Dare: A BWWM Billionaire Romance (Alpha Second Chances Book 6)

by Rowena

  Shit, I’d actually forgotten she was there for a sec.

  I don’t think she can see what the message says, but it sure looks like she’s trying to, which annoys the shit out of me—intrusive chicks are the worst.

  Not that it matters in her case—I only meant to keep her around for an hour or so anyway.

  “I gotta take this,” I say, picking up my phone. “Be right back.”

  I head outside, carefully choosing a spot to have a conversation with a girl whose voice I missed way more than I should have.

  I don’t want to be interrupted, so I need quiet, minimal traffic; I don’t want to miss a single word.

  Instead of answering the text, I just dial her up.

  “Angel,” I try to say casually, but I’m not sure how much I succeeded.

  “Hey, James. It’s been a while, huh?”

  Too fucking long.

  “How’ve you been?” she asks.

  “Good,” I say neutrally. “Great to hear from you. What’s up?”

  She takes a breath then makes a weird sound—kind of like a strangled groan—as if dreading having to say whatever she’s about to say.

  “This might sound kind of weird…actually, maybe it won’t because when you consider what I’ve been doing, it’s pretty much a…”

  “Out with it,” I say, knowing her tendency to hem and haw and go off on tangents, but especially impatient to hear what has her so worried.

  I’m stoked to hear from her, and I’ll happily listen to her voice as long as I possibly can—god knows I’m drinking in every part of this interaction like I stumbled upon water in a desert—but not when she’s getting us nowhere fast.

  She needs something from me, and I’m ready to give her pretty much anything she wants, so I need to know what it is.

  She takes a deep breath.

  “Okay, so I’ve been getting a lot of creepy messages, and for the most part, I can ignore them, but some are coming from a particular person or group or whatever, threatening to show up to my apartment and… I don’t know exactly, but something I don’t want, for sure. For example, the message they sent a few weeks ago: ‘Don’t be such a slut for the world; you were meant for my eyes only.’ And sometime after that: ‘You will wake up and find your arms and eyes useless, helpless to my desires.’ But this latest one is particularly worrisome.”

  I work on keeping myself calm while I let her finish.

  “Anyway, I was wondering if you knew someone who’d be interested in sort of hanging around me for a bit while I try to figure out who’s behind them and maybe get someone to do something before things get way out of hand. I can’t take these messages lightly anymore; the last one made it clear someone’s actually been following me.”

  “Wait—so you’re saying you have an actual stalker in your immediate vicinity? Not just some online troll messing with you?”

  “He—or she, I guess—knew the exact dress I bought yesterday, and I didn’t tell anyone about it! So either they were following me, or they just happen to have eyes in a random store I popped into, or they work there themselves.” She sighs. “I just need to figure out how to get them to stop, and until then, I need… I don’t know. Peace of mind. Like, I know if they really wanted to, they could get some sniper to take me out from some distance away if that was their goal, but it would just make me feel better if…”

  “I get it. You need some type of bodyguard. And I happen to know someone who’d be up for it. How long would you say it’s for?”

  I can practically hear her shrug. “I don’t know. Maybe tell them, like, a week or two to start? I just need time to sort out how to move forward.”

  “And what kind of compensation are we talking?”

  “Shit, James. I really don’t know. What’s a good offer?”

  Nothing she can probably afford.

  I know she’s been doing well for herself, but hiring any of the guys I know could cost a pretty penny over time.

  Not that I’m actually going to refer her to any of them.

  The second it became clear she was in danger, all my protective instincts flared up, and there’s only one way to handle that—protect her at any cost and by any means necessary.

  There’s no way I can carry on my business without worry invading my entire being, so I’ll just have to be there for her myself…

  **Grab the rest of Guarded from the retailer or check out Rowena’s Amazon Author page for other steamy stories!**

  About the Author

  Rowena writes steamy friends-to-lovers romance and erotica with an element of reluctance. She likes a bit of darkness involved as long as no one really gets hurt—at least, only in good ways. ;) Forced proximity and kidnapping romances are her favorites.

  She enjoys making up circumstances in which two people are forced to confront their feelings—sexual and otherwise—to the object of their desire, feelings they have been hiding or running from because of a major barrier or conflict of interest. Usually, her characters have known each other for quite a while, so their first sexual encounter has been a long time…coming.

  She writes outlaw romance starring strangers at odds getting to know each other better under the name Lexi Gold.

  Join Rowena’s mailing list for news about upcoming releases, sales, giveaways, etc., here!

  Contact:

  https://authorrowena.wordpress.com

  author_rowena@yahoo.com

  Also by Rowena

  STEAMY ROMANCE

  BOSSY - A BILLIONAIRE OFFICE ROMANCE

  Candace Brown has hit rock bottom. After a failed marriage leaves her in mountains of debt, she is desperately trying to find a job and ends up face to face with a man whose heart she broke when she left him years ago. But Jaxson Pace is no longer the “poor trash” her parents stopped her from seeing—he’s a successful billionaire with a potentially dangerous grudge. Can Candace get him to forgive her? Or will her first love find a way to make her pay for dumping him, sending her life into final devastating shambles? Check it out here!

  SCULPTOR - AN EX-NAVY SEAL ROMANCE

  DEREK - She has no idea what she’s in for… When a stunning goddess crashes my art studio, demanding I take on a project for her when I’m still knee-deep in my current one, the answer should have been a firm no. Instead, I got firm elsewhere, and the next thing I know, I’m ready to do everything in my power to claim the innocent rich girl and make her mine. She wants to make demands? I’ve got some of my own. But we both might have bitten off more than we can chew…Download here!

  PENALTY - A NEW ADULT SPORTS ROMANCE

  Once superstar jock Abraham Stone notices shy Madison Mills, all hell breaks loose. He is determined to have her, finally deciding to shed his longtime gold-digging girlfriend, Bethany, in favor of the quiet, unassuming nerd. But with Abe’s determined desire comes crippling unforeseen consequences. Jilted Bethany won’t go down without a vicious fight, and in the end, they will all pay for piercing each other’s sphere, one way or another. Can the athletic alpha convince Madison he’s worth the cost? Read it here!

  FATED - A BBW BILLIONAIRE ROMANCE

  Sweet, curvy Nina has been in love with her best friend, Brent, for years. She accepts being friend-zoned until one steamy impulsive night changes everything between them. But then Brent completely vanishes from her life, leaving her alone, confused, and carrying around a huge secret. When she runs into Brent again, both of their lives have changed drastically, and now that her old best friend is a billionaire, she’s convinced he’ll never want her now that he can have any woman he wants, and especially once he finds out what she’s been hiding. But will Brent surprise her after all? Or will he toss her aside again, leaving her alone and broken once more? Get it here!

  STEP TROUBLE - A STEPBROTHER ROMANCE

  EMMA - I’m used to living hard and fast, with everyone expecting nothing but trouble from me. But everything changed after hooking up with Danny Masters for what was supposed to be a one-night stand. Then I found
out he’s the son of my dad’s new fiancée! Did I mention I’m a magnet for trouble?

  DANNY - Once my dad died, I inherited his company and made a name for myself in the business world. Things have been looking up—that is, until I slept with the daughter of my future stepdad! I knew that girl was trouble when I first saw her. I had no idea how much I was really in for…Grab it here!

  OUTLAW ROMANCE

  (UNDER THE NAME LEXI GOLD)

  A NEW DON - A MAFIA ROMANCE

  A deadly legacy. A forbidden attraction.

  DONATELLO - Since I became head of the family, things haven’t been the same. I want to limit bloodshed and take things in a different direction, but with an enemy like Emilio Baldini, that might just be impossible. Saving a prisoner of Emilio’s from certain death probably won’t exactly endear me to him, either...

  ISABELLA - Bound, gagged, and kidnapped. Then, finally, saved by a man I have only heard of—Donnie Soriano. But Donnie must never find out I’m Emilio Baldini’s daughter. If he does, he’ll probably throw me out on the street—a fate worse than death, as my feelings for the young Don are blossoming into something deep and real. And so is the new life in my belly…Check it out here!

  CONNED - THE BILLIONAIRE AND THE CON ARTIST

  She could have been the one ... until she ran off with all his cash!

  AXEL - Meeting April Sumner during a weekend in Vegas? My lucky day. I don’t date. I would make an exception for April, though—she’s the kind of girl I’d marry. Of course, I don’t feel quite as confident once she runs off with all my valuables…

  APRIL - He’s handsome, he’s loaded, and he’ll be my amusement for the night. Axel Addison is the perfect target: an unsuspecting bad boy who thinks I only want him for his looks. But I like pretty things, and Axel’s money will pay for them! Let the games begin…Download here!

  CAUGHT - THE BILLIONAIRE AND THE THIEF

  When British billionaire Michael Arlington catches cat burglar Karen Trent robbing his San Francisco residence, he is determined to make her pay. Her punishment: spending one week in his complete servitude. He soon becomes obsessed with taming the young outlaw’s wild spirit and making her submit to him in every way, but his plans backfire when he realizes the truth behind her misdeeds and rage.

  When Michael’s relationship with Karen is threatened by his mentally unbalanced sister, will the young love between the wealthy baronet and the beautiful thief be strong enough to survive? Read it here!

  Check out Rowena’s Amazon Author page for more!

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