Page 124 of The Billionaire's Christmas Bride

Edward shakes this head, "Stop deflecting; it won’t work." He frowns, "You going to follow your gut and your heart on this? Or are you going to spend the rest of your years regretting the one decision you should have made, which would have changed the course of your life, but you didn’t because you were too much of a pussy?"

I stare at him. "I can’t believe you said that." I shake my head. "You, of all people, should know I don’t shy away from hard decisions."

"But this is much more than that." He tilts his head, "It’s, perhaps, not your decision to make. Perhaps this time, you have to allow the circumstances to wash over you, and go with the flow?"

I laugh.As if I would ever do that?I haven’t come this far in life to bow before events, not if I have my way. "I’m not sure what you’re implying but—"

The screen pixelates and my voice echoes back at me.Huh?Bloody technology, always fails you when you need it the most. The connection restores.

"Hey man." Damian peers back at me from the screen.

Arpad jerks his chin. "Still here for my sins," he grumbles.

"Where’s Edward?" I frown.

"Seems he dropped off?" Damian mutters, "Perhaps he’s had enough of you acting like a fool, and decided to cut out?"

"Yeah, well, fuck that."And fuck him.My heart begins to race. "Not my decision to make, huh? We’ll see." I toss my head.

"You coming out to London for the New Year’s party?" Damian asks.

"I’ll be there."

"Are you bringing her?"

"That’s up to her." I frown. The hair on the back of my neck rises and a tingle runs down my spine. "I need to go, guys."

I hang up and turn. My gaze widens. "What are you doing here?"

37

Amelie

I tip up my chin and march into the room.What the hell am I doing here? Why had I allowed Kirsten to convince me to stay?He frowns as I walk past him to the bar, and pour myself some sparkling water. Yeah, I need my wits about me. I’m not going to fuck this up, or give the alphahole the time of the day either.

I glance around the beautifully furnished living room. The painting above the fire place is definitely an original, the settee in the room is made of plush leather and strewn with cushions, giving it a homey look. The wooden floor gleams, no doubt, polished every day by minions. I take in the corners of the room, the other walls—no clocks. Of course, not. Is his family aware of Weston’s trigger? Had they done away with all time pieces? Of course, they know about his affliction, right?

Footsteps sound behind me as Weston prowls over, "I thought I told you to leave?"

A ripple runs past my nerve endings.Don’t show how nervous you are. Don’t let on how much his nearness affects you.

I turn, glance around him. "Hey, Kirsten," I wave at his sister.

"Come on over, babe, you gotta see what Phe has drawn for you."

"Coming." I march past him, head high, spine straight, my heart booming in my rib cage. He locks his fingers around my wrist.

I squeak.

"Don’t ignore me," he growls under this breath. That harsh edge to his voice? Gah! My nerve endings all flare at once.

I stiffen, glance sideways. "Let go of me," I whisper.

"You don’t tell me what to do."

"And you don’t get to tell me what to do anymore. You told me to leave, remember?"

"And you disobeyed me."