Page 126 of The Elusive Billionaire

“To what?” I interrupt when my hand fists my mug so tightly, I’m afraid it will crack.

Pops loses his shit, and I’m certain he’ll be on the floor, rolling around in laughter at my expense soon.

“The other bachelors have the opportunity to woo her away.” Cian’s laughter gets the better of him, and he swipes at his eyes, then hands Keela over to Braxton.

“The entire weekend is dedicated to Savvy?” Is that pride in my tone?

“Sort of,” Madi says. “She’s more like the face of the festival. In reality, everyone is showing off for everyone else—like the last hurrah of the summer.”

“In the old days, it was a way to arrange proper marriages,” Pops says.

Fucking perfect.

“But times change,” Madi says. “We’re not dealing in dowries anymore. Now, a bachelor or bachelorette might compete in one of the challenges, but they could be showing off for the sweetheart, someone in the crowd, or just to win the prize. But the vibe of the fair is really all about love. Finding it, spreading it, experiencing it.”

My heart gallops in my chest. All I heard was competition—no one is competing for my girl but me. “What sort of challenges?”

“My favorite is Cupid cowboy.” Pops hoots with laughter, and I’m already regretting this particular life choice. “All the bachelors in town line up for shirtless line dancing. You should see how it makes all the ladies swoon. That’s how I got my Maisie, you know?”

“You’ve been doing this shit for that long?”

“Next year will be the 175th anniversary,” Moose says proudly.

“Shirtless line dancing. Shoot me now. Isn’t that…sexist or something?”

“We don’t make anyone disrobe. It just…happens sometimes when the competition gets fierce.” Clover giggles.

“Fine. What else?”

“There will be a Savvy trivia time,” Madi says. “You know, like how well do you know Savvy?”

I stare straight through Miss Monroe. “Easy.” My confidence in this challenge isn’t inflated. I doubt anyone knows her as well as I do.

“Remember, Savvy’s just the face. Everyone’s in it for the prizes or bragging rights.” Madi pats Keela’s back and then takes her from Braxton.

They keep passing her around the room, but I’m not even itching to hold her. My mind is completely filled with thoughts of Monroe.

“Then there’s the bachelor bake-off,” Elle says, calling my attention back to this small-town rite of passage. “How are your baking skills, Grey?”

“Fine,” I mutter.

“Oh,” Clover chirps in. “Don’t forget the matchmaker mamas, where all the mamas get to showcase their boys, but that’s really more for the younger generations. Oh, who wants to woo—game-show style is a fun one.”

“My favorite is the build-a-date,” Elle says. “You have to build something that would showcase Savvy’s perfect date out of whatever supplies they have in the booth at the time of the competition.”

“Chili for charity is my personal favorite. Won that one six years running,” Moose says.

Sorry, old man. I might like you more than most, but you’re going down.

“Lots of competitions, got it. What are the prizes for each of these idiotic games?” I shouldn’t have used the word idiotic. As soon as it leaves my mouth, I see hurt flash on all the ladies’ faces.

Why am I such an asshole sometimes?

“Each competition wins time with Savvy,” Braxton blurts, and I narrow my eyes.

“Wait. Madi was a sweetheart. Did you have to do all this stuff?”

Madi’s cheeks flush crimson.