The Donor Read online

  The Donor

  Sandi Lynn

  Sandi Lynn Romance, LLC

  Contents

  The Donor

  Mission Statement

  Prologue

  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

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  Then You Happened

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Books by Sandi Lynn

  About the Author

  The Donor

  New York Times, USA Today & Wall Street Journal

  Bestselling Author

  Sandi Lynn

  The Donor

  Copyright © 2020 Sandi Lynn Romance, 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.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the products of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Created with Vellum

  Mission Statement

  Sandi Lynn Romance

  * * *

  Providing readers with romance novels that will whisk them away

  to another world and from the daily grind of life – one book at a time.

  Prologue

  Grayson

  “It’s not too late to back out. The limo is outside. Just say the word and we’ll go. You don’t have to do this.”

  “Grayson, come on. I love Yasmin. You know I do,” Julius spoke as he straightened his bowtie in the mirror.

  “No, bro. You don’t. You just think you do. Hell, you don’t know what love is and now you’re throwing your entire life away based on a fucking one-night stand you had six months ago.”

  “You,” he pointed at me, “have no clue what it’s like to love someone. I didn’t either until I met her. Trust me, Grayson, this is real, and I’m not going anywhere.”

  “Bullshit! I will not stand here and watch my best friend throw his life away over some damn chick. I’ll bet that you two don’t make it to your second anniversary.”

  “Fine. It’s a bet,” he spoke. “And here’s what we’re betting.”

  What he proposed was preposterous and shocked me.

  “What’s wrong, Grayson? Too chicken? Don’t have the balls to accept? If you’re so sure I won’t make it then you won’t have any problem accepting the bet.”

  I stared at him for I knew my best friend better than anybody in the world. We’d been glued to each other’s side since we were eight years old and we’d been through a lot of shit together over the years. I knew him well enough that I wouldn’t be the one losing the bet.

  “Fine. It’s a bet,” I spoke.

  “Good. If I lose, you have my word that I will complete our bet,” he said. “And I want your word that you will complete yours if you lose.” His brow arched.

  “You have my word.” I held out my hand for a bro shake. “Two years.”

  The one thing I took pride in was that if I gave someone my word, I meant it. My word was something I never backed down from.

  Chapter 1

  Two Years Later

  Grayson

  “Mhm.” I heard as her arm wrapped tightly around my waist.

  Removing her arm, I sat up with my back to her and my feet planted firmly on the floor as I rubbed my aching head.

  “Last night was amazing. How about an encore?” the woman whose name I couldn’t remember for the life of me spoke.

  “I can’t. I have to get to the office, and you need to go.”

  I headed into the bathroom and started the shower. Shortly after I stepped in, the door opened. Immediately, I grabbed it shut.

  “Sorry, love. I shower alone.”

  “Are you serious, Grayson?”

  “I’m very serious. Go make us some coffee.”

  When I finished, I wrapped a towel around my waist, grabbed my wallet out of my pants pocket and checked to make sure all my credit cards and cash were still intact before I kicked her out. Walking into the kitchen, I grabbed the cup of coffee she had waiting for me on the island.

  “Thanks. Why aren’t you dressed yet?” I asked as she stood there in my t-shirt.

  “I don’t know.” She smiled as she ran her finger down my chest. “I thought maybe after your shower you’d change your mind.”

  “I haven’t changed my mind and I don’t have time for this,” I spoke as I went into the bedroom, gathered her clothes and threw them at her. “Listen, I don’t even remember your name. We had a good time last night, and that was it. One time is all it’ll be.”

  “Wow. You’re a dick,” she spoke with irritation as she slipped on her dress.

  “What did you really expect? We met in a club and you were an easy fuck. If you’re looking for something more, stop having sex with random guys you’ve only known for five minutes. You’re the one giving yourself a cheap and easy reputation. If that’s how you put yourself out there, that’s how guys will treat you. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to get ready for work.”

  “Fuck you, Grayson!” she shouted as she grabbed her shoes and stormed into the elevator.

  I rolled my eyes and went into the bedroom to get dressed. It was the same conversation every single time. But I preferred women like her because it was easy to get rid of them. Any woman on my level would want more.

  I was in the public eye more than I wanted to be. But when you’re New York’s number one bachelor, it was hard not to. Being the right hand of my grandfather who built Rhodes Enterprises was stressful. A stress I managed by partying every night and meeting different women that I could use to my advantage and then send home the next morning.

  “Morning, Christine. Coffee now,” I said to my secretary as I walked past her desk and into my office.

  “Right away, Mr. Rhodes.”

  Setting my briefcase down, I took a seat behind my desk and logged onto my computer, pulling up the acquisition notes for a project I was working on.

  “Here you go,” Christine spoke as she set the cup on my desk.

  “Thanks. Clear my schedule from twelve to one thirty. I’m having lunch with Julius today.”

  “Will do, Mr. Rhodes.”

  As I was absorbed into my work, my phone dinged with a text message from Damon, my driver.

  “I’m here.”

  “I’ll be do
wn in a second.”

  Shutting down my computer, I grabbed my suit coat and headed out of the building where Damon was waiting for me with the door open.

  “Where are you meeting Julius for lunch?” he asked.

  “Pastis in the Meatpacking District,” I replied as I climbed inside.

  “Your grandfather phoned me this morning.” His eyes peered at me through the rearview mirror.

  “What did he want?”

  “He wanted to know your whereabouts last night.”

  “What did you tell him?”

  “I told him I took you home from the office and if you went anywhere after that, I didn’t know.”

  “Thanks, Damon.” I smiled.

  I climbed out of the Escalade and headed inside Pastis, where a cute brunette walked me over to where Julius sat. He stood up, and we lightly hugged.

  “I already ordered you a bourbon, and I made it a double.” He smirked.

  “Thanks. A double?”

  “Do you know what today is?” he asked.

  “Monday?” I arched my brow.

  “It is Monday, but it’s also something else.”

  Our waitress walked over and set our drinks down in front of us. After placing our order, I picked up my bourbon and took a sip.

  “Are you going to tell me what today is, or do I have to keep guessing?”

  “It’s mine and Yasmin’s second wedding anniversary.” A grin crossed his face.

  Oh shit.

  “Is that so, I sipped on my bourbon.”

  “It is and we’re still going strong and as in love as ever. So, Grayson, you know what that means.” The look on his face turned serious.

  “It means I lost the bet.” I finished my drink and signaled the waitress to bring me another.

  “Indeed, it does. And it’s time for me to collect.”

  A sick feeling washed over me as I stared at him.

  “What’s wrong? Suddenly, you’re as pale as a ghost.” He smirked.

  “Nothing.”

  As the waitress walked over with my drink, she also brought us our food.

  “If there’s anything else you gentlemen need, just ask.” She winked at me.

  “Listen, bro. You gave me your word. It’s time to pay up.”

  “I’m really surprised at you, Julius. I honestly didn’t think you’d make it. Why don’t we extend the bet to three years?”

  “Hell no.” He laughed. “You said we wouldn’t make it to our second anniversary, and we did. You lost, I won, and now you’ll honor our bet. So, I’ll get everything started on my end after lunch. I’ll expect you in my office tomorrow morning.” He smiled.

  “One month, Julius. We agreed that if I lost, it would only be for one month.”

  “You’re right and it will be. You have my word. Plus, I’ll bury you in the back so the chances of someone finding your profile will literally be zero.”

  “I’m trusting you, Julius. I’ll be by your office tomorrow morning.”

  Chapter 2

  Harper

  It was on my thirtieth birthday that I made my final decision to do something I wanted my whole life. There wasn’t any question or doubt in my mind. I’d had enough of men and the constant heartbreak that followed. The final straw was when my fiancé, Kevin, called it quits three months before we were to be married. He sat me down one night and told me he just wasn’t one hundred percent sure I was the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. He told me he still loved me, but maybe not enough for the rest of our lives. As you could imagine, it broke me beyond belief. We lost all the deposits we had put down on everything and my wedding dress was nonrefundable. So not only was I out a shitload of money, I was alone and heartbroken beyond repair.

  “Are you one hundred percent sure you want to do this?” my best friend Charlotte asked.

  “Yeah, Harper? This isn’t something you can back out of if you change your mind. Once it’s done, it’s done,” my other best friend, Laurel spoke.

  “I know that. Come on. We’ve known each other since college. You know me and you know what I’ve always dreamed of.”

  “Yes. We know,” Charlotte spoke. “But you’ll meet the right guy who will love and cherish you and want the same thing.”

  “You still have time, Harper. You’re only thirty years old,” Laurel said.

  “And we can see how well things have worked out for me. The clock is ticking away, and this is what I want.”

  “Raising a child alone and on your own will be hard,” Laurel said.

  “Technically, she won’t be alone,” Charlotte spoke. “She has us.”

  “I know, but you know what I mean.”

  “Why the hell do I need a man to raise a child? Men are basically children themselves and need to be taken care of. This is what I want and I’m doing it. With or without your support.”

  Both Charlotte and Laurel got up from their seats, walked over to me, and gave me a hug.

  “We’ll always support your decisions no matter what,” Charlotte said.

  “And we’ll always be here for you.” Laurel hugged me tight.

  Chapter 3

  One Month Later

  Grayson

  I was sitting at my desk going over some contracts when my phone rang.

  “Hey, Julius.”

  “Grayson, can you come to my office? I have everything back.”

  I sighed. “When?”

  “I can see you in an hour.”

  “Fine. I’ll be there but you better have some bourbon on hand.”

  “Will do, bro.” He laughed. “See you soon.”

  I ended the call and leaned back in my chair as I threw my pen across my desk. This was humiliating and I wouldn’t be in this position if Julius would have gotten divorced before the two years were up. Fuck my life.

  “I’m heading to meet Julius. I should be back in a couple of hours,” I spoke to Christine as I passed by her desk.

  “Don’t forget you have a meeting at two o’clock.”

  “I haven’t forgotten.” I sighed.

  “Good morning, Mr. Rhodes.” Brianna, his secretary smiled as she bit down on her bottom lip.

  “Good morning, beautiful.” I winked. “He’s expecting me.”

  “He told me to tell you to have a seat and he’ll be back in a few minutes. Can I get you some coffee?” She flirted.

  “I’d love some.”

  She got up from her seat and I watched her strut her sexy body down the hallway to the break room. Damn. What I wouldn’t give to fuck her. But I was under strict instructions from Julius that she was off limits. I figured he wanted her for himself, but it turned out he was only protecting her from me.

  As I took a seat across from his desk, I picked up the picture of him and Yasmin. Rolling my eyes, I set it down as Brianna stepped in and handed me my coffee.

  “Here you go, Mr. Rhodes.” She smiled. “If there’s anything else I can give you, all you have to do is ask. I would never say no.”

  “Brianna, that’s enough. Shut the door on your way out,” Julius spoke as he walked in.

  “How the fuck have you never stuck your dick in her yet?” I asked.

  “Because I’m in love and I’m married. But you wouldn’t know anything about that.” He cocked his head. “And again I will warn you. Whatever filthy ideas you have running through that head of yours where Brianna is concerned, just stop. You are not to even look at her.”

  “You’re such a fucking cock blocker. Now why am I here?”

  “I have all of your test results.” He grinned as he held up a file folder.

  “And?”

  “First things first. Never fuck without a condom. Your sperm are some of the best I’ve seen in a long time. Strong and fast.”

  “Of course they are.” A smirk crossed my lips.

  “Second, your genetic screening came back perfect. I would tend to disagree, but the test results don’t lie. And you’re clean. No trace of any sexually transmitted disea
ses. Which surprised me with the women you sleep with.”

  “You’re a douchebag, Julius.” I narrowed my eye at him.

  He gave me a smile and continued.

  “I need you to sign this waiver of parental rights form. Even though we’ll never need it, I need you to sign it. It’s just a formality, and it will be trashed with everything else in a month.”

  “I can’t fucking believe I agreed to this.” I picked up a pen and signed the form.

  “You need to be careful with your words, my friend. A bet is a bet. Here is your profile. I took the liberty of writing it for you.” He handed me the paper.

  “Where the fuck did you get this picture of me when I was three?” I asked.

  “Celia gave it to me.”

  “My grandfather’s housekeeper?” I cocked my head.

  “Yeah. I stopped by and told her I was putting a collage together for a party I was throwing you.” He laughed.

  “Jesus Christ.” I shook my head.