The Billionaire's Secret: Billionaire Obsession (Tycoon Billionaires Book 5) (2 page)

As a private investigator, Jake was confident that he’d always get his man. And he usually always got his woman too. Right now his body and mind were hooked into Astrid… kissing her had only served to make him hunger for her even more. The fact that she was strictly off-limits suddenly seemed irrelevant, but Jake knew the
truth
wasn’t going to ingratiate him to her…

He’d been in this bar for a beer a few times before, and he was happy to be here with her now. It was a typical sports bar, with huge TVs suspended from the ceiling, rock music blaring, and baseball paraphernalia dotted around the walls. It wasn’t busy inside – just a few groups of guys were gathered at the far end, eyes glued to the game. Jake led Astrid down to a quieter area – away from the loud music and rowdy men.

He pulled back the wooden chair for her, and she eyed him up suspiciously, clearly not used to being with a gentleman.

“It’s okay,” he said. “Take a seat.”

She eased herself into the chair, still shaken from Graves’ assault. “Thank you.”

Jake sat opposite, playing it cool. “Hopefully Graves should leave you alone now. He looked shit-scared, right?”

She frowned at him. “You know Graves?”

Jake’s expression didn’t flicker. He shrugged. “Sure – he’s getting quite a name for himself in the industry papers.”

“Is he? And what industry would
that
be?”

Jake opened his mouth to make an excuse, but luckily the waitress came over to take their order.

“Double Scotch, neat,” Astrid said. “And a glass of water with one slice of lime and no ice.”

Jake grinned at her precise order. “I’ll just have a beer.”

The waitress walked away, and he gazed at Astrid. “Neat double Scotch?”

She shrugged. “You said I needed a drink to calm my nerves, so there we go.”

They shared a smile as she relaxed, letting her defenses down slightly.

He tapped his fingers on the table to the tune in the background. “So you’re new to New York City, huh?”

“I’ve been here six weeks. How did you know that?”

“You’ve got a freshness about you.”

He smiled, wishing he could tell her the truth. He wanted to say ‘I know everything about you, sweetheart. I’ve been falling for you deeper and deeper since my brothers asked me to follow you, listen to your calls, read your emails… I’ve never met a woman like you before. All those little things you do make me want to fuck you all night long, to hold you under the covers… talk about life and the world with you, laugh about stupid stuff. I love how you twirl your ponytail around your fingers when you’re pensive. How your face lights up when you smile. How you always give money to that homeless guy on your block when you walk past him. I love how you try so hard to be professional on the phone, but you pull stupid faces and roll your eyes... How you bend over so innocently, with no idea what effect you’re having on me… you little minx… I love your fantastic body and beautiful face, and I want to take you home right now and fuck you senseless, just to know what it’s like. Just once. I need to know what you taste like…’

Astrid smiled coolly – oblivious to any of this. “Thanks. This is my first proper job since I graduated. I was doing an internship for a year, then this came up and I couldn’t wait to get out of my hometown.”

Jake knew this already. The asshole ex-boyfriend… “Oh yeah? How come?”

“My ex wasn’t exactly the nicest guy in the universe.”

Jake clenched his fists. “What happened?”

She shook her head. “I don’t want to talk about him. How long have
you
lived in the city?”

Jake shrugged. “A while.”

The waitress brought over their order so they clinked glasses. Jake laughed as Astrid downed her drink in one.

It seemed to go straight to her head. She exhaled slowly and her posture mellowed, then she held eye contact with him. “You know what, I hate men. They’re all bastards.
Why
are they all bastards?”

Jake chuckled. “Not sure.”

She picked up her water and sipped it. “Thanks for… you know. Coming to my assistance.”

“Anytime, Astrid.”

She called the waitress back. Jake studied her delicate bone structure and blue eyes. Right now he wished he wasn’t a private detective, in the employment of two of the most influential and powerful business tycoons in the city. Adam and Dylan Quinlan. Who also happened to be his recently-reunited older brothers.

He wasn’t sure what was happening to him. He’d always successfully managed to maintain his distance when dealing with targets. But there was something captivating about this one… He knew her routine well now – she left for work at eight in the morning and walked down the backstreets, avoiding the crowds of Times Square for reasons Jake didn’t yet fully understand. She rarely went out in the evenings. Her intercepted emails were professional to the point of being curt. But when she was walking, listening to the music on her headphones, she would sing to herself and smile. There was a vulnerable person behind that hard exterior and Jake wanted to get to know her better – to unravel that enigma.

He knew he shouldn’t have interfered when Graves had approached her back there, but there was no way he could’ve just stood back and let him assault her. He didn’t consider himself a hero, but men who hurt women topped the list of things Jake wanted to destroy in this world.

What he needed to do right now was to stand up and walk out of here, otherwise he was in danger of blowing his cover. But how could he leave her in this state? And what if Graves
did
know where she lived? And that kiss had been something else…

He opened his mouth to ask her again about her ex. Apart from the fact that she now had Graves on her back, he was genuinely worried for her safety because of this ex-boyfriend. Jake hadn’t seen the guy, but he’d heard Astrid talking to him on the phone – and apparently the ex was desperate to find out where she’d moved to and to get her back – with force. When he’d heard Simon talking to her like that, Jake had felt his role change from stalker to protector.

Adam and Dylan would
not
see it like that.

Astrid asked the waitress to bring more Scotch. “Want some?” she asked Jake.

“Not while I’m working,” he said. “I’ll stick to the beer.”

She eyed him up. “You’re working?”

Shit, how had he let that slip? He was always so careful. What was this woman doing to him?

The waitress brought over another double, and Astrid downed it again. Jake watched her with fascination. She seemed so uptight, yet vulnerable. He wanted to comfort her, to kiss her… to fuck her all night long.

“Men,” she slurred. “Men are all bloody bastards.”

“Some men are okay,” he said, not meaning himself. He didn’t treat women
badly
– he just never seemed to connect with them on anything more than a physical level. There was too much shit from his past holding him back. And usually they only wanted him for his good looks and abilities in bed. What
else
could he offer? He wasn’t sure. He certainly couldn’t give Astrid what
she
wanted.

He listened to her rant. She was cute when she was angry…

“My ex-boyfriend’s a bastard. Cole Graves is a bastard. And those smug asshole Quinlan brothers. They were put on this earth to make my life a misery, I swear.”

“You don’t like the Quinlans?”

She squinted drunkenly at him. “I can’t talk about it.”

“Okay.” He allowed the silence to hang between them. When he’d been a cop he’d always been an expert interrogator – because of the things he
didn’t
say and the times he knew when to remain quiet. He was a good detective – could’ve been a
great
detective if they hadn’t kicked him off the force.

The waitress brought over another drink for Astrid. This time she cradled it. “There’s this new technology the Quinlans are investing in – or which they
want
to invest in. My job as a federal health-and-safety inspector is to check the safety of the project, but they’re ignoring me as if I’m an inconvenience. They treat me like the enemy, but the government just wants to protect the people of America. Why don’t they understand that?”

Jake tried not to let his guilt tear him apart. “I’m sorry to hear they’re giving you such a hard time, Astrid.”

She rested her elbow on the table, and her chin on her hand, and sighed heavily. Then her face suddenly lit up. “Oh, I love this song!”

Jake listened. He loved this song too. “You wanna dance?” he asked.

She gazed at him in shock. “A guy who likes to dance? Man, you must be too good to be true.”

He chuckled. He’d always loved to dance, but a few weeks ago his kid brother Joseph had given him a few tips on how to look reasonably cool on the dancefloor. Now it was time to put them to the test.

He stood and offered his hand. “Come on, or the song’ll be over.”

She giggled and stood up. No one else in the bar was dancing – in fact, they were all watching the game on the huge TV suspended at the other end of the room.

Jake led Astrid a little way from their table, and they halted opposite each other. He reached out and put his arms around her, holding her securely. She stiffened.

“Relax,” he whispered.

Astrid stood on the spot. “I feel like a teenager at the prom.”

“Look into my eyes,” Jake said. “And enjoy yourself.”

He brushed his fingers across her cheek. She gasped at his touch, and it turned him on to see her so aroused. He smiled powerfully into her eyes, then he rested one hand on her shoulder, wrapping the other arm behind her waist.

She stepped forward so their bodies were pressing together.

“You’re beautiful,” he said.

The saxophone solo kicked in, and they stepped in time together. Astrid swayed her hips and loosened up. Jake lowered his face and smiled into her eyes. He wished he could kiss her again – it felt natural to do so, but this time he had no excuse and he didn’t want to push her. She smelled so good – of honeysuckle and oranges. Arousal washed through him, but he knew he couldn’t have her – it was too complicated. This dance would be the end of their time together, and he’d go back to stalking her for his brothers like the sleaze he was.

The slow song faded and the next tune started up – which was much more upbeat, so Astrid stepped away and twirled her under his arm, then she twirled back into him and laughed, seeming free and relaxed. He smiled, glad he’d managed to take her mind off her problems and make her smile sincerely. But now he wanted to know what she looked like in bed, climaxing from the best orgasm she’d ever had – which he was desperate to give her.

They danced together for another few songs, moving in time to the music and enjoying the present moment in its entirety. Astrid’s cheeks flushed with a warm glow of happiness – and Scotch. She seemed out of breath from the dancing, so he gestured to their table. She nodded, then hugged him tight. “Thanks for the dance, Jake!”

“My pleasure.”

He wanted this evening to continue forever, but – like all good things– he knew it would end. They drifted to sit back down. He pulled out her chair.

She gazed at him. “So are you really for real?”

He laughed. “I think so.”

She remained standing. “Jake, will you take me home?”

Jake’s cock twitched in his pants at the suggestive tone in her voice. He’d gladly bend her over the table and fuck her here and now…

“In case Graves is still lurking…” she added.

“Sure, come on.”

Jake realized how drunk Astrid was as they left the bar and she swerved into him. He put his arm securely around her shoulders and she sunk into his body as they made their way to the parking garage, where his Ferrari was parked. Unlike his newly-found biological family, Jake had never had much money, and he refused to take handouts from them, despite how wealthy they were. But – as a ‘welcome’ gift – they’d given him this gorgeous car. He loved it, and he secretly hoped she’d be impressed. But at the moment, she was having trouble walking straight. She headed toward the driver’s side, so he guided her to the passenger side and opened the door for her. “I’ll drive,” he joked.

She laughed. “Sorry. Simon drove a British car. He was British. They drive on the other side. The British.”

“I know. Come on, get in.”

She slid drunkenly onto the passenger seat and Jake climbed into the driver’s side. He headed off for her end of town – which was only a couple of miles away, but where the property was less opulent and more rundown.

He pulled up outside her apartment building, yanking up the parking brake and trying to ignore his pounding lust. Thank god she was too drunk to realize she hadn’t actually told him where she lived.

She shot him a coy glance – twisting the arousal in his pants into a frenzy.

“Come in for a coffee?”

“I don’t think that would be a good idea, honey,” Jake said.