by Lacey Black
Profited
Bound Together Book 2
Lacey Black
Copyright © 2016 Lacey Black
Photograph & Cover design by Sara Eirew
Website: www.saraeirew.com
Cover model: Mat Wolf
Editing by Kara Hildebrand
Format by Brenda Wright, Formatting Done Wright
This book is a work of fiction. Any reference to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means without the prior written permission of the author.
All rights reserved.
Index
Also by Lacey Black
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Epilogue
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Also by Lacey Black
Rivers Edge series
Trust Me, Rivers Edge book 1 (Maddox and Avery) – FREE at all retailers
~ #1 Bestseller in Contemporary Romance & #3 in overall free e-books on Amazon
~ #2 Bestseller in overall free e-books on iBooks
Fight Me, Rivers Edge book 2 (Jake and Erin)
Expect Me, Rivers Edge book 3 (Travis and Josselyn)
Promise Me: A Novella, Rivers Edge book 3.5 (Jase and Holly)
Protect Me, Rivers Edge book 4 (Nate and Lia)
Boss Me, Rivers Edge book 5 (Will and Carmen)
Trust Us: A Rivers Edge Christmas Novella (Maddox and Avery)
~ This novella was originally part of the Christmas Miracles Anthology
Bound Together series
Submerged, Bound Together book 1 (Blake and Carly)
Profited, Bound Together book 2 (Reid and Dani)
Music Notes, a sexy contemporary romance standalone
*Coming Soon from Lacey Black
Entwined, Bound Together Book 3 (Luke and Sidney)
Book 1 in the Summer Sisters series, a new contemporary romance series
Dedication
To my dear friends Amanda and Jo.
From random texts and emails to the daily PM’s, we’ve laughed, cried, and shared incriminating evidence. I never imagined that this journey would bring me two amazing friends that I will cherish for the rest of my life. When I look back, I will always know that I profited from your friendship.
Love,
Sweet Cheeks
Prologue – I Don’t Want This Night To End
Reid
More Than 8 Years Ago
“I’m running back to grab another beer,” I holler over the loud, thumping country music piping through the massive collection of speakers next to the stage. The guys just give me a head nod before turning back to enjoy the view of a luscious Sara Evans performing in short shorts and cowboy boots on the main stage.
I start to push my way through the masses, taking in the country music lovers around me. Girls in bikini tops and barely-there shorts. Guys in Wranglers and boots and big Stetsons to protect them from the intensity of the desert sun. Their cowboy appearance definitely makes me feel slightly out of place in my khaki shorts and blue and tan polo shirt.
We’re only a few hours into the music festival located on the northern part of the outskirts of Phoenix, Arizona in the Sonoran Desert. My buddies Jon, Cory, Scott and I drove the almost five hours south to attend this massive two-day country music festival. For me, it’s not about the music though. I’ve never been a huge fan of country music. For me, it’s about freedom. With graduation from UNLV in my rearview mirror this past May, I’m soaking up every ounce of freedom I can before officially giving my soul to the devil incarnate. The devil being my father.
Joseph Hunter has owned me since I was born. With a degree in business management, I’ve been groomed since the moment I entered the world to join him at the helm of the family casino, The Chameleon. My grandfather, Harmon, at a very young age started the casino with his father back in the day where gangsters walked the streets wielding tommy guns and flapper dresses were all the rave. When his only child, Scarlett, married a nobody from the wrong side of the tracks, Harmon didn’t bat an eye. He took the young boy under his wing and showed him life from within the casino. Joseph took to it like a fish to water, and together Harmon and Joseph developed and grew The Chameleon into one of the largest casinos on the Las Vegas strip.
This past summer, since my college graduation, Grandfather has allowed me to travel and enjoy a little free time. A two-month backpacking trip overseas was his gift to me, and that was the only way I was able to enjoy my summer. My father wouldn’t permit me to take time off unless it came as an order from Grandfather. He was ready to have me join him at the company, but he would never challenge a decision made by my grandfather. However, come Monday morning, my freedom ends. From that point on, you’ll find me Monday through Friday, eight to six, sitting at a desk in the office next to Joseph’s.
I make my way to the massive area of land designated for tents. Tents of all shapes and sizes are littered everywhere. Fire pits, lawn chairs, and coolers adorn each campsite. Most of the open area is deserted right now as the concert dwellers are enjoying the third act to take the stage since we’ve been here. Some of these entertainers I haven’t heard of before, yet that didn’t stop me from jumping in the passenger seat of my buddy Jon’s three-year-old Chrysler 300 and riding for hours to enjoy this final little taste of liberty.
Nearing the sliver of land we claimed as our own, movement out of the corner of my eye draws my attention. I can’t exactly ignore the person just off to my right, as I’d prefer to do; nor can I backtrack and find another path. I’ve already committed to this one and I’m not that far from our campsite now. Besides, I could really use that beer.
Even though the sun is starting to set, I can tell instantly that the individual is a girl. A woman. She’s petite with long, blond hair pulled tightly into a ponytail at the nape of her neck. Her thin blue tank top dips dangerously low in front, giving off a lustful view of creamy, smooth cleavage. The woman is wearing shorts, but hers appear to be a little more modest than the ones other girls are sporting. A pair of worn cowboy boots and socks lies in the dirt next to where she’s sitting, clearly tossed aside in search of a more comfortable option. She doesn’t notice me as I approach, which works out perfectly for me as I intend to slip by her unnoticed.
Just when I’m a few feet away, she startles and glances up. Crystal blue eyes the color of the ocean slam into me with so much force, it stops me in my tracks. The stifling summer desert air lodges painfully in my throat as we stare at each other, neither of us moving or speaking. Her sparkling eyes are wide with innocence and shock, but that’s not what holds my attention. No, her eyes shine brightly with sadness and unshed tears. Something foreig
n grabs ahold of me, deep in my cold-hearted chest, and I suddenly want to make her smile.
And shit if that doesn’t piss me off instantly.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you,” I say, still unable to move a single muscle. I should keep walking; walk to our campsite and grab that beer. Instead, I find myself stepping closer to this stranger to get a better look at her.
She’s breathtaking in a simple, effortless way. She’s not caked in makeup or with her hair teased into some fancy hairdo. She’s sitting on the ground, in the lumpy dirt, covered in sweat, and drinking a Dr. Pepper while holding a cell phone. And the sight of her practically knocks me on my ass.
“It’s okay. I thought you were someone else,” she mumbles softly.
Without giving it any thought, I take another step into her campsite. I don’t know why, but there’s some crazy cosmic pull happening right now, and I’m unable to walk away from her. The sadness in her eyes guts me to the core. That alone completely catches me by surprise since I haven’t felt emotion in years. Well, except towards my little sister, Tara.
“Are you okay?” I ask her, squatting down in the dirt next to her.
She seems leery by my sudden interest in her wellbeing. After all, she doesn’t know me. The woman gives me a questioning look before running her eyes down my body. My entire being suddenly burns with want as her blue eyes peruse me. They linger on my chest and trim waist for several moments as if she’s picturing what I look like beneath my clothes. My cock thickens instantly as those blue eyes continue to my open legs and down to my sandal clad feet. If I were a damn woman, I’d feel a little violated, but since I’m a man–a red-blooded, horny man–I fucking love it.
“Are you done?” I ask, unable to mask the smile on my lips.
Her stunning eyes move swiftly back up and slam into my own. The most beautiful pink blush settles in as she stumbles on whatever it is she’s trying to say. “I’m sorry,” she mumbles before turning away.
“Don’t be. I’m not,” I reply with another coy smile.
Without standing up, I reach forward, extending my hand. “Reid,” I tell her.
She hesitates, but only for a moment before reaching forward and placing her petite hand inside of mine. “Dani.” The instant we touch, my blood starts to boil. My gut rages with fire and it has nothing to do with the sweltering heat under the desert sun. No, it has everything to do with this beautiful woman in front of me. Her touch causes me to flare to life for the first time in a long, long time. Suddenly, I don’t want to let her go.
“Nice to meet you, Dani. Is there a reason you’re sitting in the dirt by yourself instead of enjoying the concert with everyone else?” I ask her, shifting so that I drop down on my ass in the dirt next to her.
Dani laughs, but it lacks humor. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” she says with a little punch of venom. Apparently whatever has her on the verge of tears also has her pissed off.
“Try me,” I find myself saying.
Dani takes a deep breath as if weighing her options. No, she doesn’t have to tell me, and I’m not going to push her, but part of me–a very foreign part–hopes that she humors me and tells me what’s wrong. “I came here for the weekend with my boyfriend,” she starts. Another emotion I’m completely unaccustomed to tingles in my chest and punches at my gut. Jealousy.
“Anyway, we really hadn’t been seeing each other very long when he invited me to come here.” Dani laughs again. “I take that back. He really didn’t invite me, he more like hinted around about how bad he wanted to go and how much fun it would be, but he didn’t have the money for the tickets.”
“So, let me guess. You bought them?”
“Ding, ding, ding. We have a winner,” she says as she points to me. Her face lights up as if I’d just won the big prize on one of those daytime game shows, and for some reason, I feel like I have. “Stupid, right? You can say it. You’re probably not going to say anything that I haven’t already thought.”
“I’m not going to put you down right now. It looks like you’re already doing a good job of it,” I say with the slight raise of the corner of my mouth.
“I am. Anyway, we weren’t here an hour when a group of college girls set up their camp right next to us. Next thing I know, Bryson has his tongue down one of the girl’s throat.”
“Are you kidding me?” I ask, incredulous.
“Wish I were,” she mumbles, dropping her eyes back down to the cell phone clutched in her hand. “And to make matters worse, I can’t get ahold of my sister to come get me.”
“Wow. I don’t even know what to say to that,” I tell her, shaking my head. “So, he went off to enjoy the concert with some girl he met five seconds ago, and you’re here at the campsite because you can’t get a ride home?”
“Basically. My older sister is the only one I can think of who has a car besides my dad, and there is no way in hell I’m calling him tonight to drive out to the desert to pick me up. He wasn’t a fan of Bryson anyway, and frankly, I don’t want to listen to it the entire ride home. A cab would cost too much money.”
“Where’s home?” I ask.
“Here in Phoenix. I’m a senior at Arizona State.”
“So, you’re stuck here while your ex-boyfriend is off having fun with someone who’s probably half as good looking as you? And I’m assuming he’s your ex-boyfriend now, right? Unless you’re into that sort of thing,” I joke. Not that sharing a woman would be a bad thing, but the thought of sharing this particular woman makes me want to lose my mind.
“Yeah, he’s definitely my ex-boyfriend now. Not that he was a very good one to begin with, but at least he finally showed me the full range of his douchery.”
Her comment makes me laugh again, which is another surprise. I’ve laughed more in the last 10 minutes than I have in the last four years of college combined. Serious by nature, I’ve always been more of the quietly observing type. Never quick with a smile or laugh, my humorous side has always taken a distant backseat to my desire to get to the bottom line. Down to business. No pleasantries. That’s what makes me damn good at what I do. There’s always an angle and never any need for the other shit.
I’ve had a few girlfriends, mostly in high school, though. In college, I focused on getting my degree in the manner that my father deemed appropriate. Late nights in college were spent with random girls to scratch a particular itch, never allowing any of them to get too close. I never stayed the night and never allowed her to either. In fact, I was usually gone before the sheets started to cool down. Sure I developed a reputation, but I didn’t give a shit. There was always a girl willing to indulge in a night of no-strings sex. Half of them were just as interested in keeping it as casual as I was. The other half were hoping to be the one to change me. None of them were.
“I’ve got an idea,” I start as I stand up. “Come on.” Extending my hand down towards her, I wait for her to grab ahold. The thing she doesn’t realize is that she’s not the only one taking a chance here. I am so far outside my comfort zone right now that I can barely see the line anymore.
“Where are we going?” she asks with a curious look. She hesitates, but only for a few seconds.
“We’re going to have fun,” I tell her as she places her warm hand inside of my own. Again, at our contact, an electric current shocks my system.
With ease, I pull up until she’s standing. Dani doesn’t hesitate as she slips her socks and cowboy boots back on her feet. I’ve never been into the cowboy and cowgirl movement, but seeing those worn, dark boots on her feet makes my dick thicken in my pants once more. I’m suddenly picturing her with those long, tan legs wrapped firmly around my waist while she’s wearing those boots and nothing else.
She’s a vision. Like staring at the sun; I know I should look away before I get burned, but I can’t.
“That jackass doesn’t deserve any more of your thoughts. We’re going to go out there and listen to a few bands, drink a few beers, and have fun. You
can hang out with me and my buddies tonight,” I tell her.
Still, she hesitates a little. I’m assuming it’s a safety factor, you know? Mom and Dad all but beat it into her head from the moment she can walk that you never talk to strangers. You never get into a vehicle with someone you don’t know. And you never go off with a strange man at a concert even when you’re surrounded by thousands of others. Ever.
Yet, here I am, asking her to throw caution to the wind and come with me. I can practically see her wheels spinning as she weighs the odds, mentally listing the pros and cons. I can tell that what she needs right now is reassurance; to know that not every guy out there is a douche like the man she came here with.
“Dani, I promise to watch out for you tonight. My friends are good guys. I’ll be a complete gentleman the entire time, unless you don’t want me to be,” I add with an ornery smile. Her sweet laughter fills the campsite moments before she places her hand inside of mine once more.
“Let’s go,” she says, awarding me with a warm smile. I suddenly feel like I just won the damn lottery as her eyes twinkle with the same excitement that her smile carries. My breath hitches inside my chest, and unexpectedly, I’m feeling lightheaded.
I lead Dani towards our makeshift campsite. We’ve got two tents that Jon bought specifically for this trip, a cooler filled with enough beer to keep us hydrated for a few days, another with food and bottled water, and a small fire pit; not that you need it in this heat, but the desert does start to cool down once the sun disappears. And besides, we need it for cooking. Four bag chairs that Scott borrowed from his parents complete our set up. It’s nothing fancy but it’ll get the job done tonight and keep us from sleeping in the dirt or being eaten by mosquitoes.
“Want one?” I ask as I fish a Coors Light out of the cooler.
“Um, sure,” she replies in a smaller voice laced with uncertainty.
“You don’t have to if you don’t want to. I have water,” I tell her.