” she corrected. “Oh, and you have to meet with my brother Ari. He is the general manager.”

  “Sage, I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done for me.”

  “I can move you into one of the staff rooms until you can find a place of your own. We may be able to give you an advance on your salary after you’ve been here for ninety days. I’d like for you to meet with Donna in Personnel tomorrow morning. I’ll give her a call to let her know to expect you.”

  She smiled at Ryan before leaving the hotel suite.

  The warmth of her smile sent a rush of heat through him.

  She is a temptation I cannot afford.

  Ryan had to remind himself that he was in Los Angeles to work on his investigative piece. There was no time for romancing the beautiful and caring heiress. He had made it a practice to never get emotionally involved with anyone connected to his research for fear of tainting his work. Ryan had expected to be able to observe the Alexander family from a distance and through interviews with others, but Sage changed all this when she gave him the hundred-dollar bill and offered him this suite and now employment.

  He felt a shard of guilt where Sage was concerned. He didn’t like misleading her, but it was necessary for his article.

  * * *

  Meredith DePaul was waiting for Sage outside her office. She had not expected to see the young woman so soon.

  “My brother told me that you wanted to meet with me.”

  “He’s correct,” Sage responded. “I thought it was best for the two of us to talk, since you want to work with me. This will give me a chance to get to know you.”

  Meredith followed her into the office. She took a seat in one of the visitor chairs without waiting for an invitation. “What do you want to know?” />
  “Anything you want to tell me,” Sage responded.

  “Well, I graduated from UCLA with a degree in business. I have my real estate license, and I used to work here at the hotel when I was in college. Although Uncle Robert left the hotels to your father, they are still a part of my legacy. I am a part of this family, and I want to work in the family business.”

  Meredith brushed away a dark curl from her face. “Tell me something. Why are you here?”

  “My story is very similar to yours. I want to work with my family. It is important to make some things clear, Meredith. We did not steal this business from you or your family. Robert DePaul made his wishes known in an ironclad will. I hope we will not have to rehash this over and over. We have no problem embracing the DePaul relatives, but we will not be manipulated or defrauded in any manner.”

  “We don’t,” Meredith responded. “Now, I’d like to be just as honest. I am not coming here to spy on you or your family. If you don’t want me here in Beverly Hills, I’m willing to relocate to one of the other properties.”

  “What is your preference?”

  Meredith didn’t flinch. “I’d like to stay here and learn from you. Despite everything that happened between my brother and your father, I feel that we would make a dynamic team.”

  A smile tugged at Sage’s lips.

  “It is also a great way to diminish any awkwardness between us. We’re related, and nothing will ever change that. I can’t pretend that you don’t exist, Sage. I have to admit that I’m curious about you and your family. I want to get to know all of you.”

  “You can do that without working with us.”

  “I know that,” Meredith countered. “But I also want to work in this business. I loved working at the hotel.”

  “I need to speak with my parents and Ari,” Sage stated. “Can I give you a call later today?”

  “Sure.”

  Meredith headed toward the door but paused long enough to say, “I hope that you won’t judge me by my brother’s actions.”

  “I think you’ll find that we are willing to give others a chance even if they are not willing to do the same.”

  As soon as Meredith left her office, Sage made a quick phone call to Ari.

  She gave him a summary of her conversation with Harold and then with Meredith. “So what do you think?”

  “I don’t trust Harold at all,” Ari stated. “I’m not sure I trust his sister either.”

  “Meredith is our cousin,” Sage reminded him. “She wants to work in the family business.”

  “She is coming here to either spy on us or try and sabotage us in some way.”

  “I don’t think so,” Sage countered. “I talked to her, and I believe she is sincere.”

  “I think your instincts are off this time, sis.”

  “Meredith is willing to relocate if need be, Ari. I really don’t think she has the same motives as Harold.”

  Ari released an audible sigh. “I have to be honest with you, Sage. I’m not comfortable with this at all. She can still try to sabotage us from another location.”

  “Let’s run it by Daddy and see what he has to say about Meredith coming to work with me,” Sage suggested. “I’ll go with whatever he decides.”

  “Fair enough,” Ari responded.

  “Oh, one more thing,” Sage stated. “I’ve found a manager for the new restaurant.”

  “Really? Who is it?”

  “Ryan Manning. He used to be a chef and had his own business in New York. But get this—he was born and raised in New Orleans. Having someone like him on staff will ensure that the food we serve will be authentic.”

  “When did you find him?” Ari inquired.

  Sage did not respond. She was searching for the right way to tell her brother that she had discovered Ryan on the streets.

  “Sage…” Ari prompted.

  “I met Ryan on the streets,” she blurted. “He was homeless.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “I have a good feeling about him,” Sage quickly interjected. “He’s been through so much—losing his business and his home, filing bankruptcy and then living in his car until it was impounded. That’s a lot to endure, don’t you think? Besides, Franklin talked to him and he feels the same as I do. This is someone who is going through a really tough time.”

  “Sis, you can’t save the world.”

  “I’m not trying to save everyone—just this one guy and because I strongly believe that he deserves a chance.”

  “First Meredith and now some homeless man,” Ari uttered with a shake of his head. “I don’t know how Dad is going to handle this news.”

  “Just trust me on this,” Sage pleaded. “Ryan is the perfect man for the position of manager. As for Meredith…I’m willing to give her a chance.”

  “I need to meet Ryan. I’d like to be able to tell Dad something more about him other than he used to be homeless.”

  “I told him that you would have to meet him,” Sage responded. “Thank you, Ari.”

  “Don’t thank me, Sage. I’m going on record that I’m not sure about any of this, but I am going to trust your instincts.”

  When Sage hung up the phone, she leaned back in her chair and smiled. Ari would soon come to see that her instincts were on point when it came to Ryan.

  * * *

  Sage Alexander is an incredible woman.

  The thought played in Ryan’s head over and over again. She had just handed him a management position within the hotel just on faith alone. Her brother did not seem as thrilled about her decision, however.

  Ryan had just spent the past half hour in a conference room with Ari Alexander, the general manager. He had undergone an intense interview session, but Ryan was okay with it. He walked out of the room feeling positive that he had sealed the bid for the management position. This was not how he had planned to get his story, but Ryan intended to roll with it. Working for the Alexander family provided a more intimate view of their lives.

  Of course, he had to prepare a full course meal later today for Sage, Ari and their father, along with the chef of the other restaurant, according to the HR consultant. He had to undergo a drug test and background check, which didn’t bother Ryan. He had been honest for the most part, except his business was not failing and he had never experienced bankruptcy.

  Ryan had learned from a member of the waitstaff that Sage loved fish and pasta. He already knew what he was going to prepare and had given the kitchen staff a list of ingredients needed for the meal.

  He was on his way toward the hotel lobby when he spotted Sage in the company of a man and woman. Ryan assumed that she was about to show them one of the penthouse units. He stopped in his tracks, his gaze traveling from her face to her curves. She was smiling as she talked with them. It was genuine and not one of those fake “I’ll do anything to make this sale” smiles.

  She caught sight of him and gave a slight nod.

  Even in the midst of her job, she took a brief pause to acknowledge him. Ryan smiled to himself. He was beginning to think that she was the real deal.

  However, there was still much more to learn about her and the rest of her family. If things continued along this vein, this story was going to be a pleasure to write, he told himself. It was time for some news that would leave readers feeling hopeful and inspired to take action.

  Chapter 7

  Sage sat with her father and Ari at a table in the new restaurant. The head chef from Café Rodeo joined them a few minutes later. Although Ryan was being considered for manager, they all wanted to make sure that he had cooking experience and knew how to run a kitchen.

  Malcolm had listened quietly as Sage discussed why she wanted to help Ryan. When she was done, her father met her gaze and asked, “You feel this strongly about hiring thi
s man?”

  “I do,” she responded.

  Before they could continue their conversation, the appetizers came out. Sage sampled the blue crab with wild mushroom ravioli and served with a peppercorn cream sauce. “This is absolutely delicious,” she gushed.

  “I have to agree, sis,” Ari said. “In fact, I’d like to add this to our menu.”

  Malcolm and Chef David agreed.

  Ryan had surprised them all when he presented not one but three entrées for them to taste. The first was a boneless, skinless chicken breast served atop new-potato mash and steamed asparagus.

  “The chicken can also be topped with lump crabmeat and tasso hollandaise,” Ryan stated.

  The second entrée of shrimp and andouille sausage poached in a Creole meunière reduction and served over grits was an instant hit with Sage. “I don’t know about you, but I am one hundred percent positive that I’ve found the right man for the job,” she said to Ari in a low voice.

  The third entrée served by Ryan was sliced tenderloin of beef that had been lightly charred and cooked to perfection, accompanied by a béarnaise sauce, mashed potatoes and asparagus. This one was her father’s favorite of the three.

  It was another entrée they should feature on their new menu, Sage decided.

  Ryan followed up with dessert. He had prepared bread pudding with a whiskey sauce.

  She smiled and nodded in approval.

  He was a great cook. Sage was glad to see he sought to impress her father and brother by going above and beyond by preparing three separate entrées. She thought he had made excellent choices in deciding to feature white meat, red meat and seafood. It was brilliant on Ryan’s part.

  It was still hard to understand why his life had taken such a downward spiral, but he had not let it get the better of him. Sage was impressed with the man standing before them. He didn’t look afraid or nervous; there was a calm about him. He was very comfortable in his own skin.

  Her father had Ryan join them at the table. Sage felt strongly that Ryan’s life was about to change for the better.

  * * *

  Ryan’s eyes traveled slowly around the room, taking in the interior of the Le Magnifique restaurant. He was now the manager of this exquisite new venture. Unlike most restaurants, which have only one central dining room, Le Magnifique had two—one tucked away in a corner, designed for guests seeking a private and intimate dining experience. Celebrities and other VIPs, who desired to enjoy a meal without being disturbed, would most likely use that one.