TORN: A Billionaire Romance Series (Contemporary Romance Novel)

by Love,Michelle

  “I want you to finally realize that you and I will make one hell of a power-couple. That’s what I want. The real estate mogul and the high powered judge. We can really get places together if we combine our forces, Zane. You have to admit you enjoyed the sex.”

  My stomach clenches with her reminder. I don’t know how to tell her I felt nothing for her. It was a sexual act and nothing more than that. But she’s a person who I can’t be that blunt with. I still need her help now and then.

  “I’m not able to make any commitments, Meagan.” I step off the elevator as the doors open.

  She follows me, of course. “Why not?”

  “Because,” I say, not knowing what the hell else to tell her.

  She follows close behind me as I hail a cab and I find her slipping into the seat as I get into the back of one. “I’m going with you,” she says. “You and I are going to talk, Mister!”

  Not tonight!

  “Meagan, look, I have a meeting with an important client. I cannot do this tonight,” I say as I scoot over.

  Her hand goes to my knee and she scoots right on over too, squeezing me between her and the door. “I can go with you to meet this client. You should have a woman on your arm, Zane. It makes you look more powerful when you do. You have to agree about that.”

  “I do not need some arm candy to command respect in the business world, Meagan. And being a woman of your status, I’d think you’d see women as more than merely arm candy.”

  Her hand moves over mine and she pulls my hand up and touches it to her small breast. “I’m a woman who wants a man. I’ll be whatever you want me to be in private.”

  “I don’t want you to be anything to me, anywhere,” I say as I pull my hand back. “You don’t seem to understand me. I am not available.”

  A pout forms on her thin red lips. The shade is more orange than red and I really hate it. It makes her teeth look yellow. There is so much about Meagan Saunders that I find unattractive, it’s not even funny.

  I saw her as a beautiful woman when I first met her. Her aggressive nature quickly put me off, though. I can’t stand the fact she can’t take no for an answer.

  Her hand goes to my cock and I grab it and hold it in a tight grip. She looks at me then leans in to try to kiss me. “Zane, one kiss.”

  “No, not one kiss,” I say as I move her hand back to her own lap. “And keep your hands off the goods.”

  “Why did you do that to me then?” she asks and starts to get a weepy look. “You let me have the knowledge of what it feels like to lie in your strong arms. I know what it feels like to have your well-muscled body grinding mine to the bed as your huge cock plunged into me.”

  The cab driver’s eyes catch mine in his rearview mirror and I find myself blushing. “I think she reads too many of those romance novels,” I tell him.

  He nods and Meagan grabs my face and pulls me to her. Just before our lips touch, I yank my head out of her grasp. “Zane!”

  “No, Meagan.” I grab her hands and hold them between us. “I am not available.”

  The cab driver stops at the hotel and the doorman opens the door. I climb out the other side and see she’s gotten out too. “I’m coming up to your penthouse. We’re going to talk.”

  Looking up at the sky I ask, “Why Lord? Why tonight, of all nights?”

  Walking quickly around the back of the cab, I catch up to her and grab her by the arm. “You can’t come up.”

  She stops and puts her hand on her narrow hip. “And just why not. It’s not as if you have another woman up there. I do know that about you, Zane. You aren’t seeing anyone else. I don’t see why you can’t give me a little of your time.” She leans in and whispers. “I need you. I need some more of what you gave me. You can’t just show a woman a time like you showed me and think she’ll never need that again. No man has ever made love to me like that before. I need more.”

  “That wasn’t making love, Meagan. That was a drunk fuck. How can you not understand that?” I whisper back. “I don’t love you.”

  “Well, if that was a drunk fuck then I want to know what a sober one is. So take me up to your penthouse and show me,” she says as she runs her hands over my shoulders. “I have to know.”

  “No,” I say as I gently push her back. “I’m not going to be doing that. Not ever. I’d love to know why you think you coming to me like this is a thing I would like. I’m not a man who likes to be pursued.”

  “Sure you’re not,” she says as she follows me as I try once again to get her to leave me alone. “I know what I want. What’s not sexy about that?”

  Only everything!

  “Look, I have things to attend to. You need to go. You won’t be coming up to my place. You need to go catch a cab and be on your way.”

  Her heels click as she hurries to stay by my side. “I’m not taking no for an answer. A drink then. A little drink and if you still don’t want me after that then I’ll give you some space for tonight. But I will never stop until I have you, just so you know.”

  If it’ll take one drink to get her off my back, then I’ll do that. Otherwise, I foresee her interrupting my plans with Elizabeth and I do not want that. “One drink, at a bar here in the hotel and not up in my penthouse.”

  She hangs onto my arm and makes a little purring sound. “Oh, all I need is one drink with you and I’ll get you to change your mind.”

  Shaking her off me, I take a couple of steps to get in front of her. “My mind can’t be changed. I really am not available.”

  “We’ll, see about that,” she says as she struggles to keep up with me.

  I can’t get this drink over fast enough!

  Chapter 5

  ELIZABETH

  With the suite empty of all the people it took to make me look better than I ever have in my life, including my high school prom, I find myself very nervous about this date. It’s about an hour from now and I think I need a drink to help me not act like a fool over the hot man.

  Jeremy, Zane’s personal assistant, even moved my things from my purse to this black clutch he brought along with the dress, shoes, and jewelry. I was a little embarrassed to see that he’d purchased a naughty bra and panty set in black silk too.

  I open the clutch to make sure that card is in there to pay for my drink and find it. As I head out the door there’s a couple heading out of their room too and the older man with gray at his temples looks me up and down. The woman holding onto his arm gives him a jerk and his eyes leave me and go straight ahead.

  So I must look pretty damn good!

  My hair is pulled up into a very fancy updo. Little curls are hanging around my face which is made up perfectly. Not too much makeup and I look pretty natural.

  The dress is the shortest thing I’ve ever worn. Just covering my ass, it ends in a lacy edge and I find it pretty with a sexy edge to it. It’s a nice combination that I’d never have picked out on my own.

  As I get onto the elevator, I notice the man sniffing the air. He must like the perfume the stylist misted me with. I have no idea what it is but it does smell very nice.

  I take in my own scent too and smile. It does feel awesome to have been so pampered. I know it’s only for tonight and it’ll never happen again but it was very nice. I do feel like a million bucks now.

  The elevator stops and a man gets on. His dark eyes move over me and he comes to stand next to me. “First floor,” he says to the other man who’s near the control panel.

  The man gives him a nod and then the guy turns his attention to me. “I’m about to get a drink. Would you like to join me?”

  I smile at him and cannot believe he asked me this quickly. “I’m sorry, I can’t.”

  His eyes move to my left hand. “I see no ring.”

  “No, you don’t,” I say with a light laugh. I offer no more than that.

  The elevator stops again and three more men get on. All have on tuxedos and all look like they’re about to go out for the time of their lives. One of them boasts
, “Watch out ladies, this man is out as a single man for the last night in his life. He’s on the prowl.”

  The man next to me uses his shoulder to bump against mine. “You sure you don’t want my company for drinks? I’d hate to see you be the conquest for that guy.”

  I smile and shake my head. “I really can’t.”

  His words have the three men looking at me and two give me whistles. I blush and look down as I bite my lip. I am totally unaccustomed to this kind of attention.

  “Wow, what a knockout,” one of them says. “Did you just come from a shoot or something?”

  “A shoot?” I ask as I look back up at the nice looking guy who said that.

  “Yeah, you’ve got to be a model,” he says as he wiggles his eyebrows. “You should come with us. Free drinks all night long, baby.”

  I feel the man next to me run his arm around my waist. “Find some other woman to harass, gentlemen, and I use that term loosely.”

  I laugh and cannot believe this is really happening to me. “Thank you,” I say and move over a little. He moves his arm and gives me a nod.

  The doors open at the lobby and we all get off the elevator. I make my way toward the nearest bar and find the bachelor party moving away from me, thankfully. The other man steps up next to me. “I’ll give this one more shot. If I lost my chance, I’d kick myself. Are you sure you won’t join me for just one drink?”

  “I can’t. Thank you, though,” I say as we walk to the same bar.

  “Meeting someone?” he asks.

  I nod. “A little later. I just need one drink to steady my nerves for our date.”

  “I see,” he says with a frown. “Okay then. If it doesn’t work out, I’m in room 1067. Just so you know.”

  I laugh and walk toward a small corner table and call out over my shoulder as he heads toward the bar, “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “Name’s, Brock,” he calls out to me. “What’s yours?”

  “Elizabeth,” I say and sit down.

  He nods my way. “See you around, I hope.”

  A waitress comes to me and places a white napkin on the dark mahogany table in front of me. “Hello, would you like to see a wine list this evening?”

  “I need something pretty stout. Do you have any recommendations?” I ask.

  “Stout? How about a whiskey sour? They’re pretty stout.”

  I give her a nod and off she goes to retrieve my much-needed drink. As I look around at the fancy bar, I see several sets of male eyes on me. Never have I commanded this much attention in my life.

  It’s pretty amazing and I hope I remember this time always. Especially when I’m a little old lady, living with a houseful of cats and wondering how I ended up all alone. I can look back and say, one night I was really pretty and had tons of men’s attention. That should be enough for me.

  When the waitress comes back, she has my drink and two more of them. “These are all from the gentlemen at the bar. You’re very popular, miss.”

  Three drinks and all I wanted was one. “Tell them all, thank you, for me. But I’m not available.”

  She nods and leaves me with my drinks. The first drink is a rough one. It is stout and I can see it should definitely chill me out. I pull out my phone to look at my social media will I sip on my drinks and before I realize it, all three are gone.

  Checking the time, I see I’ve been here for only twenty minutes and have downed those drinks way too fast. When the waitress comes back with a new drink, I hold up my hand. “Whoa. You can leave that on the table but I think I need a glass of water. Or better yet a cola. I need something to counteract that alcohol. I have a date I don’t want to be drunk for.”

  With a nod, she takes up the empty, little glasses and leaves me to figure out how I’m going to knock this buzz off. I smile at her as she returns with a tall glass of cola and a little tray of crackers with summer sausage and cheese on top of them.

  “You’re a lifesaver,” I say as she places the things on the table.

  “I’ve been told that on occasion,” she says with a smile.

  And they say New Yorkers are rude!

  Chapter 6

  ZANE

  Going into the first bar I see, Meagan is hot on my heels. “One drink,” I say as we go inside and my heart stops as I see Elizabeth sitting alone at a small table, talking to the waitress. “Shit!”

  “What?” Meagan says as she comes up to my side as I’ve stopped dead in my tracks.

  Elizabeth looks past the waitress and sees me then her eyes go to Meagan and she looks away. I have no idea what she must think.

  My mind is spinning with what to say and do. I could turn around and leave but that would look odd to Elizabeth. So that’s out.

  I could tell Meagan to beat it, but I know she won’t do that. I could turn tail and run away from them both but that’s not me.

  As my wheels spin, one by one they stop spinning and start to work together. I might be able to use this unique situation to get Meagan Saunders off my back once and for all.

  Little clicks are made in my head as the whole thing comes together in my mind. Maybe Elizabeth will work with me on this. She seems like the type of woman who can see a situation for what it is.

  I can see by the way she’s looking at me again, there are some questions in those bright green eyes and she’s wearing a smirking grin. A grin that tells me she thinks I’ve been busted but I’m about to blow her mind, I think.

  Turning to look at Meagan, I smile. “Good. There’s someone here you should meet, Meagan. The reason I keep telling you I’m unavailable.”

  The waitress walks away and I walk up to Elizabeth’s table, Meagan at my side. “Hello, gorgeous,” I say as I reach out for Elizabeth’s hand.

  She places it in mine and says, “Hello, yourself, Romeo.”

  Meagan makes a huffing sound then says, “Who is this?”

  Looking into Elizabeth’s eyes as I try to get her to understand what I’m about to do, I give her a wink then say, “This is Elizabeth, my wife.”

  A gasp is heard from beside me then I feel a hand on my arm. “The hell you say?” comes Meagan’s response.

  The smile that crosses Elizabeth’s pretty red lips has my heart pounding. She looks away from me and over at Meagan. “I’m his wife. And you are?”

  Meagan looks more pale than usual. “No!”

  Elizabeth nods. “Yes.”

  She scoots over and I sit next to her, fingering the diamond necklace, I say, “It looks lovely on you. I hope you like it. I couldn’t resist getting it for you this afternoon.” I kiss her cheek and she clears her throat a bit.

  Okay, I’m not going to push her too far!

  “How could you not tell me this, Zane?” Meagan asks as she slides into the booth across from us, her eyes on Elizabeth.

  Looking into Elizabeth’s shining eyes, I answer, “We haven’t told anyone yet. We were married in Vegas only a couple of nights ago.”

  “How long have you two known each other?” she asks as she stares at us.

  Before I can say anything, Elizabeth answers, “A little over a month. But when you know, you know. We couldn’t wait and ran off to Vegas on his private jet and tied the knot.”

  “Let me see your ring,” Meagan says with doubt-filled words.

  Again, Elizabeth beats me to an explanation. “We’re using my grandparent's wedding set. It was my wish and Zane is a master at giving me what I wish for. The rings are at the jewelers being fitted for us.”

  “I see,” Meagan says as she leans back against the seat. “I just don’t know why you wouldn’t have told me this, Zane.”

  “I didn’t think you’d believe me,” I say as I run my finger over one perfectly formed nail, painted the deep red I asked for. Pulling Elizabeth’s hand up, I kiss it again. “The color looks amazing on you. Thanks for doing them this way for me.”

  Playing along, Elizabeth says, “Well, when my man asks me to paint my nails his favorite shade of red, I get righ
t on that. It’s what a good wife does.” She turns her head to look at Meagan. “Don’t you agree?”

  “Huh?” Meagan asks as she stares at her. “Oh, yes. Certainly. So where did you two meet?”

  “In her little hometown of Chesapeake City, Rhode Island,” I say as I run my arm around her shoulders and pull her close to me. She does fit me so perfectly. “She’s a conservationist.”

  “I was trying to get him not to tear down a little lighthouse that’s special only to me really. And this man and I fought over it for a while,” Elizabeth tells her.

  Another huff comes out of Meagan’s mouth then she says, “I’m surprised you married him after that. This man never gives in.”

  Then Elizabeth pulls her head back to look into my eyes and I see something there that scares me a little. Her lips part and she says, “But he did give in. He gave me the lighthouse and the property it stands on as a wedding present.”

  The little minx!

  “You did not!” Meagan says. “Tell me she’s lying, Zane.”

  I shake my head and kiss her cheek again then say, “No, she’s not a liar.”

  It’s obvious Elizabeth thinks she’s just won but she’s got to do more than this little amount of time as pretending to be my wife if she thinks I’m going to give her that lighthouse!

  Meagan seems stumped for the first time ever and I wish I’d have thought about doing this a long time ago. But then I remember I had no woman to play this part.

  “So, you live in his penthouse with him now?” she asks Elizabeth.

  “Yes, of course.” She runs her hand over my cheek. “He’s the sweetest man I’ve ever met. Living with him is like a dream come true.” She turns her eyes to Meagan. “And just why are you with my husband may I ask?”

  I look at Meagan too, waiting for her answer. Which she readily gives, “I didn’t know he’d gotten married. You see he and I are lovers.”

  Slowly, Elizabeth turns her face to me. “Is this so?”

  “Were, and only one time. I’ve apologized for my mistake to her for making a drunken decision,” I say and kiss the tip of her nose.