His Sweet Reward Read online

  His Sweet Reward

  Alexa Riley

  Contents

  His Sweet Reward

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Epilogue

  Epilogue

  The Whole Package

  Chapter 1

  Read Me Romance

  Stalk the Author

  Copyright © 2020 by Author Alexa Riley LLC. All rights reserved.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, email to [email protected]

  http://alexariley.com/

  Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.

  Edited by Aquila Editing

  His Sweet Reward

  Brooklyn Tanner hates online dating, but she’s determined to give it a chance.. When she finds out the guy she’s meeting with tonight is the bastard all her girlfriends have nicknamed "Thanos," she’s determined to get back at him.

  Dash Belmont has one little clause in the family business that says he must produce an heir. His last resort is online dating and it’s worse than he ever imagined. That is, until she walks in.

  Warning: Can this mega-jerk really be the same guy who falls at her feet and wants to worship her body? You betcha! Find out just what he’s willing to do to convince her she’s the one...contract be damned!

  Chapter One

  Brooklyn

  “Do you want pizza?” Blair, my roommate, shouts from somewhere inside our apartment.

  “No,” I shout back as I stare into my closet. I have nothing to wear and I wonder why my date had to pick somewhere so fancy. At least I’ll get a good meal out of it.

  “No?” My door flies open. “Are you sick?” Blair walks into my bedroom and looks me over. Cherry and Harlow stand behind her, peeking in. They’re always at our place or we’re always at theirs since they live across the hallway.

  “I have a date.”

  “I thought you quit,” Cherry reminds me.

  I’ve quit several times, but that doesn’t seem to stop me. Two bad dates, three no shows, and one guy who ditched me when I was right in the middle of a sentence.

  “I can’t be single forever,” I groan as I walk over to my bed and fall backwards on it.

  “You’re twenty. That’s far from forever,” Blair says dryly as everyone comes to sit on the bed with me.

  “I don’t want to go to my family reunion without a date.” This is why I signed up for the dating app all of my friends are using.

  “You’ve got to let go of the shit your sister put in your head.”

  “Stepsister,” I correct.

  I’m the black sheep of the family, which was inevitable since I’m the product of an affair my father had. I was two when I came to live with the Tanners after my mother passed. I have no memories of her; the only mother I’ve ever known is Victoria. She doesn’t let me call her “Mom,” but she does expect me to always say “ma’am.” She didn't want me calling her “Mom” but she also didn't want it to be obvious to people I’m a bastard because of her husband’s slip-up.

  “Why do you even go?” Cherry rolls her eyes.

  None of my friends like my family and I’m not sure I do most of the time either. It’s why I moved out as soon as I could and not one person tried to stop me. I think they were glad to see me go, but the second an event happens I’m expected to show up and be the supportive daughter.

  “My dad,” I groan as I sit up. “He’s the only reason I keep going back and I thought if I had a date I could shove it right in Charlotte’s face.”

  “You gotta let that shit go. She’s hateful to you because you blossomed and she didn’t.”

  “I’m still a virgin,” I point out.

  Men aren't banging down my door, and now I’m more than a late bloomer. My hair is uncontrollable and I had braces until I was almost eighteen. It didn’t help that my stepmom thought if she bought me smaller clothes I’d lose weight, but all her talk about me being “plump” only had me eating more. It really wasn't until I moved out from under them that I started to find some confidence. Still, their words about me never finding anyone are always in the back of my mind.

  “You could lose that V-card in a second if you really wanted to,” Cherry says, winking at me.

  I don’t want to just lose it; I want it to mean something.

  “I’m going on the date. I already agreed and it’s not like it can get worse.” I hop up from the bed to inspect my closet again, but it’s still all the same clothes.

  “You could get someone like Thanos,” Harlow chimes in. They all groan at the same time, making me laugh.

  “I still can’t believe you all went on a date with the same guy. That’s so weird.” I’d never want to date someone my friends did, even if it’s hard to call what they had an actual date. This guy is apparently the dick of all dicks. They all said he was rude, arrogant, cheap and had the personality of a brick wall. The general consensus was that he was the worst date ever, but at least everyone laughs about it now.

  “That’s why we all tell each other our dates’ names before we go,” Blair says.

  “Guess it’s bound to happen if we’re all using the same dating app.”

  I settle on a dress that my stepmom gave me, so it’s nice enough for the fancy restaurant. I only fit into it because now that I’m out from under them I don’t stress-eat anymore. Yoga probably doesn’t hurt either. “I can assure you my date's name isn't Thanos. Who would name their kid that anyway? It’s a villain's name!” I turn around to show them the dress. I know Cherry and Blair will hate it, but I’m looking for Harlow’s opinion the most.

  All of them burst into laughter and I look at the dress on the hanger.

  “The dress isn't that bad.” It’s actually kind of pretty, even if it’s not my style. It’s bright yellow and fits me tight, with the hem just above my knees. I have a pair of flats that should match it well enough because heels are out of the question.

  “We nicknamed him Thanos,” Blair says through laughter.

  “Oh.” I wiggle into the dress because I have to leave soon. Not only is this place fancy, but it’s going to cost me a cab ride across town. “What was Thanos’s real name?” I ask when they finally get their laughter under control.

  “Dash something,” Cherry says, rolling her eyes again.

  No. That can’t be right. The name Dash is not common unless you’re a reindeer, but this is a big city and I could be totally wrong.

  “Belmont. Dash Belmont,” Harlow supplies the rest of his name and my stomach feels funny.

  I didn’t think my dating track record could get worse, but it turns out it can. I’ve somehow made a date with the guy they’ve all said was a nightmare. It's too late to cancel, isn't it? I can’t stand him up because I know exactly how horrible that feels.

  “Oh no,” Cherry whispers, looking at my face. “It’s him
, isn't it?”

  “Maybe?” I admit, and just after a brief pause they burst into laughter all over again. “None of you are helpful.” I sit down at my vanity to get my hair under control but then stop because what does it matter? This date is going to suck no matter what, so I go back to my closet and change.

  “You’re not going?” Harlow pops up from my bed as I put on a clean pair of yoga pants.

  “You should go and make his night hell,” Cherry suggests with a devious look.

  “She doesn't have a mean bone in her body,” Blair reminds everyone, and I know she’s right. If I did I would have told my stepmom and sister to shove it up their asses long ago. “But this could be practice for you.”

  “And a free dinner,” I point out. I’ve been thinking about this steak all night.

  “You have to make it to dinner first. I walked out before we could order. That’s how big of an asshole he was.” Harlow shakes her head. That’s shocking because men fall all over her.

  “I made it to dinner.” Blair holds up her finger. “Then he suggested we split the bill.”

  “How did you make it to dinner with him?” Cherry gawks at her.

  “He played on his phone the whole time. It’s harder to be a dick when you’re doing something else.”

  “Did you split the bill with him?” I’m suddenly nervous because I’m already paying for a cab. I was hoping for a free dinner, which might be wrong, but I’m on a budget here.

  “I walked out so it didn't matter.”

  Okay, I can do that. If he’s really rude I’ll eat and then do the whole bathroom escape. I grab a knitted sweater and pull it over my head before I put on my favorite flats.

  “Save me some pizza.” I grab my purse. “I bet I can get him to walk out on me.” They all hoot catcalls at me as I head out the door. When I hop in the taxi, I start googling insults. I figure it’s better to be prepared.

  Chapter Two

  Dash

  “Why am I doing this?” I say more to myself than to Geoff as I lower my head on my desk.

  “Because your mother is desperate for a grandchild, and you need an heir to keep the family business, or otherwise it goes to your loser cousin who is exactly one week older than you and completely unqualified.”

  I look up from my desk to glare at my personal assistant. He’s been with me over ten years and he knows what he can and can't get away with. He beams at me like he’s enjoying my pain—and he just might be.

  “Your great-grandfather did a number on the family fortune when he made it so the company could only be left to the oldest son as long as they had an heir by the time they were thirty.” Geoff shakes his head and blows out a breath. “And to think your father and grandfather thought this was a good idea…it’s just archaic.”

  “Tell me about it,” I groan.

  “Well, they did make the family fortune off breeding and racing horses, so I’m not sure they’re on moral high ground to begin with.” He shrugs as he walks to the other side of my office while scanning his tablet. “You’ve got reservations in half an hour, so I’m going to let the driver know you’ll be downstairs in ten.”

  I know that all those zeros in my trust fund weren’t obtained by exactly desirable means, but since I’ve taken control, I’ve built my family's company into something we can be proud of.

  My father passed away last year and that’s when my cousin Josh started putting pressure on the family trust. He knows that if I don’t have an heir by my thirtieth birthday, he gets to take over. It’s a bullshit rule my dad always joked about, and he said he would take it out.

  Little did we know he would drop dead of a heart attack, leaving behind my mother and that stupid rule. My cousin, who is married with two kids already with one on the way, made it clear that he was counting down the days until he could take control of Belmont. He also knows that the head of Belmont receives a sizable trust on their thirtieth birthday and I know that’s what’s truly motivating him.

  He has no experience and even less brains, but there’s only the two of us, so I don’t have many options. My team of lawyers have been at this non-stop for the past year and the clause is airtight. I don’t have to be married, but I do have to have a baby before my birthday, which is in exactly ten months.

  It’s harder than you think to find a woman to impregnate, especially one that doesn’t want a lot of money in exchange. It’s not the money I’m worried about, but that’s not exactly the kind of mother I want for my child.

  I sigh again as I push away from my desk and grab my phone. I glare down at the alert from that stupid dating app telling me there are more singles in my area. I’ve also got a text message from my mom with baby emojis and pink hearts. She knows what kind of pressure I’m under, but she’s really enjoying this far too much.

  “Just remember to keep an open mind,” Geoff says as he walks over and straightens my tie. “You don’t have to be the grouchy asshole that everyone else sees. Be the grouchy asshole you save just for me.” He smiles brightly and I grumble as I walk toward the elevator.

  “Have I not fired you yet?”

  He pretends to think about it. “Not today.”

  The elevator opens and I step inside. “Add that to my to-do list.”

  “You could never get someone as charming as me to put up with you.” He puts out his hand to keep the doors from closing. “I’m serious, Dash, be nice and try to put forth an effort. We’re all running out of time.”

  With that, he lets go and the doors close automatically. The weight of what I’ve built and the employees I’ve brought into this rests on my shoulders. I don’t want to meet another woman that I have absolutely nothing in common with and spend an hour trying to get away from. But for my mother and Geoff, I will try.

  Goddamn it, I have to.

  My driver is at the curb with the door open and I slide inside. I text my mother back to mind her business and she sends me a video on how to pick up women. I swear to god, whoever showed her how to use YouTube is fired.

  I check the dating app to remind myself who it is I’m going on a date with tonight. It’s someone named Brooklyn, but the picture is just of a sunflower. How the hell I agreed to this to begin with is beyond me, but when I look back at our exchange there wasn’t much said. I asked her to dinner and she said yes. The end.

  Maybe we’re both desperate, which can’t possibly be good.

  “Be positive,” I tell myself, even though I don’t want to be.

  I download a new game on my phone in case I end up needing it at dinner tonight. After that I put it in my pocket and stare out the window.

  I’m tired of lamenting the way things are and how I ended up in this position. When I was younger I thought I had all the time in the world. Now it feels like a ticking time bomb that’s counting down the days until this all blows up in my face.

  I have a responsibility to my mother and to the people that work for me, and if I have to put up with someone annoying long enough to put a baby in her then so be it. Time is running out. I don’t know why I haven’t done that yet. I keep going on all these first dates and scaring everyone off or ditching out.

  The car stops at the curb and I jump out before the driver can open the door. “Wait in the park for me. I should be done in an hour,” I tell him, and he nods.

  When I walk into the restaurant, it’s crowded and the hostess looks busy. I step up to the podium and the young woman beams at me. “Mr. Belmont, welcome back.” She curls her finger and another person appears at her side. “Your table is ready and I believe your date is at the bar.” She makes a face that looks like she’s surprised as she tilts her head to the lounge area.

  There are a few women sitting nearby and as I scan them, I think it’s not so bad. I have no idea what my date looks like, so this could be tricky. I should have thought about this before I agreed so easily.

  “Ah, here she comes,” the hostess says, and I’m shocked when I see a young woman walking toward us.

>   She dressed in yoga pants with an oversized college sweatshirt on and her hair is wild like she’s been in bed all day.

  “Right this way,” the hostess says as my jaw hits the floor.

  Without so much as a glance in my direction, my date walks right past me and follows the hostess like she owns the place.

  Who the fuck does she think she is? And why do I like it?

  Chapter Three

  Brooklyn

  I’m going to need another glass of wine.

  I guess I must have missed the part where my friends said that Dash was extremely attractive. But I didn't miss the way the hostess made heart eyes while lingering at our table for a moment too long.

  Dash isn't only handsome, he’s built too. It’s not in the way where he’s got a million abs and not a drop of fat on his body. He looks like he could pick me up and manhandle me to where he wanted to go. I bet he could do almost anything without getting winded. The thought makes me cross my legs.

  I saw his profile picture, but it did not live up to seeing him in person. I must have barely glanced at it or something because sitting here now, no one could ever dismiss his dark green eyes and chiseled jaw. I didn't know a jaw carved out of stone was a real thing, but here he sits. No wonder everyone said he’s a dick. He’s too handsome to be nice. Men like him are used to getting their way based only on their looks.

  I think he must be too into himself, which is why he didn't notice the sexy hostess trying to snag his attention. At least I’ll have something handsome to stare at while I eat my steak. He picked this place, so he can foot the bill. I already stole a peek at the menu and the prices aren't cheap. My one glass of wine at the bar was twenty bucks and I’m getting close to the bottom.