Stolen Love, The Complete Collection: An Alpha Billionaire Romance by Katie Kyler Read Free Book Online

honest answer about the whole thing, and nothing I had said was untrue. But internally, I was constantly fending off images of Jason’s face. I don’t know why he kept popping up in my mind’s eye. Why I was wasting any time thinking about him. He had treated me like a prisoner and had tried to take from me the one thing I needed and wanted—freedom.
    So why am I thinking about him?
    I shouldn’t be. Just like those paintings, once he was out of my life, I should have been able to forget him. And yet there I was, sitting across from my best friend, eating pork chops, and the only thing I could focus on was a man who had handcuffed me to his bedside table.

Chapter Three
    Mackenzie
    Day Two
    I sipped at my coffee the next morning as I thought about the paintings I had in my possession. I hoped a deal could be made by that night so that I could be done with them. I suspected it was going to be a very busy day for me.
    Lexy came down the hall and entered the kitchen. It was early, and yet she was already dressed to start her day. I couldn’t say the same, however—I was still in my flannels and had no intention of moving from my spot anytime soon.
    “Where are you heading to so early?”
    “Don’t you remember? I have to meet the source today about our next marks.”
    “Oh yeah, that’s right. Sorry. My mind has been on those paintings and…other things. Sounds exciting. Do you want me to come along?”
    “No, I think I should go alone. Enjoy your morning. I’ll see you later.”
    I watched as she left, and then I carried my cup of coffee into my office. I needed to get my buyers settled on the paintings sooner rather than later. I did not want to have them for another day. It was time to free myself of them and get them to the highest bidder.
    I sent out messages to the buyers to let them know I needed the final bids ASAP as I was choosing a buyer. There would be no further negotiations. Once that was completed, I started researching a couple of leads I had been interested in as future marks. I thought it prudent to always to be one step ahead. And although we already had our next marks in place, the research for new ones never ended. We usually had back-to-back marks on hand because Lexy and I rarely took time off. We had a new job ready to go as soon as we finished one. Both of us liked to keep busy, and I didn’t want to miss out on scores because I had waited too long.
    I finished up my research and sat back in my chair. I closed my eyes, and thoughts of Jason kept popping up in my head. I chuckled at how surprised I had been to see him instead of the old man at the mansion. God, he had looked so hot. If he didn’t irritate me so much, I could find him almost irresistibly sexy.
    I smiled at the thought of calling one of my regular friends for a little tête-à-tête. I rarely stayed in relationships because it complicated my lifestyle, but a girl had needs, so it never hurt to have a friend available who could provide the necessary benefits. I put in a call to one of those friends and decided to slip into something a little sexier. I went into my closet and picked out a sexy, red lace slip. The more I thought about the visitor who was due to arrive, the more turned on I became.
    I returned to the kitchen and poured myself another cup of coffee while I waited. It had been quite a while since I’d had sex, and I was looking forward to being with a man once again.
    As time passed, I kept looking up at the clock and wondering where my hunky man was. It finally became obvious that my friend wasn’t going to show up. I was puzzled. He had always come through for me in the past. Why would he change his mind this time—and not even call to tell me? Surely he wanted to come and enjoy me just as much as I wanted to enjoy him. I began to worry that something had happened to him.
    There was a sudden knock on the door, and I threw my hands up in the air, exclaiming, “Finally!”
    Assuming a sexy pose, I opened the