The Sinner's Secret

by Kira Sinclair

  Gray Lockwood was a force to be reckoned with...

  Gray was intelligent, observant, dynamic and demanding.

  Blakely shouldn’t be turned on by his confidence and domineering attitude. But she was. He watched her, his own gaze narrowed with wary curiosity. The moment stretched between them.

  She breathed in the tantalizing scent that had been taunting her for days. Him.

  “To hell with it,” he finally murmured.

  All the air whooshed out of Blakely’s lungs as if he’d slammed her against the wall, although he hadn’t. Heat flamed up her skin. His mouth dropped to hers. Her gasp of surprise backed into her lungs as he kissed her.

  The first touch was light, but that didn’t last long.

  Seconds later, Gray was opening his lips, diving in and demanding everything from her.

  His tongue tangled with hers, stroking and stoking and driving the need she’d been ignoring into a raging inferno...one she couldn’t deny.

  * * *

  The Sinner’s Secret by Kira Sinclair is part of

  the Bad Billionaires series.

  Dear Reader,

  One event can change the course of a life...a chance encounter, a family tragedy, being falsely accused of a crime. Often, those moments, good or bad, help shape who we are. Gray Lockwood understands this truth firsthand because, while being sent to prison wasn’t what he ever would have wanted, the experience shaped him into the man he is: dedicated, honorable and hell-bent on finding the truth.

  Blakely Whittaker understands, as well. She’s spent her entire life trying to atone for her father’s sins. She has a very strong sense of right and wrong, which made testifying against Gray easy when she uncovered evidence that he committed a crime. But now...he’s back in her life. And she’s starting to believe she might just have been wrong, about the crime and about him.

  Sometimes, what we initially think is a setback can actually become one of the most defining moments of our life. I hope you enjoy reading Gray and Blakely’s story! I’d love to hear from you at kirasinclair.com, or come chat with me on Twitter at Twitter.com/kirasinclair. And don’t forget to check out the other Bad Billionaires books coming soon!

  Best wishes,

  Kira

  Kira Sinclair

  The Sinner’s Secret

  Kira Sinclair’s first foray into writing romance was for a high school English assignment, and not even being forced to read the Scotland-set historical aloud to the class could dampen her enthusiasm...although it definitely made her blush. She sold her first book to Harlequin Blaze in 2007 and has enjoyed exploring relationships, falling in love and happily-ever-afters since. She lives in North Alabama with her two teenage daughters and their ever-entertaining bernedoodle puppy, Sadie. Kira loves to hear from readers at Kira@KiraSinclair.com.

  Books by Kira Sinclair

  Harlequin Desire

  Bad Billionaires

  The Rebel’s Redemption

  The Devil’s Bargain

  The Sinner’s Secret

  Harlequin Blaze

  The Risk-Taker

  She’s No Angel

  The Devil She Knows

  Captivate Me

  Testing the Limits

  Bring Me to Life

  Handle Me

  Rescue Me

  Visit her Author Profile page at Harlequin.com,

  or kirasinclair.com, for more titles.

  You can also find Kira Sinclair on Facebook,

  along with other Harlequin Desire authors,

  at Facebook.com/harlequindesireauthors!

  There would be no Bad Billionaires

  without my amazing editor, Stacy Boyd.

  She believed in me and this project

  from the very beginning.

  I’m grateful for her support, guidance and

  vision that helped make this series amazing.

  Thank you, Stacy!

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Excerpt from All He Wants for Christmas by Karen Booth

  One

  The last two weeks had been surreal, culminating in this moment. Blakely Whittaker stood behind her new desk, staring at the persistent log-in screen waiting for her to input something on her standard-issue laptop.

  She had no idea what to do next.

  A box of personal belongings waited in her car, which was parked in the basement deck. There was a folder of HR paperwork that Becky had handed her after a quick tour of the building. Blakely should probably read it all.

  But her body wouldn’t move. Instead, her head kept swiveling between the closed door of her own private office and the huge windows at her back with a view of the city.

  A far cry from the dingy, cramped cubicle she’d called home for the last few years.

  The people here were so different, too. Everyone she’d encountered, from Finn DeLuca—the charismatic guy who’d approached her about the job—to the receptionist and HR staff had been upbeat, personable and genuinely happy. A huge shift from the depressed, downtrodden lot she’d been working with.

  Sure, it was a nice change. One she’d desperately needed, along with the raise that came with her new position as lead accountant for Stone Surveillance.

  But something about the whole thing felt off.

  Which was why she was still standing, unwilling to take a seat in the very expensive and, no doubt, very comfortable chair waiting beside her.

  Blakely could hear the voices in her head—sounding strangely like her parents—fighting like an angel and a devil. Her mother on one shoulder, wary, practical, cynical, warning her that if something looked too good to be true then it most likely was. And her father on the other, eternally optimistic, opportunistic and not to mention criminally inclined, telling her that if someone wanted to give her the world, it was her obligation to take it and run before they figured out their mistake.

  Which left her stuck in the middle, a product of both and often paralyzed by indecision.

  No, that wasn’t true. The decision had already been made. She was here, in her new office, which meant the only path was forward. After pulling out the chair, Blakely dropped into it and let out a deep sigh when her assumptions were confirmed. The thing was real leather. Hell, her last chair squeaked every time she stood up and the underside of the cushion had been held together by duct tape. And not the cute, decorative kind.

  Opening the manila folder, she began reading through the packet of information on company policies, leave accrual and insurance plans. She was halfway through when the door to her office opened.

  She expected to see Becky walking back in to give her more information, or maybe IT bringing her log-in info so she could access her computer.

  But that wasn’t who’d come in.

  Blakely’s belly rolled and her skin flushed hot as she took in the man lounging, bigger than some Greek god, against the now-closed door. Unfortunately, no matter what she thought of him personally, her physical reaction to Gray Lockwood had always been the same. Immediate, overwhelming, bone-deep awareness.

  Today, that familiar and unwanted response mixed with a healthy dose of “what the hell?�
�

  Because the last person she expected to saunter into her brand-new office was the man she’d sent to prison eight years ago.

  * * *

  “Bastard.”

  Gray Lockwood had been called much worse in his life, and probably deserved it.

  Hell, he deserved it today, although not for the reasons Blakely Whittaker assumed. She no doubt thought he was a bastard for the past, which he wasn’t. He was a bastard for maneuvering her into a corner today, though. Unfortunately for her, she hadn’t fully realized just how tight a space she was in.

  But she was about to learn.

  “Is that any way to greet your new boss?”

  Incredulity, anger, resentment and, finally, understanding washed across Blakely’s face. Gray wanted to be thrilled with the reality he’d just crashed down over her head—like the farce that had rained down over his, the one she’d been an integral part of.

  But none of the satisfaction he’d expected materialized.

  Dammit.

  It was wholly inconvenient. Especially since he still wasn’t certain whether Blakely had been an unwitting participant in the deception that had landed his ass in jail, or a willing partner in the fraud.

  Eight years ago, he’d been aware of Blakely Whittaker. She was an employee at Lockwood Industries. He’d passed her in the halls a time or two. Seen her in meetings. Been attracted to her in the same distracted way he’d regarded most beautiful things in his life back then.

  All that changed the day he sat across from her in a courtroom and listened as she systematically laid out the concrete evidence against him. Blakely had provided the prosecution with a smoking gun.

  One he’d never pulled the trigger on. Although, he hadn’t been able to prove that. Then.

  He still couldn’t prove that now, but he was bound and determined to find a way to exonerate himself. It didn’t matter that he’d already paid for a crime he never committed. He wanted to get back his good name and the life he’d had before.

  And Blakely was going to help him do it, even if she wasn’t aware that’s why she’d been hired by Anderson Stone as the newest employee at Stone Surveillance.

  Stone and Finn had both asked Gray why he was pursuing the investigation. He’d served his time for the embezzlement and was free to live his life. He had enough money in the bank to do anything he wanted—or nothing at all.

  Before he’d been convicted, he hadn’t given a damn about the family company. And, yes, it stung like hell that his family had disowned him. His father had barred him from Lockwood and refused to speak to him. His mother pretended she never had a son. But he’d learned to live with those facts.

  Back then, he hadn’t much cared what people thought of him. He’d been lazy, uncaring, spoiled and entitled. Prison had changed him. Connecting with Stone and Finn on the inside had changed him. Now, it bothered him that people whispered behind his back.

  Mostly because he hadn’t done a damn thing wrong. He might have been a bastard, but he was a law-abiding one.

  Blakely shot up from the chair behind her desk. “I work for Anderson Stone and Finn DeLuca.”

  “No, you work for Stone Surveillance. Stone and Finn are two of the three owners. I happen to be the third.”

  “No one told me that.”

  “Because they were instructed not to.”

  Blakely’s mouth set into the straight, stubborn line he’d seen several times. She might be petite, gorgeous and blonde, but she could be a pit bull when she wanted to be. He’d seen her determination firsthand. And not just in the courtroom, when she’d hammered the last nail in his coffin.

  He’d watched her in meetings, impassioned about some piece of information she felt to be important. The way her skin flushed pink and her eyes flashed... Gorgeous, enticing and entertaining.

  But she was also the kind of woman who placed that same passion into everything. And back then, Gray had been too lazy to want to take on that kind of intensity.

  He’d appreciated it from afar, though.

  Reaching into a drawer, Blakely pulled out her purse and looped the strap over her shoulder. “Why would you hire me? You hate me.”

  Gray shook his head, a half smile tugging at his lips. “Hate is such a strong word.”

  “I helped put you in prison. Hate’s probably the correct word.”

  “I wouldn’t stake my life on it.” Because as much as he wanted to hate the woman standing just feet away from him, he couldn’t seem to do it.

  Oh, sure, she was an easy target for all of his blame. And, it was still possible—no, probable—that she was up to her eyeballs in the mess that had taken him down. But he wasn’t going to learn the truth without her. And she wasn’t likely to help him if she thought he blamed her.

  “No? What word would you use then?”

  Gray tipped his head sideways and studied her for several seconds. “I’ll admit, you’re not my favorite person. However, I’m not sure you deserve my hate any more than I deserved to be sent to prison.”

  Blakely scoffed. The sound scraped down his spine, but her reaction wasn’t unexpected.

  Shaking her head, Blakely scooted around her desk and headed for the doorway. Gray shifted, moving his body between her and the exit.

  She stopped abruptly, trying to avoid touching him. Gray didn’t miss the way she flinched. Or the way her hand tightened over the strap of her purse.

  Smart woman.

  Gray had spent the last several years biding his time. Not to mention beating other prisoners in an underground fighting ring that Stone, Finn and he had built. He’d needed a physical outlet, one that didn’t constantly land him in solitary.

  Those fights had taught him to measure and watch his opponents. To pick up on the subtle physical cues that telegraphed a thought before it became action.

  Although, Blakely’s intentions were far from subtle. She wanted out of this room and away from him.

  Too bad for her.

  They were going to be spending a lot of time together in the coming weeks.

  “Get out of my way.”

  The way her eyes flashed fire caused an answering heat that sparked in the pit of Gray’s belly. There was something enticing and intriguing about her show of bravado. Even if he didn’t want to be impressed.

  Gray let his lips roll up into a predatory smile. His gaze swept down her body. It was damn hard not to take in the tempting curves. The way her skirt clung to her pert ass and how the jacket she’d paired it with cinched in at her tiny waist.

  A part of him wanted to refuse. To see what she’d do if he pushed a few buttons. Would she put her hands on him? Would his body react with a physical rush at the contact?

  Not smart to play that game. Instead of standing his ground, Gray slid sideways, clearing a path for her to exit.

  Because he didn’t need his body to stop her.

  “You’re welcome to leave anytime, Blakely.”

  Her eyes narrowed as she watched him. “Thank...you,” she said, her words slow, as if she was sensing danger, but was clearly unable to identify the jaws of the trap.

  He let her get one step forward before he hit the pin.

  “Although, it isn’t like you have anywhere to go. I’ve taken the liberty of informing your former employer of some questionable activity I recently discovered.”

  “What questionable activity? I’ve done nothing questionable.”

  “Of course you haven’t, but that’s not what the evidence suggests.”

  Blakely sputtered, her mouth opening and closing several times before she finally whispered, “Bastard.”

  “You’ve already said that. Doesn’t feel real great to have lies used against you, huh? Either way, you have no job to go back to. And we both know how difficult it was to find that one after being released from Lockwood.”

 
Blakely’s skin flushed hot and her ice-blue eyes practically glowed with fury. God, she was gorgeous when she was pissed.

  “What do you want?” she growled. “Is this payback?”

  In an effort to keep from doing something stupid, Gray crossed his arms over his chest. “Hardly. I want your help in proving my innocence.”

  “I can’t do that.”

  “Because you’re unwilling?”

  Her voice rose in frustration. “No, because you’re hardly innocent.”

  “Maybe you’re wrong, Blakely. Have you considered that at all?”

  “Of course I have,” she yelled, leaning forward and punctuating the words with indignation. “Do you know how many nights I’ve lain awake, wondering? But I’m not wrong. The numbers and evidence don’t lie. I saw proof, with my own eyes, that you embezzled millions of dollars from Lockwood’s accounts.”

  “You saw what someone wanted you to see.” Or what she’d maneuvered so that everyone else would see.

  “I’m leaving. I’ll find another job.”

  “Sure you will...eventually. But the question is, will you find it here in Charleston or in time to pay your sister’s tuition? Or cover the mortgage payment for your mom? Or, hell, your own car payment? It’s a little difficult to get a job if you can’t drive to an interview.”

  “Bastard.”

  “Maybe you should invest in a thesaurus. The job here is real, Blakely. And despite everything, I’m fully aware that you’re an excellent accountant. We want you to work for the company. We simply want you to accept another assignment before you begin that work. And we’ll pay you handsomely for both.”

  “For how long?”

  “What?”

  “How long do I have to work at proving your innocence? Because I think this could turn into a never-ending story.”

  Gray watched her. It wasn’t an unfathomable request. In fact, Finn had asked him much the same question. How long was Gray willing to put his entire life on hold to chase a ghost of a possibility?

  “Six weeks.”

  Blakely growled in the back of her throat. Scrunched her nose up in distaste. And then said, “Fine,” before walking out.