Chance

by Rachel Rise

  CHANCE

  A BAD BOY BILLIONAIRE ROMANCE

  RACHEL RISE

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  Copyright © 2017 Rachel Rise

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior consent of the author.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or publisher.

  ISBN-10: 1545411034

  ISBN-13: 978-1545411032

  DEDICATION

  To my husband John: Always the biggest thank-you goes to you. Your patience and simple way of taming my crazy astounds me.

  CONTENTS

  FREE Deleted Scenes

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Epilogue

  Thank you for Reading!

  Exclusive Sample

  About the Author

  CHAPTER 1

  Charity

  T

  he sound of the TV played in the background as I closed my eyes and lazily ran my fingers through Thomas’ hair. He was laughing, jarring me out of a relaxing rest. Nothing beat a lazy Saturday evening when I could be laid up and relaxing with my boyfriend. The sound of his laugh was soothing, starting to lull me into my relaxed state.

  “Babe, you gotta watch this. This is hilarious.” I opened my eyes a tad to look at the TV. Another comedienne took the stage and started their spiel and Thomas burst into laughter. I chuckled lightly, but honestly just snuggling against him was how I wanted to spend the evening. I couldn’t even tell you what the comedienne was saying. “Isn’t that funny?” he asked, half looking at me, half still staring at the TV.

  I smiled. “Hilarious!” I closed my eyes again and cuddled up against him. He wrapped his arm tighter around me.

  In the six months since Thomas and I had been dating, I found myself falling more and more in love with the guy. We met on a blind date and I never expected to feel much of anything, but our chemistry was undeniable. We quickly became more than just friends and things heated up rather quickly. In no time we were spending most of our time at one another’s place and I constantly considered how it would be if I made the suggestion that we move in together, but I was hesitant about that. It was a big step and I didn’t want to ruin things by pushing too hard, too fast.

  “Babe…are you watching?” he nudged me a little and I just mumbled yes, but I was too comfy to initiate any other response. I was about to drift back off to sleep when I heard him laughing louder. “Dude, I feel the same way!” He was now talking to the TV. That wasn’t unusual. I chuckled lightly. I opened my eyes and looked up at him. He shook his head and looked down at me. “This guy is right on.”

  “About what, Baby?” I asked, quietly. His jovial look, coupled with his deep-set dimples, had me hooked.

  He pointed to the TV but didn’t even look at me. “He’s talking about relationships.” He laughed and continued to watch the screen. I opened my mouth to ask what had him in hysterics when he continued. He shook his head. “I’m dying. This guy is a riot. He’s saying how women can get overly attached to the opposite sex and start changing them, molding them into what they picture as the ideal companion.” He chuckled. “Babe, you really just need to watch it.” He grabbed the remote and turned it up. I turned to the screen, but about a minute into the man’s jokes, I wasn’t laughing.

  I turned back to Thomas and grabbed the remote from him, then turned the volume down. He gave me an incredulous look. “So…what’s so funny?” I asked.

  His eyes widened and he looked at me. “Well you might have missed the funniest parts,” he mumbled. “He just was saying how when certain women fall in love with a guy it’s like the world has come to a halt and everything the man wants no longer matters.” He shrugged. “That’s why I know that what we have is amazing.” He reached out and touched my hand as I just stared at him. “We’re so much alike and you would never be like one of those women.”

  I shook my head, baffled by his words and slipped out from under his arm. I sat up on my elbows and stared at him. “Tell me about these women,” I said.

  He arched an eyebrow. “Babe? Are you angry with me for something?”

  I swallowed the ever-growing lump in my throat. “Not angry, just curious. Tell me about these women.”

  He pulled himself up on the bed and my eyes darted to his bare chest, but only a second, as I looked back up and waited for his response. “You know what I mean,” he said. “Some women want to change their men. They get involved with someone, fall in love, and suddenly the guy has to change for them.” He pointed to the TV screen. “That guy was just saying that when a woman gets involved with someone, they might know full well that the guy doesn’t want to be in a committed relationship, but all of a sudden the woman puts a trance on him and the next thing he knows…he’s married.” He snickered. “That type of stuff.” He reached out and touched my bare knee, I slowly pushed his hand away and his jaw dropped.

  “You feel that way?” I asked.

  “What?” he asked, seemingly confused that we were having this conversation.

  I cleared my throat. “You feel that all a woman wants to do is put a trance on a man and make him do something he doesn’t want to do?” My throat was dry and I could barely talk through the irritation that was welling up inside of me.

  “Charity, I didn’t mean it like that. Besides, you’re not one of those women.”

  My mouth dropped slightly and I thought about his words. I wasn’t one of those women, yet I still wasn’t sure what was so bad about those women. I believed a relationship was about compromise and he made it sound like we didn’t want to give the guy any room to speak. “You’re laughing at this guy and saying that that’s how you feel. Tell me this…” I stated. My chest tightened and I was worried to hear his response. “Do you want to get married someday?”

  His eyes were like saucers when I asked the question. “Whoa…Babe…why the question?”

  I sat up further on the bed and didn’t tear my eyes away. “Just curious. We’ve never really had this conversation and you’re cracking up laughing about some guy that says a woman will put a man in a trance, so he’s willing to marry her.” I paused, taking a deep breath. “What about you Thomas? Do you want to get married?”

  His eyes darted from the TV, which was now on mute, to me. I lifted the remote to the TV and turned it off. We weren’t turning back to that station, without s
ome answers. He looked nervous and I didn’t blame him, but I had to know. “Well, not next week,” he said. He laughed and I felt that heaviness return to my chest.

  “What about ever?” I asked.

  He was very uneasy and I didn’t even need his response. I got out of bed and started to get dressed. Our perfect evening in was over. “Babe, don’t walk out like this,” he started. I didn’t even acknowledge his words and he continued. “Things get complicated when a relationship grows. Why are you angry?”

  I turned to him, gawking in his direction. “Complicated? Maybe I’m angry because I want the clean cut family. Maybe I want the whole nine yards, with the white picket fence, two kids, and a dog running around. What’s so complicated about falling in love, moving in with one another, then getting married? If you love someone then that’s the obvious next step.”

  He heaved a sigh and looked away from me. I pulled my shirt on over my head and waited for him to answer me. When he did, I felt my world tumbling. “Marriage is only a piece of paper. It’s a fairy tale, destined to bring only problems along with it. My parents failed miserably at it. Besides, don’t you want your space? What we have is going strong and we don’t have the complications of living together, with thoughts of marriage. Why would we want that inconvenience?”

  I pulled my jeans up as his last question sunk in. After buttoning my jeans, I turned to him. “Inconvenience? You think living with me or getting married to me, would be an inconvenience?” I felt the pain ringing through my body as his words officially set in.

  He reached out and touched my hand, but I pulled back. “I’m sorry. I did not mean it the way it came out.”

  I nodded. “I need some air,” I said. He tried to stop me, but I put up my hands and shot him a look. “You want your space and I’m giving you space. Respect mine!” With that, I walked out of his bedroom and headed to the front door. I was out of his apartment when the tears broke loose. Everything I thought I knew was gone and I was staring at a stranger. I not only needed fresh air, I needed a drink and I was five minutes away from making that happen.

  CHAPTER 2

  Nolan

  T

  he live band was amazing on this Saturday night at the Renaissance nightclub and it really seemed to put everyone in the mood, as I danced with girl number three. “The band is awesome, ain’t they?”

  I smiled and nodded. Even her improper language wouldn’t turn me away. “They sure are!” I said, grinning as I danced around her. When I got to the other side of her, I grabbed onto her waist and pulled her towards me.

  She laughed and tossed her head back, then fell into step as a slow song started. Her head rested against my shoulder and I held her, silently humming along to the tune. I didn’t know this woman, but that wasn’t going to deter me from getting to know her better. Impure thoughts of how I’d like to get her outside and take her back to my place kept playing through my mind, but I didn’t stop the dance to get the process rolling. Instead, I waited for the song to end.

  I pulled away and her hand went to my chest, then slipped under the opening of my shirt. “You’re so sexy,” she cooed. I smiled at her, itching to make my fantasies all come true when I spotted her.

  She was at the bar, a glass in her hand and downing her drink like she was seeking out the World record. The woman beside me was saying something about getting out of there, mimicking things that I had considered, but yet I couldn’t look away from this woman. She was gorgeous with dark hair that cascaded over her shoulders and a petite figure that had me already aroused and ready to go. I bit back a groan when I felt a hand on my arm.

  “Come on! Let’s get out of here.” Those words jarred me back to the present moment. I turned to the woman, who I still didn’t have a name for, and tilted my head to the side.

  “I’m sorry, but tonight won’t work.” I gave her an apologetic look, but she was livid.

  “What? Are you serious?”

  I shrugged. “I forgot that I have plans after I leave here. I’m sorry, but you’re a beautiful girl. I’m sure you can have any guy you want. Excuse me.” I pushed past her, ignoring all rampant words coming my way. I had other important things to deal with, like getting the woman across the bar to tell me her name.

  I approached her and nabbed the seat next to her, just as another guy started to sit down. He frowned at me, but I just shot him a smile. The barstool had my name on it and I wasn’t about to lose out. I ordered a beer from the bartender because it would have been unusual if I didn’t have a drink in my hand.

  The bartender gave me a beer and I took a swig, then swallowed it down and attempted to make my move. “Hey!” I started. I nodded at her and she looked up at me. Her eyes wandered from my face and downward, but then she looked away. I wondered if she liked what she saw. Yet, that wasn’t what struck me at first. I noticed her red eyes and her splotchy face. This girl had been crying and it was up to me to figure out why.

  “Hey!” she finally mumbled.

  I took a drink, then another, realizing that I was nervous around this girl. That, I found quite interesting, because show me a woman I’m nervous around and I’ll show you a thousand I’m not. “Beautiful night tonight, huh?” I asked. I was still looking at her, admiring her beautiful features, splotchy face and all.

  She snickered and there was a certain haughtiness in that sound. “Yeah, if you say so.” She took a drink but kept her eyes focused ahead of her and had barely made an effort at looking my way. I didn’t give up.

  “Don’t recall seeing you here before,” I said, grabbing another drink of my beer, but keeping my eyes fixated on her.

  “Well, guess you haven’t been looking.” The arrogance in her voice made me smile. I looked away from her and shrugged.

  “My mistake then, because I surely shouldn’t have missed someone as beautiful as you.”

  That got her attention. She glanced at me and our eyes briefly met. It was very brief. She cleared her throat and slowly moved her eyes away. “Whatever!” she mumbled.

  My mouth hung open as I let those words take root. Whatever? I then went with some other pickup lines, no matter how lame. “Boy…is it hot in here, or is that just you?” That was the fourth line I released and the only one she finally responded to.

  She swiveled her stool around and glared at me. “Look! I’ve had a real fucked up day. I would really appreciate it if you would just buzz off.”

  I was taken aback by her words and a little mortified to learn that there was a woman that would not fall prey to my charm. However, I knew I had to go at it in a different way. I didn’t want to push this woman away, I simply wanted her to succumb to my words. It was only a matter of time.

  CHAPTER 3

  Charity

  J

  ust when I thought I would get rid of this guy, he would come back for more. I wondered if he was just glutton for punishment, or if he was that dense. I noticed his looks right off. In fact, the minute I glanced at him I was overwhelmed with how much physical attraction I had for this other human being. Since meeting Thomas, no other man even compared. I had to instantly chalk it up to the fact that I was angry with Thomas and any guy was going to look more appealing to me. That somehow made me feel better about the attraction I felt for someone else.

  Although, that didn’t mean that I wanted to continue talking to him. I was so hurt by the conversation I had with Thomas earlier, I just wanted to be alone, no matter how attractive the guy was. I took a drink of the rum and coke in front of me. After the beer I had when I first got there, I opted to change it up. The rum seemed to go down easier.

  When the stranger got back on the stool next to me, I shot him a disgusted look. “Do you not take no for an answer?” I asked.

  He laughed. “Not if I can help it.”

  I rolled my eyes and turned back to my drink. I was at the point where telling him to leave me alone even one more time was pointless. So, I said nothing. Just went on drinking my
drink and listening to his attempt at conversation.

  “The name’s Nolan, by the way,” he said.

  I huffed and looked down at my drink. Did I ask him his name? He proceeded to chime in that my response was supposed to be me telling him my name, but I ignored him altogether. I took the last drink from the glass and ordered another of the same. They mixed the drink and gave it back to me, not missing a beat. He continued to chatter away and the liquor was allowing me to tune him out, so that’s what mattered most. When I finished the drink, I just sat there. I was starting to get a little light-headed from the drinks as I didn’t drink much and three was one past my limit. So, I couldn’t exactly drive home in my current state of mind, so I just sat there.

  “Feeling better?” he asked.

  I frowned at his question, then looked up at him. I was knocked back as I stared at a man that seemed to only get more handsome. “Um…uh…what?” I asked.

  He laughed. “You seemed to be in a bad mood when I first came up here. So, I’m just seeing if the drinks helped. Feel better?”

  I thought about that. Had he noticed me crying? That was the obvious thought, but then if he had…would he still be sitting next to me? I nodded slightly. “Much!” I said. My eyes went to his and every ounce of common sense left me. Mostly because I was drunk, I was sure. “I’m not much of a talker,” I said. I looked away, noting that if I looked too hard at him I was bound to make a fool out of myself.

  He chuckled beside me. “Yeah. I’m not much of a talker either,” he stated. I laughed at that, as he’d been talking most of the time since we met. “Wanna dance?” he asked suddenly.