Claiming the Billionaire Read online

  Claiming the Billionaire

  JM Stewart

  New York Boston

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

  Copyright © 2017 by JM Stewart

  Excerpt from Bidding on the Billionaire copyright © 2016 by JM Stewart

  Cover design by Elizabeth Turner

  Cover copyright © 2017 by Hachette Book Group, Inc.

  Hachette Book Group supports the right to free expression and the value of copyright. The purpose of copyright is to encourage writers and artists to produce the creative works that enrich our culture.

  The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book without permission is a theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like permission to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), please contact [email protected]. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.

  Forever Yours

  Hachette Book Group

  1290 Avenue of the Americas

  New York, NY 10104

  forever-romance.com

  twitter.com/foreverromance

  First Edition: January 2017

  Forever Yours is an imprint of Grand Central Publishing.

  The Forever Yours name and logo are trademarks of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

  The publisher is not responsible for websites (or their content) that are not owned by the publisher.

  The Hachette Speakers Bureau provides a wide range of authors for speaking events. To find out more, go to www.hachettespeakersbureau.com or call (866) 376-6591.

  ISBN 978-1-4555-9227-2 (ebook edition)

  ISBN 978-1-4555-9228-9 (print on demand edition)

  E3-20161128-DA-NF

  Table of Contents

  Cover

  Title Page

  Copyright

  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

  Epilogue

  A Preview of BIDDING ON THE BILLIONAIRE

  About the Author

  Also by JM Stewart

  You Might Also Like…

  Newsletters

  Chapter One

  Cassie, honey, are you sitting down?”

  Phone in one hand, pitcher of water in the other, Cassandra Stephanopoulos halted dead center of her kitchen. The coffee she’d been in the process of making went forgotten as ice skittered down her spine, plunking hard and cold in her belly and awakening her sleepy senses. Every bit of bad news she’d ever received seemed to come off the heels of a line like that.

  Any other day, she wouldn’t have picked up her phone before she’d had a much needed morning dose of caffeine. Things like talking coherently simply didn’t happen before coffee. She’d glanced at the screen, though. Who the hell would call her so early? Her girls and her best friend, Grayson, all knew she wasn’t a morning person.

  However, at seeing Marilyn Benson’s number, she’d snatched her phone off the counter. Marilyn was Tyler’s mother. His family was her only connection to him now. It was a tiny, stupid little scrap to hold on to. It wouldn’t bring him back, but she needed the connection like she needed oxygen.

  More to the point, Marilyn had only called her this early twice: the first time to tell her Tyler had gone missing. The second…to tell her they’d called off the search for him. All of which now had Cassie’s mind racing with horrible possibilities. Her hands began to shake, sending the cold water sloshing over the rim of the full pitcher and onto her bare toes.

  She deposited the pitcher on the nearest counter, pinched the bridge of her nose, and forced herself to count to three before answering. She would not allow the panic slithering up her spine to take root. “Is everything okay? Are Dean and the girls all right?”

  Tyler’s older brother, Dean, and his wife, Kathy, had two gorgeous little girls with the biggest blue eyes Cassie had ever seen. Every time she saw them, they made her chest ache, because she always wondered. If Tyler had lived and she hadn’t taken the coward’s way out by turning down his proposal, would their kids have inherited those eyes as well?

  “Sweetie, I have something to tell you. I wanted you to know before it ends up on the news.”

  Before it ended up on the news? Cassie’s stomach sank into her toes. Now she knew it was bad. She reached out to grip the edge of a nearby counter and swallowed past the thick paste in her throat. “My stomach’s in knots. Whatever it is, just tell me. Please.”

  On the other end of the line, Marilyn drew a shaky breath. “Sweetie, Tyler’s alive.”

  Marilyn’s voice came out barely above a whisper, but she might as well have shouted the words. Everything inside Cassie skidded to a halt. She stared out the long row of windows on the other side of her penthouse apartment. Despite it being January in Seattle, the skies were clear blue. The beauty somehow added a surreal quality to the moment. How many times had she longed for this exact phone call? Surely she was only dreaming…

  “Come again?”

  Marilyn laughed, the sound of someone so relieved they were beside themselves. “He’s alive. I just spoke with him. He sounds a little shaky, to be honest, but he’s alive. Apparently, he was held captive somewhere in Iraq. I’m afraid I don’t know the whole story yet, but oh, sweetie, he’s coming home.”

  Marilyn continued to ramble, her voice a giddy, half-delirious murmur on the other end of the line, but the actual words didn’t register. The impact of the news struck Cassie like an arrow, piercing her heart. She sagged back against the kitchen counter, staring at everything and nothing, as tears rushed over her, bringing with them a profound sense of relief.

  Tyler was alive.

  * * *

  Cassie bebopped to the tune playing in her right ear as she made her way down the hotel corridor. The long hallway stood empty, save a few other last-minute arrivals. Grayson, her long-time best friend, and his new wife, Maddie, walked a couple steps behind, their gaits more casual than Cassie’s buoyant stride. It was rude to listen to music in the presence of friends, but as newlyweds, Maddie and Gray had gone off in a world of their own, and Cassie needed the upbeat tune to bolster her mood. Maybe if she forced herself to be cheerful, she’d eventually feel it.

  She couldn’t believe she’d let Gray talk her into this. She didn’t want to be here. No, she’d rather be alone in her penthouse with a fifth of scotch, getting so drunk she couldn’t remember her name. A week had passed since Marilyn had called to tell her Tyler was alive. Marilyn had been right. Every news channel was talking about it. Somehow he’d not only managed to survive being captured by insurgents, but he’d also gotten himself home. To say she was relieved would be the understatement of the century.

  Except he hadn’t come to see her. He’d been home for seven days now and he hadn’t so much as called her. But why would he? After the way they’d left things, the things they’d said to each other, she certainly wouldn’t come to see her either.

  She wasn’t even sure she wanted him to. It wasn’t fair to want to see him, really. Nothing had changed for her. Tyler would be a soldier until he died. It was who he was. And she still couldn’t risk losing another person she loved. She’d lost her brother in Iraq five years ago…after losing their mother five years before that. Their family hadn’t been the same since Nick’s death. Her ba
ba had shut her out, lost to his grief. She couldn’t, wouldn’t, go through that again, lose one more person.

  She couldn’t deny, though, that it still hurt. That she still had an overpowering need to see him. Her heart wouldn’t fully trust that he really was alive until she saw him with her own two eyes.

  Exactly why she’d allowed Gray to drag her to this auction. Because clearly seeing him again wasn’t going to happen, and she desperately needed a distraction.

  When the too-familiar pain began to wrap itself around her chest again, Cassie refocused on the upbeat music and paused to shimmy out the last strains of the song. She’d have fun tonight if it killed her.

  Behind her, Gray chuckled. “I’m glad to see you’re in a good mood tonight, Cassie. I thought you’d be pissed when I showed up earlier. I know you didn’t really want to participate in this auction.”

  She pulled out the earbud and looked down at her phone, closing the music app.

  “You’re lucky. I’ve heard about these shindigs from a few friends. If I’m lucky, I’ll end up with two of Christina’s hotties.” She shot a wink over her shoulder. “They can make me a Cassie sandwich.”

  Okay, so that wasn’t really what she wanted. She’d intended to spend tonight alone, wallowing in her self-pity, but Gray had waylaid those plans. He’d shown up at her apartment two hours ago, demanded she get dressed, and dragged her out to his car. He hadn’t told her where they were headed until they were halfway here.

  Cassie had known Christina McKenzie, now apparently Christina Blake, in high school. Christina ran a charity auction that had become famous over the last few years. This year, she’d turned the tables a bit. Instead of bachelors, they were auctioning the ladies. Gray had talked her into signing up as one of the bachelorettes. Any other time, this would have been exactly her style. An evening with a potentially hot guy? Yeah, she’d have been all over that. Tonight all she really wanted was a pint of Ben & Jerry’s and a really big spoon.

  Gray rolled his eyes as he came to a stop beside her. “Some things haven’t changed, I see.”

  “Actually, I’ve decided you’re right, Gray. This is exactly the distraction I need tonight. Besides, you only live once.” She playfully nudged him with an elbow. “You should have volunteered Maddie. You can make a Maddie sandwich.”

  “I don’t share.” Gray glared at her, but the corners of his mouth twitched with his effort to hold back a grin.

  Okay, so it wasn’t nice to tease him, but Grayson Lockwood had been her best friend since high school. Since that tenth-grade English class she’d only passed because he’d taken pity on her. They teased each other as easily as they confided in each other. Besides, it’s what he got for storming her apartment.

  Luckily for her, the gleam in Maddie’s eyes told her she’d gotten the joke. Maddie winked, covered her mouth, and let out a girlish giggle. Cassie bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing. She and Maddie might have had a rocky start, but they were becoming fast friends. Maddie had a wicked sense of humor and a heart of gold. She also made Gray happy.

  Gray jerked his gaze to his wife. “And what are you laughing at?”

  Maddie blinked up at him, innocence personified. “What? I kind of like the idea. Didn’t you say you wanted to try something different?”

  Gray turned his head, shooting Cassie a glare. “Touché, Cassandra. Touché. Consider us even now.” He jerked his gaze back to Maddie. “You, however, I can spank.”

  When he backed Maddie against the nearest wall and set his hands on either side of her head, Cassie turned away from the newlyweds. She was damn happy for them. She really was. After a long, painful road that had nearly taken Maddie and Gray away from each other and the dangerous childhood he’d endured, Gray deserved to be happy. She needed him to be.

  Seeing them together, though, made her chest ache. She’d had that once, and every time they nuzzled each other, she was reminded of how much she missed it.

  “Don’t take too long. You guys only have five minutes.” Cassie shot a sassy wink over her shoulder and turned, striding for the ballroom entrance at the end of the hall.

  She came to a stop inside and took a moment to gather herself. She’d only get through tonight by smiling and pretending life was a party. If luck found her, maybe she’d fake herself into believing her chest wasn’t caving in.

  Inside, the place was more men than women, every one of them dressed to the nines. The men gorgeous and debonair in their black tuxes, the women regal and glowing in their finest gowns and jewels. Each face lit up with the promise of the evening. A feeling she wished she shared. The whole evening exhausted her. She wasn’t in the mood to put on the act tonight.

  “Don’t think I didn’t see what you did back there.”

  Gray’s deep voice sounded behind her seconds before his hand settled on her shoulder, warm and heavy and supportive.

  Cassie darted a glance at him. “Shouldn’t you be whisking Maddie off to a dark corner somewhere?”

  As if on cue, Maddie stepped up beside Gray.

  “I’m going to go find Christina and say hello.” Maddie lifted onto her toes, kissed him softly, and turned to Cassie. She took one of Cassie’s hands, offering a sympathetic smile. “All kidding aside, I’m glad you’re here. Don’t be too mad at him. This part was my idea. I hated the thought of you sitting home alone, feeling miserable, so I told Gray to go over and get you. Hannah always did that for me, those three years Gray and I were apart. Forced me to get up, to live. It was hard, but she was right.”

  She’d come to adore Maddie. Turned out, they had a lot in common. They both had pasts they regretted, and like Cassie, Maddie tended to put on a front, to avoid feeling things. More to the point, what Maddie had gone through with Gray meant she understood the moment Cassie had arrived at—knowing she needed to move on but not knowing how.

  Cassie plastered on the best smile she could muster. “Thank you. I’m not mad. I’m just not sure I’m up for this.”

  Maddie squeezed her fingers. “Smile like it’s the best night of your life. Besides, whoever it is you end up with, you’re only required a single date. At the very least, he’ll keep your mind off your heart.”

  Cassie watched Maddie’s fiery hair disappear into the crowd before glancing at Gray. “I really like her. She’s good for you.”

  She had to admit, she was grateful for a moment alone with him. Only with Gray did she feel comfortable letting down her walls. Even her father put pressure on her to be someone else. Someone more perfect. With her baba, nothing she did was ever enough. “When are you going to get serious, Cassandra? You can’t play like a child all your life. I’m not going to be around forever. Who will take over the restaurants when I die?” Her father had said the words so many times she could hear his Greek accent echo in her head even now.

  She was her father’s biggest disappointment. He and her mother had opened Ariana’s Greek Café before she and her brother, Nick, were born. Authentic Greek cuisine, with recipes that had been passed down for generations. She and Nick had been raised in those restaurants and Daddy insisted they learn the business, to take over when he and Mom could no longer run them. Now that they’d lost her mother to that car accident and Nick to the war, the heavy burden had fallen to her. Cassie wasn’t a restaurateur. She designed jewelry, custom-made pieces. She had the soul of an artist. Creations by Cassie was doing better than ever. A handful of large stores had even commissioned pieces. All of which displeased her father no end.

  Gray, though, always accepted her as she was, broken, crabby bits and all.

  Gray pulled her against his side. “Maddie likes you, too. I warned her you probably wouldn’t be yourself tonight.”

  “I appreciate it. Tell her I said thanks. I hope she knows it isn’t personal.” Cassie scanned the crowd again and sighed. “Remind me again why I’m here?”

  “Because she’s right. You sitting at home crying your eyes out doesn’t do you any good. You being one of the bachel
orettes gives you a purpose, something to do. Besides, raccoon eyes aren’t a good look on you.”

  He winked, and she let out a watery laugh, but staring into the room, the weight of the entire evening pressed down on her. “I don’t know how to let him go, Gray. I tried for three years. I want to have fun tonight, but I’m not sure I can. It’s killing me that he hasn’t even called me.”

  Nor did she think she deserved the happiness she coveted. The time she saw Tyler, she’d told him she’d used him, but she’d lied through her teeth. He was deploying, and she couldn’t lose another person she loved.

  Except the joke had been on her. She’d waited anyway, had worried anyway, and when Tyler hadn’t come home, the bottom had dropped out of her world. His death had left her struggling. To move on. To release the guilt caught in her chest. To live.

  She released the memory and peered up at Grayson. “His last memories of us were me telling him he was nothing but my latest boy toy. I can’t forgive myself for that. Clearly, he can’t either.”

  “Let me talk to Christina.” Grayson released her shoulders and turned to face her. “I’m willing to bet she’d know the perfect guy to fix you up with. If I know her, she knows everyone here personally. I bet she can fix you up with someone who won’t expect anything from you.”

  Cassie rolled her eyes. “That’s pathetic. I can get my own dates.”

  One dark brow lifted in challenge. “Then why aren’t you?”

  “Point taken.” Six months ago, when she’d stood as his “best woman” at his wedding, she’d come to a realization. Watching Gray profess to love, honor, and cherish Maddie for the rest of his life had been an honest moment for her. She couldn’t deny that, deep down, she wanted what they’d found. The happily-ever-after.

  She’d decided that day to stop living a lie. Her jewelry had borne the brunt of her insomnia. Some of her best work had taken shape at one in the morning, often fueled by heartache. Apparently, sleepless nights and lack of sex were good muses.

  Tonight, she needed her carefree side or she wouldn’t make it to morning without curling up into a sobbing mess. She was glad Tyler was alive. The knowledge eased a wound in her soul. A world without him in it didn’t make sense. Except she now had to face losing him a second time.