Page 21 of The Billionaire's Bride

They both freeze.

"Or didn’t you realize that?" I roll my eyes. "How did you think this was going to end? The three of us becoming one big happy family? I mean, I am going to have to choose, right?"

They stare at each other, anger evident on both of their features.

"This is what I mean," I snarl. "One of you is going to lose. And both of you hate to lose. One of you is going to end up hating the other. Your friendship will be over, thanks to me. You won’t be the Seven any longer." I rake my fingers through my hair. "How do you think that’s going to make me feel?"

"Slow down, Eve," Edward cautions, "you’re getting ahead of yourself."

Baron glances from him to me, "He’s right…on this." He rubs the back of his neck. "Let’s take it one day at a time. You don’t know how or where this is going to end up. We are both mature enough to realize that one of us is going to get the girl." He winces, "And of course, I want it to be me."

Edward glares at him and raises his hand. "I mean, we are both sensible enough to realize that one of us is going to emerge the victor. Besides," he kicks out his legs, "fact is, we’d rather you choose one of us than someone else."

Baron stiffens, then nods. "For once, he’s talking sense," he mutters. "If… When you are ready to choose, it will, hopefully, be one of us."

"You are okay with that?" I scowl.

"Not exactly," Baron’s lips twist, "but if this means I am, at least, in the running to be with you, then well… It gives me hope, and I’d rather have that…than lose you."

"Agreed." Edward strokes his chin. "As long as I know that there is a possibility that I get to be with you…it gives me a fighting chance. And fight for you, I will."

"I am not giving up easily, Eve," Baron rumbles. His features soften. "You know, I’ll do anything for you… If it means I need to put up with—" he stabs his thumb in Edward’s direction, "so be it."

I scowl at him, "You sure about this?"

"No, I am not." His scowl deepens.

When I stare at him, he raises his hands. "I mean, of course, I don’t want to share you, but if it means, at the end of this, I have a chance of having you to myself, then," he raises his shoulders, "fair enough. It’s worth a shot."

I blink between them. "You guys okay to shake on that?"

Baron’s jaw hardens. "No," he snaps.

"Nope." Edward sets his lips.

I blow out a breath, "And you guys think this is going to work?"

"We’ll make it work." Baron’s features firm. "We have to."

"You bet; we’ll make sure it does." Edward squares his shoulders. "Though I must warn you," he glances between me and Baron, "I am going to pull out all the stops." He narrows his gaze on Baron. "I haven’t come this far to lose."

"Save the speech, Chase." Baron yawns, "By the time I’m done, you’ll wish you had cut your losses and run."

9

Ava

"You agreed to what?" Isla stares at me.

We are in our favorite bar, at the top of the British Portrait Museum near Trafalgar Square. I’ve always liked it because you can look out of the window and spot Nelson’s Column just a block away. I lean forward, take a sip of my wine.

"I agreed to allocate separate times for each of them."

"So, you mean, you’ll be spending Monday with Baron," she counts off on her fingers, "then Tuesday with Edward, then Wednesday with Baron—"

"Uh, I don’t think it’s going to be that regimented."

"So, what do you mean?" Her brow furrows.