The Billionaire’s Secrets by J.S. Scott

2017

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Author:	J.S. Scott
Genre:	Contemporary Romance
File Name:	the-billionaires-secrets-by-j-s-scott.epub
Original Title:	The Billionaire's Secrets (The Sinclairs Book 6)
Creator:	J. S. Scott
Language:	en
Identifier:	ISBN:9781477808894
Publisher:	Montlake Romance
Date:	1509984000
File Size:	477155.328

Former rock star Xander Sinclair may be out of rehab, but he’s not out of the woods. Still haunted by his parents’ murders, he has secluded himself in his Amesport mansion and dodges any attempted contact from his two brothers. Struggling not to fall into relapse, he believes he’s battling his demons alone.

That is, until Samantha arrives to work as his live-in housekeeper. Effortlessly charming and cheerful and wickedly sexy, she challenges Xander to abandon his isolation. The two embark on a fiery relationship—one that could change them both forever.

Just when Xander is on the verge of reclaiming his life, he discovers that Samantha has been hiding things from him…things that could shatter the fragile future they’ve begun to build together. For Xander, escaping the past is no longer an option. It’s time to face it—even when some secrets seem too heavy for the heart to bear.

Table of Content

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2. ALSO BY J.S. SCOTT The Sinclairs The Billionaire’s Christmas (A Sinclair Novella) No Ordinary Billionaire The Forbidden Billionaire The Billionaire’s Touch The Billionaire’s Voice The Billionaire Takes All The Billionaire’s Obsession Mine for Tonight Mine for Now Mine Forever Mine Completely Heart of the Billionaire – Sam Billionaire Undone – Travis The Billionaire’s Salvation – Max The Billionaire’s Game – Kade Billionaire Unmasked – Jason Billionaire Untamed – Tate Billionaire Unbound – Chloe Billionaire Undaunted – Zane Billionaire Unknown – Blake Billionaire Unveiled – Marcus The Walker Brothers Release! Player The Sentinel Demons A Dangerous Bargain A Dangerous Hunger A Dangerous Fury A Dangerous Demon King The Sentinel Demons – The Complete Boxed Set Big Girls and Bad Boys The Curve Ball The Beast Loves Curves Curves by Design The Curve Collection Boxed Set The Pleasure of His Punishment: Individual Stories or Complete Boxed Set The Changeling Encounters Mate of the Werewolf The
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4. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Text copyright © 2017 by J.S. Scott All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher. Published by Montlake Romance, Seattle www.apub.com Amazon, the Amazon logo, and Montlake Romance are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. ISBN-13: 9781477808894 ISBN-10: 1477808892 Cover design by Laura Klynstra Cover photo by Laura Klynstra
5. This book is dedicated to my sister, Beth, who left this world unexpectedly and way too soon on March 30th, 2017. She was one of my greatest supporters, the best sister and friend a woman could ask for, and she couldn’t wait for Xander’s book to be published. Sadly, she never got a chance to read his story, but I know that she knew he’d eventually get his own “happily ever after” because I talked to her about his story. I miss you so much, Sissy, and my life will never be the same without you. Thank you for all the years of love and support you gave me. You’ll always live on in my heart and my memories. All My Love, ~ Jan
6. CONTENTS PROLOGUE XANDER CHAPTER 1 SAMANTHA CHAPTER 2 XANDER CHAPTER 3 SAMANTHA CHAPTER 4 XANDER CHAPTER 5 SAMANTHA CHAPTER 6 XANDER CHAPTER 7 SAMANTHA CHAPTER 8 SAMANTHA CHAPTER 9 SAMANTHA CHAPTER 10 SAMANTHA CHAPTER 11 XANDER CHAPTER 12 SAMANTHA CHAPTER 13 XANDER CHAPTER 14 SAMANTHA CHAPTER 15 SAMANTHA CHAPTER 16 SAMANTHA CHAPTER 17 XANDER CHAPTER 18 SAMANTHA CHAPTER 19 XANDER CHAPTER 20 SAMANTHA CHAPTER 21 XANDER CHAPTER 22 JULIAN CHAPTER 23 SAMANTHA CHAPTER 24 SAMANTHA CHAPTER 25 SAMANTHA CHAPTER 26 SAMANTHA CHAPTER 27 SAMANTHA CHAPTER 28 LIAM CHAPTER 29 XANDER CHAPTER 30 SAMANTHA CHAPTER 31 SAMANTHA CHAPTER 32 XANDER CHAPTER 33 SAMANTHA CHAPTER 34 SAMANTHA EPILOGUE SAMANTHA AUTHOR’S NOTE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ABOUT THE AUTHOR
7. PROLOGUE XANDER Over a year earlier . . . I had no idea what it felt like to be dead, but I was starting to wonder if I’d died and was paying for my life on Earth in the depths of Hell. Every muscle in my body was twitching and burning with pain, and I couldn’t control the thoughts—or maybe they were memories—bouncing around in my brain. I tried to open my eyes, but it was too damn painful, so I was stuck with the images I couldn’t make go away. I could remember how badly I’d needed my fix, and how I’d gone to some low-life drug dealer to get the heroin. I’d gotten home and mixed up the injectable version of the drug, unwilling to settle for the effects of smoking or snorting it. I’d been so damn desperate that I had to have immediate relief. I’d found the vein, and recalled the feeling of intense relief once the drug almost immediately hit my system. After that, most of what happened was a blank until the damn paramedics had given me the mother of all shocks to my system . . . the opi
8. CHAPTER 1 SAMANTHA The present . . . “I hope you’re ready for this.” I nodded at Julian Sinclair as I watched him run a frustrated hand through his hair. “I can handle it, Mr. Sinclair.” I took another sip of my iced coffee, glad that the brother of my next so-called boss had suggested meeting at a coffee shop. Brew Magic had amazing coffee, and I’d needed a pick-me-up. Who knew that the small beach town in Amesport, Maine, was making some of the best coffee I’d ever had? My ass was dragging from getting up early in the morning to drive from New York City to Maine, so I was grateful for the caffeine fix I was eagerly sucking down like it was my savior. “You haven’t met Xander yet,” he warned ominously. “I’ve seen your references, and believe me, we did an extensive background check. And please call me Julian. There are way too many ‘Mr. Sinclairs’ in this town.” “You do understand that I’m just a housekeeper and a cook.” I’d reminded him of this fact several times, but I wanted to make
9. CHAPTER 2 XANDER All I wanted was a goddamn drink! Why in the fuck was I still fighting falling off the sobriety wagon? The seduction of successfully blocking out reality with alcohol or drugs haunted me every minute of every day, taunting me to give in. I wasn’t bullshitting myself into thinking that one drink would help. I wanted the whole fucking bottle. Yeah, I’d been through the Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous routine. More than once. I’d never made it past the first step in the twelve-step programs. I’d given my counselor the necessary assurance that I had so I could get the hell out of rehab. And I could admit that I was powerless in the face of alcohol and drugs. But that was it. There was no sanity for me. I couldn’t give my shit over to a power greater than myself. And I sure as hell had never made some kind of fearless moral inventory of my actions. If I tried to search my soul, all I’d find was an all-consuming darkness. My moral compass was fucked up. The only things ke
10. CHAPTER 3 SAMANTHA There was a time in my life when I’d loved Xander Sinclair’s music. It had been my solace, my one guilty pleasure. His style had been unique, not quite metal, but expressive rock with some thoughtful ballads thrown into the mix. His words had reached out and spoken to me when he sang. They’d touched my heart and gotten me through some of my darkest days. Meeting him now, even several years after he’d recorded his last song, I couldn’t believe the man and his music were so very different. Shaking my head and longing for the days when Xander had been my hero, I walked into a bedroom, knowing immediately that it was a guest room. Everything was in its place, and it was tidy. Obviously, the owner had spent no time in this space. Hefting my suitcase onto the bed, I tried to focus on what I needed to accomplish. Before I could get anywhere, I needed to clean up the mess Xander had made of the house. The place looked like a tornado had struck and nobody had ever done cleanu
11. CHAPTER 4 XANDER I woke up the next morning, surprised to see that I’d actually slept the entire night without getting out of bed and pacing the floor. That was usually how I spent my nocturnal hours, tossing and turning, so damn ramped up that I wasn’t able to get more than a few hours of sleep at one time. I rolled onto my back and stared up at the ceiling. I felt . . . rested, and it wasn’t a feeling I was used to experiencing. I knew there was every possibility that the woman staying down the hall in the guest room of my home was completely certifiable. Sure, she’d acted pretty normal last night as she’d sped through the place like she owned it, cleaning up the kitchen, vacuuming, and even dusting. I’d felt kind of bad when she’d started coughing from the dust, but not bad enough to do it myself. I’d taken out the trash that she’d continued to hand me during several trips to the big can outside. I wasn’t sure why I’d done it, but it had seemed easier to just do it than to argue wit
12. CHAPTER 5 SAMANTHA After I’d done more vacuuming and cleaned the bathrooms, I finally sat down in the family room with a diet soda, trying to collect my thoughts. The shattered pottery Xander had left had been swept up soon after he’d gone. Maybe it was a good thing that he stormed off. Not for one second had I been afraid of his rage, because I knew that the person he was actually pissed off at was himself. My encounter with Xander this morning had been disturbing. I hadn’t come here looking for any deep connections. My purpose was to help him in any way I could, and he wasn’t ready for any kind of real relationship. I just wanted to be his friend and his confidante. I’d ended up shaken by the emotions that had risen up inside me while he’d held me, so close, but yet so far away from the pain he’d carried for so long. “I’m not sure how to get through to him,” I whispered to myself. It wasn’t that I doubted my persuasive skills or my determination. Hell, I’d offered him my body to get
13. CHAPTER 6 XANDER “Dammit, Samantha! Wait!” I was calling out to an empty room. Anger welled up inside me, and I grabbed a glass vase from the coffee table and hurled it against the wall. I got very little satisfaction this time out of the sound of shattering glass. “Fuck!” My dick was back in my pants, but I stood in the middle of the room like an idiot, still trying to figure out what had just occurred. I’d wanted . . . and I took what had been offered. Strangely, I’d gotten very little satisfaction out of getting off. Truth was, I wanted to somehow connect with Sam emotionally because I damn well craved it, but I couldn’t. So I’d used the only available means I had to try. And I’d fucked up majorly. “Stupid bastard,” I growled, picking up another small glass ornament from the table. I curled my hand around the small, fragile blown-glass guitar that Micah and Tessa had recently purchased for me while they were in town. I drew my arm back, then put it back down, not wanting to destroy
14. CHAPTER 7 SAMANTHA Over the next few days, I had to hide the fact that Xander’s pain was tearing my heart to shreds, sending an excruciating ache through my chest in empathy. I hadn’t broken down and cried until I’d gotten safely into my bedroom, after he’d shared why he thought his parents had died and how he still shouldered the blame. I had to stay strong, even though I was actually hurting in a million different ways from seeing Xander vulnerable. Yeah, he was screwed up, but nobody could handle that much heartache without coming out of it a different person. I knew that from experience. Something I could also recognize from his words was that he had to stop feeling so damn guilty. I needed to pry him open somehow, let him see what was real and what wasn’t. He was wallowing in a vat of shame that didn’t exist. I’d talked to Julian enough to know that he’d never blame his younger brother for what had happened to their parents. And I was willing to bet Micah wouldn’t, either. Reality
15. CHAPTER 8 SAMANTHA Over the next few days, I was relieved to discover that Xander didn’t seem eager to pull back from talking about small, personal things, even though he hadn’t revealed anything more about the traumatic murder of his parents. He started suggesting daily trips to the beach, and we’d joke around, but to my disappointment, he didn’t try to kiss me again. We settled into a regular routine. He worked out early in his home gym, so I cooked breakfast at about the same time every morning, and then he’d wander into his office to use the computer, or turn on the television while I did whatever cleaning I needed to do. By lunch, I was almost always done tidying up, so we ate something easy, then headed to the beach. Strangely enough, he started joining me while I cooked dinner. He usually offered to help, and I let him. I gave him the simple tasks, and slowly taught him to make what he liked to eat. I didn’t care if he was a billionaire who never had to lift a finger to do anyth
16. CHAPTER 9 SAMANTHA “Xander? What in the hell are you doing here?” Micah asked in surprise as we entered Tessa’s hospital room. Everyone was there, but Tessa had a large, private room, so there was plenty of space, even though Micah, Julian, and Liam were all present at Tessa’s bedside. There was also a redheaded female present, a woman I assumed was Julian’s wife. I hadn’t yet met Micah in person, but I’d had conversations with him on the phone, and recognized him from photos I’d seen from time to time in the media. I cringed as I saw the crestfallen look on Xander’s face as he finally said, “I thought I was family. I thought I’d be welcome here.” I held my breath for a moment, hoping that his brothers didn’t rebuff Xander’s attempt to be part of the family again. Leaving his safe environment to come to New York hadn’t been easy for him. Coming here had been a major step forward, and the last thing I wanted was for his brothers to inadvertently push him back. Micah shook his head. “I d
17. CHAPTER 10 SAMANTHA “I should have gotten something better than pizza,” Xander said in a disgusted voice. “It’s New York City, home of some of the best restaurants on the planet.” “I asked for pizza,” I reminded him as we hung out in one of the most incredible hotel rooms I’d ever seen. Of course, we were staying in an expensive penthouse, and it had amazing views of the city. “This place is a lot bigger than my old apartment,” I told him. “Micah still has a place here in New York, but I wanted to give him some space. He’s going to stay here for a few days with Tessa after she’s discharged to make sure she’s up to flying,” he shared. I went into the fully furnished kitchen to get some plates and napkins for our pizza. “Staying here isn’t exactly a hardship,” I called to him as I pulled plates out of the cupboard. I piled both plates with our newly delivered dinner, then grabbed a couple of sodas from the full bar, trying not to think about how much the hotel would probably charge for b
18. CHAPTER 11 XANDER I woke up that night to the sound of Samantha’s bloodcurdling scream. I bolted upright as the next strangled cry got louder and more terrified than the one before it. “Holy fuck!” I cursed, then vaulted out of bed to sprint to her room next door, not caring that I was as naked as the day I was born. I slammed my hand against the light switch, flooding the room with illumination. “Sam,” I bellowed, afraid of what might be happening to her. She wasn’t the type of woman to panic over nothing. I’d kill whoever it was that was hurting her. Stopping short of the bed, I realized nobody was touching her, and there wasn’t anyone or anything out of place in the room. Her scantily clad body was thrashing in the bed, her blonde hair tangled across her face as she seemed to be fighting some kind of war in her nightmare. “No, please. Don’t,” she whimpered. My heart fucking slammed against my chest wall as I realized she was caught in a nightmare she obviously couldn’t escape. Chris
19. CHAPTER 12 SAMANTHA For the first time since I’d met Xander, I felt completely vulnerable. It wasn’t a situation I’d ever wanted to experience, but I couldn’t avoid it. I’d gotten too close, near enough to get burned, but the pull of my desire for him was too damn painful to ignore anymore. Instinctively, I knew if he touched me, everything was going to be different. It would change our relationship. It wasn’t going to be like the first time. But I couldn’t bring myself to care enough about being at his mercy to give a damn. My need was too strong. My desire was too white-hot. And my feelings for this broken man who was trying so damn hard to figure things out were too raw. I knew him. I understood him. And for some strange reason, he was the one who made my loneliness easier to bear. Xander had penetrated a part of me that I allowed no one to enter, and now that he was there, I wanted more. He’d dropped me on the center of the bed, my head resting on the pillows. His powerful arms had
20. CHAPTER 13 XANDER I’m in deep shit! It was the only thing I could think about as I jogged on the treadmill in the gym of the hotel the next morning. I was in cooldown after running for so long that the muscles in my legs were on fire. Last night had been for Sam, but Jesus, I woke up wanting her so badly that I’d needed to blow off some steam. My cock was now deflated, but there was an ache in my chest that wasn’t caused by my heavy breathing, or the excessive exercise so damn early in the morning. I’d wanted to avoid the crowd, and I had. I was the only person present in the gym, which wasn’t surprising since it was probably only around six o’clock in the morning. I’d gotten here around five, ready to outrun my desire to fuck Samantha until she was begging for mercy. “Why am I not surprised to see you here?” I heard Liam Sullivan’s voice call out from the entrance. I hit the “Stop” button and jumped off the machine to turn to Liam. “What’s wrong? Is it Tessa?” He held up a hand. “Noth
21. CHAPTER 14 SAMANTHA We ended up staying in New York for a couple of extra days to ensure that Tessa was well and ready to travel home with Micah the following day. To my surprise, Xander had even wanted to go out to see some of the things he’d never had the time to visit on his previous stays in New York. We’d strolled through Central Park, gone to the top of the Empire State Building, and visited the 9/11 Memorial. Then, last night he’d taken me out for dinner in a trendy New York restaurant. I couldn’t say he’d seemed completely at ease, but he seemed to be getting more comfortable every time he was out in public. Occasionally, I’d still see that startled, deer-in-the-headlights expression on his face every time we heard a loud noise, but he fought his way out by quickly reminding himself where he was and what he was doing. He resisted the flashbacks, and he seemed to be making progress at avoiding them. Constant exposure to the things that made him nervous was slowly desensitizing h
22. CHAPTER 15 SAMANTHA Xander changed after the visit to his parents’ graves. He was more willing to talk, listen, and just take each day as it came. He still spent each morning in his office, but he came out to go to the beach with me every afternoon. He reminisced about some happier memories of his childhood, and shared stories about his days on the road with his band. “Have you actually ever been in the recording studio that I assume Micah had built for you?” I cleaned the area occasionally, but the equipment looked unused. We were just settling down to read after dinner, and Xander didn’t look up from his e-reader as he answered, “No.” “Why? The equipment looks amazing.” “It is. Top of the line. All of it. But I told you, my music is gone.” We’d talked about his talent many times, and I knew there was no physical impediment with his ability to play, write, or sing. It was a block that was mental and not physical. “It will come back someday.” I was fairly certain that his reluctance wa
23. CHAPTER 16 SAMANTHA A few weeks later, I watched Xander as we sat around Micah’s dinner table with his two brothers and their wives. The conversation had been easy, but I knew Xander wanted to tell his brothers more about the night his parents were murdered. Micah had invited his brothers over for dinner, and I was pretty sure he was surprised when his youngest brother not only accepted, but asked if he could bring me along. We were finished with an incredible meal that Tessa had made herself, and were now lingering over dessert and coffee. I really wasn’t worried about how Micah and Julian would react to any of Xander’s information. Even though Xander might not always see it, his older brothers loved him, and weren’t going to place any blame on him. I guess I was just hoping he wouldn’t beat himself up again. The last few weeks had been a welcome break. Although we’d spent most of our time at home, it had been a more relaxed atmosphere now that we were both completely acknowledging ou
24. CHAPTER 17 XANDER “Goddamnit!” I cursed, starting to follow Samantha. I wasn’t done with her yet. I wanted to know the price that had bought her, convinced her that coming to Amesport to deal with an alcoholic and junkie was worth the hassle of dealing with a scarred-up bastard like me. My whole body was shaking with rage when Micah and Julian grabbed me from behind. I fought to escape, and I nearly pulled away, but in the end, both of them were too much for me, even if I was fighting with rage. “What in the hell are you doing, Xander?” Julian asked in a graveled voice as he wrapped his arms around my chest from behind. “Have you lost your mind?” “Fuck you,” I told him, shrugging off his hold when he finally loosened his grip. “How much were you paying her? What was the final payment?” “Dumbass! Listen to me,” Micah grumbled as he backed off. “There was no payment.” “I don’t believe you,” I answered, furious with my brothers, my sense of betrayal so damn painful that I wanted to start
25. CHAPTER 18 SAMANTHA “Stay, Sam. Please.” His words stopped my progress, and I turned around to look at him, even though I didn’t really want to. The pain in his voice wrenched at my heart, and the desperation in his dark eyes nearly destroyed me. Don’t listen. Move on. There’s nothing but heartbreak for me here. I know better than to be pulled in by him again. Xander had issues that only he could resolve. I couldn’t fix him, and I didn’t want to. “I need to go.” “I’m sorry, Samantha. Please. There’s nothing I won’t do to try to get you to stay. I spoke in anger. I thought you’d betrayed me, that you were using me.” “That’s the problem. I’m not sure you can ever trust anyone.” I went back up the steps because I still had something to say. I’d had my own reasons for coming to Amesport, and I was going to tell him the entire truth before I left. Xander followed me as I left my suitcase in the hallway and strode into the family room. “I trust you,” he argued. “It was a gut reaction.” I cro
26. CHAPTER 19 XANDER Even if my life had been completely fucked up, I was feeling like today was my lucky day. Yesterday, Samantha had given my sorry ass one more chance to show her that I was willing to do anything to keep her in my life. And I sure as hell wasn’t wasting it. We’d slept in separate beds last night because she wanted to take it slow. Although that decision didn’t sit well with me, I would just have to man up and deal with it. Sex wasn’t all I needed from her. I had to have more. A lot more. I needed her trust, and that was something I was going to have to earn. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever been good at spilling my guts to anybody, even my brothers. Being vulnerable, making somebody that important to my happiness, was too damn scary. Once a dude turned that power over to a woman, they had the ammunition to crush a guy into a million different pieces because they knew his weaknesses. Nope. I hated the very idea of giving anybody that much control over me. But letting Samantha
27. CHAPTER 20 SAMANTHA “Now that I think of it, I could have done better than this,” Xander grumbled as a pretty young brunette waitress delivered our lobster rolls. “Better?” I asked curiously. Xander and I had meandered down Main Street, and he’d been patient while I hit every shop that drew my interest. At some point during the afternoon, I’d felt the tension drain out of him, and he started teasing me about my tendency to find something I liked in every little tourist shop. I hadn’t bought much, but I loved to look. “I have a private plane. I could have taken you on a dream date anywhere in the world. Instead, we’re having lobster rolls in a dive.” “It isn’t a dive,” I protested, looking around the quaint restaurant. Liam had apparently done a remodel on his eatery near the pier, and I loved the adorable beach theme complete with antique fishing equipment, and the pretty coastal colors. It was small, but it added to the friendly atmosphere. Brooke, our waitress, was attentive and alwa
28. CHAPTER 21 XANDER “Did you really have to hurt the guy that bad? He’s in the hospital.” I glared at my cousin Dante, the chief of police in Amesport, through the bars of my jail cell. I was pissed as hell that he’d arrived before I could kill the guy who was trying to drag Samantha to his car. “He deserved worse. He was trying to take her away.” Dante shook his head. “He didn’t even know what he was doing, Xander. He was so drunk he thought she was his girlfriend.” “I don’t give a fuck!” I growled. “He had his arms around her neck. She probably couldn’t even breathe.” “I told you that she’s fine now.” “I still don’t give a fuck.” I dropped onto the sleeping bunk, the only seat in the barred room. I’d wanted to kill the asshole who was hurting Sam the minute I saw him manhandling her. “Mistake or not, he was choking her out. Tell me you wouldn’t go ballistic if some guy did that to Sarah.” “Believe me. I get it. Sarah was stalked by a crazy man, and he held her hostage. I know how it fe
29. CHAPTER 22 JULIAN “What in the hell got into Xander?” I asked Micah as I flopped onto his living-room couch. Tessa had gone to bed, and I’d texted Kristin to tell her I was stopping at Micah’s for a short time before I made it home. I assumed my wife had probably gone to bed, too. It was pretty damn late, but Micah and I were both still wide awake after our trip to town to help Xander. Micah dropped into a chair. “Hell, I can’t really blame him for this one. If somebody tried to drag Tessa off, I’d probably want to kill the guy, too.” “I get that,” I agreed, knowing I’d feel the same way if it was Kristin. “But since when has Xander shown enough emotion to get into a fight with a drunk?” “Wouldn’t be the first time,” Micah said with a smirk. “Xander might have the kindest heart in the Sinclair family, but he was always up for a fight if there was something wrong. Remember the time he was just getting into high school, and he beat the crap out of a guy who was bullying a nerd? He spent
30. CHAPTER 23 SAMANTHA “Don’t pull away,” I demanded. “You need ice on that eye.” Grumbling something I didn’t understand, Xander reached up and held the cold pack I’d made for his eye. His handsome face was a mess, and his left eye was swelling and bruised from where he’d taken a massive punch. I sat down on the couch next to him, watching to make sure he kept the cold pack over his injury. I’d been shocked to realize I’d slept all the way back to Xander’s house, waking up only as he lifted me out of the passenger seat of his vehicle when we’d arrived home. Sleep had fled in a hurry once I realized I had Xander back with me, and he was injured from his scuffle with my annoyingly drunk attacker. “What were you thinking, Xander?” I asked with a sigh. He shrugged. “I was thinking that the asshole was hurting you and he needed to die. I was trying to protect you.” My heart stuttered. Nobody had been there to protect me or watch out for me for a very long time. Even though his attempt was mis
31. CHAPTER 24 SAMANTHA My body tensed with excitement as he raked his eyes over my face, his expression determined and stubborn. “Your turn for what?” I asked breathlessly, pulling on the wrists he had confined over my head. “My turn to make you come so hard you’ll forget your own name,” he rasped. He’d mentioned that he liked to be dominant, and my body was responding to his bossy tone. “You want to be the boss?” I asked playfully. “Baby, I am the boss,” he responded arrogantly. “You aren’t going anywhere.” Heat sparked through my body as his demanding tone lit a fire inside me that was about to become a roaring inferno. Xander was meant to be dominant, and probably had been before he’d been injured. I was an independent woman, but I had no problem playing this game with him. “What if I wanted to get away?” “I’d still make you come. You gave up any possibility of escape the minute you took off your clothes,” he answered roughly. “Then tell me what you want,” I purred. “You,” he insisted.
32. CHAPTER 25 SAMANTHA A few weeks later, I was smiling as I walked down Main Street and spied Xander striding toward me. He was in his usual dark T-shirt and black jeans, his gorgeous eyes hidden by a pair of dark sunglasses as he moved down the street with a sexy, powerful stride that immediately lightened my heart. Little by little, he was getting more comfortable in his own skin again, and he didn’t seem afraid to go out in public anymore. I saw an occasional reaction to loud noises and crowds from his PTSD, but he was getting better and better at not reacting as he became accustomed and exposed to the outside world again. I’d done some shopping while Xander had gone to a morning appointment with a counselor. It hadn’t been easy to get him back into therapy, but if he was going to continue to recover, he needed it. He’d come so damn far, and he’d promised me that he was opening up to the male psychologist I’d searched out for him. Of course, in his usual Xander way, he’d questioned th
33. CHAPTER 26 SAMANTHA For a fairly small town, Amesport had an amazing farmers’ market. It was mostly locals, but there was a fair number of people strolling the aisles for fresh produce and crafts. I picked out more vegetables, then handed them off to Xander. “I’m starting to feel like your pack mule,” he joked. “At least you’re making yourself useful. If I have to cook, you get to carry the stuff.” I didn’t have much choice but to cook. Xander was trying, but most of his dishes came out inedible. He still needed a lot more practice because he was far too impatient to be turning out anything edible. “Don’t even try to pay for that,” he growled as I fumbled with my purse. “I can pay for a few vegetables, Xander,” I answered in an exasperated voice. He hadn’t let me pay for anything, and he was pretty loaded with bags of produce and fruits. “Don’t do it,” he warned. “Reach into my front pocket.” He was rearranging the bags so he could carry them easier. Unable to resist messing with him,
34. CHAPTER 27 SAMANTHA I was writing on my computer the next day when I heard the distant sound of music. I’d just finished relating my own experiences in my book, and I was happy to have that part of it finished. I’d had a couple of nightmares while I’d been reliving that horrible time in my life, and I was glad to get on with more about the recovery process. I stopped tapping on my keyboard from my position on the family-room sofa for a moment, listening. Drawn by the familiar sound of Xander’s voice, I set my computer aside and moved toward his studio. It was soundproof, so I was assuming he hadn’t closed the door. With every step, the music grew louder, and as I halted just short of the door to the studio, my heart stuttered at the sound of his soulful voice. One of the things I’d always loved about Xander’s songs was that you could feel his music. The emotion I could sense in my soul when he sang had never failed to move me like no other artist ever had. It was no different now. The
35. CHAPTER 28 LIAM “I have to leave again next week, Brooke. I’m sorry that I have to put you in charge. I’m not usually gone very often.” Brooke looked up at me with those baby-blues, and my dick got instantly hard. With her dark locks confined in a ponytail, and her face devoid of almost any makeup, she was still the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. Or was she actually still pretty much a girl? Hell, I wasn’t sure. All I knew was that she was driving me bat-shit crazy. “It’s fine, Liam. You need to be with your sister. Everything will be okay here,” she answered with empathy. Damn. She was sweet. That was one of the reasons I was so hot for her all the time. She worked so hard, and was way too nice for a jaded bastard like me. “Thanks,” I said abruptly, turning back to my job of deshelling lobster while Brooke set everything else up for opening. “Is it okay if I take a few days off when you get back?” she questioned mildly. “I have some personal things I need to deal with.” “Your boy
36. CHAPTER 29 XANDER Maybe this was a bad idea! I wrestled with the bow tie of my tuxedo as I stared into the mirror, seeing nothing except my scars. That’s what I was . . . a nicely dressed guy with a less-than-perfect mug. The trip to New York had been uneventful so far. Luckily, everything went well for Tessa, and I had no doubt she and Micah were intimately celebrating this evening. As usual, Micah had been a mess, but Tessa’s joy made him get over his nerves in a hurry. Liam, Julian, and I were headed back to Maine the day after tomorrow, but Micah and Tessa were staying for a week or so to make sure all was well with the implants. We’d spent all day with my brothers and Liam, but tonight . . . that was for Samantha. “I had to pick a fancy restaurant,” I admonished out loud as I turned away from the mirror. My main objective was to look good and treat Sam as well as she deserved. Honestly, I loved the fact that she was down-to-earth and didn’t expect me to act like a rich guy with an
37. CHAPTER 30 SAMANTHA I gazed in awe at the lights of New York from the top of the Empire State Building. It was getting late, and it was the perfect way to end the surreal evening that I’d just spent with Xander. His arms were wrapped around my waist from behind, and I rested my head on his shoulder, wishing I could stay like this forever. The musical had been magical, and when he’d hauled me up here just to see the views, I’d never been more entranced with his charisma. He was a romantic, even though I was pretty sure he’d deny it. The whole evening had been planned just to please me, and I think that was what choked me up the most about this whole experience. Getting dinner reservations and those theater tickets had taken some planning. I could tell he hated the tux, and I’d seen him put a finger underneath the starched collar occasionally in an effort to loosen it a bit, but I was pretty sure it hadn’t helped. All of this . . . the entire night . . . had been mapped out just to make
38. CHAPTER 31 SAMANTHA “You don’t have to do this, Xander. You’ve proven to yourself that you can go back to your music any time that you want.” My plea was uttered in fear as we stood in the tiny backstage area of the temporary platform at the fairgrounds. Had I pushed too hard to get him performing again when all I really wanted was for him to find his creativity? Now that I heard the thundering sound of the local band who was performing before Xander on the outdoor stage, I wasn’t absolutely certain I’d done the right thing. It was Labor Day weekend, and the crowds were horrific for a small town. The show and the traveling carnival at the fairgrounds had brought in a horde of last-minute visitors to the coast. Not to mention the fact that there were rumors that Xander Sinclair was going to perform a few songs for the very first time in years. I wasn’t sure how word had traveled. The appearance should have been spontaneous. Nevertheless, we’d all heard rumblings around town for the last
39. CHAPTER 32 XANDER There was no fucking way I was going to make some other kind of contract or agreement with Samantha. Not unless it was a fucking marriage license that would land us together for the rest of our goddamn lives. I wanted Sam to stay because she wanted me. I wanted to be her choice, not her obligation. I looked at Julian, furious that he’d even suggest that I ask her to stay even if I had to pay her. My cousins were spread out backstage, and Micah and Julian were the only two next to me. He shrugged. “It was just a thought. I know how much she’s done for you, and I know how much you want her to hang around. She seems to like it here.” My gaze turned toward a black curtain where Tessa and Kristin came in to join their husbands. Since I couldn’t hear what the women were discussing, I continued, “I love her, Julian. I love her like you love your wife. Do you think I’m going to be happy to keep her around as a high-paid companion? Do you think she’s even going to agree to som
40. CHAPTER 33 SAMANTHA I huddled on a forest floor that was cushioned with fallen leaves and debris, the sound of the fair muted by distance. It didn’t matter that I was probably scratched up over nearly every exposed part of my body. I’d plowed through the trees, my only objective to get away from everything and everyone as I sobbed my heartache away in private. I swiped at a tree branch in the darkness as it scratched my face. I’d been sobbing for a long time, but the painful knife in my heart was still there, and nothing I could do would make it leave. Trying to reason, I’d started to work out the situation, but I never got further than Xander doesn’t want me. I couldn’t get past that fact and plan what I was going to do in light of this information. I was utterly, completely, and totally destroyed, and there wasn’t a single rational thought in my head at the moment. I’m a goddamn professional. I should be able to handle this with more grace! Problem was, I wasn’t thinking like a thera
41. CHAPTER 34 SAMANTHA “Jesus! What in the hell did you do to yourself, Samantha?” Xander asked gruffly as he ran his fingers and eyes over my naked body, looking for any tiny cuts or scratches he hadn’t already seen. We’d been in the master shower for at least a half hour so he could make sure none of my injuries were dire. I could have told him that they were just scratches, but I think I secretly liked the way he was fussing over me right now. Having somebody who cared as much as Xander was something pretty special for a woman who had been alone for over a decade. “Xander, they’re clean,” I assured him. Honestly, it was a good thing he had hot water on demand or we would have run out of warmth a while ago. He had an antibacterial wash in his hand, and he’d been using it since soon after we entered the shower. I was surprised the bottle wasn’t empty. The man needed a distraction. Badly. I took the nearly empty bottle from his hand. “Give me this.” “Wait, I’m not sure . . .” Oh, he was d
42. EPILOGUE SAMANTHA The following summer . . . I stopped to watch Xander at a distance as he picked up his cousin’s infant daughter, careful but with an experience that he’d gained from plenty of baby handling over the last several months. We’d picked a great day for a family picnic, and the amount of Sinclairs that filled up the grassy area of the park was pretty amazing. Nobody had turned down their invitation, and I was happy to see every member of the Sinclair clan present. Xander was getting pretty skilled at quieting crying babies, and it was a darn good thing, since every one of his Sinclair cousins now had at least one child, and Sarah had just told us that she was expecting her second. I sighed as I pulled food out of the ice chest and helped Kristin and Tessa get the picnic tables ready for lunch. Both women were still getting around fairly well considering they were each expecting a child themselves in the near future. Their due dates were within a month of each other at the e
43. AUTHOR’S NOTE Americans consume more opioid drugs than people in any other country in the world, with millions of prescriptions written each year for chronic or acute pain. Now we’re facing an enormous public-health crisis. It didn’t happen overnight. Doctors have been prescribing an increased number of opioids each year, and the number began to rise in the 1980s and 1990s. Fast-forward to the present time, and we have more people dying from opioid overdoses than they probably do from car accidents, AIDS/HIV, or gun violence. Heroin and fentanyl become the drugs of choice for addicted patients when they can no longer get their prescription opioids and start suffering not only their chronic pain, but the agony of opioid withdrawal. As I write this note, there is currently bipartisan legislation under way on Capitol Hill to limit the amounts of opioids that can be prescribed to patients for acute pain. It may not be enough, but it would be a start, an acknowledgment of the underlying pro
44. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I’d like to thank my editor, Maria Gomez, for her continued support of The Sinclairs. I appreciate the entire team at Montlake, and their enthusiasm for this series. Thank you to my KA team of employees: Sandie, Natalie, Isa, and Annette. What would I do without you? You’re all amazing. A huge shout out to my street team, Jan’s Gems, for all the work you ladies put into every release and sale. You know you rock, but I’m going to say it here anyway. A huge thanks to my husband, Sri. This hasn’t been a very pleasant eighteen months for me, but you’ve managed to cope. I love you for your support, and for keeping everything else going smoothly when I have to write. And lastly, thank you to my readers. Your support of this series has been incredible, and I’m so very grateful that you allow me to continue to do what I love. XXX Jan
45. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Photo © 2013 by Carrie Herzog J.S. “Jan” Scott is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling romance author. She’s an avid reader of all types of books and literature, but romance has always been her genre of choice. Writing what she loves to read, Jan writes both contemporary and paranormal romances. They are almost always steamy, generally feature an alpha male, and have a happily ever after because she just can’t seem to write them any other way! She lives with her husband and two very spoiled German shepherds in the beautiful Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Jan loves to connect with readers. You can visit her at: Website: http://www.authorjsscott.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorjsscott Twitter: You can tweet @AuthorJSScott