The Billionaire's Gamble Read online

  Table of Contents

  Epilogue

  Copyright

  Books By Penny Wylder

  Dani

  Nolan

  The Billionaire’s Virgin

  The Billionaire’s Gamble

  Penny Wylder

  Contents

  Copyright

  Books By Penny Wylder

  1. Dani

  2. Nolan

  3. Dani

  4. Nolan

  5. Dani

  6. Dani

  7. Dani

  8. Dani

  9. Dani

  10. Nolan

  11. Dani

  12. Dani

  13. Nolan

  14. Dani

  15. Dani

  16. Nolan

  17. Dani

  18. Dani

  19. Dani

  Epilogue

  The Billionaire’s Virgin

  Books By Penny Wylder

  Copyright © 2017 by Penny Wylder

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

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  Books By Penny Wylder

  Filthy Boss

  Her Dad’s Friend

  Rockstars F#*k Harder

  The Virgin Intern

  Her Dirty Professor

  The Pool Boy

  Get Me Off

  Caught Together

  Selling Out to the Billionaire

  Falling for the Babysitter

  Lip Service

  Full Service

  Expert Service

  The Billionaire’s Virgin

  The Billionaire’s Secret Babies

  Her Best Friend’s Dad

  1

  Dani

  I'm ready to stab my fork into my date's eyeball.

  Or his crotch, if it comes down to it.

  The guy sitting across from me might look okay, but his attitude is rancid. Gerard the Fourth—he made sure I knew he was a fourth—is the type who breathes slime. He clearly thinks his smile is charming, and that if he keeps spending money on me, I'll have to sleep with him.

  I didn't even want to go out to a restaurant. I'd suggested coffee, just to get to know each other…and because my sister keeps insisting I get to know anyone. What's wrong with being single?

  Gerard makes me want to be single. Very, very single.

  Why did I ever think this was a good idea? I've asked myself that several times since I first met this man. I ask it again as he waxes on and on about himself, like he has the whole date.

  “Oh yes,” he chuckles, leaning closer towards me. I subtly lean backwards. “I'm only here in Vegas because of a work conference. Do you know who the Silver Lions are?”

  I don't. “Not a clue.” But it sounds pompous as fuck.

  Under the table, he rubs his shoe up my ankle, and my goosebumps start marching in sync. “They're the cream of the crop. They control the biggest banks and the biggest branches. I hear the guys bleed diamonds. And I'm one of the few lawyers who gets to work with those rich assholes.” He laughs and I wonder if I could slip away before he looks down and realizes.

  “Oh,” I say, poking at my third glass of water. “How nice.”

  He eyeballs my drink, pushing his wine my way. He's been trying to get me drunk all night, but I know better. “Loosen up,” he says, and it comes out like a demand. Gross. “You seem like the kind of girl that needs alcohol to get her ready for fun.”

  Don't wink don't wink—Gerard winks, and I groan inside. “Listen,” I begin to stand. “I'm kind of tired, and this was…” I grimace, “fun, but...”

  I expect him to look disappointed. I don't expect him to snatch my wrist and hold me in place. His fingers are grinding into my skin with way too much force. His voice is quiet, menacing. “Hey, no. You're not leaving.”

  My eyebrows shoot up. “What?” Looking around, I see if anyone else is watching this happen. Nobody looks our way. The restaurant is in the middle of a casino and everyone is focused on their own business.

  Gerard yanks me closer. “I paid for you, Dani. You don't get to walk away after what I've spent.”

  I give him my best death glare. “That’s not how this works. I didn't ask you to spend anything—”

  “Don't care. No one gold digs me.”

  Gold dig? Me? I'd never, and I'm pissed off at the suggestion. I try to rip free but his fingers are solid. “Let go,” I hiss. “We're done here.”

  “We're not done until I say we are.”

  Panic rises to mix with my righteous anger. Is this seriously happening? I glance at my glass of water, it's mostly ice, but...

  “Come on, sweet-cheeks,” he growls, forcing me into his lap. I'm wearing a tight dress that goes to my knees; he peels it up, not caring who sees. “I have a real fancy hotel room here, let's go take care of your bill.”

  Grimacing, I grab the water before he can stop me, hurling it into his face. Both of us go stiff with shock. I've never done anything like this. I've never had to.

  Gerard's eyes go black, a storm ready to swallow me up. “You bitch. Now you're really mine.”

  I want to scream but my heart is swelling in my mouth. I swear to myself that after this, no more online dating. No more any dating. It's not worth this, it's just not.

  “Hey.” It's a new voice, solid as a mountain. “What are you doing to her?” Then I see him, and his voice makes sense. This stranger coming our way is dressed in a long sleeved, dark silver button down and a black vest. It's clothing meant for GQ models, but he's so broad all I can think about are fitness magazines instead.

  Gerard doesn't release me. “Fuck you, pal. Mind your own business.”

  Mountain-Man looms over us and I swear, he could have thrown the table with one hand. He speaks low, hot—it tickles my core. “Do you want some help?” he asks me.

  I want a lot of things, so I nod slowly. Holy hell.

  “I said fuck off—” Gerard never finishes his lame insult. My hero—because what else do I call him?—covers his mouth with one giant palm. Then he rips Gerard’s arms off me, allowing me to jump away. Then Mountain-Hero-Sexy-Pants lifts my failed date with ease into the air.

  He says, “Get the hell out of here. Understand? If I catch you manhandling another woman who doesn't want it, I won't be as nice.” When he drops Gerard to the floor, the sad excuse for a man scrambles off into the casino, never looking back.

  Turning, he looks down at me. He smiles and I realize I'm gawking stupidly. It's just…how often do real people get rescued by unreal sexy heroes? He adjusts his vest, like he noticed a wrinkle. “Are you alright?”

  “Um,” I say, wondering how to answer. “Yeah, I'm okay now. Thank you, that was very brave.”

  His chuckle feels like a shot of whiskey swimming in my belly. “You were the one who threw water in his face. That's pretty brave, if you ask me.” His hand comes my way. “I'm Nolan.”

  I touch my palm to his, startling at the spark that jumps between us. “Dani. Nice to meet you.” He turns away, eyes glancing around the casino, and I sense that if I do nothing, I'm never going to see this guy again. The idea of that makes my heart freeze. “Hey, listen...”

  His eyes focus on me again, gaze narrow and focused. It’s so intense that I lose my breath and my words. He looks fierce and dangerous, and I have no doubt that he could have torn Gerard apart. Then he smiles at me, and his whole demeanor changes to something charming and sweet. It makes me lose my breath in an entirely different way, and he takes over where my own words left off. “Would yo
u like to get a drink?”

  I feel like his gaze has me moving in slow motion as I say, “I'd really like that.”

  And it's true.

  Fuck. It's true enough to make me forget what I promised myself about never dating again. Granted, I made that promise while being pawed at by Gerard. I shudder at what might have happened if Nolan hadn’t come along when he did. Besides, I think as I follow Nolan through the huge casino, this doesn't count. He saved my ass. We're just having a drink. Getting to know each other. Walking behind the big man, I eyeball his long legs and think about how much I'd like to get to know the bits of him I can't see.

  Down girl, I scold myself. In my head I hear my sister reminding me that it's been five years since I dated anyone. If she saw me next to Nolan, she'd be cheering right now.

  “Here,” he says, motioning for me to sit at an empty corner of one of the hundreds of Vegas bars. As I pass him, his fingers drift down my spine. The dress isn't super thin but I swear it's like his fingers are gliding right over my bare skin.

  Swallowing, I sit next to him. I didn't want any alcohol earlier with creeper-man, but with Nolan? I'm ready for something strong. “Whiskey, neat,” I say when the waitress sways my way.

  Nolan casts a surprised smile my way. His eyes are the same color as the drink I'm about to down. “Whiskey? Not what I would have guessed for you. I like it.” He lingers on the word “you” and my insides tingle. Damn, his voice is smooth. “I'll have the same,” he says. “Make it your best.”

  When she sets the glasses in front of us, he clinks his on mine. “Are we toasting to something?” I ask.

  He chuckles, considering me carefully. “To good times and fateful encounters with beautiful strangers.”

  Beautiful? Okay. This man knows how to woo a girl, and I'm already pretty wooed. Swallowing the whiskey, I shudder with the decadent warmth it spreads through my skin and bones. It hits my stomach last and I breathe out. “That's perfect.” It’s better than any whiskey I’ve ever had. Probably because it’s whatever he meant when he said ‘your best.’

  He barely nods. He hasn’t stopped watching me, but I don't mind. It makes me feel incredibly sexy to have someone this hot giving me his full attention. “What brings you to Vegas?” he asks.

  “It was my sister's idea,” I say, laughing at myself. “She gifted me a vacation. She thinks I work too hard.”

  “Do you?”

  “Yeah,” I admit, finishing my whiskey. “I definitely do.”

  He runs a finger around the rim of his glass, smirking. “Me too.”

  “So you're here for work?”

  “Sort of.” It's the first time I've seen him frown. He was furious at Gerard, but this is something deeper. Darker. When he looks at me again he seems to realize he's let something slip, because his face transforms with a wide grin. “Sorry. Let's forget work. Do you gamble?”

  I'm gambling right now, I think to myself. And I'm feeling pretty lucky.

  2

  Nolan

  This is definitely not what I expected tonight. Not that you ever expect to practically trip over a sexy damsel in distress. Dani is sin walking. Between that blue dress and that red hair, I’ve had to adjust myself several times while we’ve been sitting here so she doesn’t notice just how much she’s influencing my body. It’s been a while since a woman has done that to me. It’s intriguing. And it’s more than just looks—she’s got spirit. I knew it when she threw water in that asshole’s face.

  I barely even knew what I was doing before I was over there, ready to rip his arms off. The last time I let myself get that carried away was…never. But I’ll be damned if I let someone touch a woman like that, especially when she’s saying no. If she’s saying yes on the other hand…

  An image flashes in my head of Dani spread out underneath me, writhing, her eyes glassy with passion and the word ‘yes’ on her lips. I clear my throat, shifting in my seat to disguise my growing erection. She’s staring at me, and the way she’s looking at me—a combination of lust and awe—doesn’t make my situation any better.

  I know I shouldn’t be here. I know there’s a boardroom of people waiting for my presence and there’s probably steam coming out of their ears by now. But I can’t do it. There’s something about Dani that intrigues me, and I know that I can’t walk away until I know what it is. The way she responds to me is refreshing—raw and open without any sense of a hidden agenda. It’s so unlike my day to day life that I almost forgot that that kind of relationship could exist. Fuck. But she still hasn’t answered my question.

  “Well?” I ask.

  “What?” she asks, like she just came out of a daze.

  I chuckle. “I asked if you gamble.”

  She nods. “Right. I don’t usually, but when in Rome.” She gestures around the casino.

  Her tone is a little bitter, and I sense something there. “I’m guessing that it didn’t go that well?” Her frown deepens, and she sets her glass on the table between us. Her hands are fidgeting. “I was trying my hand at blackjack last night when I met Gerard,” she says. “So no, I could guess you say it didn’t go well.”

  I fight against the red tinting my vision. Gerard. I’ll file that name away for later in case I ever run into that ass-wipe again. He won’t get off as easy. “Well,” I say, trying to keep my voice light, “I can promise you that gambling with me will be a much different experience.”

  “I can imagine,” she breathes.

  Fuck. Her voice does things to me. I have to get control of myself. The last thing she probably wants tonight is another man coming on to her. But our eyes lock and I swear I see the same interest there. We’re both finished with our whiskey, and I raise my hand to the waitress for another round. The waitress brings our glasses and this time it’s Dani who lifts her glass for a toast. I raise my eyebrow, asking what we’re toasting to this time.

  “To great timing, good drinks, and better gambling.” She clinks her glass against mine.

  “Hear, hear,” I say softly as I drink.

  She makes a sound of pleasure as she drinks her whiskey, and it makes me wonder what other sounds she makes when she’s getting more pleasure than a simple drink can offer her. She flicks her hair over her shoulder and I get a wave of perfume, cinnamon and spice. Damn.

  “So,” I say, “other than the poor round of blackjack, how has the trip been?”

  She shrugs, the movement simple and sexy. “Fine, I guess. I like Vegas, but it wouldn’t have been my first choice. I always think of Vegas as somewhere you go for a little while, not where you go when you want to relax.”

  “What would have been your first choice?” I ask, taking a sip of my whiskey.

  Her mouth pulls up into a half-smile. “Somewhere with a beach. Preferably where I can pay people to bring me drinks.”

  I smile. She’d look good on a beach. I find my gaze traveling down her neckline, using the barest glimpse of cleavage to imagine what she’d look like in a bikini. Conclusion: She’d look damn good. “Why didn’t you go there instead?”

  “Like I said, this trip was a gift. I know my sister worked hard for it. The least I can do is try to enjoy myself while I’m here.”

  “That’s a good goal,” I say, “and I’d like to help, starting with giving you a proper gambling experience.”

  “Oh yeah?” A smile cracks across her face, and it’s like the sun coming out on a cloudy day—blinding and inexplicably beautiful.

  “Yeah.” I raise my glass. “Finish that drink, and then I’ll show you the ropes. Las Vegas won’t ever see you coming.”

  She laughs, and I have to adjust myself in my pants again. Damn it, even her laugh manages to get me going. What have I gotten myself into?

  3

  Dani

  I down the rest of my whiskey, eager to follow Nolan and have him show me the ropes. Whatever kind of ropes he has in mind. The fire in my blood is also in my belly, and the longer I’m near Nolan, the more it shifts in between my thighs. I'm l
iterally rocking in place just from the scent of him—crisp and clean and male. God, I wish I could drink in that smell forever.

  He helps me out of my chair and even the chaste brush of his hand on mine is enough to set my pulse racing. The way he smiles at me, it’s almost like he knows it too. We walk side by side out into the casino, and I’m aware that he’s leading me even though he never walks ahead of me. Nolan talks in a low voice about all the different kinds of gambling swirling around us, and I try to pay attention, but mostly I listen to the sound of his voice, the way it seems to rumble under everything else. The way it seems to penetrate my skin. People look at Nolan as we pass, and I don’t blame them. He’s taller than everyone in the room and his presence fills the space.

  He takes me to a roulette table, and the dealer does a double take when he sees Nolan. I guess he must have some kind of gambling reputation around here because the dealer is suddenly fawning over him. The whiskey is spinning in my veins just like the roulette wheel is spinning in front of my eyes. I’m not following the damn game at all, but Nolan is in his element. In minutes he's stacking chips and calling out numbers, colors. “Pick red or black,” he tells me.

  I try to count his bet. Is that ten grand? It can’t be. Laughing nervously, I say, “Red.”

  The dealer spins and I watch as the little ball skitters to a stop on a red square. The people around us roar with cheers and I realize that he won. He won with the color that I picked at random. The thought makes me dizzy. Sweeping me into his arms, he plants a kiss on my cheek. It reverberates through my entire body, and I may be imagining it, but I think I feel his hands linger as he lets me go. “You're a lucky woman,” he teases.