“That, and a discount bin at Walmart.”
“Oh, well… can’t say I disagree with Lenora yet.”
“You’re almost as big a bitch as she is, do you know that, Sebastian?” I asked.
“Honey, NOBODY’S as big a bitch as Lenora. She makes Madonna look like Mother Teresa.”
“Just be quiet for a second, Sebastian,” Johnny scolded. “So Lily said, ‘You’re being very rude,’ and Lenora said something like, ‘That’s how we talk to people like you where I come from,’ and Lily shot back, ‘Where’s that? Bitches ‘R Us?’”
There was a pause. Then –
“No you didn’t.”
“Yes she did,” Johnny grinned.
Another pause. Then, even more dramatically –
“No you DIDN’T.”
“Oh, just wait – it got better.”
Johnny went on to recount the ‘mean old lady plastic surgery’ and the ‘born in the 18th century’ quips.
Every time he delivered another punch line, Sebastian threw in an even louder, more gleeful “NO YOU DIDN’T.”
After Johnny finished, there was a long pause on the other end of the line.
Then, finally, Sebastian spoke.
“I say this only because Javier just left to freshen up my drink, and also because I’m about three Mai Tai’s to the wind. Lily, if I weren’t gay, I would ask you to marry me right now.”
I burst out laughing.
Considering who was saying it, it was probably the best compliment I’d ever had in my life.
“Thank you, Sebastian. I’d have to turn you down, but I appreciate it.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t actually go through with it. After all, I don’t like you very much. But right now, I LOVE YOU. I’m going to name my first adopted child ‘Lily’ just to commemorate my love for you right now. Boy or girl, doesn’t matter.”
I laughed again. “Thank you Sebastian, but please don’t saddle a boy with my name.”
“It’s alright, he’ll be gay, too, it’ll be fabulous.”
“I think this is the Mai Tai’s talking.”
“Undoubtedly. Another reason we’re having this conversation is because I’m probably not going to remember it tomorrow.”
“That’s probably for the best. Especially for your future adopted son.”
“Uh, Sebastian, I hate to ask you this – ” Johnny said.
“Already on the next flight. I’m booking it on my iPad as we speak, and I’ll get a car service to the airport. I’ll be in Vegas in… two and a half hours. Can you pick me up, or do I need to get a cab?”
“Get a cab, I want to stick close to Connor. Sorry to wreck your vacation.”
“Darling, you didn’t wreck it, Lenora and Augustus did. Besides, I’m bringing Javier with me. It’ll be a working vacation.”
“Thanks, Sebastian.”
“Toodles. And Lily?”
“Yes?”
“Yours and mine is a love that dare not speak its name. Understand?”
“Completely. See you soon.”
“Ta ta.”
And the phone hung up.
Johnny grinned at me. “You’re in the club.”
“What club?”
“The club of people Sebastian actually likes. It’s a very exclusive group.”
I laughed. “I don’t know that he actually likes me… seeing as he said, ‘I don’t actually like you.’”
“‘Very much’ – he said he doesn’t ‘like you very much.’”
“Oh, now you’ve convinced me.”
“Let’s put it this way: he’s never said he’d ask to marry me, and I’m a dude.”
I grinned. “Okay, point taken. What do we do now?”
“We wait.”
36
During the lull in Johnny’s and my conversation, we could hear shouting from the other room.
And then there was suddenly a loud knock.
Johnny looked over, concern on his face. “Connor?!”
“It’s alright, Johnny, my dad’s guys are getting it,” Connor called back.
Even so, Johnny started down the connecting hallway towards the main room. I followed close behind him.
I could hear the sound of everything that happened next, even though I couldn’t see all the participants. The edge of the hallway blocked my view of most of the main room. I could only see Connor, who stood in front of the enormous windows looking out over the Strip. Everyone else was at least a few feet out of sight.
There was the sound of a door opening.
Then a man’s voice, similar to Connor’s, but a little higher. “Connor.”
“Vincent,” Connor replied coldly, his face twisted in displeasure. “I’d say it’s nice to see you, but I don’t like lying to your face.”
“No, just stabbing us in the back,” Mrs. Templeton sneered.
“I brought someone with me,” Vincent’s voice said. “I hope you don’t mind.”
Then there was the sharp click click click of stiletto heels on the floor.
And Connor’s face immediately went grey.
I had never seen him look like that, ever. He looked like someone had sucker-punched him in the solar plexus, and he was about to throw up.
Either that, or he had seen a ghost.
Or something worse.
“Hello, Connor,” a woman’s voice said.
A voice I had heard earlier that day.
Low and throaty.
A young Lauren Bacall.
My stomach nearly fell out of my body as I reached the corner of the hallway, a step behind Johnny.
There she stood, Grace Kelly with the golden blonde hair, still dressed in her silk blouse and pencil skirt.
She walked up and stood beside the other new arrival, a man who looked like a slightly shorter, slightly less handsome version of Connor, with sandy hair instead of black.
“Shit,” Johnny whispered.
Connor just stood there, stock still, staring at her.
I tapped Johnny on the shoulder and gave him a questioning look, though deep down, I already knew the answer.
I didn’t want to hear it aloud… but I had to.
I had to know for sure.
Johnny glanced back at me, a sick look on his face.
“Miranda Lockwood,” he whispered.
I shook my head, as though that meant nothing to me.
Yet it did. Mr. Templeton had said her first name earlier.
You’ve come down a ways since Miranda.
Johnny’s voice was sympathetic and grave, as though he were breaking the news of a loved one’s death.
“Connor’s ex-fiancée.”
The woman who had broken his heart.
I looked back at the woman again – and saw her slip her hand into Vincent’s.
My eyes widened, and I glanced over at Connor.
She might as well have shot him.
I saw the agony in his face… how hurt he was…
How much of an effect she had on him, even eight months later.
And my whole world came tumbling down.
The story continues in
ALL THAT HE LOVES (Volume 2),
available November 15th 2013!
ALL THAT HE LOVES contains Parts 5, 6, and 7, and is the conclusion to the Billionaire Series!
To be notified when future books become available, please go to
OliviaThorneBooks.com
and fill out the form!
(Unless you’ve already done so in the past, in which case you’re good!)
See the next few pages
for a brief word from the author
and other books she has available.
Afterword
Thank you so much for reading this far in Lily and Connor’s saga! I hope you enjoyed All That He Requires!
And as of November 15th, you can buy ALL THAT HE LOVES (Volume 2 The Billionaire's Seduction), which contains Parts 5, 6, and 7, and is the conclusion of the Billionaire's Seduction saga!
>
I'm publishing Parts 5-7 all at once because if you thought the cliffhanger at the end of Part 4 was rough, Parts 5 & 6's cliffhangers are excruciating. And I didn't want you to suffer. :)
Also, I've started my next series: ROCK ME HARD (The Rock Star’s Seduction Part 1) is now available! I actually based some of the scenes on my first serious college romance, so this one hits close to home for me. I hope you enjoy it!
The best way to get notified about my future books is to go to www.OliviaThorneBooks.com and sign up to be notified by email when I put anything new out. (If you’ve signed up already, you’re covered – you'll continue to receive updates on all my new projects.)
And definitely swing by my author’s page at www.Facebook.com/OliviaThorneBooks for news, updates, and just to say ‘hi’! And always feel free to email me at [email protected].
And once again, thank you, thank you, thank you for reading my books! I appreciate it more than you know!
Olivia Thorne
PS – a very special thanks to Heather, Andy, Marge, Maria, Danelle, Krystal, Tasha, Karen, Susan, Shanon, Alicia, and Lily. I couldn't have done it without you! Thank you so much!
OliviaThorneBooks.com - Mailing List
www.Facebook.com/OliviaThorneBooks
www.OliviaThorne.com
[email protected]
Books By Olivia Thorne
ALL THAT HE WANTS Volume 1
The Billionaire’s Seduction Parts 1-4
Over one passionate weekend, mysterious Connor leads Lily through a world of sensual delights - but every forbidden fruit comes with a price. Connor is not the man he claims to be, and dangerous figures from his past are lurking in the shadows, waiting to destroy him – and Lily, too, if she gets in their way.
If you want, you can also buy Parts 2, 3, and 4 separately, though all are included in Volume 1 for slightly cheaper:
All That He Desires Part 2
All That He Demands Part 3
All That He Requires Part 4
ALL THAT HE LOVES Volume 2
The Billionaire’s Seduction Parts 5-7
It has been the most thrilling and sensual week of Lily's life, but all that is about to change. Enemies from Connor’s past have resurfaced, determined to destroy him – and they plan to use Lily to do it. Will Lily and Connor’s love for each other survive the destruction all around them?
ROCK ME HARD
The Rock Star’s Seduction Part 1
Kaitlyn gets her big break as a journalist, but it’s the one job she doesn’t want: a Rolling Stone cover article on rock star Derek Kane, the ultra-hot, bad-boy rocker who spent one unforgettable night with her four years ago.
PASSION AND PRIDE
Master and servant, aristocrat and commoner... Passion brings them together, but pride will tear them apart. When Marian is in danger, will Evan risk everything - his fortune, his title, his life - to save the woman he loves?
All That He Requires (The Billionaire’s Seduction Part 4)
Copyright 2013 Olivia Thorne
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons living or dead, actual events, locales, or organizations is entirely coincidental.
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Amazon.com (or another online retailer of ebooks) and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, used, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from Olivia Thorne.
Edition: June 2013
4 The Billionaire's Seduction All That He Requires Page 16