Six years ago, she’d decided the only way she’d become a mother was through artificial insemination. And it had worked! She’d become pregnant on the first try. Nine months later, she’d given birth to a beautiful baby boy. Recently, she’d learned her precious boy had a rare leukemia that couldn’t be treated with chemotherapy alone. The doctor had suggested that a bone marrow transplant could be Jayden’s best chance.
Iris accepted the cup of tea her mother handed her and took a tentative sip. Chamomile always had a way of making her feel calm, and she was summoning all her inner strength for the fight ahead.
Her cell phone rang and she answered after several rings. “Hello?”
Iris listened intently to the caller on the other end before hanging up the line. “You will not believe it, Mom. It was the hospital. Their phones are being flooded with callers who want to know how they can help Jayden and if there’s a GoFundMe page.”
“I told you it was going to work out, Iris. You just have to believe.”
Iris was beginning to think her mother was right. Maybe there was a miracle waiting around the corner for Jayden.
“So what’s this I hear about you dating another man’s girl?” his sister, Fallon, asked Dane over the phone that day.
“Not you too,” Dane said, padding into his kitchen in his bare feet. He removed a beer from the fridge, unscrewed the cap and took a generous pull.
“I’ve never known you to do anything so underhanded.”
“Then you have to know I didn’t think she was seeing someone.”
Dane loved being single and the freedom it gave him. He’d always done uncomplicated sex but now this disaster with Lia Montgomery had blown up in his face.
“All right, so what now?”
“Damage control,” Dane said, drinking his beer. “I’ll put in some appearances, be contrite and do some charity stops. Actually, I’m kind of excited about the one tomorrow.”
“Oh really? What’s it about?”
“There’s this young boy who needs a bone marrow donor and I’m going to have myself tested.”
“Dane! That’s wonderful and very selfless.”
Dane shrugged as he walked to his patio door and slid it open. The balmy ocean air wafted into the room, filling his senses. He loved his Venice Beach house, which he kept in addition to his mansion in the Hollywood Hills. It had cost him a mint, but the view of the Pacific out his back door was worth every penny.
“Yeah, well. I’m being tested. There’s no guarantee.”
“It’s the thought behind it.”
Dane wished he could take credit, but it was Whitney’s doing. “So,” he said, changing the subject, “when are you, Gage and that good-looking nephew of mine coming down for a visit? You haven’t been here in ages.” Fallon had recently married Gage Campbell, a wealthy financier who’d help save the family business and she’d given birth to a son, Dylan.
“I’m sorry, Dane. Getting Stewart Technologies back on its feet took a great deal of time. With Gage’s influx of cash, I’ve been able to get new research in the works to put us back on the map but that’s taken a while. I promise we’ll come soon.”
Dane never understood Fallon’s devotion to their father’s company and her sense of responsibility for its survival considering their parents had run it into the ground with frivolous spending. He’d offered some financial resources over a year ago when it appeared the company was on the brink of failure, but she’d turned down his offer, determined to save the company on her own.
“Good. ’Cause I miss you, sis.”
“Back at you.”
From his patio, Dane stared out over the darkened horizon and thought about his family. Ever since he’d been able to read, their father, Henry Stewart, had talked to Dane about taking over the company, but it hadn’t been his dream, and when he was old enough he’d run as fast as he could. Fallon had taken up the mantle and Dane was glad because, quite frankly, he’d never lived up to his father’s expectations. The rumors of Dane’s scandalous behavior had only added fuel to the fire.
But what did he care? Dane didn’t need anyone. Or at least that’s what he told himself. As long as he had a winning smile and there were beautiful women around, he would never be alone for long.
The next morning, Dane arrived at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and was immediately engulfed by a large, noisy crowd of fans, mostly women. Some were holding banners with his picture; others screamed how much they loved him and wanted to have his babies. Dane reminded himself this was all part of the price of fame.
After climbing out of the low-slung seat of his Ferrari, several bodyguards surrounded him as photographers flashed cameras and journalists shot questions at him. Dane waved and signed a couple of autographs as he strode into the hospital entrance.
Whitney came toward him. Her bouncing blond hair hung in luxurious curls down her back and she was wearing her customary dark pantsuit. Dane appreciated her professionalism.
“Come with me.” She led him down a long corridor to an elevator that within seconds had them disembarking onto the pediatrics floor.
Whitney moved ahead of him, and they soon stopped in front of two glass double doors leading to a room with brightly colored walls. “It’s a play area for children in the hospital. I thought it would be a good place to start, but Ms. Turner isn’t here yet.”
Dane glanced into the room and his heart clenched. There were several young children in the room. Two were in wheelchairs and the other three were at low tables coloring. He vowed at that moment to give a donation to the hospital; it was the least he could do.
He heard the chime of the elevator and the hairs on his neck stood up. Dane knew Jayden Turner and his mom had arrived. He turned around in time to watch Iris Turner walk toward him. She was a lot taller than she appeared on television and every bit as slender in a pencil skirt and ruffled blouse. She was much prettier in person.
There was a youthful glow to her unblemished caramel skin, big brown eyes and dark brown hair, which fell in soft waves past her shoulders. His body tightened, reacting to her beauty, and Dane tamped the feeling down. He didn’t mess around with single moms—that was borrowing trouble he didn’t need. But he couldn’t deny he was drawn to her.
“Dane, I’d like you to meet—” Whitney began, but he interrupted her.
“You must be Iris Turner. Pleasure to meet you.”
“You, as well.” She offered a hesitant smile. “Thank you so much for doing this. To have someone of your stature…” Her voice trailed off as Dane’s focus shifted to her son. “I’m sorry.” She blushed. “This is Jayden. Jayden, say hello to Mr. Stewart. He’s here to see if he can help you.”
“Help me?” The little boy looked up, and Dane froze.
With his tight black curls, dark brown eyes and bushy eyebrows, Jayden bore a striking resemblance to Dane when he’d been young. Dane shook it off. He must be projecting because he felt sorry for him. He kneeled down. “I’m here to see if I’m a match to help you get better.”
“Why would you do that?” Jayden asked.
The innocent question caused all the adults in the room to laugh. “Because it’s