The Billionaire’s Lighthouse Series: A Billionaire, Bad Boy, Romance

by Michelle Love

On their last night in Paris, she was sitting out on the terrace. Richard had taken a business call – with an apologetic look at her – and so she snagged a glass of wine and went out onto the balcony, propping up her legs on a spare chair. She had so many questions, so many things she wanted to talk to Richard about, but she wanted to get things straight in her own head first.

  When he came out, phone call over, he pulled up a chair next to her and kissed her cheek.

  ‘Have you had a good time, my love?’

  She smiled and nodded. ‘I have, Rich, it’s been so much fun.’

  He studied her. ‘But?’ He smiled ruefully. ‘I know you’ve been thinking things over, it’s been obvious. So, look, let’s get our cards on the table, here, now. Then when we go home, we can start with a clean plate.’

  She tapped her glass to his. ‘I’ll drink to that.’

  They both sipped their wine then Rich nodded. ‘So, you first. Ask me anything. I assume you’ll want to know about why Camilla and – ‘

  ‘No,’ she said, cutting him off. ‘Not yet. I want to go back further than that. The night we met…’

  She could see the shutters come down in his expression. ‘Rich…you said I could ask you anything. Why were you on that street, with those people? Are you using? There’s no judgment here, I just want the truth.’

  Richard sighed. ‘No, I’m not using, I swear to God. But…god…Cora was. My sixteen-year-old sister was and hardcore stuff too. Cora’s always been vulnerable, easily depressed. She got hooked on cocaine and then graduated to heroin. I went there that night to pay off her dealer; he was threatening her. I also promised her that I would never tell anyone. We pretended she was going on vacation for a month before school started; instead, she went to rehab. She’s doing really well too but if the press were to get hold of it…’

  ‘Oh God…poor Cora,’ Lila was shocked – she’d had no idea that the tiny redhead, so bubbly and exuberant, had been on drugs. The few times she’d met Cora, she had liked her very much, and the feeling was mutual.

  Lila looked at Richard with a new respect, a new fondness. ‘You did that for her? You’re the perfect big brother.’

  He laughed and rolled his eyes. ‘Lila, I am far from perfect but what else could I do? Mom and Dad don’t know; they would for sure blame themselves.’

  She took his hand and kissed his palm. ‘You have a wonderful family.’

  ‘Thank you.’ He sighed and cupped her cheek with his hand. ‘As for the other thing, God, Lila, I cannot begin to tell you how sorry I am. I know we’ve only been dating for a few months, but there’s no excuse for my behavior. I don’t know what I was thinking.’

  Lila just nodded, a lump in her throat. Richard studied her. ‘Are you mad?’

  She nodded but smiled, and he stroked his thumb across her face.

  ‘I’m mad at me too. What a douchebag.’ He grinned then and she chuckled, despite herself.

  ‘Complete tool.’

  ‘Numbnuts.’

  ‘Dill-hole.’

  Both of them laughed then. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said again, and she leaned her forehead against his.

  ‘You’re forgiven.’

  He smiled gratefully then moved onto his knees before her, his fingers on the buttons of her dress. He undid them all slowly then moved the fabric apart to reveal her breasts, her belly, and her underwear. He pulled one of the lacy cups of her bra down and took her nipple into his mouth. Lila sighed and relaxed back as he worked, his tongue flicking, teasing, and the gentle sucking of his mouth making her nipple hard and sensitive. As he tongued both breasts, his fingers slid into her underwear and began to massage her clit before his long forefinger slipped inside of her, finding the g-spot and rubbing it until she was gasping and shuddering.

  ‘I’m going to fuck you senseless, beautiful girl,’ he murmured, his mouth against hers and Lila moaned. He tugged down her underwear then pulled her towards him. His mouth found her sex and with an expert tongue, he brought her to a shattering orgasm that made her body buck and writhe. He gave her no time to recover before sweeping her down to the balcony floor and launched his cock into her. He was so hard that when he thrust inside her, it was almost painful, but Lila wrapped her legs around his hips and urged him on, deep, harder, please…

  They fucked late into the night, moving from room to room in the suite, taking each other harder each time. Lila barely had time to catch her breath before Rich was pressing her against the wall and thrust his cock deep into her cunt from behind or pinning her to the bed, ramming his hips against hers then coming in great, thick white spurts onto her belly.

  Dawn was beginning to break over Paris before they finally fell asleep in each other’s arms and Lila began to finally believe that everything would be okay…

  15.

  Now…Lenox Hill Hospital

  Noah Applebaum knocked once at Lila Tierney’s door and went in. ‘Hey there,’ he said cheerfully then stopped. God…she was beautiful, even with tubes sticking out of her arms and dark shadows under her violet eyes. She smiled at him, and Noah felt something shift inside him. He cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure.

  ‘I’m Dr. Applebaum, you’re Miss Tierney?’

  ‘Lila, please.’ Her voice was low, slightly gruff as if her throat was dry. He automatically got up to pour her some fresh water, and she took the glass with a smile. ‘Thank you. So, Dr. Applebaum, you’re the neuro god Dr. Honeychurch tells me about?’

  ‘Ha,’ he grinned, ‘She exaggerates – well, I pay her to exaggerate my abilities. But, seriously, Lila, yes I’m here to see if we can’t help you with some of the issues from your, um, stabbing.’ Who the fuck would want to kill this gorgeous woman? He tried not run his eyes over her body; even in a hospital gown, he could see she had killer curves…ouch, probably not the best description, he said to himself. He felt a teenager with a crush. Get a grip, man.

  ‘So, I just wanted to come see you, introduce myself and do a couple of quick tests. Then we can come up with a treatment plan. How does that sound?’

  ‘Sounds great, doc. What do you need to me to do?’

  ‘Let’s do a quick exam…do you want me to get a nurse to chaperone?’

  She shook her head. ‘No, it’s fine.’

  He checked her neck, sliding his fingers around to the back of her neck and asking her to move her head from side to side. Being so close wasn’t helping his composure; he could smell her shampoo, her soap. ‘Could you lay on your stomach if it’s not too painful; I need to check your spine.’

  His fingers moved over the bumps of her spine, checking each vertebra. Her skin was so soft, he wanted to stroke it. Finally, he pressed two fingers against her sacrum. ‘Does this hurt?’

  ‘Yes,’ she said, ‘Quite a lot.’

  ‘Okay, I’m sorry, let me help you up. ‘

  Awkwardly he helped her into a sitting position, noticing her wincing. ‘I’m sorry to cause you pain, Lila.’

  ‘It’s okay,’ she gasped slightly, holding her belly. ‘I think my muscles are just getting used to moving again.’

  He studied her. ‘Do you think you could try walking with me? I’ll hold onto you, of course.’

  ‘Okay.’

  He held her hands as she stood, gingerly, then guiding her, she managed to walk across the room. ‘How does that feel?’

  ‘Okay,’ she said, wobbling slightly, ‘Except my feet feel like they belong to someone else. Pins and needles.’

  ‘Gotcha. Okay, well, you’re doing really well – ‘

  As soon as the words came out of his mouth, Lila stumbled, and he caught her in his arms. She looked up at him to smile sheepishly, and their eyes met and held. A beat then she laughed softly, and the mood was broken.

  ‘Doc, I should tell you, I’m an artist so am prone to attacks of the ‘vapors’ like that.’

  He laughed and helped her back into bed. ‘You did well, Lila, really. But I do think you would vastly benefit from a program designed specificall
y for your injuries. It’ll be tough, and there will be times when you’ll want to give up, or pound on me for making you do it but, I promise, it’ll be worth it. What so you say?’

  ‘I say, let’s go for it.’

  ‘Good girl,’ he smiled at her, noticing the way her dark hair tumbled in soft curls around her face. Adorable. ‘Well, if you’re willing, and Doc Honeychurch gives the go-ahead, I say we start soon.’

  ‘Aren’t you supposed to go back to Seattle soon?’ she asked the flushed. ‘Dr. Honeychurch told me about you. I come from Seattle too.’

  ‘You do? Which part?’

  ‘Puget Ridge. You?’

  ‘Medina.’

  ‘Nice,’ she grinned, ‘you’re obviously from the same kind of family as my fiancé.’

  Oh yeah, the fiancé. Currently sitting in jail for this gorgeous girl’s attempted murder. Noah tried to smile. ‘So just general questions…how’re you feeling? Physically and emotionally?’

  ‘Physically better, although I wish the pain would abate.’

  He frowned. ‘Do you mind if I take a look at your wounds? You shouldn’t be in this much pain still.’

  Lila shook her head and pulled her gown up. Noah lifted her dressings, noting some blood on them. He tried not to look shocked when he saw the pattern of scars on her belly. Nasty, vicious, brutal slices across her olive skin. Noah cursed whoever had done this; he couldn’t imagine the pain, the terror she must have felt. He touched her skin gently, pressing lightly, asking her where it hurt. When he pressed against the worst of her scars, the one that bisected her navel, she winced. He gently replaced her dressing. ‘You might have a little infection going on. It’s still very bruised and I’m concerned you may have a small internal bleed too. We’ll get that checked out. We’re going to do anything we can to help, Lila, I promise.’

  He found Delia Honeychurch updating charts at the nurses’ station and told her what they’d decided. ‘I’m going to stay on for a few more weeks to help Miss Tierney through the worst of it.’

  Delia looked impressed. ‘Wow, that’s great…weren’t you supposed to be on sabbatical after your visit here, though?’

  ‘Which is why I can stay…look, that young woman could use all the help we can give her.’

  Delia smiled at him knowingly. ‘Noah Applebaum, are you having a crush?’

  He grinned. ‘Now that wouldn’t be professional, would it?’

  She laughed, nudging him. ‘Whatever, thanks for doing this. She’s a sweet girl.’

  Later, Noah swung round to see Lila again, but she was asleep. Feeling intrusive, he nevertheless stood at the door for a few seconds, studying her. She really was something else. Who would hurt you? He shook his head and then walked away. Whoever it was, Lila Tierney, I promise you, he won’t hurt you again…

  16.

  Then…Greenwich Village, Manhattan

  Charlie Sherman sat back in his chair and stared at her. ‘Huh.’ Lila scowled at him.

  ‘This is to go no further than you two,’ she said to him and his partner, Riley, who was sitting beside him. ‘It’s to protect Cora, and I won’t see her hurt because you two have got sticks up your asses about Richard.’

  ‘Hey,’ Riley held his hands up, ‘Sounds legit to me. You have my word, funny face.’

  Lila smiled at him gratefully then looked at Charlie. ‘Chuck?’

  A small smile spread across his face. ‘You know I hate that.’

  She grinned. ‘Yes, yes I do. Seriously, though, we good? Can we all get along now?’

  ‘Can I reserve judgment?’

  ‘No.’

  Charlie shrugged. ‘Okay then, if that’s his story.’

  ‘Argh!’ Lila threw her hands and Charlie chuckled.

  ‘Kidding, you sap. I’m with Riley; that does make sense, and his blood came back clean, so…’

  Lila was startled, and Riley rolled his eyes. ‘So much for keeping that a secret, dude.’

  ‘You did a drug test on him?’

  Charlie sat forward. ‘He volunteered one.’

  ‘When?’

  ‘A few weeks ago.’

  ‘And none of you thought to tell me?’

  ‘You’re not the only one with secrets, Lila. He didn’t want you to be mad at me, so he decided to prove he wasn’t a junkie. Never mentioned the sister, though.’

  Lila sighed and put her head in her hands. ‘You boys drive me crazy.’

  Riley squeezed her arm. ‘We’re all good now, though, Lila, right?’

  Lila looked away from Charlie’s gaze. ‘Right.’

  Later, Charlie gave Lila a ride home. Richard was in Washington at a conference, and so Lila invited Charlie in to hang out.

  She handed him a cold beer from the fridge. ‘What’s been happening with you?’

  Charlie grinned. ‘Nice of you to ask. I’ve been seeing someone.’

  The bottle stopped halfway to Lila’s mouth. ‘No way, really? Who?’

  Charlie made a big deal of taking a drink before he answered her. ‘Tinsley.’

  Lila smiled. ‘Oh, Charlie, that’s great, how long?’

  ‘Couple of weeks. She’s a good girl.’

  ‘And drop dead gorgeous. Oh, I’m so happy for you.’ She clinked her glass against his. ‘To love.’

  ‘To really great and long overdue sex,’ Charlie shot back, and Lila laughed.

  ‘Definitely.’

  She felt so much better now; for the last couple of months, Charlie, and her friendship seemed to be slipping, his distrust of Richard marring their time together. She sighed happily now.

  ‘Chuck, my old friend, I have this feeling things are going to be great for both of us.’

  17.

  Then…Woods, Carnegie Compound, Westchester

  It didn’t last, of course, it didn’t. A few months later, just as Richard and Lila were celebrating a year of being together, Cora, to whom Lila had been growing closer, had a meltdown and smoked a joint at a local music festival. A paparazzo bored out his brain at the gathering, got a few shots of her, and that was that. Front page news. The daughter of tech scion, Richard Carnegie Sr. was a junkie – they managed to find out everything, even confidential files from the place she had attended rehab.

  Cora was destroyed, and Richard was losing his mind from worry. Lila, at first, didn’t know how to help but then, when she was alone with Cora one day, Cora asked her a simple question.

  ‘How did you…I mean, what was it like growing up without a family?’

  Lila looked surprised. They were walking in the woods near the Carnegie mansion in Westchester, with Richard Sr.’s beloved spaniels racing ahead of them. The day was warm for fall, and Cora was throwing tennis balls for the dogs to chase. Lila considered her question.

  ‘It’s strange; I never knew family life at all so it’s hard for me to say or make a comparison. I can tell you what it was like being in a children’s home; sometimes fun, sometimes awful.’

  Cora nodded. ‘Same with family. Sometimes I love them all to distraction; other times…I wish I were alone, without all the weight of expectation, responsibility. Without being judged.’ She looked away from Lila’s gaze.

  Lila suddenly understood. ‘Is it Judith again?’

  Cora nodded. ‘She won’t leave me alone. Keeps telling me I’m destroying Mom, that I’m reckless and selfish – and I know I am but it’s almost a daily thing now. Texts, phone calls.’

  Lila stopped her with a hand on her arm. ‘You mean, she’s waging a campaign? Seriously, C-Belle, that isn’t right. What’s her problem?’

  Cora smiled sadly. ‘I’m an easy target. She hates Richard too, but she knows he’ll fight back. I’m not good at that.’

  Lila shook her head. ‘I don’t understand what she gets out of behaving like that.’

  ‘She hates us, plain and simple, and by bullying me, she gets a cheap thrill. She hates that she’s not in Daddy’s will – why would she be? Mom told them when she married him that his money was his money
. Mom’s not even in his will – at her own insistence. He doesn’t like it, but that’s what she wanted. She’s not exactly poor herself, and they agreed that she would provide for Judith and Flora out of her own money. But then the crash happened, and Mom lost a lot of money. Judith doesn’t earn her own money – she believes she can gad around, doing her ‘self-improvement’ and Mom will keep on funding it.’

  ‘I do hope one of her self-improvement courses deals with how to be an absolute fucking bitch,’ Lila was angry now. She hugged Cora. ‘Cora Belle, I will deal with Judith, I promise you that. You just concentrate on recovery.’

  Cora hugged her tightly. ‘You’ve been more like a sister to me than they’ve ever been, Lila Belle.’

  Lila kept her promise. So incensed was she, she didn’t tell Richard, or Delphine what she was going to do. She confronted Judith at her holistic spa – a front for Judith’s catty friends to gather and bitch about how unfulfilled and empty their lives were and how their husbands didn’t understand.

  Lila walked straight past reception, ignoring the woman who called to her and marched straight to Judith’s office. She didn’t bother to knock. Judith looked up shocked as the door slammed open. The woman sitting opposite her looked vaguely scared. Lila pointed at her. ‘You. Out. Now.’

  The woman cast a quick look at Judith and fled, Lila slamming the door behind her and leaning back against it. She stared Judith down.

  ‘What the fuck do you think you’re doing, Lila?’ Judith’s voice was pure ice, and she stood up and walked around the other side of her desk to show Lila she wasn’t scared of her. Judith was a tall woman, dwarfing Lila, but the smaller woman didn’t back down.

  ‘I’ve come to tell you, Judith, that you will stop your harassment of Cora this minute. That if you ever, ever try to bully her again, I will personally see to it that you are punished.’

  Judith threw her head back and laughed. ‘This is about the little junkie? Oh, for goodness sake, what has she told you? Are you so stupid you don’t realize you can’t trust a drug addict?’