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

watched Edward cross the room to the large window overlooking the city. He rubbed his back and winced. Catherine placed her glass on the counter and hurried over to him.

“Do you mind if I take a look?” She asked. Edward nodded as she tentatively lifted his shirt. A huge bruise covered the lower right part of his back, Catherine took in a sharp breath as she touched it.

“Come on.” She placed her hands on his shoulders and guided him to the leather couch. “Take off your shirt.”

Edward looked up at her, gleeful.

“You’re bossy. I like it.”

Catherine kept her face casual as she watched him pull his shirt over his head. A ripple of muscles flashed into view and his shoulders settled back down as he lowered his arms. Catherine’s heart skipped a beat. Edward looked at her with a smolder hot enough to make any woman sigh, but as Catherine’s eyes lowered to his stomach, she groaned.

“What’s the matter? Don’t like what you see?”

“No, I don’t. Not at all,” she said honestly. The sight of the bruising underneath his rib cage made her feel sick. Edward lifted an arm to look at the injury.

“I’ve had worse. It’s not a big deal.” He shrugged. When Catherine didn’t reply, he got to his feet and walked over to her. “I’ll be fine, honest.”

“We should get you checked out.”

“I thought you were already checking me out?” Edward’s dimples were on show and his eyes sparkled at her.

“By a doctor, I mean,” Catherine said, blushing. Edward brushed her hair away from her face, his fingers grazed her forehead, and a rush of adrenaline shot through her body at his touch.

“You look cute when you’re worried. I should get beat up more often.”

Catherine’s hands made contact with Edward’s defined abs. His skin burned against her fingertips. Her breath caught in her chest as she blinked up and lost herself in his baby blues.

“I think you’re…” she started in a whisper, as Edward lowered his head. His breath tickled her burning cheeks and she swallowed nervously. Those eyes were huge and intense at such close proximity. She walked her fingers up to his bare chest and let her palms rest on his firm pecs. Catherine gasped. The heat of his body was like a furnace. Edward took her face in his hands and grazed his lips on her nose, then to her cheek.

“You think I’m what?” he whispered back. Catherine’s mind was fuzzy. She couldn’t think of any words. In the moment, her body took over and she slid her hands between his arms to clutch his back in a tight squeeze.

“I—” she said. Her lips were impossibly close to Edward’s. Any moment now, and they would be joined. Catherine knew the second it would happen; she would lose all control. She would become a slave to his every will.

But before Edward could claim her with a heart-pounding kiss, a loud ringtone ricocheted off the walls of the apartment. Catherine jumped back and Edward let go, looking at her with bewilderment.

“What time is it?” Catherine asked, breathless. She fumbled with the vibrating phone in her hands as Edward pulled his shirt back over his head.

“It’s almost eleven, I’m sorry. I have to go.” Panic flooded her veins as she stuffed her phone back in her purse and dashed to the door to grab her jacket.

“You’re leaving? Now?” Edward’s disappointment made Catherine’s stomach ache. She turned to see his crestfallen face and frowned at him.

“I have to be home. I’ll call you. Sorry again.” Catherine was trembling as she shakily opened the door. She bit her lip, waved to Edward, and left.

Catherine sat in the back of the cab trying to ignore the butterflies in her stomach as she watched the time on her phone. Calvin would be at her apartment soon, and she hadn’t thought about what she was going to say. She steadied her breaths and closed her eyes.

You’ve already told him you’re with Edward. Just reinforce the fact.

The cab pulled up outside her apartment and Catherine paid the driver, glancing out the window nervously.

“Have a nice night,” the driver said pleasantly. Catherine pushed open the door and looked up to see Calvin standing on her doorstep. His tall slender frame and fiery red hair made him look like one of the streetlamps. Catherine heaved an inward sigh.

“Thanks.” She muttered to the driver, then she got out of the car. She held her head up high as she walked, determined to show no sign of fear. Calvin’s dark eyes stared at her intently as she approached.

“I’ve been waiting for you.”

Chapter Fourteen

Time to Phone a Friend

Edward stood panting, staring at the closed door and wondering what had just happened. What made Catherine leave so quickly? They had shared a moment. It was intense. Like nothing he had ever felt before. The skin on his chest still burned where Catherine’s hands had been. Every muscle in his body tensed and his stomach ached. He suspected not all of the aching was down to his injuries. Slowly, he came to his senses and pulled his phone from his pocket.

In a situation like this, there was only one person to call.

“Edward, now isn’t a good time. I’ve got to get these plans drawn up and sent to father before morning.” David’s voice sounded strained. Edward smiled as he imagined his younger brother leaning over a desk with a pencil between his teeth, looking at a set of blueprints.

“I need some advice,” he said frankly. There was a stunned silence, then a cough on the other end of the phone.

“From me?” David said in a weak voice. “What’s wrong?”

Edward began pacing the room as he told David everything. From the moment he shook hands with Sam to the moment Anthony beat him up. David hummed along and listened patiently. He was a deep thinker, and the most level-headed person Edward knew. If anyone could help him make sense of his situation, it was David.

“Wait, so you’ve given your penthouse