Biker Billionaire #3: Riding the Heir Read Online Free PDF Page B
Author: Jasinda Wilder
them, and god only knows what he'd tell them. I didn't have anything to hide, per se, but the idea of people reading lies about me had my stomach roiling. I still hadn't spoken to my parents since returning from Sudan. They didn't have any idea what was going on. If they watched the news, and saw me with Shane...
On cue, my cell phone rang. I pulled it out and glanced at the caller ID, sighed, and answered it.
"Hi, Mom," I said.
She was pissed. "When were you going to tell me you were back from your little adventure? Why did I have to find out about your relationship with him from TV? Is he really a billionaire? Tell me you didn't already get married, Leona—"
"Mom!" I cut in. "You sound just like the reporters. One question at a time."
"Well? When can I meet him? And does he have any single brothers?"
"Mom! Seriously with the questions."
"Well at least tell me why you haven't at least called me. Where are you?"
"I'm in New York with Shane and his family. And I'm sorry I didn't call you. I know I should have, but things have been really crazy lately. I honestly haven't talked to anyone."
"Except the press," Mom said, with a bit of petulance.
"I didn't talk to them. I just appeared with Shane. There's a difference."
There was a strange, awkward silence, then Mom said, "John called your father and I."
"Shit. What did he want?" Virginia's eyes narrowed at my language, but she didn't interrupt.
"He wanted to know where you were. He was heartbroken, Leo. You should talk to him, at least. He was worried. He said that boy you took off with was a bit of a rough character."
I sighed. "Mom, my life is none of his business. I'm not going to talk to him. He can think what he wants. I don't care anymore. And Shane is a bit of rough character, but he's also a billionaire, and one of the most successful and famous businessmen in the country. So John can suck it."
Everyone in the limo was stifling laughter. I did my best to ignore them.
"Leo! Don't be so vulgar. And I think John deserves a bit more explanation and closure than he said you gave him. He said you jumped out of the car in the rain, in the middle of a conversation, and haven't spoken to him since. That's not exactly fair, dear."
"I'll be vulgar if I want to be vulgar, Mom. And no, I don't owe John any kind of explanation. He's an asshat. Jumping out of the car in the middle of an argument into the pouring rain should have been a pretty damn good indicator that I don't want to talk to him. Ignoring his calls and texts should have been another." Mom tried to cut in and say something, but I spoke over her. "I'm not having this conversation with you right now, Mom. I'm just not. Yes, you'll meet Shane at some point. No, we're not married, and no, you can't play matchmaker. Laura and Lenora can find their own men. I'll call you later, okay? Bye, Mom. I'm hanging up now. I love you. Bye ."
She tried to cut in several more times as I hung up, but I knew my mom, and I knew if I let her get a head of steam up, she'd never stop with the questions. She should have been a reporter.
I stared at the phone rather than face the inquisitive stares of Shane, Henry, and Virginia.
"So, John would be...?" Virginia prompted.
"My ex-fiancé," I said.
At the same time, Shane said, "An asshat."
Virginia lifted an eyebrow. "This is the fellow whose car you jumped out of? Remind me, why is he 'an ass...hat'?' She spoke the phrase with a wry contempt for such low vulgarity.
I looked at Shane and back to his mother. "It's a long story."
"I know this may be none of my business, but it sounds like you have some loose ends to take care of." Virginia looked at me with firm but understanding eyes, so much like Shane's. "My advice, which I realize you haven't asked for, is to go home for a few days. Introduce Shane to your parents, see your friends, and yes, have one last conversation with your ex."
I nodded. I knew she was right, but it was the last thing I wanted to do.
I was afraid
On cue, my cell phone rang. I pulled it out and glanced at the caller ID, sighed, and answered it.
"Hi, Mom," I said.
She was pissed. "When were you going to tell me you were back from your little adventure? Why did I have to find out about your relationship with him from TV? Is he really a billionaire? Tell me you didn't already get married, Leona—"
"Mom!" I cut in. "You sound just like the reporters. One question at a time."
"Well? When can I meet him? And does he have any single brothers?"
"Mom! Seriously with the questions."
"Well at least tell me why you haven't at least called me. Where are you?"
"I'm in New York with Shane and his family. And I'm sorry I didn't call you. I know I should have, but things have been really crazy lately. I honestly haven't talked to anyone."
"Except the press," Mom said, with a bit of petulance.
"I didn't talk to them. I just appeared with Shane. There's a difference."
There was a strange, awkward silence, then Mom said, "John called your father and I."
"Shit. What did he want?" Virginia's eyes narrowed at my language, but she didn't interrupt.
"He wanted to know where you were. He was heartbroken, Leo. You should talk to him, at least. He was worried. He said that boy you took off with was a bit of a rough character."
I sighed. "Mom, my life is none of his business. I'm not going to talk to him. He can think what he wants. I don't care anymore. And Shane is a bit of rough character, but he's also a billionaire, and one of the most successful and famous businessmen in the country. So John can suck it."
Everyone in the limo was stifling laughter. I did my best to ignore them.
"Leo! Don't be so vulgar. And I think John deserves a bit more explanation and closure than he said you gave him. He said you jumped out of the car in the rain, in the middle of a conversation, and haven't spoken to him since. That's not exactly fair, dear."
"I'll be vulgar if I want to be vulgar, Mom. And no, I don't owe John any kind of explanation. He's an asshat. Jumping out of the car in the middle of an argument into the pouring rain should have been a pretty damn good indicator that I don't want to talk to him. Ignoring his calls and texts should have been another." Mom tried to cut in and say something, but I spoke over her. "I'm not having this conversation with you right now, Mom. I'm just not. Yes, you'll meet Shane at some point. No, we're not married, and no, you can't play matchmaker. Laura and Lenora can find their own men. I'll call you later, okay? Bye, Mom. I'm hanging up now. I love you. Bye ."
She tried to cut in several more times as I hung up, but I knew my mom, and I knew if I let her get a head of steam up, she'd never stop with the questions. She should have been a reporter.
I stared at the phone rather than face the inquisitive stares of Shane, Henry, and Virginia.
"So, John would be...?" Virginia prompted.
"My ex-fiancé," I said.
At the same time, Shane said, "An asshat."
Virginia lifted an eyebrow. "This is the fellow whose car you jumped out of? Remind me, why is he 'an ass...hat'?' She spoke the phrase with a wry contempt for such low vulgarity.
I looked at Shane and back to his mother. "It's a long story."
"I know this may be none of my business, but it sounds like you have some loose ends to take care of." Virginia looked at me with firm but understanding eyes, so much like Shane's. "My advice, which I realize you haven't asked for, is to go home for a few days. Introduce Shane to your parents, see your friends, and yes, have one last conversation with your ex."
I nodded. I knew she was right, but it was the last thing I wanted to do.
I was afraid