Sweet Sinner (Tyler & Bella Book 2)
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Lisa Renee Jones
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520K
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55
Recap
Dear Readers:
Thank you so much for taking this journey with me to tell Tyler and Bellaâs story. Their story was one that I originally planned as a duet, but these two had massively different plans. As such, you will be getting more Tyler and Bella with a third book titled: Dirty Little Vow, which is available for pre-order now! I would apologize, as I donât like making changes like this, but I feel as if my readers would only enjoy more Tyler and Bella, and I also believe in following where the story and characters lead me and Tyler and Bella were not done with me or each other!
If you have not read the Necklace Trilogy yet, that story is about Dash and Allie, and itâs smoking hotâș But for now, we focus on Tyler and Bella, and I always like to help recap the previous book to help bring you into the story. So here we go...
If you remember in Bastard Boss, Bella works as an agent and attorney for Hawk Legal. Hawk Legal represents some of the biggest names in country music and entertainment in general. Tyler Hawk is Bellaâs direct boss, but Tyler reports to his father. Tyler made the mistake of dating one of the staff members, Allison, but it wasnât serious. But this led to her secretly having an affair with his father.
Another Allison, Allie, took Allisonâs job after Allison took a leave of absence. But the new Allie thought it was fishy and dug around. In the process, Allie meets Bellaâs half-brother Dash, a famous author, and that is all part of The Necklace Trilogy. If I say more, Iâll spoil the story for those who have not read that trilogy.
The bottom line is that Tylerâs father did bad things and ended up dead.
Tylerâs father was pretty rough on Tyler. His death was sure to cause mixed emotions.
Meanwhile, Bella represents her brother, and Tyler and Dash are friends, but the friendship is bumpy. However, they both have a dark past, and a turbulent relationship with their fathers. These things affect their lives, and they tend to save each other from stupidity. Bella works quite closely with Tyler and sheâs one of the few people who donât find his hard, arrogant persona intimidating. She knows things about him she shouldnât from talking to Dash, as Bella and Dash are extremely close.
Dash lost his father not long before Tyler lost his father.
Bella watched Dash struggle with mixed emotions.
The day of the memorial for Tylerâs father, Bella is concerned about Tyler suffering through this event alone. She isnât even sure he will attend the memorial based on the bad things his father did. Bella just canât sit back and do nothing. She shows up at Tylerâs apartment and stays to comfort him but there is heat between them. This leads to a fight, and her abrupt departure. But the heat between these two is just getting started.
Theyâre ready to combust and one night at the office, the explosion happens. Bella ends up with him on his knees between her legs, right there in her office, but sheâs determined to never let it happen again. She goes into avoidance mode but suddenly Dashâs Hollywood contract is on the line, which forces her and Tyler to travel together.
In the meantime, Tyler is dealing with his fatherâs will, which holds him and the company hostage. When Tyler was a new attorney, he second-chaired a case that his father indicates was not handled with proper ethical conduct. Now if Tyler doesnât do as his fatherâs will bids, those case details will be made public. If that happens, every case Tyler and the firm have touched will be questioned, and convictions likely overturned. His fatherâs will declares if he doesnât find a fiancĂ©e, court her publicly, and then marry her, thatâs exactly what will happen. Tyler doesnât want to do this, but if he loses the company, jobs will be cut, people will be hurt, and consequences will be had, such as innocent lawyers being connected to this and destroyed. Forced to comply with the will, Tyler has his attorney, Gavin, begin compiling a list of fake fiancĂ©e candidates who wonât screw him.
But the only woman on Tylerâs mind is Bella, who is as perfectly fuckable as a woman can get but also his employee and friend, not to mention his close friendâs sister. Sheâs hands-off. Until she isnât. She is absolutely not a fake fiancĂ©e candidate. Such a thing would ruin her reputation and her career. Everyone would think she slept her way to the top.
That doesnât stop the sparks between Bella and Tyler from flying.
One night in LA, they combust.
Tyler and Bella end up in a hotel room, naked and lost in each other, and they donât want it to end. Somehow, they still plot a way to win Dashâs contract, move him to a new studio, and sign the deal. To celebrate, they stay longer in LA and donât leave the hotel room.
Back in Nashville, things are about to get awkward. Bella really doesnât want to look like she slept her way to the top. Tyler cannot think about another woman as a fake fiancĂ©e. He plots a way to make her his without hurting her career. He draws up the agreement, presenting her with her own company, a cash payout, and more, all to protect her and allow him to have the only woman he wants while still meeting his fatherâs demands. Tyler goes to Bellaâs house to present his plan. They sit across from each other at her kitchen table, and when he slides the contract to her, itâs the beginning of the end.
Bella reacts in shock and accuses him of turning her into a whore. She kicks him out, and as he leaves, her brother and his wife are at the door with a puppy to gift her.
Bella and Tyler are over.
Or so it seems.
Iâm going to start you out with the final chapter of Bastard Boss to fully reengage you in the story...
I hope you enjoy Sweet Sinner!
xoxo,
Lisa Renee Jones
***
The final chapter of Bastard Boss
A reminder that Gavin is the attorney that works for Tyler and the celebratory gift is to celebrate Bella and Tyler closing the film deal for her brother Dash...
BELLA
I walk into my front door and lean on the hard surface and exhale with relief.
Somehow, I survived this day, but it was hard. Seeing Tyler first thing outside Gavinâs office was awkward and emotional. And Gavin was weird, too. He kept staring at me, almost as if he knew something he should not know, but thatâs crazy. Tyler is a private person. I donât believe he would talk about me to anyone. My cellphone rings, and I snake it out of my jacket to find Dash calling.
âAllie and I are on our way over. We got you a little celebratory gift. We just wanted to make sure you were home.â
I grimace at the idea of company despite how much I love them both, but then again, maybe company is exactly what I need. âIâm here. I just got here.â
âSee you in thirty to forty-five minutes.â
âPerfect. I have time to change and get comfy.â
We disconnect, and my doorbell rings. I frown because Iâm not sure who would be here. Perhaps this time I really do have a package delivery, or a neighbor visiting with a package meant for me.
I grab the things Iâve set on the floor, place them on the entry table, then open the door. I blanch, and my heart lurches at the sight of Tyler standing there. His suit jacket is gone, and his white shirt sleeves are rolled up to display powerful forearms. He smells so good I want to lick him all over, and I hate him for stirring such thoughts in me. âWhat are you doing here?â
He lifts a folder in his hand. âI need to go over some contractual information with you.â
My eyes go wide. Damn it, I must have missed something in the contract, and Dash is on his way over here. âWhat is it?â I ask urgently.
âCan I come in?â
I hesitate but I nod and back up, allowing his entry. I shut the door and lean on it again. He turns to face me. âLetâs go sit.â
No, I think, but what I say is, âRight. Letâs go sit. The kitchen table will be good.â
He motions me forward. âLead the way.â
I move ahead of him, my knees weak with the heaviness of his eyes on my progress. The walk across the living room feels far and wide, but finally, we reach my table, the smaller one off the actual kitchen rather than the large dining room table. I stand on one side and wait for him to sit. His lips quirk as if he knows Iâm waiting to choose my seat, based on where he places himself. He goes opposite of me, and we both settle in. The table is smaller than it seems normally, and we are closer than I intend.
âI thought this was better done away from the office.â He slides the folder in front of me.
I can only assume he means due to distractions.
I open it and stare down at a document that reads: This agreement is between two parties, Tyler Hawk and Bella Bailey.
I blink and my gaze jerks to Tylerâs. âWhat is this?â
âWeâre not going to stay away from each other, Bella. I'm going to be followed by a PI, looking for me to screw up. If I touch you, and you are not my fiancĂ©e, I lose everything. The company loses everything.â
Iâm shell-shocked. âSo wait, Iâm the problem here?â
âThatâs not what Iâm saying at all. I trust you. I know you wonât screw me, Bella. I need to trust the person I call my fiancĂ©e. And that gives us time to fuck each other out of our systems.â
He might as well have stabbed me right in the heart. âRight. Because itâs all about sex.â He opens his mouth to speak and I hold up a hand, anger churning in my belly. âEveryone will think I slept my way to the top. No.â I shut the folder and slide it to him. âI donât need to fuck you out of my system, Tyler. You just finished this for me.â
âIâm not going to let this screw you, Bella. I want you to open a film division for Hawk Legal. Weâll set it up as another company. Additionally, Iâll ensure your salary is double, as you will head that division. Furthermore, I know money isnât an issue for you, but this is a mammoth-sized commitment. When I inherit, there is a substantial payout for you in the contract. I do not want to take advantage of you, Bella, but I need you by my side. And I want you by my side.â
I swear I can feel my heart shattering into pieces and then exploding into anger. My voice quakes and I say, âThe crazy part is I would have done this for you, as a friend. For you and the company because you knowâI just would have. And I didnât need a contract to go away. I learned the hard way that love is rare and my parents were lucky to have it. I donât want to get married. I donât want to fall in love and be burned by nastiness like this.â I lose control and throw the folder at him, before standing up. âIâm done. Weâre done. And, no, Iâm not going to quit my job. Iâm going to stay and congratulate your new fiancĂ©e on her future happiness. Everybody will think I mean her life with you, but Iâll mean her big payday.â
âBellaââ
He is on his feet rounding the table. âNo.â I point at him and back away. âDonât even think about touching me.â
He curses and scrubs his jaw, and somehow, he manages to look tormented, like I really matter to him. How many women has he made think they mattered to him when they were just sex? âForget the contract,â he says. âJust do this with me. Date me. Marry me. This isnât how I wanted this to work out. I thought weâd both have the freedomââ
âTo fuck each other out of our systems? Leave, Tyler.â
My doorbell rings and I say, âThat will be Dash and Allie.â
âOf course, it is,â he says. âNow I have to leave, but this isnât over. We are not over.â
âWe are so over, Tyler. You insulted me and tried to pay me off. I feel like a whore. You made me feel like a whore.â
âBella,â he breathes out. âGod, woman. I donât thinkââ The doorbell rings again, and he huffs out a breath. âIâm going.â He rotates on his heel and strides toward the door.
I follow him, and why on Earth do I want to scream for him to stop? Why do I hurt so badly at the idea of him leaving? I reach the edge of the foyer as he opens the door to face Dash and Allie.
âWhat the hell are you doing here, Tyler?â Dash demands.
âAsk your sister,â is all Tyler says, and then he disappears out into the hallway.
Dash and Allie step into the foyer, and Allie is holding a Golden Retriever puppy. Iâve wanted a Golden Retriever since I was a kid, but my mom was busy, and often traveled all over the place with my father. I just couldnât have a dog. In my mind, when I think of getting a dog, itâs a Golden.
âSurprise!â Allie says, while Dash counters with, âWhat the fuck is going on, Bella?
I burst into tears.
