Shattered: A Billionaire Romance Series (Contemporary Romance Novels)

by Love, Michelle

  That wasn’t the answer that I was looking for. “Why would you want to take me?”

  “I’ll pick you up at seven,” he said without answering my question. He hung up before I could say anything, and I couldn’t help but smile.

  Was it possible that Lucas Montgomery actually liked me?

  Feeling almost giddy, I put the phone down and held the dress up against me. There were only a couple of hours before seven. It didn’t usually take me long to get ready, but I did absolutely have to get some mock classroom questions written up for my Children’s Lit class.

  Lucas Montgomery was taking me out on a date. Maybe my luck was finally turning around.

  He would find a dress similar to the one that I had worn at Randi’s birthday. It was the same halter style that dipped low over my cleavage and scooped all the way down my back. It fell to my ankles with a long slit up the side.

  I don’t know how he’d done it, but it fit every single one of my curves just perfectly.

  By the time I’d finished pinning my curls up and applying a little bit of make-up, I stared at myself in the mirror. I could have actually passed as pretty. Stepping into the same heels that I’d borrowed from Randi that first night, I completed the look.

  There was a sharp knock at the door, and I took a deep breath. “Here goes nothing,” I whispered.

  On the other side of the door, Lucas Montgomery looked absolutely immaculate in a black tuxedo. My mouth went dry as I stared at him. With just a little bit of scruff and those intense eyes, he looked like sin wrapped up in a pretty bow.

  “You look nice,” he said stiffly, but as his eyes roamed over me, I felt almost complete naked. Exposed.

  “You look nice as well.” At least my voice didn’t crack this time. Gripping my clutch, I stepped outside and closed the door behind me. Rather than one of his expensive cars, a limousine waited for us out in the parking lot.

  “I think this was how my prom was supposed to go,” I said without thinking.

  “Excuse me?”

  “The pretty dress and the limousine,” I said hastily. “I’m not trying to cheapen anything, but it’s the only other formal occasion that I have ever experienced.”

  “And how exactly did your prom go?”

  I gritted my teeth. It was eight years ago and shouldn’t still upset me. “It didn’t. My date stood me up,” I muttered. Dustin Wheeler. He’d been one of the best looking guys in the school, and I’d been speechless when he’d asked me out. In high school, I’d been a joke. I was the bookworm with the frizzy hair. All I needed was the dorky glasses to complete the cliché.

  And the handsome football player to humiliate me. That part actually did happen.

  “This isn’t prom, Sloan,” he said as the driver opened the door.

  “Of course not. Forget I even said anything,” I blushed. Slipping into the car, I berated myself. Already I was sounding like a complete idiot. “Tell me what to expect.”

  “At the gala?” He sat close to me and rested his arm on the seat behind my head. There were empty seats along the other side of the limo and spots just behind the driver’s seat and at the back. Plenty of room to spread out, but his thigh pressed against mine. All he had to do was move his hand an inch, and he’d be touching me. Instead, he seemed completely relaxed and oblivious to how my body was heating up. “The intention behind the charity gala was noble, and the Harrison’s and Belle’s both strive to keep it that way, but most of the guests don’t go to support charity. It’s all politics and appearances. But when people are flashing that much money around to impress others, the charities do win out.”

  “You sound like you don’t approve.”

  “I wouldn’t have even gone if it weren’t for my board members. The demand that I make certain appearances each year. Since I’ve turned up solo to all the events in the past few months, I was advised that taking a date would be good for my reputation.”

  His voice was easy and unconcerned, and I felt my heart drop. Of course this had everything to do with his appearance and nothing to do with me. He’d probably known that I’d be so easy to manipulate.

  “I see,” I said coldly. I thought about moving to another seat, but I didn’t want it to be obvious that my feelings were hurt.

  “You’re upset.” He moved his hand and stroked his thumb down the column of my neck. I knew it was to distract me, but I still couldn’t help but warm under his touch.

  “It’s fine. Do you know how long it will last? I have class in the morning.” I leaned down to move away from his fingers, but he simply took advantage and slipped a finger down the length of my spine. I couldn’t even help myself as I gasped. “Damn it,” I muttered. “Why do you do that?”

  “Do what?” His finger slipped under the fabric of my dress, and I immediately straightened and cleared my throat.

  “Touch me when I’m angry,” I snapped as I wiggled away. Every time he was close to me, I felt all logic fly out the window.

  “Do you want me to stop touching you?”

  No. Yes. Fuck. “I can’t think when you’re touching me,” I said lamely.

  “You’re not supposed to think, Sloan. You’re supposed to feel. I do have an ulterior motive for tonight, and you should be very aware of it.”

  My heart fluttered. “What ulterior motive?” I whispered.

  He leaned down and kissed my bare shoulder. My eyes drifted shut as his hand skimmed under the fabric of the dress to brush along the side of my breast. “You’re not wearing a bra.”

  Just a little more. I was almost ready to beg for it. Just a little more, and he’d finally be touching my aching nipple. “It’s not the kind of dress you wear a bra with.” I turned my face to him and desperately hoped that he would kiss me. My lips burned for him, and although he’d already set my body on fire, he still hadn’t let me taste him.

  He pulled his hand away, and I moaned in frustration. Chuckling, he slid a finger up the slit of my dress. “Is it the type of dress that you wear panties under?”

  No. “That’s for me to know,” I said as I licked my lips. Silently berating myself, I knew that I was playing with fire. We both knew it. Just a couple of days ago I’d told him that I wouldn’t be his toy, and here I was, on the cusp of begging to be used.

  “That’s fine. I have every intention of finding out for myself before the night is over with.”

  “Lucas!”

  “Don’t. When the night is over, if you want me to take you home, I will. No questions asked. But I think you’re going to want to satisfy your curiosity.”

  He continued to caress my bare thigh, and I grew wetter by the second. “Curiosity?”

  “Just how many times do you think I can make you come in one night?” he whispered in my ear. “From my fingers. From my tongue. From my cock.”

  Fuck. I was so ready to find out. I wanted to find out right then and there, but the car pulled to a stop. He immediately straightened and gave me a cocky smile. “We’re here.”

  Taking a deep breath, I tried to collect myself, but no amount of straightening my dress could dampen the desire inside me. I knew that I wasn’t going to be able to hold him at arm’s length forever.

  Chapter Eleven

  Sloan

  Politicians. Celebrities. Business tycoons. My eyes widened as I took everything in. The wait staff moved with silver trays through the crowd carrying champagne, martinis, and wine glasses. Everyone mingled in the middle, and while they were laughing and talking, none of it looked genuine.

  “It’s pretty,” I said lamely. It wasn’t a lie. Someone put a lot of money into decorating the place. The tables lined up along the wall were dressed in white with gold embroidery. Each was decorated with a tall center candle and several smaller candles surrounding it, all in crystal hurricane vases. Lights swooped over the large curtain that hung from ceiling to floor, and right in the middle of the charity booths was a champagne fountain.

  “Pretty?” he said with a cheeky smile. “This is th
ousands of dollars’ worth of decorations in here, and all you can say is pretty?”

  “To those of us who have never seen thousands of dollars’ worth of decorations, it’s pretty.” I suddenly brightened. “Do you think Chris Pine is here?” I had a huge crush on Chris Pine.

  He rolled his eyes and guided me into the crowd. We could barely take a couple of steps before someone would stop him to talk. All eyes seemed to land on me, but no one asked me for my name.

  Maybe they knew I wasn’t important. His hold on me never wavered, but as the time passed, I realized that I was no more than a decoration on his arm.

  “Montgomery! What is this I hear about you buying real estate in Boston?” one pot-bellied man said as he stretched out his hand.

  I felt Lucas tense before he reached out and shook it. “Jackson. I haven’t bought any property in Boston,” he said with a forced smile. “But I did see the article. I guess someone jumped the gun on that one. I’m fairly focused on the Japan project.”

  “I see,” he said skeptically. His eyes dropped to me, and I decided that enough was enough. “Hi. I’m Sloan Whitlow,” I said as I held out my hand.

  Lucas looked at me sharply, but the man just smiled and took my hand. His lips grazed across my knuckles and lingered a little too long. “Daniel Jackson, at your service. I own the Surf and Sand resorts.”

  “Wow. I’m a graduate student.”

  He roared with laughter and dropped my hand. “A graduate student? That’s rich.”

  Lucas steered me away, and I glanced back, confused. “Why is that funny?”

  “Don’t worry about it. Would you like some champagne? I see someone that I need to speak with, but you’re welcome to help yourself to any of the food and drink. Just don’t leave the hotel. I had your security detail take the night off since you’re with me.”

  My stomach growled, and I realized that I was a little hungry. “I’ll probably just steal some food and go talk to the people at the charity booths. They look like they’re more my speed anyway.”

  He nodded shortly, but his eyes scanned the crowd. “Pick your favorite one. I’ll donate to that one.”

  “What? I don’t think that’s how it works, Lucas. You’re supposed to donate to the one of your choice. It’s not my money.”

  “They’re all the same to me,” he said. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

  Aghast, I watched him walk away. They were all the same to him? That was cold.

  Wrapping my arms around myself, I made my way through the crowd until I stopped at the Animal Rescue Foundation. Snagging some finger sandwiches from the tray, I offered one to the guy behind the booth. “Hungry?”

  A smile broke across his face as he took the sandwich. “Starving. Thank you. Most of the guests here don’t pay much attention to us.”

  “What do you mean? Aren’t you here to talk about the charity?”

  “I am. I have a whole speech planned out, but no one really ever asks. They just hand me their credit cards and sign after I swipe it.”

  I studied him. He was close to my age, and while he was dressed in a suit, he was clearly uncomfortable in it. Finally, someone I could relate to. “Well, I’m Sloan Whitlow. Unfortunately, I have no money to give you, but my date told me that he’d donate to the charity of my choice. So by all means, give me your speech.”

  He laughed and handed me a brochure. “All right. The Animal Rescue Foundation is a hundred-acre sanctuary for domestic and farm animals. We accept any surrenders, no questions asked, and we also rescue animals from euthanasia in kill shelters. Right now we’re fostering seven horses, twelve pigs, several birds, close to a hundred dogs and cats, and a camel. Most of our animals are sick or have been severely abused. We charge a small adoption fee, but most of the animals live their entire lives on the sanctuary. Money for food and medical services comes entirely from donations, and our staff is made entirely of volunteers. We don’t have to pay anyone in the organization a salary which means that a hundred percent of the donations goes to the animals.”

  I opened the brochure and put a hand over my chest. The pictures showed a straggly rag-tag group of animals, but they all looked content splayed out on their chewed and torn beds.

  “We only have two stables, and both of them are in desperate need of repair. We’re also hoping to install a shallow pool to provide therapy for our older arthritic dogs,” he said as he pointed to the brochure. His finger slid over my hand, and he immediately reddened. “Sorry.”

  I couldn’t help but smile. He was attractive. Certainly more my speed than Lucas, but I didn’t feel the same sizzle. “I think I’ve heard of you guys. Do you do field trips for the local elementary schools?”

  “We do, but we just implemented the program a couple of years ago. You can’t possibly be old enough to have a kid in elementary school!”

  “No, I’m a graduate student studying childhood development and education. I’m actually working on my thesis, and I came across a list of popular field trip destinations in the area. What do you do with the kids?”

  “We try to teach them proper care and responsibility for animals, but I think, to them, we’re a petting zoo. The schedule allows them to leash, walk, train, and feed the animals. They get a pamphlet about pet responsibility when they leave.”

  “Do any of the parents complain that their kids come home begging to adopt a pet?” I asked with a laugh.

  “Actually, we get a good percentage of families that come back. They either want to adopt, or they want their kids to help out during the summer. We offer a camp program for kids to volunteer and help out once school lets out.”

  The wheels in my head were turning. There were no activities for elementary kids in the summer that were connected to the school system, but an organized program where kids could try out and volunteer at a number of places around would both educate and entertain. They could volunteer at animal shelters, soup kitchens, nursing homes, and even hospitals. It would go a long way in teaching them compassion, responsibility, and diversity.

  “Do you have any information on your summer program that I could take with me?” I asked suddenly.

  “Sure. We’re still accepting applications for camp counselors. If you like animals and kids, it’d be a great place for you. It’s part time, so you can still work,” he said as he bent behind the booth and grabbed a folder. When he stood back up, he immediately paled and looked down.

  An arm wrapped around my waist, and I stiffened. Lucas possessively pulled me towards him. “See something that you like?” he asked me softly.

  “If you’re talking about the charity, yes,” I said with narrow eyes. Pulling out of his hold, I took the flyer. “Could you write your contact information on here in case I have any questions?”

  His eyes widened, but he grabbed a pen and scribbled on the paper. “Thank you. I will definitely be in touch.”

  Lucas had a firm grip on my elbow as he steered me away. “What is wrong with you?” I hissed as I jerked away. “You told me to pick a charity.”

  “Talk to them. Not get their numbers,” he growled. “When you’re on my arm, you don’t flirt with other men.”

  Trying to keep my voice down, I glared at him. “You are such an asshole. I wasn’t flirting. I think his organization’s program could be implemented in schools. Not that you’ve ever bothered to ask, but it’s what I’m busting my ass to study. And if you’re not going to actually treat me like a date, I’ll talk to whomever I want.”

  “Not treat you like a date? I bought you flowers and a dress,” he said as he stared at me. “I thought that’s what you wanted.”

  “Then you don’t know the first thing about me. I came along because I thought this was your way of apologizing to me, but it’s obvious that the women you drag around are supposed to be seen and not heard. You should see the surprise on these people’s faces when I try to introduce myself. You might as well have picked some whore off the street.”

  I watched as his jaw clenched
with rage, and I took a deep breath. “I’m going to the ladies’ room. Don’t follow me.”

  Spinning on my heels, I kept my head up as I walked towards the bathrooms. Tucking the paperwork into my clutch, I turned at the last minute and skirted around the crowd. What I really needed was some fresh air, but I knew he would freak out if he thought I was trying to leave without him.

  “Controlling bastard,” I muttered as I strode through the lobby and opened the double doors. The cool air rushed to my skin and instantly calmed me. I inhaled deeply and rolled my shoulders.

  How mad could I be at him? I agreed to join him tonight knowing full well that all he wanted was a quick roll in the sheets. I had nobody to blame but myself.

  I turned to explain to the valet that I was just here to walk around a bit when I realized that no one was at the stand. Dread filled me when I scanned the parking lot.

  No security. No people milling around.

  The headlights weren’t turned on when the van barreled out of the darkness. As it screeched to a stop, I whirled around and ran desperately for the door. I would have made it too if they weren’t waiting for me. They stepped from behind the columns and grabbed me. Before I could scream, they shoved something into my mouth.

  This time, they were ready for me. Binding my arms with a zip tie, they quickly lifted me and shoved me in the van.

  Ten seconds. It couldn’t have taken longer than that for me to realize that I wasn’t getting out of this one.

  Chapter Twelve

  Lucas

  She was gone. As soon as I burst through the doors of the hotel, I saw the familiar van speeding off. Her clutch lay on the asphalt with the contents spilling out.

  Fear gripped me as I pulled out my phone. Torrence grumbled as he answered, but I didn’t have time for that. “They have her,” I said urgently. “I need a trace on my phone. If they call, I want to know where they are immediately.

  “You’re at the gala?” he asked, obviously awake now. “Which direction did they go?”