Billionaire's Game

by Summer Cooper

  “You’re right.” I said simply. “But you also showed up and saved me. That counts too.”

  He shook his head, “Not for much. Please forgive me, Bree. Please. I just was so shocked by you being pregnant. I didn’t know what to say or how to say it. So I walked away. But I can do better. I will do better. For you, us and the baby. I’m not going to walk away again, that is if you still want me around.”

  I thought about rejecting him, making him hurt like he had hurt me, but I wasn’t a vengeful person and life was too short to hold grudges, especially against the man who had saved my life.

  “Please, Bree,” he continued as I stayed silent too long for his comfort, “Just give me a chance.” The last statement was said softly and his voice broke at the end.

  I looked up at him, knowing that the emotion in his voice is what truly made me consider his words. A chance? Did he deserve one? I didn’t know the answer to that, but I know I deserved a chance. I deserved a chance to try at love, to try for a family. And part of me, no all of me, knew that I wanted Phoenix to be the center of it. I wanted him to be my rock, my confidant and my lover. And I wanted him to be more than just some guy I’d slept with. I wanted him to be my child’s father in the real sense of the word.

  “One more chance, buddy,” I said taking his hand. “But two more strikes and you’re out.”

  “I can agree to work with that.” He then bent down to kiss me and I knew as his lips covered mine that life was all about second chances and in Phoenix, I had found mine.

  The End

  Wanted by the Biker

  Romantic Comedy

  About the Book

  I stopped just a few inches from him. “Are you curious?”

  “Curious about what?” He said as he lowered his lips towards mine.

  “Curious to know what I taste like?”

  I had always been attracted to bad boys. So it was no surprise that when Lee Keating walked through my door---tattoos adorning his beautiful body---that I couldn’t resist him. He looked like the type of man who could handle himself in a brawl, so he would have no problem handling me in the bedroom or otherwise, right? I was a kitchen table kind of girl myself, but he could have me anywhere. That’s how badly I wanted him. Could you blame me? Lee had a body like a god, which my hands and mouth were dying to explore.

  There was just one complication. He had enemies: Enemies that took ‘dangerous ‘to a new level. Enemies that belonged to a biker gang Lee claimed to no longer be a part of. And for that reason, he didn’t want any emotional ties, any emotional connections. Normally, that wouldn’t bother me. I was a “love them and leave them” kind of girl, but something about Lee made me want to stay.

  Danger and Lee Keating? Definitely a turn-on. I wanted... No... I needed more.

  Chapter One

  He looked like trouble the moment he walked through the doors of my small antiques shop. He had tattoos that covered both arms and a look on his face that said he had seen the world and was bored of it. Something about his body language just screamed gritty, dangerous, and unfortunately, I found it undeniably sexy.

  And then he smiled at me and for that one moment I felt that I was gifted with a beautiful rare view. If I had thought he was trouble before, it was clear that he was going to be my downfall now. I couldn’t resist a beautiful smile. As he came closer to my desk, I admired the way he walked. His strides were confident and easy, as if he had all the time in the world. He gave off this sense of untouchability as if he were beyond reproach, above the law. His demeanor was almost royal, deity like and I felt that if I had been around to meet Alexander the Great or Julius Caesar in the flesh, this is what it would have felt like. He radiated strength, importance and sheer masculinity. He carried himself as if he owned the world and he knew it. And I didn’t even know this man’s name, but if he were in the business of conquering small nations or small women, I was interested in being his next conquest.

  “Hi, I’m looking for the owner of the apartment for rent on West Hills. The sign said to come to this address for more information.” His voice was deep and his accent sounded foreign, European somehow. Maybe British or Irish? Strange. I wouldn’t have thought he was anything but American and it was unusual to get foreigners in our small town since it was so far off the beaten path. I let my eyes travel over him before answering. I blatantly looked him up and down, letting my eyes roam over his muscular thighs encased in loose fitting jeans. He wore a plain black t-shirt and it was snug, leaving me free to gawk at his strong biceps, wide shoulders and perfectly flat stomach which I was sure would showcase perfect abs if I were able to actually get him out of his shirt.

  Behave yourself, Angelica.

  “What’s your name? I’m Angelica Fields, by the way,” I said to the attractive stranger. I was immediately curious. He didn’t seem like the type who would want to be cooped up in a little two-bedroom garage apartment.

  “Nice to meet you Angelica, I’m Lee. Lee Keating.”

  “Well, Mr. Keating, you’re in luck because I’m your girl.”

  His lips tilted up to form a smile that reached his light brown eyes which seemed to darken as he looked at me, “My girl, huh?”

  “I could be a lot of things and maybe if you played your cards right...who knows?” I gave a carefree shrug and leaned over just a little bit towards him and smiled. I loved to flirt. His gaze traveled down my body and he briefly let his eyes linger on my exposed cleavage that I had deliberately put on display by leaning closer to him.

  He licked his lips and slowly brought his eyes back to mine, “Is that right?”

  I just as unhurriedly righted myself and placed a hand on my hip, “Well, I’m the owner, but I’m also available for other things, depending on my mood.”

  He laughed, “And what type of mood are you in now?” This time he leaned on the desk, bringing his body closer to me. And I could smell his cologne or was it aftershave? I didn’t know. He had a beard so I doubt that he shaved, but his beard was well manicured, making him look like a rock star instead of a hobo. But anyway, he smelled heavenly, like a man should. The motion of him leaning forward towards me, made his hair fall across his shoulders and I realized that his hair was long and wavy. I envied it. My hair was fine and blonde and I kept it cut into a bob, given that it didn’t have much body for anything else. My fingers itched to touch his hair, but I controlled the urge at the last moment and went to answer him when a voice came from the other side of him.

  “Seriously, Lee? You’re in here flirting, while I’m stuck in the hot car dying. Seriously?” The whiny voice came from a teenager, not more than fourteen years old. She was the splitting image of Lee but just short and female. She had the light brown eyes and the wavy jet black hair and from the look of her face, she also had the same sense of confidence. And she gave me an appraising look and then dismissively looked away.

  “Didn’t I tell you to stay in the car?” Lee questioned, a sigh in his voice.

  “So you want me to go back to the car and die? Because I’m pretty sure I might have suffered a heatstroke if I hadn’t gotten out.” Gosh, she was sassy.

  “I’ve been in here what? All of sixty seconds. Have some patience, Avani. I’m pretty sure you weren’t knocking on death’s door.”

  “You don’t know that.”

  “I know that you’re already driving me crazy and it’s still morning. You need to chill kid. Go look at something. I’m doing business here.”

  She made a rude sound with her mouth, but then disappeared to go study a shelf full of figurines. I eyed her, hoping she wouldn’t break anything.

  “Cute kid,” I said, attempting to keep my voice light.

  “You don’t lie well.” He remarked again smiling.

  “You’re right,” I conceded and laughed. “Is she your daughter?”

  “God no!” The kid said loudly and then quickly turned away when Lee shot her a warning glance.

  “She’s my sister. Drives me crazy.”
/>   “The feeling’s mutual.” Avani said with a bright smile. I had to admit, her sass was starting to grow on me.

  “She’s funny.”

  “When she wants to be,” Lee said, “but back to our discussion...”

  “Yeah, well I’m the owner. My grandparents actually are the owners, but they live elsewhere, so I’m in charge of renting it out for them. It’s nine hundred a month, plus utilities and water. I’ll take one month deposit. And your credit history better be pretty impressive.”

  “It’s not,” he said bluntly, “But I’ll give you first and last month rent as a deposit.

  “That works for me. You want to see the place?”

  “Right now? Aren’t you busy?” He said looking around.

  “Everyone in here is a regular. They can watch the shop while I’m gone.” I approached a pair of older women who were sitting at an antique table watching the action between me and Lee play out while sipping tea.

  “Hey ladies, can you watch the shop for me? I’m just going to take this kind gentleman out to see the property.”

  They nodded eagerly, sneaking glances of Lee under lowered eyelids, “Sure. Not a problem, dear,” Mrs. Averly, said. I’d known her my entire life. She had been my grade school teacher from kindergarten to fifth grade. “He’s a cutie,” she added and winked at me.

  “I think he heard you,” I said looking back at Lee, who was trying to hide a smile.

  “Oh good, I wanted him to,” Mrs. Averly then giggled and her long-time friend, Mrs. Kasenow joined in. I shook my head. Those two were incorrigible. I dropped the keys to the shop in Mrs. Averly’s hand and told her I would be back in about an hour.

  I gestured for Lee to follow me and as he did, Avani came running up behind us.

  “You have some cool things in you shop. Even though they’re seriously old, they’re pretty cool.”

  “Thanks, I think,” I said not sure how to respond. “I guess you’re into stuff like Xboxes and PlayStation, huh?”

  She gave me a look as if she were offended, “I’m not a gamer. I would rather write or something.”

  “You write?” I asked as I paused at their car.

  She shrugged her shoulders, finally showing a hint of self-doubt, “Just blogs.” She admitted not meeting my eyes, “That apartment does have Wi-Fi, right?”

  “I’m sure it has Wi-Fi,” Lee said gesturing for Avani to get in the car. She rolled her eyes at him, smiled at me and slid in. He closed the door behind her and said, “Do you have siblings?”

  “I wish.”

  “Do you want one? Let’s say about fourteen years old and talks a lot of smack.”

  “Umm...I think I’ll pass.” Even though his words might have sounded harsh, he said them with a smile on his face and looked at his sister warmly, who was staring at us through the window making mock kissing sounds.

  Lee laughed and shook his head, “I’ll meet you at the apartment.”

  “Sure thing,” I said as he climbed into the car and drove away. I was intrigued as I headed to my own car. What was this dude who looked like an outlaw doing taking care of his little sister? Clearly, there was more to Lee Keating than what met the eye.

  Chapter Two

  I ended up renting the apartment to Lee. He asked to sign a lease just seconds after I finished giving him the full tour of the garage apartment that sat behind my own home. I didn’t know how I actually felt about being attracted to a tenant, but it was my job to lease the apartment and so that’s what I did.

  As he promised, he paid me first and last month’s rent and signed a year-long lease. I didn’t ask if his little sister was going to live with him as I assumed she was just visiting. Either way, I didn’t feel that it was any of my business and the garage apartment was two rooms, so even if she stayed, it wasn’t as if he didn’t have the extra room.

  It had been about a week or two since I had rented the apartment to Lee when he knocked on my door one morning. I had just gotten in from my daily run and wasn’t expecting someone, so I was a little taken aback when I looked out of the peephole and saw Lee standing there.

  I immediately opened the door, “Hi,” I smiled warmly at him, “Is everything okay with the apartment?”

  He didn’t answer immediately as he was distracted by my long legs clearly on display given the very brief running shorts I had on. Frankly, if I were to bend down and pick anything up, the shorts would err on the side of indecent. I liked Lee’s attention and welcomed it. His eyes seemed to burn a slow trail from my legs up my flat belly that was uncovered given that I was only wearing a cropped top and then he gave my breasts a cursory glance. I didn’t think the sports bra I was wearing did my breasts any justice, but frankly, Lee didn’t seem to care.

  I cleared my throat to get his attention and he looked up at me, clearly a little embarrassed having gotten caught checking me out.

  “Do you run every morning?”

  “Yep. I like to keep in shape. I was in the military for a while so it’s ingrained in me.”

  He looked surprised, “I was in the military too.”

  “Really? Here in the U.S.?”

  He seemed surprised by my question, “Oh, it’s the accent. I grew up in Ireland, but my Mom moved here when I was about fourteen. I’m a U.S. citizen now.”

  “I’m sorry, I just figured...”

  “No need to apologize. I didn’t know my accent was still so detectable. So what branch were you in?”

  “Navy. You?”

  “Army.” He said looking at me with a renewed sense of respect.

  “Surprised that I’m not just a pretty face?” I said succinctly, turning away from him and leaving the door open for him to follow.

  He hesitated saying, “Can I come in?” I nodded and helped myself to a drink of water before turning around and speaking to him.

  “You want some?” I asked leaning back against the counter while his eyes scanned the interior of my home.

  “No, I’m good. Nice house, though.”

  I turned to place the glass in the sink. “Thanks. I inherited it from my grandparents.”

  “Oh really?”

  “They moved to a small senior living apartment complex in the city. Strangely enough, small town living just didn’t seem all that interesting to them after having spent so long here. But my grandparents always were the cultured type, so being able to go see a play or an opera without having to drive an hour to the nearest big city appealed to them.”

  “I can’t say I understand given that I’m partial to small towns myself,” he remarked looking at the antiques that dotted their home.

  “So you kept all the original furniture when they moved out?” He asked.

  “No. I know it looks old-fashioned, but I love antiques. I collected all these on my own.”

  “That’s right, you own an antique store. Duh. I’m not thinking straight. Was that also your grandparents’ store?”

  “God no. They didn’t like old things.”

  Lee laughed, the irony of my statement not escaping his notice.

  “So what did you come over to ask me?” I sat down at the dining room table and motioned for him to do the same.

  He sank down in the seat across from me and I couldn’t help but stare at the hint of a tattoo that was across his throat, leading to his chest.

  “What’s that tattoo of?” I asked curiously.

  “Which one?” He said.

  “The one on your chest, peeking through the neck of your shirt.”

  Without hesitating he removed his shirt and my mouth might have dropped open just a little. I promptly closed it when I saw the knowing smile on his face. I was right about earlier, his entire chest and ab areas were nothing but layers of perfectly sculpted muscles. He could easily be on television as one of those trainers on the infomercials promising a perfect body in just ten minutes a day. Except that he was better looking than them. I forced myself to focus on the tattoo instead of his flawless body.

  It was
a hodgepodge of different tattoos: an eagle with its wings spread wide, letters that I guess meant something to him, but I was unsure of the significance. But despite the random nature of the illustrations that consumed his chest, it seemed to all have been done by one person. It was a work of art and it all had rhyme and reason to it. I didn’t understand it but it was seamlessly all tied together as if Lee’s chest was a storyboard and only he knew the full story. And then at the bottom of the tattoos was a date, nearly indiscernible.

  “What does that date mean?” I asked more curious about it than anything else.

  He looked down and slowly lowered his shirt. “It’s the day my mother died.”

  “I’m so sorry,” I said instantly regretting that I had asked.

  He shrugged, “It wasn’t easy, that’s for sure, after she died.”

  “And now you’re raising your sister?”

  He nodded, “I’m doing my best.” I knew from the date that it hadn’t been too long ago. Only about two years, give or take a few months.

  “She seems happy with you.” From the few interactions I had seen between the two of them, she seemed to adore him. She drove him crazy with her smart comebacks and endless teen angst, but besides that, she seemed to genuinely like being around him.

  “She’s a strong kid. She’s bouncing back well, especially given the circumstances.” I didn’t want to pry so I didn’t ask him to explain. Instead I said, “So what did you need?” I wanted to change the subject. I hated talking about death and loss. I had lost my parents early on in high school and it hadn’t been easy for me to get over it. If it weren’t for my grandparents, I didn’t even want to think what the alternative would have been. I had heard horror stories about foster care and luckily I hadn’t had to go down that route. I respected and admired Lee for what he did for his sister. It made him even that bit more interesting to me as a man.