The Irresistible Billionaire: The Tycoons, #2

By Marie Higgins

Amidst the lingering shadows of her orphaned past, Breanna Loveland yearns for the steadfast embrace of unwavering stability. For five years, her relationship has been her anchor, a sanctuary of trust in a turbulent world. Yet, when the magnetic allure of Monte Buchanan, dubbed the sexiest man alive by her colleagues, enters her life, Breanna's heart is set ablaze with sensations unknown. Monte brings with him a whirlwind of excitement, igniting flames of passion with each toe-curling kiss.

 

Caught between the familiarity of her boyfriend's embrace and the intoxicating allure of Monte's charms, Breanna finds herself torn. With her heart precariously poised between the safety of the known and the allure of the unknown, she grapples with the fear that surrendering to Monte's irresistible pull may shatter the fragile walls guarding her heart forever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Marie Higgins
• Release date: Feb 27, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386133810

Marie Higgins

Marie Higgins is a multi-published author of romance; from refined bad-boy heroes who makes your heart melt to the feisty heroines who somehow manage to love them regardless of their faults. Visit her website / blog to discover more about her – http://mariehiggins84302.blogspot.com Since Marie Higgins was a little girl playing Barbies with her sister, Stacey, she has loved the adventure of making up romantic stories. Marie was only eighteen years old when she wrote her first skit, which won an award for Funniest Skit. A little later in life, after she’d married and had children, Marie wrote Church roadshows that were judged as Funniest and Best Written. From there, she branched out to write full-length novels based on her dreams. (Yes, she says, her dreams really are that silly) Marie has been married for twenty-six years to a wonderful man. Together, they have three loving daughters and several beautiful grandchildren. Marie works full time for the state of Utah, where she has lived her entire life. Marie plans to keep writing, because the characters in her head won’t shut up. But her husband smiles and pretends this is normal.

Book preview

Can she look past the billionaire’s good looks and charm to find the stability she has craved for so long?

Orphaned at a young age, Breanna Loveland wants to find a man who she can trust to never leave her. Her boyfriend has been with her for five years, which gives her the security she needs. But when she meets Monte Buchanan – the man her co-workers have labeled the sexiest man alive – Breanna feels things that her boyfriend has yet to make her experience. Monte offers excitement and toe-curling kisses. Her boyfriend offers the normal life she wants. But she is afraid that loving the irresistible Monte Buchanan might permanently damage her heart.

Chapter One

Breanna Loveland gripped the shoulder strap of her seatbelt, her knuckles turning white the harder she hung on as dread filled her. She didn’t want to think about what would happen if he didn’t slow down.

Through the windshield, she focused on the rain-slicked road ahead. The pelts of rain hit the glass faster than the blades could remove it, making it almost impossible to see. The blinding storm’s moisture nearly covered the streetlights, and darkness surrounded the car. She silently prayed the airbag in this vehicle worked just in case her boyfriend’s reckless driving ended them in some ditch—or worse, head-on with another car.

Tom, will you please slow down? Fear strained her voice, and she swallowed hard.

The back end of the car swayed to the side. She sucked in a quick breath. Tom’s foolishness would certainly cause an accident. Unless he was drunk. If he had been drinking and not told her, she’d definitely yell at him. Then again, she would hold it in. His temper frightened her.

Tom barked an eerie laugh, and the sickening sound scraped her spine. He over-corrected, and the vehicle slid to the right. She squeezed her eyes shut and inwardly prayed for an end to this torture.

The car’s blaring radio and Tom’s hysterical laughter overrode any other sounds. Freeing herself from this nightmare seemed hopeless. The car hit a large bump, and she released a fearful sob as the vehicle finally came to a stop. Thankfully, she didn’t hear the repelling crunch of metal.

You can open your eyes now, Car. The mockery in Tom’s voice turned her stomach. We’ve made it alive and in one piece.

She peeled her eyes open. Parked safely in front of a bar, she let herself release a gush of air from her lungs, noisily blowing it between her tight lips. Just barely.

He laughed again, slapping her shoulder playfully. Come on, you big baby. Loosen up. You said you wanted to meet my friends, so stop whining.

Breathing deep and slow, she calmed her hammering pulse and unbuckled her seatbelt with shaky fingers. I would enjoy meeting them while I’m alive... not in the afterlife.

His piercing laughter rang out as he climbed out of the car and made his way into the bar. Before joining him, she pulled down the lighted mirror on the visor with a shaky hand and checked her appearance. Normally she didn’t care what she looked like, but tonight was different. She wanted to make an impression on his friends.

A face void of color stared back through the reflection of the mirror. Of course, she had expected to look terrified, but her ashen face made her brown-rimmed glasses appear as if they were attached to a ghost. She pinched her cheeks to add a little color, and then she did her daily ritual of pushing her glasses back onto her nose. Running her fingers through her long hair, she settled the length back on her head and neck, then climbed out of the car.

On wobbly legs, she entered the bar. Tom had already met up with his friends and held a beer in his hand—not that he needed any more to drink tonight.

Breanna. Tom waved his hand above his head, getting her attention. We’re over here.

The dimly lit room held only a dozen people, most of whom sat around the long bar against the wall. Along the front, six booths lined up together. In an open room not ten feet away, twin empty pool tables awaited players. Hopefully, Tom and his friends would meander that way soon and leave her to relax.

Taking a fortifying breath, she straightened and walked toward the table. With each step, her heart hammered.  She had to enjoy herself and prove to Tom’s friends she was a fun person. Surrounding the table, seven men sat holding a mug of beer. By the looks of their dopey, glassy-eyed expressions, they had started partying earlier.

Tom draped his arm over her shoulders. Car, you remember Kevin. He pointed to the guy on the right. And this is Peter, Larry...

She strained to hear the introductions as he circled the table, but the blare of hard rock-and-roll music from the overhead speakers made it impossible. She smiled and nodded, acknowledging them anyway.

Nice to meet you, she shouted over the noise.

The men held up their drinks in salute, then gulped them down simultaneously, foam dribbling out the corners of their mouth. She cringed from the disgusting display. For a moment, she wondered why exactly she wanted them to like her. Was it just because they were Tom’s friends? Deep down, she hoped they would become scarce after she and Tom became engaged. He hadn’t popped the question yet, but she felt it would be soon.

It surprised her how different Tom looked compared to his friends. Although Tom dressed casually in tee shirts and jeans, they were always clean and never ragged. However, his friends tonight looked like they had all been living on skid row. They had dirty hair and rough beards, whereas Tom shaved his face daily.

She had never really thought Tom was an extremely handsome man, but tonight his auburn hair and brown eyes made her want to stare at him and ignore his friends. Then again, he was one hundred percent better in her eyes than his friends.

She pulled off her gray jacket and draped it across the back of the chair before sitting at a table. When she turned to the group, she glimpsed their wide-eyed expressions while they stared at her unflattering figure. It didn’t bother her. She was used to having people gawk in confusion.

In all of her twenty-six years, not once had she been called a sexy or pretty woman. She knew her appearance was as plain as the sixteenth-century Puritan, but this was who she had always been. Tom loved her this way, and that was all she cared about.

Swiping a lock of hair behind an ear, she shifted in her seat as a man from across the table studied her through half-closed lids. Her heart sank to the pit of her stomach. She knew his thoughts. He didn’t approve.

Absently, she tugged on her outdated brown sweater, pulling it lower over her baggy jeans. Tom had never wanted her to wear clothes that made her stand out, and she agreed.

Hey, Car?

Tom’s voice made her jump, and she smiled at him. Yes?

What would you like to drink?

I want a root beer.

Tom bit his lip as he glanced around the table at his friends, then they laughed together. Car, this ain’t no soda bar.

Heat rushed to her face, and she tried to grin through the humiliation. His friends seemed to like it and joined in with their snide remarks.

She ignored them. I realize that, but I still just want a soda. Someone needs to be the designated driver.

His brows drew together in a scowl. Can’t you loosen up for once in your life?

Although uncomfortable with his judgmental scrutiny, she stayed with her decision. Just a root beer, please.

He rolled his eyes and then turned to retrieve her drink from the bartender. Inwardly she sighed with relief that Tom didn’t make a bigger scene. It wasn’t very often he took her out in public, and usually, when he did, something would upset him. He had never thought twice about embarrassing her.

For the next hour, she forced herself to listen to obscene jokes, drunken laughter, and the sickening smell of alcohol combined with tobacco and body sweat. When the men left the table to play pool, she relaxed a little, but not much. A headache expanded and throbbed in her forehead, making the evening worse than it already was. Her stomach lurched, threatening to empty at any moment. She should hurry to the nearest restroom, except she didn’t dare enter this establishment’s facility.

Her gaze stayed on Tom while he played pool with his friends, and when he finally looked her way, she motioned for him to come back to the table. He scowled and stomped toward her.

Tom, can we please go? I’ve got to get up early tomorrow morning for work. There’s a project that’s due, and I don’t want to let them down.

Anger lines creased his forehead and around his eyes. His dark brows drew together. She held her breath and waited for his verbal onslaught.

Can’t you think about somebody else besides yourself? he snapped.

She forced an apologetic smile. Tom, I’m sorry, but I have got a terrible headache, and I want to go home.

He yanked her jacket off the back of her chair and threw it at her. Fine, go home, but you’ll have to call a cab because I’m not leaving.

Obediently, she nodded and pulled out her cell to call for a ride home. While waiting for the number to connect, she gritted her teeth. When Tom acted this way, there was no reasoning with him. His temper stemmed from drinking too much, so she’d talk to him tomorrow when he was sober.

So why exactly was she still with him? Times like this, she questioned her sanity.

Breanna glanced back at him. Sure, he wasn’t perfect, but since he was the first man to take a serious interest in her, she wasn’t about to lose the chance of getting married. Besides, he would change after they were married. She’d make sure of that.

After scheduling a ride, she slipped on her jacket and hurried outside to wait. The crisp night air surrounded her, and she breathed deeply, filling her lungs with the refreshing, non-polluted air. It surprised her what the change did to lighten her pounding head.

The clear sky and gentle wind gave evidence the storm had passed. The rain on the road had left a small river, which of course, wouldn’t be easy to drive on. In Tom’s condition, he shouldn’t be driving at all. But she couldn’t be the one to tell him because he would yell at her. Hopefully, the bartender would take Tom’s keys away.

The cool air slipped through the opening of her jacket, and she shivered. She pulled the heavy garment together to keep the warmth inside. It was a quiet night, and only a few vehicles traveled on the weathered road. The silence helped to calm her nerves.

The slush of a car’s tires drew her attention up the street. Headlights from a yellow cab moved toward her, and she sighed heavily. As she stepped toward the curb to wait for its arrival, out of the corner of her eyes, two men from another building walked out. She didn’t keep her attention on them but instead awaited her ride.

The men came to the curb just as the cab stopped, and they made their way to the door. When she reached out to take the handle, she collided with one of them.

She quickly withdrew and looked up into the man’s shadowed face. I’m sorry.

Is this your cab? he asked.

She shrugged. I did call for a ride.

He smiled. So did we.

The cabbie rolled down his window. Due to the weather, the cabs are running behind. I don’t think one will come this way for at least another hour.

She groaned. There was no way she wanted to stand outside for another hour, and she definitely didn’t want to go back inside the bar, either.

Where are you headed? the man beside her asked.

Manhattan.

He glanced over his shoulder at his friend and then rested his gaze on her. So are we. Do you want to share a ride?

She hesitated, only because she’d have to ride with total strangers. The street wasn’t lighted very well, which made it hard to see him, but from what she observed, these particular men didn’t look dangerous. They both wore expensively tailored three-piece suits and leather shoes. And although she wasn’t the perfect judge of someone’s character, the well-to-do men appeared harmless. Besides, if they tried anything on her, the cab driver would protect her. At least, she hoped.

I have no other choice if I don’t want to wait for the next cab, she answered.

The man glanced at his friend. I guess we’re taking this lady with us. Okay?

The other man mumbled a positive response and walked around the cab to climb inside. The man next to her smiled as he opened the door. You’ll probably have to sit on my lap. The backseat isn’t very big.

Her heart skipped just thinking about the closeness she would share with a stranger, but there was no other choice.

She shrugged. I can adjust, but you’re the one who’ll regret it.

He laughed and slid on the seat next to his friend. Once he was situated, he patted his lap. Come on in, sweetie.

Sweetie? Why did he call her that? But more importantly, why did her heartbeat flip excitedly?

She crawled into the cab and perched herself on his lap as gracefully as possible. His arms circled her waist, which was quite comfortable, which surprised her. When warmth spread through her body, she questioned this awkward and foreign reaction.

Once the man closed the door, he instructed the cabbie where to take them. The vehicle jerked into motion as it pulled out on the road.

Up this close, the man’s nearness caused a crazy flutter inside her belly. His masculine cologne surrounded her and made her breathless. Tom didn’t wear cologne, and she suddenly realized she liked the manly smell.

Were you leaving a party at the bar? the stranger asked.

She looked at him. No, not really. I was just meeting my boyfriend’s buddies.

His eyes widened. You left your boyfriend there?

Yes. I really wasn’t having a good time. Tom didn’t want to leave until later, and I have an early day at work tomorrow.

He nodded. That makes sense.

When his friend began talking, she turned her face toward the window. It was hard not to listen, but what else could she do? From the conversation, she gathered the man whose lap she sat on hadn’t seen his friend in quite some time.

Hey, Butch, the