The Millionaire's Temptation (Seduced by Love)

by Sonya Weiss

  “I…” Jake stopped. He wanted to try, he did, but loving Holly already made him feel vulnerable. If he put it out there and had it thrown back in his face… He’d been an ass and the odds were high that she wouldn’t want anything to do with him. “I don’t know if I can do that.”

  “Take it from someone who was stubborn. Prepare to be miserable if you don’t,” Mason said.

  Jake thought for a second. Was the risk of getting hurt worth the risk of losing her? No, it wasn’t. “I’ll talk to her. She’ll see that it’s best for her and the baby to come back with me. I can give her and our child the kind of life they both deserve.”

  “Your child? You heard the results from the lab?” Cole asked.

  “No. I don’t know what I was thinking to doubt Holly about that. It was me being an idiot,” Jake admitted.

  “Just like now,” Mason said. “You think by not laying it out there you’ll spare your heart from hurt. Let her go and you’ll understand hurt on a level that will make you willing to beg.”

  Jake swallowed and gave a half laugh. “You’re acting like I could lose Holly for good.” When Mason didn’t answer, he swung his attention to Cole.

  “If you love her, tell her,” Cole said.

  “I don’t know how to say those words anymore.” His breathing became ragged. “What if I say those words and then I fail to protect her? Something could happen, and I could lose her.”

  Mason clapped his hand on his shoulder. “Jake, Holly isn’t Adam.”

  Cole put his hand on Jake’s other shoulder. “You can’t not love people because you’re afraid of what might happen.”

  “You’re right.” He backed toward the door. “I’ll tell her how I feel and we’ll figure out what comes after that.” Jake didn’t bother to take the car they’d rented as he bolted from the hotel. He jogged along Main Street, ignoring the swarms of reporters until he reached the hotel where Holly was staying. He went up to the desk and asked the woman to call Holly’s room to tell her he was in the lobby.

  “I’m sorry, sir. She checked out half an hour ago.”

  “Did she say where she was going?”

  “No, sir.”

  Jake’s stomach lurched. Surely she’d return to Chicago. He’d tell Holly he loved her and hopefully, she felt the same way. Then they’d go from there. Everything was going to work out.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Holly stood in the open French doors of her apartment and watched the snow fall in the courtyard. She loved how the flakes sparkled under the glow of the security lights.

  Her life had changed dramatically over the last two months. Some had been negative changes, like having a broken heart. She’d foolishly fallen in love with Jake, but he hadn’t fallen back.

  “I miss you,” she said out loud. She missed his presence, his scent, and the sound of his deep voice. She missed his touch, missed his laughter, missed making love with him. But missing him only underscored what could never be. She’d wanted him. Wanted them. But life hadn’t worked out that way.

  He’d managed to charm Mia into giving him her cell phone number and the name and location of her new employer, a well-known electronics company. Though Jake had texted her repeatedly asking that they meet, she’d ignored him. He’d apologized, asked her forgiveness, and sent flowers to her job. Dozens of roses, wildflowers, and every other flower under the sun. She’d distributed them among her coworkers and taken the rest to the local nursing home. He’d visited her apartment building, but she’d refused to buzz him up. It wasn’t that she’d stopped caring, but she couldn’t imagine them together. A relationship needed trust in addition to love and Jake felt neither for her.

  Some of the changes in her life had been positive ones. Her uncle had been indicted for manslaughter in the death of Jake’s brother. That, combined with the evidence of the thefts, meant he was going away for a long time. Liam was still settled at New Hope and thriving. But for all the good things in her life, emptiness still gnawed at the pit of her stomach.

  Glancing at the clock on the microwave, Holly shut and locked the doors, then went to get her coat. She was meeting Mia for a movie. She hadn’t want to at first, but Mia had insisted, saying that she needed the break and a friend. Holly couldn’t refuse that. Slipping into her coat, she looked around the living room, never tiring of the thought that she could leave if she wanted to, but she didn’t have to.

  Mia was already waiting at the curb when Holly went outside. She got into the car with her friend and asked, “What did you decide you wanted to see?”

  “I didn’t really. We’ll just go and see what’s playing.” Mia drummed her fingers on the steering wheel.

  “Okay, what’s bothering you? Is it that guy who asked you out?”

  “Can you believe he brought me flowers?”

  Holly deliberately gasped. “The nerve of the guy!”

  Mia laughed. “Seriously. We met, he asked me out. I said no, so he brings flowers for me the next time he comes to visit his dad.”

  “What a jerk,” Holly teased. “Is he hot?”

  “And then some.”

  Holly noticed they weren’t headed in the direction of the theater. “Did you miss something?”

  “No. But you might if you’re not careful.” She slowed the car to a stop.

  The light from thousands of tiny clear Christmas bulbs lit up the small park. In the middle of the park was an old train engine. On the side of the engine was a banner ad featuring Jake’s image beside the words Handsome, insanely rich bachelor seeks forgiveness from the woman he loves.

  Her mind reeling, Holly got out of the car and walked in slow motion toward the train. Me? He loves me?

  Jake stepped from the shadows and just as slowly made his way to her. Holly drank in the sight of him in his slacks and dress coat. He looked like she’d remembered, only better. When they were a foot apart, he stopped. “Hear me out, please.”

  Holly nodded because she couldn’t find her voice. Her heart beat faster when he took her hands in his.

  “I’m a powerful man in this city. For many years now, I’ve been in complete control of my life. Everything I ever wanted, I could buy. I have never needed anyone.” He swallowed. “Until you. Then suddenly, I was powerless. Out of control. What I wanted, I couldn’t buy, and I needed”—his voice broke—“God, how I needed you.”

  “How did you do all this? You put a train engine in the middle of the park.”

  “It took a lot of planning and more than one meeting with city officials.”

  “The sign.” Holly looked at it again, her holding-her-breath hope warring with the fear that he didn’t trust her even if he did claim to love her. Did this mean he wanted her to forgive him for not trusting her? “What are you asking forgiveness for?”

  …

  Jake couldn’t remember a time when he’d been as nervous as he was now. He felt like he was being presented with a test and if he didn’t pass it, he was going to lose Holly. “For everything. I screwed up so many times. Believing Kate, questioning you about the baby, accusing you of working with your uncle.”

  She slipped her hands from his and Jake silently cursed himself, thinking he’d blown it until she said, “My hands are cold.”

  Leaping at the chance to take the next step, he moved to the side and motioned her toward the train. “Then come inside.” He helped her up the steps and was right behind her when she gasped, then started crying huge, heartbreaking sobs. She walked toward the rows of dogwood trees. Crammed together on every side, they filled the train. He’d bought out every damn nursery he could find that had them.

  “We can plant them at my house.”

  She cried harder.

  “Or I’ll buy you a house. We can put them wherever you want.”

  Her hand came to rest on a white patio sofa and she sank down on the cushion, burying her face in her hands.

  Jake knelt in front of her, scared to death, knowing that this moment would make or break his heart forever. Rea
ching up, he tugged her hands down. “I love you, Holly.” Gently using the side of his index finger, he tipped her head up. “I am desperately hoping you can forgive my completely asinine behavior.”

  She hiccupped but still didn’t speak.

  Oh no. “I’ll wait until you work through it. Until you get to a place where you hopefully want to try again. But if you don’t, if you run, in all fairness, I have to warn you that I’m running with you. Because if you’re not here, then there’s nothing for me here, either.”

  “Oh, Jake.”

  He slipped his hand into his coat and pulled out a ring box. “This went a lot smoother in my head. But…” He snapped open the lid. “Marry me, Holly.” Pleasepleaseplease.

  She touched the diamond. “So I stole your heart, huh?”

  “You can’t steal what’s freely given. Is that a yes?”

  She smiled. “A most definite yes.”

  His heart nearly bursting, he removed the ring from the box and slipped it onto her finger, then rested his head in her lap for a second. She touched the back of his hair. “Jake?”

  He raised his head and exhaled heavily. “I was so afraid you’d say no.” He rose and held out his hand, pulling her to her feet. Feeling like he’d just closed the biggest, most important deal of his life, he looked down into her smiling face.

  Jake wrapped an arm around her. “Let’s go home. We have a life to begin together.” He put his hand on her stomach and smiled tenderly. “The three of us.”

  “A family,” she said.

  “Always.” Jake kissed her.

  Epilogue

  The holiday season was definitely Holly’s favorite time of the year. Especially now that her life was filled with so many wonderful things. She had a husband she adored and their son, Micah Adam, was ten weeks old.

  She and Jake had worked the Christmas party for kids in Chicago, then he’d suggested they fly to Butler Field to help kids whose families were struggling. She smiled as she watched him, dressed as Santa, listening to the wishes of needy children. She knew he’d find a way to make all those wishes come true.

  Mia, dressed in an elf costume like Holly was, handed her a cup of punch and patted Micah’s back where he slept in a sling around her shoulders. She’d taken her role as godmother seriously and loved spending time with him. “Liam looked happy passing out the gifts.”

  Holly smiled as the last child left Jake’s side and his eyes met hers. He winked at her as he walked toward her.

  “You two make me believe in love again,” Mia said as she excused herself to stop a child from sticking a toy in the punch.

  “Help me get out of this suit.” Jake pulled at the fake beard.

  Holly pretended to think it over. “Do you say that to all the elves?”

  “Just the ones I’m crazy about.” He jerked his head toward a room in the back and held his hand out.

  Holly laughingly slipped her hand in his.

  When they were in the back, Jake tugged off the hat and beard. “You are the best thing that ever happened to me,” he said. “I thought the more money I made, the richer my life was going to be and instead, it became emptier. Until you. I can’t imagine that my heart is capable of holding an ounce more love for you, but every single day I wake up and I love you more than I did the day before.”

  “I love you, too,” Holly said, blinking back tears. She smoothed her hands across his chest. “What brought all that up?”

  “I think about it all the time. Every time I see you or look at Micah. I’m just so damn thankful everything worked out the way it did.” He unbuttoned the top of the Santa suit, shrugged it off, and then stripped out of the pants. Then he grinned at her. “I’m also thankful for the times you definitely belong on the naughty list.”

  Holly laughed. “What if I’m on the extra naughty list this year?” She ran her fingers around the edge of his boxers.

  “I’d say get your damn coat, we’re heading back to the hotel.”

  She laughed again. “We can’t yet. We promised our friends we’d go grab a bite to eat.”

  “Yeah, but I made that promise before your name went on the list.” He put his hands on her waist and backed her up against the wall.

  His lips crashed onto hers with a passion that Holly could never get enough of. She gave as good as she got. Demanding. On fire. She nipped his lower lip and slid her hands downward. The day would never come when she’d get enough of this man.

  “The hell?”

  Cole’s irritated interruption as he swung the door open worked better than a cold shower. “We’re all out here waiting on you guys.”

  “Sorry,” Holly said, though she clearly wasn’t.

  “He’s irritated because he wants what we have.” Jake pulled on a pair of slacks and arched his eyebrow.

  “Right.” Cole snorted. “No woman is ever gonna neuter me. This whole love and marriage thing might work for you and Mason, but I’m too smart to get trapped.” As if realizing what he said, he looked at Holly. “No offense.”

  “None taken.” She smiled.

  “Besides, I’m going to be too busy for all that crap.”

  After he put his shirt on, Jake sat on a bench to put on his shoes. “Oh? Why is that?”

  “Samuel Russell had to put his hotel on the market and it’s going to be mine.”

  “Who’s Samuel Russell?” Holly asked.

  Standing, Jake bundled up the Santa suit and tucked it under his arm. “He was instrumental in making sure we got locked away. Came forward as a witness and lied that he’d seen us set the fire.”

  “Wow.” Holly looked from her husband to Cole. “But why buy the hotel?”

  “Because I’m the last person he’d ever want to own it. It’s going to be mine and so is Maddie Russell.”

  That didn’t sound good… “Who’s Maddie?” Holly asked as they started out of the back room.

  “Maddie is…” Cole paused for a second, then continued, “his granddaughter. She’s about my age and the woman he told me I’d never put my ‘dirty, wrong-side-of-the-tracks’ hands on.”

  “Be careful,” Holly said, worried. “You could end up breaking her heart.”

  Cole shook his head. “For that to happen, she’d have to have one. Now come on. I’m starving.”

  As they trailed behind him, Holly whispered to Jake, “You think he’ll be okay?”

  “He’ll be fine and if he’s not, Mason and I have his back.” He put his arm around her waist. “Let’s eat and then see if I can get on the extra naughty list, too.”

  Holly laughed. “It’s like you read my mind.”

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  Acknowledgments

  When I first started writing Holly, I only knew that she was a woman who’d done things she wasn’t proud of as a child in order to take care of the younger brother she loved. As the story unfolded, I thought about the adults who had to survive a childhood that could have broken them, but didn’t. Instead, these brave men and women took the hand that life dealt them and not only survived, but they’re thriving and making the world a better place.

  For LMRLA, you are amazing survivors. I cried when I thought about you as I wrote.

  I wanted to make Liam’s actions in the book as realistic as possible. To that end, I interviewed parents of autistic children and adults with autism. Their help was invaluable. A special thank you to Teri for the in-depth answers and the clarification.

  For all the readers and bloggers who read the first in the series and asked about more, thank you for the reviews and for the encouragement.

  Team Entangled, I could heap praises on you all day long and never run out of words to say. Is it too fangirl to send virtual hugs and say I love you all?

  A special shout out to copyeditor Meredith Spears for the fixes and for laughing at the “that’s what she said” joke.


  Lisa Filipe, you seriously rock with the way you jump in and get stuff done. Thank you.

  Alycia Tornetta, you don’t know how very lucky I feel to have had you as my editor for all these books. Thank you for all the hard work you always do.

  Alethea Spiridon Hopson, thank you for taking a chance and including The Millionaire’s Forever in the Men of the Zodiac series which led to this story.

  For my friend posse—you know who you are. Thank you for always encouraging, for praying, and for everything in between.

  Love and hugs to Toni. Graceland all the way. You make me laugh every time.

  About the Author

  Sonya Weiss loves writing all things romance whether it’s writing contemporary adult or teen fiction and still hasn’t lost the wonder that she gets to do what she loves. She enjoys reading, movies, chocolate, and laughter and credits her daughters as being the sweetest blessings in her life.

  Also by Sonya Weiss…

  The Millionaire’s Forever

  Stealing the Groom

  Resisting Her Rival

  Stealing the Bachelor

  Wedding Date Rescue

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