Tempt Me: A Second Chance Billionaire Romance (Me Series Book 2) Read online

  Table of 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

  Epilogue

  TempT Me

  A Second Chance Billionaire Romance

  Penelope Marshall

  Tia Lewis

  Contents

  Mailing List

  Books by Penelope Marshall

  Books by Tia Lewis

  About The Book

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Epilogue

  Thank You

  Mailing List

  Books by Penelope Marshall

  About Penelope Marshall

  Books by Tia Lewis

  About Tia Lewis

  COPYRIGHT © 2017 BY PENELOPE MARSHALL & TIA LEWIS.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

  NO PART OF THIS BOOK MAY BE REPRODUCED, SCANNED, OR DISTRIBUTED IN ANY PRINTED OR ELECTRONIC FORM WITHOUT PERMISSION. PLEASE DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN OR ENCOURAGE PIRACY OF COPYRIGHTED MATERIALS IN VIOLATION OF THE AUTHOR'S RIGHTS. THIS IS A WORK OF FICTION. NAMES, CHARACTERS, PLACES AND INCIDENTS EITHER ARE THE PRODUCT OF THE AUTHOR'S IMAGINATION OR ARE USED FICTITIOUSLY, AND ANY RESEMBLANCE TO LOCALES, EVENTS, BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS, OR ACTUAL PERSONS – LIVING OR DEAD – IS ENTIRELY COINCIDENTAL.

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  Cover Designer

  Mailing List

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  Penelope Marshall’s Newsletter

  Tia Lewis’ Newsletter

  Books by Penelope Marshall

  Wrath: A Mafia Suspense (Deadly Sin Series Book 1)

  Envy: A Second Chance Romance (Deadly Sin Series Book 2)

  Enemy Inside (The Captive Series Book 1)

  Depravity (The Captive Series Book 2)

  Indecency: A Bad Boy Mafia Romantic Suspense

  Betrayed: A Military Suspense

  Absolution: (Mr. Black Series)

  Unleashed: (Mr Black Series Book 1)

  Teach Me: A Bad Boy Professor Romance

  Misled: A Bad Boy Mafia Romantic Suspense

  Sinful Torment: A Romantic Suspense Novel

  Only One You: A Second Chance Romance

  Addicted to You: A Last Chance Romance

  Taken by Soldiers: A Bundle of Steamy Military Romance Novels

  Books by Tia Lewis

  Redemption: A Bad Boy MMA Fighter Romance

  Revived: A Bad Boy MMA Fighter Romance

  Draw Play: A Sports Romance

  Stadium of Lights: A Second Chance Romance

  Draft Day: A BWWM Sports Romance

  Threat: A Blood Riders MC (Book 1)

  Reveal: A Blood Riders MC (Book 2)

  Creed: A Blood Riders MC (Book 3)

  Diesel: A Blood Riders MC (Book 4)

  The Hitman’s Possession: A Bad Boy Mafia Romance (Book 1)

  The Hitman’s Property: A Bad Boy Mafia Romance (Book 2)

  The Hitman’s Duology Series Bundle

  Dirty Hacker: An Alpha Billionaire Romance

  Dirty Money: A Dark Mafia Romance

  Misled: A Bad Boy Mafia Romance

  Only One You: A Second Chance Romance

  Addicted to You: A Last Chance Romance

  Sinful Torment: A Romantic Suspense Novel

  The Journalist: A Sexy Contemporary Romance

  Zarak: Scifi Alien Invasion Romance (The Mating Games Book 1)

  Konkrin: Scifi Alien Invasion Romance (The Mating Games Book 2)

  About The Book

  She wanted more than I could give—so I left.

  I thought I'd never see her again. I prayed I wouldn’t.

  She was everything I'd ever wanted in a woman, but couldn’t bring myself to admit.

  It'd been an entire year and I thought I'd finally gotten her off my mind—until she walked into my office as my new temp.

  Epigraph

  Our brokenness clings to us—lingers—enduring in the darkness. But we were not created to revel in what feels like death. Instead, we were called to rise above—to step out in faith—to live like the sun will never rise again…

  -Penelope Marshall

  If I was to turn and leave-turn from you and run, how far out would you reach for me- would you even come undone?

  -Mellissa Carlson (Debut)

  Chapter One

  Hannah

  I still remember the day he moved out like it was yesterday…

  "How are you this morning, beautiful?" he asked as one of his nightly conquests brushed by me like she owned the place.

  My heart sunk. "Don't call me beautiful." My tone peppered with snarky sarcasm.

  He clasped onto my wrist. "What's going on with you?"

  I ripped my arm from his grasp and backed away. "You know what's going on with me."

  "Is everything okay?" the waif thin woman asked.

  I didn’t even bother dignifying her question with a response. She was in my home—with the man I loved.

  "We've talked about this. I can't lose you in my life. What if I hurt you?" he whispered through tight lips.

  "Maybe I want you to hurt me. Maybe I’ve always wanted you to hurt me! Damn you, Ryder. I’m tired of this arrangement."

  He moved his muscle ripped body toward me. "What do you mean you’re tired of this arrangement?"

  "Should I leave?" the woman asked.

  He broke our gaze to glance over at her. Without another word, she set her cup on the white tile countertop and walked to his room, presumably to get dressed. Once she had disappeared behind his door, he stepped closer, his body pinning me against the wall. His hard chest smashing into mine as he looked down at me, his eyes searching mine for an answer.

  I looked away, avoiding his hard stare.

  "What do you mean you're tired of our arrangement?"

  My lips parted. I was ready to tell him everything—everything. With tears in my eyes, I pushed my way past him. "I’m tired of this. Watching you walk around here half naked all the time. You know what that does to me? I haven’t been with a man in I don’t even know how long. But you bring these women home, and I have to watch. I’m done being your roommate."

  His strong hand gripped my wrist, twirling me around so that my back was pressed against his stomach, holding me in a tight bear hug as I continued to struggle. "Let me go, Ryder."

  "I can't," he whispered in my ear.

  "Just let me go," I exhaled.

  He loosened his grip, tugging on my wrist, spinning me to face him. Gently, he raked his fingers through my hair. "I thought we had a good thing here?"

  "Yeah, that’s all it is to you, a thing. My life has stopped for you, and you don’t even care." I wiped the tears streaming down my cheeks.

  "Hannah, you know I love you—as a friend. And you know what happens to these women at the end of the night. I don’t want that for you—for us."

  I swatted him away. "Why do you get to decide what’s best for me? I have a say, and maybe I don’t wanna be your friend anymore either!"
<
br />   He wrapped his arms around me. "If you don’t, then I understand, but I’m just not willing to lose what we have. I know how I am. I know how I react to the thought of commitment, and if denying ourselves a little pleasure is going to keep you in my life, then that’s what I’m willing to do."

  "That’s all fine and well, but the only one being denied here is me."

  "I can't give you more, Hannah—I won't."

  I cringed every time I thought of the fool I made of myself, and by the time I got home from work that day he had already moved out, leaving only a short note on the dining room table.

  It took me two days to bring myself to open it. I passed by it on my way to the fridge, and sometimes I would sit at the table and stare at it. I don’t know what I thought would happen if I read it. After all, the worst had already come to pass. He'd moved out, and he wasn’t coming back.

  Finally, I mustered up enough nerve to slide the note from the wrinkled envelope, slowly unfolding the light beige paper. His familiar handwriting ignited a sadness in the deep recesses of my heart. I knew that was it, and once I read the words scrawled on the note, there would be no turning back.

  Hannah,

  It’s better this way.

  Always yours,

  Ryder

  I shook my head, unable to believe our whole relationship could be summed up in a note that contained fewer words than a birthday card. That son of a bitch—how dare he. I was so angry, but moreover, I was hurt. To the depths of my soul, I was hurt.

  A YEAR LATER…

  Sometimes I wondered if I should call him. Maybe enough time had passed to move on from the fight, and at least have some semblance of a friendship. But who was I fooling? I would never be able to look at him as just a friend. I'd been head over heels in love, ever since I met him and Regan in Algebra 101.

  Those boys couldn’t move a decimal point if their lives depended on it, but they sure looked good trying. But ultimately, it was Ryder's no-nonsense charisma that stole my heart and never let go.

  I flipped myself over on my back, the bed bouncing in response to my drama. Staring at the ceiling, I let out a huge sigh, noting the morning sun shining off the glass light fixture.

  "Oh shit, I'm late for work."

  I whipped out of bed and ran to the bathroom, wiping away the smudged mascara from under my eyes while I brushed my teeth. I contemplated taking a shower, but there just wasn’t enough time. Spitting out the toothpaste, I threw the toothbrush into the container, then ran into the living room to search for my purse.

  Gaaah, where the hell…

  I finally found it squeezed between the couch and the end table. I yanked it out, then picked up my keys from the coffee table, flying out the door like a bat out of hell. I needed that job, and if I was late one more time, Ruben was going to fire me. I just knew it. Well—that, and he told me so.

  Running down the hall, I heard the familiar ding of the elevator closing. Frantically I waved my arms. "Hold the door!"

  I made it just in time to catch sight of the silver metal doors squeezing shut and the woman inside, grinning at me impishly.

  Bitch! The stairs!

  I ran over to the emergency exit door that opened into a small stairwell, which led out onto the sidewalk. Quickly making my way down the stairs, I flung the door open, causing the emergency alarm to ring. I slammed the door shut behind me, hoping it would stop the annoying buzz, but to no avail. My head hung low, defeated by the bad luck which seemed to linger about me like an angry ghost haunting its tormentor.

  I'm sure I'll laugh about this one day. Just not today.

  I pushed myself off the metal door and then headed down the street to the coffee shop where I worked.

  Chapter Two

  Rounding the corner, a red piece of paper taped to the glass door fluttered against the morning breeze, and as I neared, the large letters typed across the top started to form a word.

  "Eviction?" I yanked the paper from the door, unable to believe what I was reading.

  My eyes floated from the word Closed due to Owner. Vacate the premises. My stomach jumped into my throat at the realization I was now out of a job, and rent was due in two days. I taped the paper back onto the door, and with nowhere else to go, began to trudge down the street. Deflated, I blew a tendril of hair away from my face, pacing my steps to the ever increasing plots and schemes running through my mind as to how I could make some fast cash to pay rent.

  Rent. What a joke. I mailed Ryder a rent check every month to the only address I knew—the P.O. Box he'd had since he was in college. Every month he cashed it without fail, and every month I pretended it didn’t burn me up inside to know I was only a phone call away and he was too selfish to dial a few numbers. I suppose I could have called too, but he left—not me.

  Fuck him.

  Rounding the corner, I found myself in front of our competitor's coffee shop two streets over. I hated to admit it, but their coffee was leaps and bounds better than the swill we sold. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee mixed with the sweet smell of pastries wafted from the open doors straight into my nostrils. I walked into the bustling shop where patrons were standing in any available corner, waiting for their order to be filled.

  I stood in line, contemplating a move back home since I couldn't afford to live in the apartment without a job. But then I remembered how overbearing my mother was. She'd surely ask about my love life, and my dad was definitely going to bring up my career path.

  Career path? What career path?

  As I inched toward the counter, I spied a familiar face out of the corner of my eye.

  "Summer!" I screeched, as I ran over, throwing my arms around my old high school basketball teammate.

  She unwrapped my arms from around her neck, readjusting the buttons on her light pink, silk blouse. "Hannah? What are you doing here?"

  I motioned to the counter. "Coffee."

  I don’t know why, but I found some comfort in seeing a familiar face after such a shitty start to my day.

  She looked down at her phone. "Coffee, of course, of course…" her words trailed.

  "Are you waiting for a call?"

  "I'm always waiting for a call. If it isn't my ass of a boss, it's my ass of a husband." The barista called out her name, and Summer replied with a nod and a smile as she jammed her phone into her small shoulder bag. "Will you excuse me?"

  "Of course." I smiled awkwardly, feeling pretty dumb and embarrassed that I had thrown my arms around a woman who clearly wasn’t as mutually excited to see me.

  The barista set five cups of coffee on the counter and smiled at Summer as she walked away. Summer tried to handle all five cups, while haphazardly trying to maneuver around the crowd. I watched as her purse strap fell off her shoulder, and one of the cups hung precariously off two of her fingers.

  She looked pretty overwhelmed, and I was standing there like offering a kind hand was a foreign concept. Finally, my manners seeped back in, and I hurried over to grab the cup that was already starting to drip on the floor.

  "Here, lemme help you with that?"

  She sighed and shot me half a smile. "Oh, thank you. I'm not used to all of this."

  "Used to all of what?"

  "Manual labor." She giggled.

  I shook my head. "This is not manual labor."

  "I've had to take on the extra responsibilities for my boss because another of his personal assistants quit last night."

  "Another?"

  "Another! He is such a jerk—so demanding. None of the girls ever last longer than a few days, but this time I couldn’t get the temp agency to send anyone to replace her. I guess word has gotten around their office. Come to think about it, word has gotten around to all of the offices because all the agencies said none of their girls would accept a position with him."

  "Really, that bad, huh?"

  "Oh, you don’t even know the half of it. He's never been a dick to me, but that’s because he knows I'll quit at the drop of a hat, and five ot
her companies are just waiting to scoop me up."

  I was a little intimidated by how savvy she was. "Wow, you're that good?"

  "No, actually. But I pretend I am, and they all seem to believe me." She chuckled and then shot me a wink.

  "Now I have to do my job and the assistant's load until I can find someone to fill the spot."

  My mind flew into overdrive. She had a job opening, and I had an opening for a job. "I can come and help out until you find someone," I blurted out.

  Relief washed over her face. "Are you serious about that?"

  I took the coffee tray off her hands, leaving her holding the one cup that'd almost fallen on the ground. "I'm totally serious, I can start right now."

  "You don’t even know what a lifesaver you are being right now." She set her gaze back to her phone. "Oh my, I'm late. Let's get out of here."

  I glanced over my shoulder wishing I'd bought a cup before we left, but I'd just have to push through. We hurried along the sidewalk trying to hail a cab, but no one would stop.

  She slapped her thigh as cab after cab flew by. "These goddam New York cabbies."

  After a few minutes, a green and white pinstriped cab slowed and pulled over right in front of us. Summer pulled open the door with one hand while holding the cup of coffee with the other. Carefully, I slid in, making sure the coffee didn’t spill. That would definitely get me fired before I even started.

  She plopped down next to me, then took a second to look up from her phone. "The Desmond Building and step on it."

  "The Desmond Building, huh?" I began to feel slightly uncomfortable, my outfit not even fit to grace the sidewalk of the upscale establishment.

  She turned to me. "Really, it's no big deal." She shook her head. "So what've you been up to?"

  "Well, I—uh…"