To Steal a Groom (Royal Billionaire Romance) by Cora Caraway Read Free Book Online Page B

both worlds together.
    I clap as the dancers take their bows. The stage is clear and my glass empty, so I head to the bar for a refill. The bartender tells me that they’ve created a drink in our honor called Car Crash Love. I don’t catch what’s in it, but I’m guessing it’s around 500% alcohol. No one drinking these should even touch a Matchbox car.
    I planned to stop drinking after that, but people keep toasting us. Every time I see the bottom of my glass, Natalia or Marc pushes another drink in my hand.
    “It’s your party,” says Marc. “Let loose a little!”
    “Just one more,” Natalia purrs for the fifth time.
    Now fire breathers are roaming through the crowd, and I really need to be able to maintain my balance. I’m torn between the spouting flames and the mesmerizing acrobats who have set up on stage. A pair of players performs contortions while another flips on a small trampoline. A trio swings from a trapeze, two of the fliers catching their companion with their feet.
    People start pushing tables and chairs toward the walls, forming a dance floor in the center of the room. Everyone kicks off their shoes and mobs the floor. I place my shoes carefully in a corner. They’re Louboutins, and I don’t want to lose them.
    Damon pulls me into a dance. This is light years from a stately waltz. It’s passionate, animal. I never could have imagined my prince dancing like this, running his hands over my hips and holding me close to him. I love that he’s getting wild in his finest suit, and I pull him toward me by his tie.
    Just as I’m about to kiss him, someone steals me away. It’s Gabe. I can’t stay mad at him for long. Besides, I’ll see Damon again soon. Marc has promised us the honeymoon suite, and I plan to make good use of it tonight.
    I dance with Nic, Rashad, even Eris. Maybe it’s just the alcohol, but I feel lighter here, like I could fly through the air myself. I think the distance from the palace is doing me good. Until I got away, I didn’t realize how desperately I needed a break from planning a huge wedding and from the issues Damon and I have been having. Thank god for Marc and Natalia. They’ve given me a chance to catch my breath.
    Stumbling from the dance floor, I lean against the wall. I’m just going to stay here until the room stops spinning.
    “Are you having a good time?” Marc asks.
    “How could I not?” I gesture at our surroundings, a little too wildly. “You guys did a great job with all of this. Thank you.”
    “Thank you, Grace. You’re really good for Damon. I’m glad you’re going to be joining our family.”
    I throw my arms around him, a little teary-eyed. “I’m so happy to be getting a brother,” I say into his shirt, barely caring if he can understand me.
    He pats me on the shoulder, then steers me toward a chair.
    “Hey,” Gabe says. “Isn’t that Marc?”
    I nod, watching as he goes to talk to Damon. “He’s going to be my brother.”
    “Don’t we hate him?”
    Letting out a heavy sigh, I set down my glass too hard. “He’s a good man. Don’t you see this party he’s thrown for me?”
    “If you say so.” Gabe moves my half-empty glass out of reach. “I think you’ve probably had enough party for one night.”
    I cross my arms. “It’s my party.”
    “All right. Just don’t do anything you’ll regret in the morning.” He kisses the top of my head. “Rashad and I are going to take advantage of the free rooms. Can you take care of yourself?”
    I let out a huge hiccup.
    “Okay … I think I’ll have Nic and Eris look after you. Where’d they get to?” Gabe turns to find Eris dancing on top of the bar. “Maybe I’ll just ask Nic. You stay safe.”
    “You stay…” I try to think up something witty, but my brain feels like molasses, and Gabe is already gone.
    Damon is deep in conversation with a group of people. I admire how he’s captured their attention so completely, and how he can make them laugh or gasp almost at