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

“You give me your penthouse in New York… and you lose bragging rights. Plus, you’ll know that a woman will never love you without money.”

Ouch.

Edward looked up to see Harold taking Julie by the hand as the two of them took to the dance floor. Her huge dress took up so much space there was barely any room for other people to dance. Not that the couple noticed. Harold’s eyes were only on Julie as they shared identical smiles, circling on the spot. He turned back at Sam’s expectant face and held out his hand.

“Get a woman to fall in love with me within ten days.”

Sam inclined his head.

“And spend no more than a thousand dollars in the process,” he added firmly.

Edward nodded as they shook on it.

“Deal.”

Who Wants To Kiss a Billionaire?

The characters and storylines are fictitious, and any resemblance to real-life people and events are purely coincidental. The author retains all of the rights to this work which may not be copied and distributed online or elsewhere without the written permission of the owner of the rights.

All rights reserved by Laura Burton 2019.

First Edition

Edited by Tochi Biko

Cover Design by Lara Wynter @Wynter Designs

Created with Vellum

DEDICATION

For Johnny, a beautiful childhood friend who always radiated happiness.

And for Ross and the boys, for allowing me to write this over the Christmas holidays.

Prologue

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 superpower 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 glowing with happiness, and 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 relaxed into 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. It’s always a game with you.” Howard said with a sigh. The corners of his eyes drooped downwards, making him look constantly bored.

Edward sat up and 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 you 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.

“Alright, alright. 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. Alright 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 $1000.”

“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 Sam’s 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 across his whole face.

“You give me your penthouse in New York… and you lose bragging rights. Plus, you’ll know that a woman will never love you without money.”

Ouch.

Edward looked up to see Harold taking Julie by the hand as the two of them took to the dancefloor. Her huge dress took up so much space there was barely any room for other people to dance. Not that the couple noticed. Harold’s eyes were only on Julie’s as they shared identical smiles, circling on the spot. He turned back to Sam’s expectant face and held out his hand.

“Get a woman to fall in love with me within 10 days.”

Sam inclined his head.

“And spend no more than $1000 in the process,” he added firmly.

Edward nodded as they shook on it.

“Deal.”

Chapter One

A not-so-cute meet cute.

Catherine Fisher was running late. She tried to