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.”
