Page 25 of Untamed Billionaire
Marco accepted the congratulatory hugs from his friends and, shockingly, they turned their warm smiles and inviting welcome to her as well. Used to feeling as if she were part of the shadows, Chloe was basking in the sunshine today.
“Chloe, this is Dash Phillips. Stay away from him. He thinks he’s God’s gift to women.”
The tall, handsome man stepped forward and pulled her out of Marco’s arms to give her a hug. “Mate, she’s safe from me now. This lovely lady is all yours!” He laughed as he hugged her, then stepped back to tell her, “If you ever need anything, you can call me.”
Chloe blinked, startled by the unconditional offer. “Thank you,” she whispered, more than slightly intimidated by the man’s twinkling green eyes.
“Back off, Romeo!” Marco snarled, but it was said with good natured humor.
Dash merely laughed and playfully punched Marco’s shoulder, then stepped back for the next person.
“This is Kasim,” Marco introduced. “You don’t need to know him. He’s a no one.”
Chloe laughed, shaking her head as she executed a perfect curtsy. “It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness.”
Kasim immediately shook his head and took her hand, lifting her out of the curtsy. “You are the princess today,” he told her. “And you look absolutely lovely, my dear. Please be sure to call me if this man ever does anything to diminish that sparkle from your lovely eyes.” He winked at her. Chloe’s mouth fell open as the Sheik of Alistar…winked at her! He was impossibly tall with black hair, tanned skin, and the most dangerously dark eyes she’d ever seen in her life! And yet, she also suspected that the man had a heart of gold beating underneath that yellow tie.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
“Please, call me Kasim.” He jerked his head to the others. “They have no respect for my title. If you start, then they might need to beat me up just to deflate my ego.”
While Chloe looked at the grinning group of revelers in shock, they merely nodded their heads as if taking down the leader of one of the most powerful countries in the world was a perfectly acceptable pastime.
“Right!” she replied. “Kasim.”
He winked at her again, then chuckled as he stepped back, making space for the next person.
Another tall, handsome man stepped forward, but a tiny woman with more hair than seemed possible, shoved the guy out of the way and stepped forward. “I wasn’t ever very good with waiting for these lugs,” she explained, her dark eyes twinkling as she threw her arms around Chloe. “Thank you for making him happy!” the woman whispered into Chloe’s ear before she stepped back. “Oh, and I’m Angela Bertuccio. Welcome to our rag-tag family,” she said to Chloe. “I hope you know how to play poker.”
Chloe blinked again, still trying to catch up with everything the woman said and not stare at her hair. It was a long, dark, and curly mane that twisted and bounced as if alive! It shimmered in the bright sunshine, just as her dark eyes twinkled with hidden laughter and…pain? Yes, there was a flash of remembered pain in those eyes. It disappeared almost as fast as it had appeared, and before Chloe could interpret that look, the woman was picked up…literally picked up by two hands…as a big boulder of a man moved her out of the way. Angela merely squeaked as she was set down again, then she pushed her hair out of the way and glared at the next stranger.
“Ignore Angela’s odd noises. She doesn’t know how to get on in polite society,” this newest person explained.
“This is Callum MacGregor,” Marco said, his hand tightening on her waist. “He’s the idiot with the title that you need to be afraid of.”
The man laughed, bringing Chloe into a bear hug. “Eh lass, ye have nay need to be afeard of me, me dear!” the man replied with a lovely Scottish burr. Chloe laughed when he released her. “But welcome to the family!” All traces of his accent were gone now and he smiled down at her, instantly welcomed into the “family”. There was a soft lilt to his words now, so Chloe suspected that the “American” accent was fake and the brogue was the man’s natural accent.
Chloe smiled, the man’s welcome warm and heartfelt.
But before she could say anything more, Chloe realized that Emma was bouncing on her toes and lightly clapping her hands together, waiting excitedly for her turn. Maggie, the nurse that spent a lot of time with Emma at the residence, was whispering in Emma’s ear, explaining how to behave and Emma was listening to her carefully. But as soon as Chloe caught Emma’s eye, she squealed and rushed forward, throwing her arms around Chloe.
“You look so pretty and you’re married!” Emma laughed. She bounced as she hugged Chloe and the two sisters laughed as they hugged. “I’m so excited for….” She stopped and pulled back, looking into Chloe’s eyes as tears suddenly formed in Emma’s eyes. “Does this mean that you can’t come visit me anymore?” She turned those worried eyes to Marco. “Are you going to stop her from visiting me like the other mean family?”
“No!” Chloe gasped, pulling Emma’s attention back. “Emma, I will always come to visit you! You’re my sister and sisters are forever!” she explained. Chloe knew the words that Emma understood. Anything more would only confuse her.
Thankfully, Emma’s naturally happy personality came right back, and she started bouncing again. “Good!” And she hugged Chloe again. Then she turned to hug Marco. “Chloe is always sad. You make her happy! I make her happy! Now she’ll be double happy all the time!”
Marco carefully embraced Emma, but released her as soon as she pulled back. “You’re a good man?” Emma demanded, looking as fierce as her childlike face could manage.
“I try to be,” Marco replied, imitating Chloe and using short words and simple sentences. Chloe loved him even more for his instant understanding.
Emma’s features softened back into a smile. “Good! Then you’re my sister now too!”
Chloe laughed, pulling Emma in close again. “Actually, he’s your brother now.”
Emma blinked, her bouncing halted for a few seconds. Then she shook her head, squinched up her nose and said, “I don’t want a brother. They are mean and hurt me.” Her smile brightened once again as she came up with a logic that only she understood. You’ll be another sister!”
Chloe’s mouth went dry for a long moment as she realized that, at some point, Steven had gone to visit Emma. And he’d hurt her!
