Her laugh fills my ears and sends joy to my heart. “I bet you can!” She hits my arm, lightly. “Let’s just get to know each other, Zane. We can see where that leads us. Okay?”
I nod and the door buzzer tells me her things have arrived. “Let me go get your things. I’ll be back.” Leaving the cheesecake with her, I look over my shoulder. “And save me one more bite of that, please.”
She nods as I head out of her room and feel kind of light-hearted. I’m still frustrated but not as much as I was. It would be great to get to have her but I can wait.
I just hope she doesn’t make me wait until we find love because that may never come!
Chapter 7
ELIZABETH
Kids are running and screaming at the tops of their little lungs as a heard of them run past us, shooting each other with huge water guns. Eugene Brasco of The Brasco Toy Company laughs with delight as he watches the kids playing. “Go get them, Johnny!” he shouts to the birthday boy he’s throwing the party for.
Zane and I have been cohabitating for two days now and my decision to join him at this birthday party was not without my own incentives. I want to see how the man is with children. My feminine curiosity overcame me and I’m not entirely sure I like the outcome.
He’s more than a bit stiff with the kids he’s interacted with, which was about three of them. He’s all business, this man!
“So, Eugene, I was looking at last year’s sales and I couldn’t help but notice that while they were good, they could’ve been better. You’ve neglected to get into the visually interactive games kids love to buy,” Zane says as he tries to talk to the man for the umpteenth time about his company.
“Video games?” Eugene asks as he throws his hand in the air as if waving off the notion. “Bah! I detest them! Look around, White. Tell me what you see.”
“A bunch of kids acting like maniacs,” he says with a shrug of his wide shoulders.
I laugh and try to save things for the poor guy. “Zane, really look at them. They’re having the time of their lives. A thing they wouldn’t be doing it they had a gaming device in their hands instead of a water gun. Really look, babe.” Getting out of the tall patio chair, I go to his side and take his hand in mine. A hand that now has a gold band on it. He got us a set to make things more legit.
Eugene nods as he says, “Now she knows what my vision is. Good choice in making her your wife, White. Very good choice.”
Zane looks at me with a smile on his face and kisses my cheek. “Yes, she was a very good choice. I love you, baby.”
“I love you too, baby. Now look at those kids.” I take him by the chin and turn his face to look at the kids who are all having fun. “Look past the insanity that seems to be happening out there and find one kid’s face to zoom in on and tell me what you see.”
He looks around for a minute then says, “Aw, that little boy is smiling like he’s just won the lottery or something. It’s kind of cute.”
“Those smiles are what makes my life worthwhile,” Eugene says. “I was married to the love of my life. My one and only. She and I wanted to have kids so badly. But that just wasn’t in the cards for us. She and I started this company with our combined ideas. When she laid on her deathbed she made me promise that this company, a thing we consider as dear as any child of our own, was placed in the right hands. Hands that knew how to make kids happy.”
Zane’s eyes go to mine in an attempt to ask for more of my help. It’s funny how I can read him so easily. “Zane’s never been around kids much. But I think with some more immersion into the depths of the little angels he could learn what makes them tick. I know you aren’t really considering him right now, Mr. Brasco, but you really should. He’s a very caring man, though he’s not accustomed to showing it.”
I look into Zane’s eyes and find him staring back into mine with unsaid gratitude as Eugene says, “It’s very beautiful what you two have. I will consider him if you were to come along with him, Mrs. White.”
Zane’s eyes go wide and he smiles then looks at Eugene. “You would? She’d definitely be a part of this venture! I can’t think of anyone who’d make a better partner in this type of company. She holds a degree in history, I bet she could use some of her knowledge to come up with new spins on old toys.”
His enthusiasm is catching as Eugene sits up and seems very interested all of a sudden as he looks at me. “A history major? Why didn’t you say so? Oh, that was my favorite subject when I was back in school. I loved reading about the various wars back then. Do you have any interest in developing toys, my dear?”
The idea of coming up with toys has never crossed my mind but my pretend husband wants this company very badly so I nod. “I loved playing with them when I was a kid. I didn’t spend a lot of time in front of a television when I was growing up. My grandfather gave me this little set that I used to collect bugs and learn about them. That was my favorite one.”
“Oh, I know what you’re talking about,” Eugene says with a laugh and a gleam in his eye. This man simply loves toys!
“You played with bugs?” Zane asks as he frowns at me.
“Played? No,” I say as I take his hand, pulling him up to come with me. “I studied them then let them go. Come on, I want to show you what it feels like to let that inner little kid free.”
“Teach him!” Eugene calls out to us. “Show him what it’s like to really live!”
As I tug him along behind me, he seems reluctant to go with me. “I don’t want to get wet.”
“I don’t want to hear you saying things like that. Who doesn’t like a good water gun fight?” Grabbing two guns off a picnic table, I hand one to him and point mine right at his face.
“Not in the,” he has to shut up because of course, I shot him in the face. “You’re so going to get it. This means war!”
I scream and turn to run and find my back cold with the water from his gun. When the kids find a couple of adults playing, they all come at us. A few of them are screaming, “Us against them!”
“Oh no!” I scream and slow my running to turn to Zane. “Looks like we have to team up or they’ll take us down, partner.”
He nods and we turn to face the ten or so kids who are coming at us with their water guns blazing. “On my mark, Elizabeth. Three, two, one. Fire!” We let loose and blast the front line and three of the little kids fall back with screams of laughter.
“Serpentine!” I scream as they converge on us. Zane and I break into a run, crisscrossing each other to avoid their shots while shooting back at them as we run backward.
A loud buzzer rings out and Eugene uses a bullhorn to make an announcement, “Cake is now being served by the swimming pool.”
And just like that, the war is over and every kid runs for the cake, leaving Zane and I to catch our breath. Standing there, holding our guns, breathing like rabid dogs, I find him more attractive than I ever have.
“That was fun,” he says then turns to look at me. “Thanks.”
His smile is lopsided. One piece of his hair has been pushed up haphazardly. His white, button-down with the sleeves rolled up a quarter is wet and clinging to his mountainous pectorals and my mouth is watering for him.
So I do what any woman would do when she feels so hot and bothered by a gorgeous man. I spray him in the face with my water gun and run away screaming as he chases me!
Chapter 8
ZANE
“You’ve got cake right there,” I tell Elizabeth who uses her tongue to lick around her mouth to clean away the imaginary cake I told her about.
“You didn’t get it,” I say then run my finger through the chocolate icing on top of my piece of cake. “Here, let me.” I run my chocolate tipped finger across her bottom lip then lean in and lick it away.
She giggles as I end the lick with a little kiss. “Silly boy!”
Running my arms around her, I hold her close. “You make me feel like one.” I kiss her again then hear the sound of someone clearing their throat.
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We’d been alone in the kitchen as we snuck in to get a piece of the birthday cake we missed while we were shooting each other with water guns outside when it was served. So the sound of anyone else in here has me letting her go.
Meagan Saunders is standing there with a gift wrapped present under her arm. Her eyes go to my left hand as she says, “So the rings came in, I see.”
“What are you doing here?” I ask her as I take Elizabeth’s hand in mine.
“I’m always on the list to these things, Eugene throws. You aren’t the only rich person he invites to these things. But this is the first time I’ve ever seen you at one. I always drop off a gift,” she says as she places the gift she brought on the table.
“We were just going to go back outside,” I say as I tug Elizabeth along with me and walk out past Meagan who looks down her nose at us.
“You look like something the cat dragged in, Zane. What’s that about?” Meagan asks as she falls in behind us much to my disappointment.
“None of your business,” Elizabeth says. “Just so you know, Meagan, I really don’t like you.”
Giving her hand a squeeze, I have to stifle a laugh. “Not the place, hun.”
“No, it’s not,” Meagan says. “I suppose there are no rules of society in Chesapeake City, Rhode Island. In New York, we have rules to keep us a step above the animals. You need to teach her, Zane. Or she’ll never fit in.”
“Fit into what?” Eugene says as we approach him.
Meagan takes over as she gives him an over the top greeting. “Eugene, darling, how have you been?” She gives him an air kiss next to his cheek and stands back. Somehow she’s managed to get on the other side of me and she’s standing too close.
Stepping over a bit, I nudge Elizabeth to take a step over too and she does as Eugene watches our odd behavior. “I’ve been well, Judge. I can’t recall the last time I actually saw you at one of these things. I always find a gift from you but haven’t seen you here before.”
Meagan’s eyes cut to me and she leans in to whisper. “I’m here for a specific reason. Can I take a moment of your time to speak to you in private?”
“Of course,” he says as he gets up and the two walk away and I see her cutting her eyes back at me.
“I’m a little worried,” I tell Elizabeth. “She knows I’ve wanted his company.”
“I don’t know what she could say to stop him thinking about you,” she says.
“Me neither.”
I watch them go into the house. A shudder runs through me. I see no good coming out of this.
“I think we should leave,” Elizabeth says. “When he comes back out, we’ll say our goodbyes and we should get out of here. I hate being around her. She kind of has this evil as shit vibe going on.”
“Yeah.” I run my arm around her and kiss the side of her head. “We’ll do that.”
I can’t stop watching the door Eugene and Meagan went into and when he comes back out, alone, I’m relieved to see she’s no longer with him but his frown has me worried.
When he points at me and wiggles his finger, I know this isn’t good. Taking Elizabeth with me, I make my way to him and follow him back into the house. Just as we get inside the door, he spins around and I see his face is red. “Is this a real marriage or a thing you’re doing to get my company?”
“What?” I say with a very high voice.
Elizabeth takes over. “Did that woman tell you something?”
“She told me you two have to be pulling some kind of a scam. She told me Zane and she had a relationship up until just a few days before your supposed marriage in Vegas. She’s concerned that you’ve made this whole thing up merely to get your claws into my company. She said you’ve talked to her on many occasions about wanting it. She also told me that you planned on selling it once I’m dead and gone. Is this true?”
“No,” I say and fight the urge to run out to grab that bitch by her apparent balls and knock her into next week. “She’s jealous and vengeful is her problem. And we never had a relationship.”
“So you two didn’t have sexual relations only days before you said you married this woman here?” he asks.
“They did, but that I was partly to blame for that,” Elizabeth says. “I was afraid he hadn’t sown all of his wild oats and I told him he needed to get that all out of his system. He didn’t want to and he apologized to her for using her that way.”
“I don’t like this kinky lifestyle you seem to have, White! You two looked like a normal couple. But once she told me all she did, well, I can’t see you that way any longer. There will be no deal. Not with you. I don’t even want to be your friend any longer, White. You can leave my home now.”
I feel as if the wind’s been knocked out of me. “Eugene, this isn’t what she said it was.”
Elizabeth tugs at my hand. “Come on, babe. Hopefully, time will show him the truth. It was nice to meet you, Mr. Brasco. I do hope you change your mind about us and don’t let that woman ruin things. She’s not a good person, sir. I hope you come to see that sooner rather than later.”
Allowing Elizabeth to lead me out, I can’t stop the anger from flowing through me. “I want to kill that woman,” I say between clenched teeth.
Once we get to the car and get inside, Elizabeth looks at me with sad eyes. “Lying is a dangerous thing, Zane. Maybe you should rethink this whole thing. Maybe you should come clean.”
Her hair is damp and clinging to her forehead. Her shirt is still damp and hanging off her shoulder. She looks a mess but she’s a beautiful mess and the thought of coming clean and ending this is not a thing I want to do.
“Give me a year, Elizabeth.” Taking her hand, I lift it and leave a kiss on top of it. “If you left me now, I honestly don’t know what I’d do. With time, she’ll stop, I think. Then, if you want to end this or I do, then we can. We can say we got a divorce. But I need you. I need you to help me now, more than ever. If she’s going to come after me like this, there’s no telling how else she’ll try to punish me.”
“Why can’t you stand up to her, Zane?” she asks me with a frown. “Just stand up to her. Tell her you don’t like her. Tell her you did lie about our marriage because you had no idea how else to let her know you want nothing to do with her like that. Just tell her the truth.”
I could do that. I know I could. But then there would be nothing holding Elizabeth here with me. And I don’t want her to go. And I don’t quite understand why I feel this way. But I do.
To be continued…
The Billionaire’s Lighthouse Series
A Billionaire, Bad Boy, Romance
Book 4
Her Control
By Michelle Love
Description
Domination. Yearning. Surrender
Elizabeth has a family reunion back in Chesapeake City, Rhode Island. Even though she’s only twenty-five, she’s the last remaining single woman in her family, a thing they give her grief about.
The plan was to tell her family the truth about their relationship and leave the lie about the marriage out. Until Meagan calls with the news that she knows where they are and is determined to find out the truth. She’s not about to give up on Zane without a fight.
They decide the lie has to be told to Elizabeth’s family too and after an initial encounter with an old boyfriend, the couple finds themselves in a new position.
Zane is happy to work with her, taking more of a submissive role. Only when she treats him like her submissive in front of her family, they find they both hate it.
Can things continue with their lie getting bigger all the time?
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 1
ELIZABETH
“Did you make the call today?” Zane asks me as he finally comes home fro
m his office.
“Yes, I quit my job and my friend is super pissed at me.”
Lois is busily dusting the end tables and all their little trinkets that cover them as she pretends not to listen to us. Zane comes to me and plops down on the sofa next to me.
Tugging me to sit on his lap, his hand runs around to the nape of my neck and pulls me in for a kiss. “I love you, baby,” he says as he rests his forehead against mine. “And tell her we’ll be sending them a very nice wedding gift. We should get them something nice. Pick out something and put it on that card I gave you.”
Zane hands out, I love you’s, like M&M’s when anyone is around us. I really do need to figure out how to handle this acting thing because I’m finding myself believing him. And myself believing it when I say it back to him.
“Okay. I’ll ask her what kinds of things they need. Well, they need everything since the guy hasn’t ever had a job. Maybe, I’ll send them a gift card.” I play with the top button of his shirt as I look at it.
His fingers touch my chin, pulling it up. “That’s not going to cut it. This gift is from us. I’m not a gift card giving kind of man. Make it from the heart. And I’ve yet to hear you tell me something I’ve been waiting to hear you say all day long.”
“I love you,” I say then kiss him again. “Sorry, for making you wait.”
Lois turns to look at us and her smile tells me she’s buying this little marriage thing. “It’s time for me to leave. I’ll be bringing in groceries in the morning. So I’ll be in a little later than my usual nine, Mrs. White. Can I bring you anything special?”
“No, I’m good with what you’ve been bringing, Lois. Thank you.”
She nods and leaves and I go to move off Zane’s lap with her gone. He holds me tight. “And where is it you think you’re going?”
“She’s gone. We don’t have to pretend anymore.” I wiggle to get him to let me go.
TORN: A Billionaire Romance Series (Contemporary Romance Novel) Page 134