Page 84 of The Elusive Billionaire

I’m falling apart. It’s been years since I’ve fallen victim to self-doubt, and I’m not about to let some bless-her-heart Barbie be the one to bring me down.

Instantly, I feel myself recoil. Since when do I tear other women down? That’s not the kind of woman I want to be.

I need to get a grip. Riley is not worth the pain I’m causing myself. Grey isn’t… Well, I can’t deny that Grey has a hold on me, but no man or woman should ever have this much control over my self-esteem. Period.

“What’s your problem, Bethany?” Madi asks. She had her own run-in with this woman at a charity auction when she was bidding on Braxton, and by her tone, it doesn’t appear that she’s over it yet.

I’ve never had a problem with Bethany before, but with three women standing behind her like she’s the lead fighter jet, I have to wonder what’s changed.

“I’m petitioning the town,” Bethany says with a flick of her hair. “Not only should you have to live in Happiness for a minimum of ten years, but you should also uphold the good morals our town prides itself on before you can be crowned town sweetheart.”

“Jesus, Bethany. This isn’t high school,” Elle scoffs.

Madi moved to Happiness when she was ten. Clover and I moved here for college, but Elle was born and raised here, and she’s obviously had enough of the dramatics.

We’re starting to draw the attention of everyone in the diner, so I stand, then move closer to Bethany. The last thing I need is more attention.

“It’s not as though I asked for this. I’m thirty years old, Bethany. I have no interest in childhood theatrics.” My voice is low but kind. I’m not looking to make any more enemies today.

“The sweetheart title should never have gone to you in the first place,” she hisses. “The town held a vote without all the facts, and you may think it’s childish, but it’s been a tradition here in Happiness for almost 175 years. It’s nearly as important as the Cozy Cup Festival, and they didn’t think twice about bestowing it on someone who turned out to be a stripper.”

Fucking.

Bitch.

“There are a lot of things I regret, but what I had to do to create a better life for myself will never be one of those things, so take your petty bullshit and ram it up your goddamn ass, you bargain-bin Barbie.”

“What? How—how dare you.” Her gasp of outrage shows what a piss-poor actress she is.

“You can play dress up in your new designer clothes, which appear to be from last season, by the way, but your soul is still screaming knock-off personality.”

She scans me head to toe. “What the hell could Greyson even see in you? You’re a bitch with no morals.”

“I’ll answer that.” Grey’s voice rumbles like a landslide through the too-quiet diner.

So much for not attracting attention.

But having Patch McGee fight my battles isn’t high on my priority list either. He cuts through the women like a knife through room-temperature butter, and I melt.

When did I become such a freaking sucker for this man? He’s giving me a Prince Charming kink, and I don’t appreciate it.

He doesn’t say anything though. His eyes are bright but deadly as he wraps two hands around my head and kisses the living daylights out of me. It’s tongue and teeth and desperate, but over before it really begins, and the second he pulls away, he spits fire at my new nemesis.

“You want to know what I see in her… I’m sorry, what was your name? Bargain-bin-Barbie, was it?”

“Bethany,” she says through clenched teeth, even though she’s still making come-fuck-me eyes at him.

“Right. Barbie, what I see is a woman with fierce loyalty for those she cares about. A woman who doesn’t hesitate to stick up for the little guy, even when it puts her in danger. A woman who loves everyone around her so voraciously, she saves very little for herself.”

He leans down, so he’s eye to eye with her. “And what was it you said about morals? Here’s the thing, Barbie. Savvy was born to be a queen, and a queen makes her own rules. Do you want to know how I take care of my queen?”

Bethany swallows, and even I’m flushing hot.

“By getting on my knees to taste her every chance I get. So tell me, are my morals missing too? Or are you just jealous that Savvy is a hundred times the woman you’ll ever be and has me wrapped so far around her little finger she’ll never begin to untie our connection?” His attention slides to mine. “Even if she wants to.” My chin drops to my chest when he returns to Bethany because holy freaking shit. “From where I’m sitting, you’re the one looking green.”

He kisses the side of my head and begins to turn me back to our friends, but stops. “Oh, and Barbie, the next time you try to intimidate my future wife with your poison pageant posse, you’ll have me to answer to.”

Grey flicks his wrist as if she’s an annoying gnat he has no use for, then guides me back to our booth.