Page 46 of Unforgettable Billionaire (The Hardcore Novels: Special Editions #3)

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Siri

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Lightening the mood, telling me not to overthink it now that I've agreed, the details will be ironed out later, Aurei does his best to make me laugh.

He throws bits of the meat into the air, and the dogs jump for it.

Some are graceful, but some are complete klutzes, and I should be giggling like mad, but I only chuckle.

Walking back to the party hand in hand, I feel very uncharacteristically clingy.

The enormous stress weighs heavy on my mind.

Aurei stops every so often and pushes a stray hair behind my ear, or kisses me until I breathe in sync with him, or kisses my hand, but whatever he does, he looks into my eyes the whole time—analyzing and concerned.

Finally, he cups my chin and holds it still. He leans in, and his gorgeous green eyes drill into mine. "Stop worrying!"

I roll my eyes. "I can't help it."

"Sure you can."

"But there is so much to think about."

"And your team will handle it. Don't you trust them?"

"Of course I do."

"Then stop worrying."

"I think I'm in shock!"

"That's understandable."

I frown. "Our lives are unbelievably even more complicated now."

"Affirmative. But we'll work it out." He kisses my eyes closed. "Listen. We don't have to go back to the party. We can go back to the cabin if you want."

"No. I'm.... I'm fine."

His arms draw me tight against him. My face presses his chest, and the soft, firmness reassures me he has my back. He kisses my head and simply holds me. I push my nose to his armpit and inhale his essence. His scent is so intoxicating.

I begin to feel better and lift my face to his.

I smile sweetly up into his concerned expression.

"You have to be there when Zita makes the big announcement.

You can't exactly skip out on that. Besides, I need to dance!

I need to get lost in the music!" I pucker my lips, and he gives me the butterfly kiss I need.

"I need to get lost in your dance." His hands drop to my ass and squeeze. Then he swats one. Pow! "Let's go show off your moves."

He takes a step back and grins at my surprised, "Oui." I open my mouth again, but his boyish happiness makes me realize I should. I sigh again, and then just 'let it go!'

"That's my good girl!" His eyes crinkle with his pleased smile. Then they narrow when my mischievous twinkle appears.

Sweet Zeus! I love this Golden God!

Bouncing up, I kiss his lips. "Be careful what you wish for! Don't forget you still owe me a karaoke song too."

"I haven't forgotten." He taps his head, making me giggle. "Steel trap."

I hook his arm and squeeze it against my tit while we start the walk back to the party tent. "What are you going to sing?"

"It's a surprise."

I chuckle and instantly respond with. "I like your surprises." Then I laugh at my words. "Sweet Zeus! They just keep getting bigger and better! Can you beat this last one?"

"I have a few more up my sleeve." He pulls his arm out, and I slip under it.

I roll my eyes up at him. "You and your fucking secrets!" He yanks my ponytail. "Oui!"

"I want your hair down."

I smirk at him, but I take the holder out and shake my hair. "Hey," I stop in the middle of the road, suddenly remembering the poor man in the barn he clobbered. "Why did you nail that guy in the barn?"

"Because he was spying on us." He says nonchalantly and keeps walking.

I frown but follow. "Why?"

"Mia sent him."

"What the hell?" I stop again. "Aurei!" I call after him.

He stops and looks at me with a 'we are going to have this conversation even if I don't want to' look on his face, then he says.

"Listen, Mia realizes she's lost her control over my life, and Ann's life too for that matter, so she sent someone to spy on me to try to gather Intel for her.

I told you before not to worry. I'll handle her. "

"But why deck him?"

"Because he knew better."

"That seems harsh."

"He's a grown man that made a bad decision, and it cost him. Would you rather I fire him?"

"No."

"Then let me handle it my way. Mia needs to know that I'm not bullshitting and that I will protect you."

"But he was out cold!"

"That's why I poured water on him." He pulls me to him, and my hand slides down into his pants pocket.

As we walk, I feel his fucking muscle move up and down.

He looks down at me. His face looks so serious and sincere.

"Siri, I'm correcting a mistake I made years ago.

It seems harsh, but she's family, and I don't want to fire her either.

I just need to rein her in. I let her have too much control over my business while I was preoccupied with serving my country and chasing too much tail.

But Ann is right. I have to look after me and mine now too, and that's you. I got this. You have to trust me."

"I do. Everything you do has been carefully thought out. You're the most competent person I've ever met."

"Not everything, but I try to stay one step ahead." He hugs my head, and we walk the rest of the way in silence.

As we approach, the music seeps through the night. Suddenly my heart feels light and carefree. I'm about to take on the biggest adventure of my life, and I have the best man in the world by my side! I break away and skip ahead. "The music is calling me. Come on."

He jogs up beside me, smiling. "That's my Golden Dancer."

I grin at him. "Life is good, Aurei Moore. I can't imagine it getting any better."

He chuckles. "Stay tuned."

When we arrive, the lights under the tents have been dimmed.

"Free Ride" by Edgar Winter is the song playing as we snake through the maze, making our way back to our seats.

When we squeeze through, everyone has smiles for us.

Everyone, but Mia. I hear her screaming at Aurei on the phone, calling me a whore.

Coming into the cabin uninvited to call me a whore again.

And now sending someone to spy on us, probably to take pics of me being a whore.

My hand twitches when I pass her. It would love to wipe that resting bitch look off her face, or snatch a hand full of her hair out.

The thought of smashing her face on the table occurs to me, but I let them all go.

Her icy glare tells me she received Aurei's message.

When we sit, we put our backs to her, and Aurei pulls my chair between his legs.

He leans forward to tickle me. I squirm and kiss his cheek, then the first strands of "Love Story" floats out from the speakers, and the chatter goes quiet.

I lean back into his strong arms, and he sings in my ear.

His tone and the sweetness of this eternal love song warms my heart to bursting.

Thank you, Karma. I can't believe how lucky I am.

When the song ends, there is light applause as Zita makes her way to the platform stage set up for Karaoke. She steps up to the microphone and says. "My heart is overflowing with joy. I can't wait any longer to share this announcement with my family." She smiles over at our table.

Aurei shifts, and I sit up straight. The excitement and tension in the air gets thick quick. I look at my man's handsome face. What a beautiful being. I lay my hand lightly on his thigh. You are going to make a fantastic CEO. I smile proudly on him. He stares confident at the stage.

Zita clears her throat, but when she speaks, her voice is thick with emotion. "For many years, my lovely daughter has called Bee her significant other." There is a collective pause in the excited tension as her unexpected words surprise us.

As my eyes move toward Ann and Bee, who are sitting across the table from us, I notice Antonio and Gio sit side by side. Antonio's arm is draped over the back of Gio's chair. It's an intimate position, but they are very stiff, almost formal with each other.

My eyes move on to Quintus. He is leaning back in his chair, relaxed and completely at ease. When my eyes touch his, he smiles at me. I smile back, and he looks back at Zita.

I move on to Mia and Angelo. Angelo's posture is of someone who is alone.

He looks comfortable in his skin. No tension.

Then I look directly at Mia. Her eyes are narrowed, and they are honed in on me.

For the first time, I have the opportunity to stare her down and get a feel for who she is.

What I see actually surprises me. Instead of the hateful, childish girl I thought I would see, I find a cold, calculating businesswoman who runs a tight ship with an iron fist and plays a game of chess with the people around her as pawns in the game.

She is cold, distant, mean, and bitchy, but she plays to win.

Definitely, a force to be reckoned with, but I don't have to deal with her.

She has to deal with me. I smile confidently at her, and her eyes narrow even more.

Then I turn my attention to Ann and Bee.

They are smiling at each other, and the love between them is obvious to everyone.

Zita continues, "The laws in the United States have recently changed.

Ann and Bee have officially married. Bee is now my daughter-in-law.

" There is applause, and Zita beams at them.

When the clapping dies away, she adds, "And Bee is expecting our first grandchild!

We are so excited and can't wait to find out if it will be a boy or a girl!

" More clapping and more smiles around. I look at Aurei, and he is grinning from ear to ear at them.

"You're going to be an Uncle!" I tell him. "Congrats!"

"I know." He smiles.

I laugh at him. "You and your fucking secrets!"