by JA Low
Tempting the Billionaire
Book 1 - The Hartford Brothers Series
JA Low
Copyright © 2021 by JA Low
All rights reserved. No part of this eBook or paperback book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, including electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. JA low is in no way affiliated with any brands, songs, musicians, or artists mentioned in this book.
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Thank you for respecting the author’s work.
Cover Design by Outlined with Love
Editor by Briggs Consulting
Created with Vellum
Contents
Prologue
1. Audrey
2. Audrey
3. Stirling
4. Audrey
5. Stirling
6. Audrey
7. Stirling
8. Audrey
9. Stirling
10. Audrey
11. Stirling
12. Audrey
13. Stirling
14. Audrey
15. Stirling
16. Audrey
17. Stirling
18. Stirling
19. Audrey
20. Stirling
21. Audrey
22. Stirling
23. Audrey
24. Audrey
25. Stirling
26. Audrey
27. Stirling
28. Audrey
29. Stirling
30. Audrey
31. Stirling
32. Audrey
33. Audrey
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Playing the Player
About the Author
About the Author
Interconnecting Series
Also by JA Low
Also by JA Low
Also by JA Low
Interconnecting series
Also by JA Low
Also by JA Low
Prologue
Audrey
“Happy eighteenth Audrey.” My father stands up and toasts toward me.
I raise my glass in his direction and smile through gritted teeth. This birthday party is all about him, not me. He’s invited all his friends, colleagues, business associates, mistresses even. It’s in some fancy hotel ballroom on Fifth Avenue, there’s a string quartet playing, it’s black tie and the food is something from the turn of the century.
“This party sucks,” I hiss at my girlfriends, the only two I was allowed, because they come from good families.
“It will be all over soon and then we can really party.” Rainn grins. I can’t wait.
“Hey, sorry we’re late.” Rhys walks in and kisses my cheek and he’s followed in by his best friend and business partner, Stirling Hartford. Internally I let out a sigh when I see him dressed so handsomely in his tuxedo.
“Happy Birthday, Aud.” He kisses my cheek also. I hate how hot Stirling is. He’s not looking at someone like me even if I’m legal tonight, he’s a man, not a boy. Thanks to him having a decade on me. I chose my dress hoping to get a birthday kiss from him tonight. I’ve been kissed before it wouldn’t be my first. It’s just Stirling’s lips are so luscious and perfect. I’ve seen him kiss other women, and I want a taste for myself. Just once I want to know what it’s like to be kissed by a man like him.
“You’re late,” Stanford, my other brother, hisses at Rhys. They hate each other always have and probably always will and here I am stuck in the middle of the two of them, trying to keep the peace.
“Unlike you Sandy, I make my own money while building an empire,” Rhys snips back. Stanford grumbles something not so nice then takes a sip of his beer. Rhys and Stirling take their seats opposite me at the round table.
“Let me guess, this is all Dad?” Rhys grabs a glass of champagne and throws it back.
“Of course,” I say, rolling my eyes.
“It’s lucky your brother owns a hotel and has secured the penthouse for you. You can have a proper party tonight.” Rhys grins.
“Are you serious?” I ask. Not quite believing what I’m hearing.
“I organized it with your friends. They were quite insistent.” He chuckles. I turn and look at my long-time best friends Rainn Miller and Nell Garcia and squeal with delight and hug them tightly.
“Thank you both so much. This is going to be the best birthday ever.”
“Have fun tonight sweetheart.” Mom gives me a kiss on the cheek. “See you tomorrow.” She gives me a wink. Dad is busy talking to someone more important, so he doesn’t even acknowledge my departure. We walk outside into the warm night air and there’s a limousine waiting for us out front.
“Your chariot awaits, Audrey.” Rhys grins.
I grab the girls’ hands and we rush down the stone stairs toward the limousine. We instantly jump in and open the sunroof and stick our heads out and scream at the top of our lungs before bursting out laughing which turns into squeals when the limousine takes off into the late-night traffic. We eventually climb down as the driver hits his breaks and the sudden motion throws us across the limousine. Nell falls into Miles, Stirling’s brother’s, lap. She looks rather pleased about the turn of events. It also sends Rainn into Stanford’s lap and judging by her face she looks like she’s about to puke and then there’s me and my boobs, which end up right in Stirling’s face. Strong hands wrap around my waist, while hard fingers dig into my hips, sending a shiver over my body.
“Hey, hands off my sister,” Rhys growls at Stirling, whose hands quickly retreat from my body unfortunately.
“He was just trying to help, Rhys.” I glare at my brother as I sit back on the leather of the limousine’s seat. “Last thing I would have wanted was to end up at the emergency room on my birthday,” I say, raising a brow at my brother.
“I would have fixed you up,” Miles, Stirling’s younger brother adds. He’s currently in med school training to be a doctor someday. I probably would have been good practice for him if I had fallen. I cross my arms over my chest and ignore my brother. He’s so protective of me around his friends, especially Stirling. I’m an adult now. I can make my own decisions I don’t need my big brother cock blocking me. No that doesn’t sound right, shaking my head. Vag blocking? Ew that’s even worse. Anyway, I know what I mean.
“Let’s get this party started,” Rainn squeals, popping a bottle of champagne.
“You’re not legal,” Stanford grumbles at me, snatching the bottle from my hand before I can take a sip.
“Fuck you, Sandy.” I snatch it back. His eyes widen at my language. I’m a fucking adult now I can swear if I want to. “I’m eighteen Sandy, deal with it.” Rhys chuckles and Sandy flips him off. Urgh, brothers.
We continue drinking champagne out of the bottle till we arrive at the hotel down in
the Village. Rhys takes my hand and helps me out of the limousine as my legs are unsteady from the champagne. As I do, the buttons pop on the slit of my dress, and I give my brother an eye full he never needed to see.
“Jesus, Aud.” He grimaces before quickly looking away. “Thank goodness you were wearing underwear.”
“Shut up, Rhys.” I yell. Feeling my entire face burn a bright red from embarrassment at flashing my brother. It was not on the list of things I had planned for tonight.
“Is your dress broken now? Do I need to grab you a new one?” Rhys asks.
“No. It was designed like that.” Kicking my leg out showing off my slit for everyone to see. And by everyone, I mean Stirling, who I noticed glance my way for a split second, taking in my long legs before looking away. Maybe all hope isn’t lost thanks to my brother’s overprotectiveness, and tonight might be the night I get my kiss. We enter the hotel and are ushered directly up to the penthouse where the party is being held. As soon as the elevator doors open, all of my friends are there to greet me and I am pulled into a tsunami of well-wishers.
My night isn’t going to plan. Stirling’s attention has been preoccupied by a bevy of beautiful women, and by women, I mean way over the age of eighteen. The more I watched Stirling laugh and flirt the more champagne I threw back down my throat.
“Happy birthday, Audrey,” Shane Michaels greets me with a bear like hug. He was one of the football guys that played with my high school ex-boyfriend. “You’re looking good.” He eyes me up and down and I can see the hunger swirling behind his gaze.
“Thanks.” I giggle. “You don’t look so bad yourself.” I flirt, as I run my hand down his muscular arm enjoying his attention maybe I’ll get a birthday kiss after all just not from someone who I want.
He leans in and whispers into my ear. “I’ve always thought you were hot, but because of Clay I could never do anything. You were off limits.” The smell of stale beer filters over me. Okay, it’s not great but least he’s hot. “But now you’re not.” He grins as he runs a finger down my arm. “So, you’re all mine tonight, babe.” He leans in and kisses my neck and leaves a wet patch on my skin. Ew. Yeah, he is not going to be a good kisser at all. I’m going to drown in his saliva if we do.
“Slow it down a little buddy. We’re not there yet,” I tell him, placing my hand against his chest and gently pushing him away. His brown eyes turn black at my rejection.
“You’re not a cock tease, are you?” Shane raises a brown in my direction as his voice turns cold. How did this turn so sour so quickly? “Clay did mention you were one.”
“So, I’m a cock tease because I asked you to slow down because you slobbered all over my neck like a fucking Labrador,” I hiss. The champagne is giving me the confidence to do so.
“Wow, you are a stuck-up bitch, aren’t you?” Shane leans forward and towers over me, which makes me slink back. “Thinking you’re too good for all of us in your fucking ivory tower.” Shane’s face turns red with anger. “You rich bitches like to take a walk on the wild side. Because we know how to show you a good time.” He moves closer to me, boxing me in against the wall. “You’ll protest but once I slip my big, thick, cock inside of you you’ll be screaming for more.” His hand moves between us and up the split of my dress. The movement catches me off guard and I scream from the shock of his actions. Shane’s hand clamps down over my mouth.
“I see you’re a bit of a screamer. Maybe we need to head somewhere a little quieter.”
Then the next thing I know he is falling backwards and his hand releases from my mouth.
“Get your fucking hands off my sister,” Rhys growls as his fist connects with Shane’s jaw, then his nose. “Touch her again like that and I’ll fucking kill you; you hear me!” Rhys screams at him while he is slumped on the floor.
“Stirling, take her home!” Rhys yells at his best friend who leaves the side of some beautiful brunette to wrap his arms around me and take me away from the fiasco that is breaking out behind me. Worst birthday ever. I don’t realize I’m crying until Stirling hands me a handkerchief from his pocket. I dab my eyes and wish the ground would swallow me up.
“You, okay?” he asks quietly beside me.
“Not really.” I sniffle, humiliated that he’s seen me like this.
Stirling ushers me into the waiting limousine and we pull out into the busy Saturday night traffic.
“You know you didn’t deserve that don’t you?” Stirling turns and looks over at me. His brow furrows together in concern as he gives me a weak smile.
“It was a shock he turned so quickly like that.” Shaking my head I try to piece the bits together that made Shane flip like that. I recount my words and my actions toward him. I know I was flirting but still things escalated way too quickly for my comfort.
“Why did he do that?” I turn and meet Stirling’s eyes for the first time hoping he could shed some light on it all.
“Some men are just dicks, Aud. And that’s why it’s our job to protect you from them.”
“Your job?” My voice raises in surprise.
“You’re like a little sister to me, Aud. You’re a beautiful woman and there will be so many men that are drawn to you now. But Rhys and I will always be here looking out for you.” Stirling gives me his very own overprotective speech. He sees me like a little sister. I never stood a chance with someone like him. I will never be anything more than his best friend’s little sister.
“Thanks for seeing me home. Your duty is done.” The sarcasm drips from my words. “I’ve had enough fun for one night.” I say, placing my hand on the handle of the limousine to get out and away from him. I’m humiliated by his words.
“Hey.” He halts me with a hand on my forearm and from that single touch my entire body lights up. Every nerve ending reacts and comes to life. No. Not now. “I don’t see you as a duty, Aud.”
“And you don’t see me as a woman either,” I bite back.
“What does that mean?”
“It means that all I wanted for my birthday was for you to kiss me.” Shit. I didn’t mean to tell him that. Oh well, it’s out there now, and I can’t put the words back.
“Audrey.”
His eyes soften as he says my name. I know what he’s thinking; he doesn’t see me like that. I’ll always be that annoying little sister that used to spy on her brother and his friends and tell her parents when they were kissing girls and smoking pot.
“Forget it, Stirling. Just forget it.” And with that, I slam the door and any hopes of a fairytale birthday kiss happening.
Eighteen sucks.
1
Audrey
“I don’t want to go,” I moan, searching through my never ending closest. “I don’t have anything to wear,” I grumble staring at the overflowing cascade of designer outfits. My two best friends Rainn and Nell stare at me as if I have lost my marbles.
“What about this?” Nell pulls out a gorgeous mint green couture cocktail dress.
“I’ve already worn that.” Grabbing my phone, I scroll through my feed until I find the picture I’m looking for, then turn it around and show her. Nell lets out a defeated sigh.
“Why haven’t you archived it yet then?” Nell asks.
“Because I don’t have room. I need my own place,” I huff, slumping down on my king-sized bed.
“There’s a townhouse for sale next door to me,” Rainn tells me. Nell and I look at each other burst out laughing. I love Rainn, she is one of the most genuinely beautiful and positive people you will ever know but her granola loving, zero waste, yoga and health guru ways are vastly different to mine. Nell and I are more comfortable on the Upper East Side. “Hey.” Rainn pouts looking at the two of us.
“I love you Rainn.” I snicker. “But I don’t think I’m trendy enough for your suburb,” I tell her. She shakes her head while rolling her eyes at me.
“Aud, it’s a ten-million-dollar townhouse,” she tells me. And maybe I’m a snob but I love living up in the Upper Ea
st Side. Rainn sees my face and grins.
“I know, babe. It’s gorgeous down there. And you’d get so much more for your money. It would be a good investment.” The words tumble out of my mouth which makes Rainn laugh.
“I get it, Aud. You like it up this end of town better,” she adds.
“I do. I really do.”
“Why would Audrey leave this amazing apartment to live on her own?” Nell adds. It’s probably for the best that I’m not living on my own because last time Nell and I lived on our own we practically burnt down our dorm due to us lighting candles and leaving the window open. One large gust of wind and woosh the synthetic curtains went up in flames. Our parents had to donate a basketball court for our mishap; the school didn’t want to take any more chances with us so after that we both had to move back home with our parents.
I’ve known Rainn and Nell my entire life. We started kindergarten together, then moved through all levels of schooling until we all graduated from Columbia a couple of years ago.
We are all influencers (I hate that word). Rainn has the holistic health and fitness area covered. She can be seen in various yoga poses in exotic locations around the world, as well as whipping up the most delicious vegan feast. She also showcases how living a zero-waste, minimalistic life doesn’t mean you can’t live luxuriously. Her family comes from a long line of hippies, where they made their money in eastern medicine for rich people.