Billionaires in New York Boxed Set: Billionaires in the City Books 1-3 by Laura Burton (learn to read books .TXT) 📕

if being tortured, when Catherine kissed him hard on the mouth. There was no more space between them. No more lies. No more jealous ex-boyfriends. Nothing.

Catherine didn’t know where she ended and where Edward began. They were entwined, swivelling on the spot, touching and kissing with rising momentum. Catherine almost forgot what she was going to say. The passion between them reached new dizzying heights and soon the two of them stopped, only to catch their breaths. Edward panted, his cheeks flushed, and he flashed his teeth at her.

“Edward…” Catherine began, she had stepped back but was still holding his hand. Edward nodded, his chest heaving. Catherine slowly took her hand away from his and folded her arms.

“I–” she began. Edward took a step forward, his face radiating happiness.

“Yes?” he said with anticipation. Catherine placed her hands on her hips and frowned at him.

“Calvin told me all about the deal you made with Sam.”

Edward’s face fell.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Letting Go of the Past

Oh boy.

Edward was shaking. He had been basking in the warmth of their passionate exchange until Catherine said something that was akin to throwing a bucket of ice over his head.

He couldn’t speak. He opened his mouth, hoping something eloquent would come out, but instead he gave a nervous laugh. He coughed and swallowed, trying to ignore the sickly sensation that was now swirling in his stomach. He had just rescued Catherine from her crazy ex-boyfriend. She threw herself onto him and… that kiss. Wow.

He shook his head, as if the gesture would shake away his thoughts. No, he couldn’t think about that right now. His breathing grew labored as he stared at the hurt in her eyes.

“How did Calvin find out?” he asked weakly. Catherine’s face contorted as she huffed. He had really blown it now.

“Why don’t you ask your friend, Sam?” she raised a hand and motioned to slap him across the cheek but paused mid swing. Edward winced, preparing for impact, but Catherine lowered her hand again.

“My mom told me it’s never okay to hit someone.” She turned on her heel, giving him one more scowl before she descended the steps and marched down the path.

“Catherine – wait!” Edward ran after her, but Anthony stood in his path with his arms folded.

“Let her go,” he said firmly. Edward craned his neck to watch Catherine walk off and sighed in defeat. He looked to the side and noticed David and Sam deep in conversation.

“What’s the situation?” he asked David, as he approached them. Sam looked at him briefly but averted his gaze as Edward glared back.

“Well, he was caught red-handed. Father has the lawyers building a case right now. We won’t need to worry about Calvin anymore,” David said. “You did well,” he added, pulling his brother in for a side hug. Edward exhaled with relief. At last, some good news.

“And what have you got to say for yourself?” he said frankly to Sam, who still wouldn’t look at him in the eye.

David nudged him and raised his brows.

“Go on,” he said to him. “Either you tell him, or I will. And trust me, it’s better coming from you,” David said to Sam. Edward crossed his arms and looked at Sam who stared at them all one by one like a deer in headlights. Then he swallowed.

“I was worried about losing the bet,” he started, shifting his feet and rubbing his thumb into the palm of his left hand. “When you told me about this woman, and I found out it was Anthony’s cousin… I really didn’t like it.”

Edward glanced at Anthony who was staring intently at Sam and shaking his head a little, his eyes were wide open. He looked back at Sam, who was still avoiding his gaze.

“I told Anthony about the deal, and when I met Calvin at the climate change event… Well, he wouldn’t stop talking about Catherine and I thought, hey, this is too perfect.”

Edward dragged both hands through his hair and gasped.

“Are you kidding me? This is all your doing?” he asked, winded. Sam and Edward were impossibly competitive with each other. Neither of them was known to back down easily and it would not have been the first time Sam played dirty to win.

“I never expected things to get to this,” he said quickly, following Edward’s train of thought. “I just thought, that if I told Calvin about your… intentions. And perhaps told a couple of white lies…”

“Like what?” Edward asked quickly. Sam winced and took a breath.

“I may have suggested that Catherine was my friend’s cousin… and I heard she was still thinking about getting back together –”

There was a resounding crack as Edward’s fist made contact with Sam’s cheekbone.

“You call yourself a friend?” he spat as Sam fell to the ground, cradling his face. David and Anthony lunged forward and each took one of Edward’s arms. “He nearly killed me. Twice.” Sam got to his feet with a groan, his hands still covering half his face.

“He was supposed to scare you both. Not hurt you.”

“But I kept saying I wanted to call off the deal. I told you I blew it anyway.”

“What, because of the painting you bought for Catherine?” Sam said.

“You didn’t technically give it to her though,” David said evenly. “Besides, Sam didn’t want to win by default. He wanted to win –” David sighed, bowing his head.

“What? Fair and square?” Edward laughed to himself. He looked at Sam now in a whole new light. His own best friend conspiring against him. It made him sick to his stomach.

“I can’t believe this. Any of it,” he said, letting his arms hang. David and Anthony loosened their grip on him, and Sam bowed his head.

“I’m really sorry,” he said, his eyes tearing up. “It wasn’t my idea to mess with the car. It was my car, after all. How could I have known that Calvin was a psychopath?”

“And I’m sorry about beating you up,” Anthony added. “I had just found out about this bet, when Catherine called