Billionaires in New York Boxed Set: Billionaires in the City Books 1-3 Laura Burton (books to read this summer .TXT) 📖

All of her worries evaporated, they no longer mattered. All she cared about was that Harry loved her.

“I love you too,” she said leaning in.

The two of them shared a tender kiss. Julie’s lashes brushed against Harry’s cheek and for a fleeting moment, she even forgot they were in hospital.

“And I know this isn’t the perfect place to do this, but I can’t wait any longer. Will you consider being my wife?”

Julie froze. In her mind, they were back in Lincoln Center, with the beautiful orchestra playing, and Harry was at her feet dressed in a dark suit. This time, Julie did not give an off-the-cuff response, neither did she laugh. She placed both of her hands on his cheeks and looked him square in the eye.

“Yes. With all my heart. Yes.”

They kissed again, a little too roughly because one of the machines started beeping. The noise jolted Julie out of her blissful state of mind and alerted her to the situation.

“Your mother is here. What do you want to do about her?” she said as she broke away. “I spoke to the police. They want to question everyone. Ebony too. It sounds like they’re building a case on those two guys who captured me, I’m sure they’d be willing to testify if they get a deal.”

Harry pressed his finger to Julie’s lips and she stopped talking.

“We’ll figure it out. I promise,” he said in a hushed voice. Julie exhaled shakily. Just talking about it all was getting her worked up again. “Come here.” He pulled her down and the two of them kissed again, Julie was careful to avoid the wires on his chest this time. They were interrupted by a vibration on the bed. Julie looked down.

“Do you need to take that?” she asked, holding out the phone to him. Harry took the phone and threw it across the room. Julie jumped with a gasp as it clattered to the floor and after a few moments fell silent. Then she looked back at Harry in shock as he grinned at her.

“Now, where were we?” he asked and Julie, matching his grin, leaned down once more.

The End.

Epilogue

Edward Marks

Edward Marks sat swirling his drink in his hand as he listened to the maid of honor give her speech.

“The first day my best friend Julie met Harry, I remember saying to her, ‘It’s a beautiful day to fall in love,’ and little did I know, that these two lovebirds would do exactly that.” The room laughed. “I knew they were perfect for each other—being a matchmaker gives me a super power of sorts. But I didn’t expect it to happen so fast.”

“David, pour us another will you,” Edward murmured to his brother who obliged. He looked at Julie, sitting next to her new husband, their faces were glowing with happiness. A twinge of jealousy tugged at his stomach. Harold Jackson was the awkward kid at school. He told jokes that people groaned at, never stood up for himself, and he got married first.

Not that Edward was willing to settle down anytime soon.

“Hey, did you hear that?” Sam nudged his arm and pointed to the stand. “She loved him for who he was. I bet you couldn’t get a girl to fall in love with you if she didn’t know you were a billionaire.”

“Yeah, right. Ladies fall for my charm, not my wallet.”

Sam chortled as he reclined in the back of his chair.

“Keep telling yourself that, mate.”

“No, you haven’t seen my game. I could be a dry cleaner and women would fall at my feet.”

“That’s just it. Always a game with you isn’t it?” Howard said with a sigh. The corners of his eyes drooped downward, making him look constantly bored.

Edward sat up and looked between the gentleman, affronted. He turned to his brother. “David, back me up here,” he said.

David rubbed his neck and inhaled deeply.

“I don’t know what to say. You do like to flash the cash around women,” he said.

Edward resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

Well, you’re no help.

“How, I ask you, do I flash the cash?”

“Remember when you bought a yacht and named it after that girl you met at the theatre?”

“Or what about the time he organized a private concert with Beyoncé just because Halle––was it? told you she was a fan?”

“Don’t forget that girl in Morocco.”

Edward raised his hands in defeat.

“All right, all right. But I’m telling you. I don’t need money to woo a woman. I’ve got skills,” he said offering his most charming smile.

“You want to bet on that?” Sam asked with a wry smile. Howard made a noise of excitement and his droopy eyes lit up for the first time.

“Now this just got rather interesting,” he said stroking his dark beard.

“Edward, come on. You don’t do bets,” David said in a low voice. Edward rolled his shoulders back and downed the rest of his drink.

“Call it a challenge, then. All right, Sam. I’m listening,” he said as the string quartet started to play Mozart. Sam clapped and shifted in his seat with a grin.

“I challenge you to find a woman––who doesn’t know you’re filthy rich––and get her to fall in love with you within ten days.”

Edward shrugged.

“Piece of cake,” he said cracking his neck. Sam held up a stubby finger and shook his head.

“That’s not all, my friend. You can’t use more than a thousand dollars.”

“Per date?” Edward asked, shocked. Sam threw his head back and laughed.

“In total. From the time you first meet, to the moment she says ‘I love you’ and seals it with a kiss.”

“I never knew you were so romantic, Sam,” David said patting his shoulder. Edward swallowed as he looked at Sam. All eyes were on him now as he considered it.

“What’s the prize if I win?”

“Are you kidding? True love and a woman who is crazy enough to love you without any of the benefits,” Sam said. The men chuckled.

“And if I lose?”

Sam looked thoughtful and rubbed his arm. Then a massive smile spread