TORN: A Billionaire Romance Series (Contemporary Romance Novel)

by Love,Michelle

  “You’re missing out,” he calls out after me as I go into his bedroom and grab the television remote to turn it on and give my brain a break from thinking about the gorgeous man.

  Zane White is a magnificent looking man. He’s tall, handsome to the point I think he’s prettier than I am. His muscles have muscles and he exudes sexiness. All that said, I don’t know the man at all yet and he’s insane if he thinks his sweet kiss that sends chills and heat through me simultaneously is going to get me spread-eagle in his bed panting for him to make me his.

  I’m just not that shallow!

  What I am though is getting hungry as hell. I haven’t eaten anything all day except two of those cracker things that nice waitress gave me a little while ago in the bar. The alcohol has all but burned off with the steamy kisses Zane’s laid on me.

  My lips still tingle and my heart is sputtering but I’m a woman with strong moral fiber. I can hold onto the gift that is mine to give. And I’m not about to give it to some man who may or may not be a humongous liar who will only leave me hurting like I never have before.

  Zane’s too cool, too classy, too rich, and I’m positive he’s too good a lover for it not to hurt when he gets tired of me or this act or whatever might happen. There’s a feeling with him I’ve never gotten with anyone before but that alone is just not enough to go hog wild with him.

  The sound of the bathroom door opening has me turning back to see him without me even thinking about it. I take in a breath sharply as I see him wearing a white towel around his waist while drying his dark hair with another one. The smell that comes billowing out with him is pure man. A musky leathery smell fills the air and it makes me smile.

  “You sure you won’t take me up on my offer to skip dinner and hit the sheets with me?” he asks with a grin.

  “I’m sure. And hurry up. I’m about to starve to death over here.” I turn back to the TV and will my heart to beat in a normal pattern instead of all over the place like his appearance has it now. The man is built like a sexual machine. My God what it must be like with him!

  Fanning myself, I see he’s caught my action and is chuckling again. “You know if you’d just give in, that sexually frustrated heat you have going on would go away.”

  I keep my back to him as I know the man is getting dressed with me right here in the same damn room and he wants me to get a gander of what is most likely a remarkable penis, in hopes I’ll go crazy and jump his bones right now. But I’m not going to be doing that so I stare at the television.

  “Zane, I’m sure women give into you right away all the time and I’m not trashing them or their slutty ways but I’m not that way. I’m protective of my heart and all the things that go along with it. I hope I can count on you to act like a gentleman this evening and stop this sexual harassment.”

  A black shoe moves in next to me and I move my eyes up his leg slowly so I don’t catch him tucking himself in or something like that. “Harassment?” he asks. “Is that what you’ve felt when I kissed you, harassed?” The smile on his handsome face lets me know he thinks there is no way I found that harassing in the least.

  I’m struck dumb as I really don’t know what to say to that. Did I enjoy those hot kisses? Well, yes, of course. Who wouldn’t completely love a hot, wet, deep, sensuous kiss?

  As my eyes go all the way up, I see he’s fully dressed and turning away from me to go back into the bathroom. “You should come up with a different word to describe what you feel when I kiss you, Elizabeth. Harassed is far from being close to the word to describe it.”

  Why do I feel like a little mouse he’s toying with?

  “You’re very full of yourself,” I say as I get off the end of the bed I seem to have sat down on as I stared a whole into the television but for the life of me can’t recall a single image I’ve seen on it.

  The only image I can recall is his face looking at me and grinning with a sexy grin that made me think bad thoughts. Very bad thoughts.

  With his hair brushed neatly, he comes out of the bathroom and offers me his arm as he strolls up to me. “Let’s go get you something to eat, wife. A good husband always makes sure his wife is well fed.”

  “I’m not a pet and I’m also not your wife. So when we’re not around your maid or that other woman, you can drop the act.” I take his arm and kind of hate that it makes me feel kind of safe and cared for.

  Damn, great smelling, great looking, sexy as shit man!

  Chapter 2

  ZANE

  Elizabeth isn’t exactly jumping through hoops for me like most women do. I kind of hate it!

  The maître’ d’ is leading us to our table. We arrived, ten minutes late for the reservation. Watching Elizabeth’s eyes roam all over The Rose Club, one of The Plaza’s best restaurants, I feel delight spreading through me with a warm sensation as she seems very impressed.

  “This place is amazing,” she whispers to me as if it’s a big secret.

  “It’s nice. There are nicer ones. Maybe one evening, if you’re very good, I’ll take you to another one.” I chuckle as I move my hand from the small of her back, around to rest it on her hip. I love the roundness of it and wish like hell she’d give up this hard to get thing she’s got going on.

  Her head turns to look at my hand and she sighs. “I think you’re the one who needs to be good, Zane.”

  “I am good,” I whisper in her ear then blow a puff of air behind it. “You should let me show you.”

  Her body tenses for only a second then she moves away from me as we’ve reached our table and she’s made her way quickly into her chair. “How comfortable,” she says as she wiggles her ass on the cushioned chair. “Everything here is just so comfy. I love it!” She clasps her hands and smiles at the man who seated us.

  He’s a stoic gentleman who gives her a nod in return. “Your waiter will be with you straight away. We, here at The Rose Club, hope you enjoy your evening with us. The Avalon Jazz Band is providing this evening’s entertainment.”

  I watch Elizabeth’s mouth open to say something to the man but he turns before she can. Running my hand over her thigh, I lean in and whisper, “He’s not into talking with the guests very much. People have their little roles in New York fine dining establishments. If you want to talk to someone, talk to me. I’m dying to hear all about you.”

  “You are?” she asks with her eyebrows way up high. Surprise riddles her pretty face, making me laugh.

  “Of course.” I can see she’s the type of woman who needs to have an emotional intimacy prior to a sexual one. Now to see if I can find out enough about her and tell her enough about myself to get her into my bed tonight.

  I can envision things going well for us all night long. Over and over again. I’m sure, once her puritan ways are pushed aside, that she’s going to be one hell of a good time. If I can just get her to let me show her one, that is.

  The waiter shows up with a wine list and I think I may be able to ply her with alcohol to loosen up her tight control over her body. He hands me the list without a word and I point to the one I want.

  Elizabeth waits and watches as the waiter starts to walk away. “Wait!” she shouts.

  The people from the tables around us all look at her and she sees that and blushes. “Yes, madam?”

  “I need some water. I don’t want any alcohol.” She looks at me. “What I drank before has finally worn off and I want to keep my head straight.”

  “A little wine won’t hurt.” I look at the waiter. “Bring her a glass of water and the wine.”

  He nods and leaves as she sighs. “I won’t drink any.”

  “You don’t have to,” I say as I run my arm over the back of her chair. “But it’ll be on the table just in case you change your mind.”

  “So, you said you wanted to know about me. Is that right?” she says quickly as she leans forward to place her elbow on the table and rest her chin in her palm.

  “I do,” I say as I lean up and mimic her pose. Our faces are much c
loser this way and I can smell her sweet breath. “What’s your family like?”

  “Well, I’m an only child. My parents, Ted and Nancy, are currently on an extended vacation in Mexico where I think they may start living every winter from what Mom told me the other day when we were talking on the phone. Now I get to ask you one. Where were you born?”

  “Here. And where were you born?”

  She smiles and says, “Canada.”

  “Are you an American citizen?” I ask as the waiter brings our drinks.

  “I am. It was an accident. I was born while my parents were roaming around Canada. They went through the process of making sure I was made into an American.” She looks at the waiter who’s waiting patiently for her to stop talking. “What’s good to eat here? I’m starving.”

  “It’s all very good, madam. I assure you anything you order will be above par,” he tells her.

  She cocks her head to the side then looks at me. “Order for me, hubby.”

  “I’d love to,” I say and love that she called me that. “Two of the lobster dinners please.”

  With a nod, he asks, “A caviar service to start things off?”

  I look at Elizabeth who has her nose wrinkled. “No, just the lobsters, please.”

  With a nod, he leaves us alone again and I settle back in my chair to look at her. “What about the rest of your family?’ I ask. “I know your grandfather has passed on but what about anyone else?”

  “I’m an only child but I come from a massive family. My mother has four siblings. Two uncles and two aunts. With them all married and all have more than one kid, the family gatherings we have are enormous. Most are done outdoors, there are so many of us.”

  “Do they all live around Chesapeake City?”

  She smiles and leans back in her chair. “Most of them do, but a few have strayed off to other places in the U.S. I like where I grew up. I really can’t imagine living anywhere else.”

  “I see.” I look around at the people near us and all are quite apparently New Yorkers. Though I’ve had her all fixed up, Elizabeth still stands out. Her face is fresh, her skin is tanned, her attitude is normal. Delightfully, normal.

  “What about you, Zane?” she asks then sips her water. “Have you always lived here?”

  “I have. To be honest, I’ve never thought about living anywhere else. I’ve traveled extensively but I have to confess it was all for business. I haven’t looked at any place with the eyes of anything other than a business man.”

  She frowns and reaches out for my hand. “Zane, that’s sad.”

  “I’m a very busy man.” Moving my hand from under hers, I cover hers with mine. “Maybe a little too busy. What would you say to going with me to a child’s birthday party I was not going to attend this weekend?”

  “Why weren’t you going to go?”

  “I’ve wanted to buy a toy company from this elderly man who owns it and has no heirs, for the last few years. He wouldn’t sell it to me because I’m not married and have no kids. He thinks it’s a fundamental thing in the toy industry. He’s hosting this little boy’s birthday at his estate in The Hamptons. Every month he throws a birthday party for children who come from poor families.”

  “What a nice thing to do,” she says and gets a dreamy little smile. “Some people can be so nice.”

  “Yes, they can. So, you’ll join me then. Showing up with a wife and talking about having a family soon should make him think more about me and accepting my offer to buy his company.”

  “I don’t know if I like that,” she says then shakes her head. “No, I know I don’t like that. To get an aggressive woman off your back is one thing. Lying for your financial gain is quite another. No. No, I won’t go with you.”

  So many morals, this chick has!

  Chapter 3

  ELIZABETH

  “You certainly have your opinions about right and wrong, don’t you?” Zane asks me as he picks up the deep red glass of wine, pulling it up to his plump lips.

  It’s taking everything I have to keep my mind straight with this man. And his idea of fooling yet another person about being married has me worried. “Zane, you’ve said you aren’t much of a liar but this is already the third person you want to tell this particular lie to. You have to realize that has me seeing red flags about you. I’d also like to know one more thing. How long do you think you can get away with this lie about being married?”

  His eyes glaze over as he looks up instead of at me. “I really am not a liar. I don’t know what made me tell that lie except for desperation to be rid of that woman once and for all.” He looks at me and I see confusion in his expression. “It’s you, Elizabeth. You’ve triggered some things in me that have never been triggered before.”

  “That’s not good then. We may be very bad for each other, Zane.” I find myself wanting some wine now with the revelation this might never go anywhere. Not that I had any intentions of hooking up with this man at all but with the fake marriage and the obvious attraction we have, it was seeming like we might have something here.

  The weight of his hand on mine as I reach for the wine bottle makes me look at him and I find his expression has gone soft. “My mother died when I was a baby. Dad raised me on his own. His mother helped some but she passed away when I was five. Maybe I have some kind of a mental block where women are concerned. I keep them in a separate place in my life and always have. When I saw you walking away from me in my office today, my heart stopped. For the first time in my life, everything inside of me called out for a woman. You. Why do you think that is?”

  “Your mother died when you were a baby?” I ask as I take his face in my hands. “Oh, Zane.” Kissing his cheek, I find myself feeling so much sympathy for this man.

  He seems like he’s a tough man with a ton of ambition and nothing can stop him but he’s broken just like the rest of us. He takes my hands. “Don’t feel sorry for me. There are others who’ve had it much worse than me. I turned out okay.”

  “You did,” I say and notice how his hands are still holding mine in between us. “How old are you?”

  “Thirty-five,” he says. “You?”

  “I’m ten years younger than that. And I’m not worldly at all. I’m not a girl who’s been around the block. I’ve had a few boyfriends and all of those little relationships fizzled out on their own. How about you?”

  Placing our clasped hands in his lap he looks at them as he runs his thumbs over the top of mine. “Ten years ago I was with a woman for only one year. I cared for her. She cared about me. She was from a wealthy family but she wasn’t spoiled like so many of those rich women are. She was nice. And I gave her very little of my time. My neglect was what caused that breakup. I never tried again.”

  “Maybe you should give her a call,” I say and the words make my heart sting a bit as I really don’t want him to but my heart says that’s the right thing for him to do.

  “She’s married with three kids now. She’s happy. I didn’t love her, anyway. If I had, I’d have made time for her. I can see that now.” His eyes move up to mine and I see a glimmer in them. “I want you to stick around and I’m willing to make you a deal.”

  “You want me to stick around?” I ask. “How? I can’t afford to live in New York.”

  “You’d live with me. You’d keep on acting like we’re married and you’d help me learn how to live with a woman and learn how to make time for one.”

  “I don’t want to train you, Zane,” I say as I throw my hands up in the air with his stupid idea. “No. That’s not what I’m about. I’m not a gold digger and I’m not a user of men.”

  “That’s why you’re perfect for this. And you talk to me in a way no one else does. You call me out on my shit and I need that.” He takes my hands and holds them up then kisses the knuckles of each hand. “And I want you to be around. I can’t explain why, I just do. So please think about it.”

  An idea pops into my head so I spit it out, “Will you give me the lighthouse, le
gally?”

  “I tell you what,” he says with a grin and a twinkle in his eye. “You come with me to that birthday party and I’ll have a contract drawn up, giving you the property and the lighthouse. Plus, I’ll renovate it for you too.”

  “Now we’re talking!” I give him a nod and pull my hands away from his and grab the wine. “I need a drink now with all this. My head is spinning and I need something to turn it the other way. I don’t know what I’ve just agreed to.”

  “You’ve agreed to live with me, be my pretend wife, and teach me how to make a relationship work.”

  After a nice, long drink of the sweet wine, I put the long stemmed glass back down. “Wow, that’s quite a lot I’ve taken on, isn’t it? Especially since I have no idea how to make a relationship work.”

  His shoulder bumps mine and his mouth touches my ear. “Maybe we can help one another learn some things.”

  I bet he could teach me plenty!

  Then the sleeping arrangements slap me in the brain. “I’m not having sex with you.”

  “Ever?” he asks with wide eyes.

  “Well, we’ll see about that. But sex isn’t part of this deal. Okay? I’m not a whore.” I take another drink and look at him over the rim of the glass.

  “I’d never take you like that anyway. I’m coming to respect you, Elizabeth. I have an extra bedroom. But we’ll have to act as if you sleep in my room so we’ll keep all of your things in my room. The maid goes home every night so she’ll never know where you’re sleeping but that means you’ll have to make your own bed and keep that room looking as if it’s untouched.”

  “Wow,” I say as I think about that. “You mean do what I do with my room now?” I laugh at him and he smiles back at me.

  “Or you could just sleep with me. I think I’d like that even better,” he says with a wink.

  I think I would too but that’s moving way too fast and we’re already putting the horse before the cart too much as it is.

  He holds out his glass and I clink mine to his. The deal is set. Now to see how this thing will work out.