Page 75 of The Billionaire's Bride
"Thanks again for packing my clothes for me," I gesture to the dress I am wearing. "Thanks to you, I am, at least, properly dressed."
"You can thank me by telling me more about what’s up with you." She arches an eyebrow, "What’s up with all the secrecy?" She frowns. "And where are you staying anyway?"
"Uh, I told you, it’s just a security thing," I mutter. Shit, I hate not being able to share the details with her, but the guys made it clear, I am not to tell anyone about where I am staying.
Even now, the two of them stand on opposite sides of the tent, keeping a wary look out over the crowd. During the wedding, they’d both parked themselves on either end of the small group of invitees and kept a vigil, as well. It’s like I am traveling with my own security team, in a way.
"Ava." Isla hisses at me, "Ava, you listening to me?"
"Eh?" I give her my full attention, "Sorry, what did you say?"
"You are so not acting yourself." She frowns. "Is everything okay?"
"Of course, it is." I take a sip of my champagne. "Your wedding arrangements, as usual, have been top-notch. I am glad you were able to take on the wedding preparations so last-minute."
"Not as last minute as the weddings I’ve had to put together for the Seven." She snorts, "I mean, your dad gave me an entire month to plan. Imagine that."
I dig my elbow into her side. "Stop being so snarky."
"You stop being so secretive."
"I am not being secretive." I glance about the room and feign innocence.
"Oh?" She peers into my face, "So why is it that you didn’t mention to me that you were going to be here with both of them?"
"Who?" I frown. "Who are you talking about?"
"Seriously, Ava?" She scowls. "Don’t give me that. This is not like you, at all, to hide things from me."
"Yeah," I hunch my shoulders. "Look, it’s complicated, okay?"
"When isn’t it?"
A waiter passes by and Isla grabs my empty champagne glass, sets it on his tray, and grabs two more. "Thanks, Mark." She nods at the young guy, who blushes before scurrying off.
"Do all of your team have a crush on you?"
"Only the young impressionable ones." She hands me a glass, before sipping from her own. "And don’t change the topic, Slick."
"Would I do that?" I widen my gaze.
"And stop giving me the innocent act." She glowers at me. "Tell me what’s happening with you, Ava, seriously."
I take a sip of the champagne, and the cool, crisp liquid slides down smoothly. "Well, basically, I am sleeping…with both of them."
She chokes on her champagne, and I pat her back as she splutters.
"Easy, easy," I mutter, "don’t go drawing all the attention to us now."
"You’re doing fine in that regard all on your own, considering those two have ensured you are always in their line of sight since you guys walked in."
"That’s only because they are protecting me."
"Protecting you?" She frowns. "What do you mean?"
"I was attacked…" I mumble, "again."
"Wait, hold on." She stares at me. "You were ambushed in the subway, then in your studio…. Are you saying, it happened again?"
