The Billionaire’s Bargain Bride

Sweet Side of Beck

CENRIC

I wasn’t expecting to end a pleasant dinner like this. Marriage was not something you took lightly or for fun because there was divorce. I disagreed with how Austin pushed Beck to settle down if he was not ready for it.

Maybe, I was still lucky that despite the arrangement I made, my wife was wonderful, and she was not like those women who were after my back accounts, though sometimes, I wished she enjoyed spending. But Sadie was different. She would rather work hard for the money she earned—that DNA she never got from her father.

I followed Beck to the backyard. The silver moon was full, casting a glow above us. I couldn’t remember the last time I appreciated something like this. It was ages ago when I wasn’t running a billion-dollar empire. When I was in the military, I enjoyed the outdoors, camping with Beck, Linden, and Becka’s late husband, one of my brothers, Wade. He was a good man.

“Let’s head back, Beck.”

He scratched his head in irritation. “I know it would come up. I didn’t call and come home very often because of this. As if he’s gonna die if I don’t bring a woman home.”

“You know your paps love you very much, Beck. All he wanted was for you to be happy, settle down, and have a family. I know you wouldn’t work for me for the rest of your life. We’re not that old, but have you ever thought of your life outside the private contractor’s life?”

He faced me, his brows contorted. “Of course, all the time.”

“Your investment in the company is in good hands. You can start building a house at that site. All you have to do is tell me the amount.” I pointed to ample space in my sight. “Beck family is family. You should be grateful.”

He rolled his eyes. “Are you sick of me already?”

I smirked. “Never, brother. Never. I wouldn’t be a billionaire if I stopped thinking of the future. Money is essential, but that’s not the point. My point is you have to set a goal. I’m not kicking you out of your job. I’m in good hands now. I want you to think of your life as well. Don’t be so selfless because you think you have to protect me because we failed Wade. Think about your own happiness. And I’m not going anywhere.”

He slipped his hands in his pockets. “How do you do it?”

“Do what?”

“Think of others when you should be a selfish prick.”

“I thought of the people who are there for me when I need them. And you are one of those people, Beck. Go out on a date, have fun, enjoy life. When you meet your the one, you’ll know it.”

“Is that really what happened with you and Sadie?”

My smile widened. “Go out and find out yourself. And I would give everything I have to take back my parents. I have so many things left unsaid and wish to show them how much I loved them.”

His expression changed as if he had just realized something.

“Look, don’t wait until one day, you’re gonna wake up alone and miss the best part of your life.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s nothing, brother. Now come back. The steak is good.”

We joined them back at the dinner table.

“Sorry about that.” He sat back. “Paps, I love you, and I won’t let you down.”

I placed the napkin on my lap when I noticed my wife’s eyes. “You okay?”

She looked at me and smiled. “Better than ever.”

I ran my thumb on her cheek. “How would you like to sit outside after this?”

“Love the idea. Bonfire with marshmallows?”

“Anything for you.” Damn, I would never have thought I would say those words—until I met Sadie Greer.

After dinner, the chairs, fire pit, and things needed for the ‘smores were already set when we came down.

Guys joined us with beers. Becka as well sat between Sadie and Beck. Austin settled on the veranda with his tea.

“I have a confession,” my wife started. “This is my first time.”

“What?” Becka asked, surprised.

I wasn’t. I knew she was raised differently and in a challenging environment where she didn’t fit in since birth, but watching Sadie today, how she appreciated and enjoyed the world around her, I was just astounded. I just found another reason to work harder for us.

“Then go ahead. Have fun and roast these marshmallows.” Becka showed her how to do it.

“It must be fun to live here.”

I fixed the fleece that fell down her arm to keep her warm. She was like a small thing compared to us. She was tall but skinny, not in a starving way.

She smiled. “Thanks.”

Becka smiled at me as well. She mourned for months when she lost Wade. I knew she loved him so much, maybe one of the reasons, after all those years, she hadn’t gone out on a date, or so as I heard.

It was good to look that these two women got along quickly. I felt the warmth in my chest.

“You have siblings?”

“A brother.”

“Oh, are you two close?”

Beck cleared his throat.

“Sorry.”

“It’s okay. To say the least, he’s different.”

“I see.”

“Yeah, not very likable.”

“You can say he’s an asshole.”

Sadie laughed out loud. “I was trying to be prime, but yeah, he is. You’re lucky Beck is sweet and kind.”

“I’m far from being sweet, Sadie.”

“Oh, I know you’re softie, Beck. No need to feel ashamed and humbled. And I know I started to grow on you.”

Linden and Devin laughed out loud, clinking their beer bottles. “For Becker Winston Corbin, our guy.”

“Why? What is he like?”

“Your brother? Kinda tough guy at first, intimidating. He called me ma’am or Mrs. Wollf, and his jaw was always set. When I got to know Beck, he was like these s’mores with hard shell outside, but a softie inside.”

“Making fun of me?” He bit a huge portion of his s’mores.

“I’m just telling the truth.”

Becka was laughing with my wife. I missed this side of Becka. I thought she wouldn’t be able to pull through after losing her husband. I was glad she made it through the process of healing.

“Why don’t you come with us?”

“Oh, no. I can’t leave my work here. I run the ranch. Daddy can’t run this anymore. I don’t want to stress him.”

“Did he get another attack?” I asked.

“No. He’s doing good, actually. All the stress about is me not getting married again, and Beck doesn’t call him often.”

I glared at Beck, and he glared back as if he had read my mind.

“Don’t you have help?” Sadie asked.

“Oh, boy. I only manage paper works. We have helpers.”Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

“That’s great.”

“At least five hundred cattle to feed a day, babe. She needs a lot of help.”

“Wow!” Do I get to see them?” Her eyes sparkled with excitement.

“In the morning,” Beck replied.

“Great! Thanks.” She ate the marshmallow. I thought she had just started to live her life—a normal life far from her old family. “What are you two giggling about?”

“Nothing, ma’am.” Linden stole a glance at Devin.

“Whatever. I’m gonna go see cows tomorrow.”

I shook my head and chuckled. I may have forgotten she was years younger than me, and she hadn’t had experienced as a normal girl should have.

A few hours later, we called it a night when she started yawning.

***

I woke up to find my wife’s side empty. I opened the window. The sun was already rising, and it was a beautiful day. The Corbin was lucky to have this vast land.

“Beck, where’s my wife?” I yelled from the window. He and his father had mugs in their hands. I felt hungry at the same time.

“Seriously? You are searching your wife in me?” he yelled back.

I rolled my eyes. “Have you seen Sadie?”

He grinned. “Come down and have breakfast.”

I changed into jeans and a shirt and went down.

“Morning, C.” It was Linden. “Breakfast?”

“Just coffee. Where’s Sadie?” I followed him into the kitchen. I grabbed a freshly baked pastry on the plate while Linden was pouring coffee into a mug.

“She’s with Becka.”

“Any idea where are they headed?”

He eyed me. “Isn’t the purpose of coming over here to let her have fun? Why do I feel like you’re still holding her happiness back? Your overprotection over her would ruin her fun, man. And she’s safe here.”

I sighed. “I’m just used to waking up, and she’s in bed.”

“Nah. I don’t buy it. Let’s go out if you don’t want a full breakfast.”

“I’m good.”

When we joined Beck and Austin, I almost dropped my coffee.

“What the hell? Why did you let her ride alone? She could—”

“She’s natural,” Austin praised her, holding my arm as I was about to run towards her and Becka riding in different horses. Sadie was riding Tommy, Beck’s horse, while Becka was riding her own.

“See, Paps?” Beck looked at his dad. “That’s what I’m talking about—a real pain in the ass.”

“As if she lives to ride.” It was Devin.

“You let her go? You won’t have a Christmas bonus from me.” I wasn’t serious, but I was pissed off and worried that Sadie might fall and get hurt.

“Stay,” Austin warned me. “Don’t be such a baby, Cenric. She’s in good hands.”

The caretaker went to take the horses from them. It looked like it wasn’t the first time Sadie had ridden a horse, after all.

“Cenric!” she called out as soon as she spotted us.

“Oh, boy. I’d never seen her this happy,” Linden said.

“Don’t ruin that smile, boss.” Devin patted my back. Why did I feel like these guys thought I was the one who controlled her happiness?

As she got closer to us, she ran towards me and threw herself into my arms. I caught her on time, and she snaked her arms around my neck and her legs around my waist. “Thank you. Thank you. That was so awesome.”

“Glad you have fun, though I think you should have waited for me.”

“And you might say no.”

I put her down and looked at her, those eyes still sparkling. “I would never do that. Well, I might have taught you first before I allowed you to—”

I heard groans and pfft around me.

“Fine. It’s seemed that that wasn’t the first time, was it?”

She grinned and shook her head. “When my father and my brother were on their tips, I sneaked out and taught myself until I learned how to ride alone, but my father shipped the horses out.”