The Billionaire’s Bargain Bride

Watch and Dance

CENRIC

Since she came back from the rides with Becka, she seemed different. Carefree? Happy?

“Now you’re the one who’s looking at me like that?”

“How?” I looked at her. I was driving the old pickup truck of Beck but still ran like brand new.

“I don’t know. Like you’re up for something.” Her smile was wicked.

“Or you’re up for something, babe.” I held and squeezed her thigh. She was wearing a summer dress with western boots. “You look fantastic.”

She laughed out loud. “I might have overdone this out a little.” Her smile was contagious.

“You look great anyhow.”

“Thanks. So what do I expect in the bar?”

“Locals, beers, boys who would gawk at you as if you’re the best meat in town that I might end up getting into trouble tonight.”

“Just calm your horses, cowboy. We don’t want us to get into trouble. I wanna have fun without my overprotective husband growling at me all the time. Why didn’t you invite Cas to come with us?”

“I don’t growl, wife. He needs to be there in case there’s an emergency. And this is not Cas’ scene. He’s a golf-type kind of guy.”

“Really? Boring.” She wrinkled her hose.

“Yeah. He prefers suits and ties instead of plaid shirts.”

“Wow. No wonder he never chose the military.”

“Exactly.” I looked at the rearview when the SUV’s headlights blinked. “That’s the bar.”

She looked ahead. “That’s very western?”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Welcome to the Western side, babe!” I found a space in the parking area. I helped her out. Becka and the guys were good to go as well.

“Let’s go.” Becka took my wife’s hand. She already threw me a glare before I could say something.

I shrugged. “Go.”

“Good boy.” Beck patted me on the back with a chuckle.

“Not funny.”

It had been ages since I went to a bar like this. The country songs blasted as soon as we entered. The scene reminded me of a classic action movie. And it was jump-packed.

“Wow.”

“They renovated the place?” Beck murmured. All furniture made of fine wood, decorations represented western culture. The smell of grilled meat, beers, and smokes permeated the entire place.

“Hey!” Becka called us. My wife already found a stool. “What are you waiting for? Come on in!”

“New in town?” the barkeep said. “Except this one.” He signaled to Becka.

“What about me?” Beck said.

“Ah, Becker. How are you, man?” He hugged him over the counter. “Good to see you here. It’s been a while. City life suits you.”

“This is Cenric and Linden, and that one is Devin.”

He eyed me for a while. “The billionaire, of course, I know him. I hope you’re not here to buy my bar.”

“No, sir.” I shook his hand. “I came to visit the Corbins.”

“I often visited by guys from the city. They had one thing in common. Sorry about that. I’m Wyatt.”

“Don’t worry.” I shook his hand. “I’ve been here before. Becka’s wedding and you know—”

“Yeah. I remember. Sorry about your brother, Wade.” He pointed at the wall. “Man was our hero.”

“He was.” I looked at his picture and Wade together. “He was, indeed.” I missed him. I always did every time.

“What can I get you, folks?”

“Beer for me.” The guys ordered the same.

“Try our bacon-wrapped shrimp.” He looked at my wife. “Yours?”

“Yeah. My wife.” Sadie might have heard me. She smiled at Wyatt.

I sipped my beer and watched the people chat. Their lives were far from technologies, yet they looked contented. I’d never cared so much about others, especially in an establishment like this, but tonight, I realized one thing—what my life would be if I failed in building my company.

I picked one shrimp wrapped in crispy bacon and took a bite. It was the most delicious thing I’d tasted in a while in a bar like this. “Wow. This is so good.”

My wife took a bite as well, and judging by her look right now, she just agreed with me. “Yeah. The best. Is this your recipe?”

“Me and my wife’s.”

“You’re genius.” I bit again. “It was tasty to the last bite.”

Sadie leaned in and whispered, “I could orgasm with this alone.”

I smiled. “Really? Why do I feel that you don’t wanna go home?”

“If there’s no job waiting for me there, I’d stay and work as a shepherd. What do you say?”

“So you’d leave your husband just like that? You won’t ever miss me?”

She did a small sign with her fingers. “Maybe, a little.”

She amused me. Since I started to get to know her, I fell and fell and fell so deeply in love with her. She was the most beautiful and wonderful person I’d ever met. Even her flaws made her perfect to me.

“What?” she asked.

“You’re beautiful.”

“You are handsome.”

“Stop eye-freaking each other. Let’s dance.” Becka pulled her from the stool.

“I don’t know how.”

“Beck said you know ballet. It’s the same thing.”

“This is not definitely the same,” she said with a laugh.

“She’s in trouble, is she?” Linden asked.

“She’s gonna be fine,” Beck answered.

“Your sis is in trouble, man.” Linden patted his shoulder.

I watched Becka teach Sadie the basic steps. Some of the folks were already on the dance floor.

She laughed out loud with a shake of her head when she misstepped. “Don’t watch me!” she yelled at me.

“You’ll be fine.”

“Why don’t you go and join them, lover boy?” Devin said.

“Why don’t you find someone to hook up with?”

“Nah. Thanks.” He smirked and had loosened up around us. I learned to trust him despite our rough start.

“You’re not gay, are you?”Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

“The last time I checked, boss.”

“I know you like someone, Devin.”

“Really? Who?” He arched a brow.

I studied him. He’d been eyeing Becka since we arrived. One wrong move, he’d have broken nose from me. “Don’t make me say it.”

He looked at Beck, who was amusedly watching Becka and Sadie dance. He sipped his beer instead.

“Good.”

I focused back on my wife—she finally learned the basic steps.

They moved to the center. The dance floor became crowded. The tapping of the shoes, music, the dust from the floor, the noises, and the beer became more nostalgic. This time, I missed my old life.

I wouldn’t be here. I wouldn’t have experienced loving someone. I wouldn’t have a wonderful wife. I wouldn’t have been this happy if I was not the person I was today. Even though personal experience made me a better person, the people around me should take the credit for who changed me into the man I became today.

“You’ve been silent. What’s in your head aside from your blonde?”

I glared at Linden. “Your blonde?”

“Yeah. I don’t wanna say that word.”

“Go and dance or do whatever you want.”

He chuckled. “Good boss, good day. Love you, bro.”

“Extra bonus,” Devin finished.

“You two, leave me alone just for one night.”

When the music ended, the folks moved out of the dance floor. Sadie was alone. I couldn’t find Becka anywhere. I was quickly on my feet when a guy in a blue shirt talked to my wife. I couldn’t hear what he was saying because of the noises, and reading lips was not what I was good at.

“He asked for a beer,” Beck translated, gripping my shoulder to make me sit back. “She politely declined.”

When Sadie excused, he grabbed her by her arm. “Motherfu—” Before I could finish my word, Linden and Devin were already there.

“They’ll handle it. Breathe.” Beck was still on my back. “You can’t just break someone’s nose because he asked your wife for a beer. You’re a celebrity, remember?”

“That’s my wife, and since when?”

While you ogled at your wife, folks recognized you, douchebag.”

“I pretend I didn’t hear you just called me that, moron.”

“You don’t think straight when it comes to Sadie. I get it. You’re in love, and you want her all to yourself. But look?” He showed me that the situation was resolved without bloodshed. “He apologized. No trouble. When you went there, the confrontation happened, and that guy? He is a nobody, and you’d be labeled as a jealous jerk when you became overprotected. That’s why you have us.”

“I might as well pay you as my personal advisor.” I rolled my eyes. When I turned to see my wife, she was already in front of me, cupping my face and kissing me.