Page 166 of The Elusive Billionaire

“Stop scowling, Grey.” She giggles, and I frown harder, hoping to hear it again. “You’re supposed to be putting on a show.”

“You’re enjoying this entirely too much.”

She shrugs. “I mean, you’re not wrong.”

“Braxton said I looked like Napoleon Dynamite and Wednesday Addams had a baby.” When did I succumb to pouting?

This town is ruining me.

Savvy gasps and chokes, then gurgles on her laughter. I stand with a grimace plastered on my face while Moose holds his hand above the guy on my right, and then the guy on my left.

What the actual hell is going on? “Did he just skip right over me?”

I glare down the line of contestants and huff out a small tantrum.

There’s no way I was worse than Chief—even he got applause.

I scan all available exits in case I need a quick escape. Roman leans against the railing, obviously suffering some kind of secondhand embarrassment. He shakes his head in disgust, but I swear I saw his lip quirk up when I dropped it like it was hot.

“And we have one more contestant,” Moose says, walking back toward center stage.

Holy shit, I’m nervous. I’ve never been chosen last for anything in my entire goddamn life.

Is that what’s happening now?

I move to a small town for my family, meet a woman who drives me up the damn wall, fall in love with the maniac, then lose my mojo too?

“Greyson,” Moose calls, and for one painfully horrifying moment, it’s dead silent, and my lungs seize in my chest, but then just as quickly, I feel like a goddamn rock star when the deafening cheers hit the stage.

Existential crisis, my ass. I’ve still got it, motherfuckers.

I throw my arms up in the air and yell like I just won the Super Bowl, then I do what I wanted to do earlier—I toss Savvy over my shoulder and haul her away.

“Roman.”He stops a few feet ahead of us. “You can send your guys home.” I glance down at Savvy. I’ve felt her exhaustion for the last hour. “We’re all heading home, so I’ve got it from here.”

“I’m starving,” Madi says to our left. “Can we please hit up the food trucks on our way out? They’re right by the parking lot.”

“Grey, I think we should stay.” Roman looks from me to Carson, who also nods. “Just because we haven’t seen Riley doesn’t mean he isn’t here.”

The fact that he thinks I can’t protect my wife instantly puts me on the defensive, but logically, I understand he’s just doing his job.

“Brax,” I say. “We’ll meet you by the picnic tables, okay?”

His gaze darts between Roman and me like he wants to say something, but then silently guides Madi toward the exit.

“It’s fifteen minutes, tops, Roman. I’m not going to leave her side. I’ve got this.”

He steps forward, and I regret having Savvy between us now.

“And I disagree. If I pull my guys, this would be the perfect time for Riley to strike.”

“You said yourself you haven’t seen him tonight. I appreciate your expertise, but I’m perfectly capable of getting Savvy home.”

Roman drops his head back and looks to the stars. I’m fairly certain he mutters “arrogant prick” to the night sky.

“This is my case, Grey,” he says. “I’m not sending my guys home unless you fire us. I will, however, have them pull back and do a perimeter sweep until you leave. It’s the best I can do. I’m not willing to sacrifice my reputation because you want to play hero.”

“Play her?—”