Imperfect Match (Elixir Bachelor Billionaires #1)

“And in which city will you be doing all this sleeping and eating?” I ask just before the car halts at the security gate of my property.

“Cherrywood.”

Chloe’s gaze drops, and Daisy finally looks at me, her teeth worrying her bottom lip. Since she moved out, my sister has avoided Cherrywood and anything that relates to it with a burning passion. I’m shocked that she came home the moment I told her I was getting married.

“Does that mean you’re moving back permanently?” I keep my voice calm, burying the hope and confusion away.

“Let’s say for the foreseeable time.”

“What changed?” I ask carefully, the simplest and safest question I can think of.

“Maybe I did.” Chloe gives me a conspiratorial smile that doesn’t fully reach her eyes before stepping out of the car.

I help Daisy with the train of her wedding dress even when she’s gone back to ignoring me. We walk along the pavement and I realize my safest place won’t be just mine anymore.

I’m about to use my key card to open the door when Chloe shoves my hand away and shakes her head in resignation.

“I knew you would be this stupid, Charlie. That’s why I’m here.”

Now I’ve upset both my sister and my wife without having any fucking clue how.

“Please tell me my brother is a little more romantic.”

Daisy snorts, and the two girls give me an irritated look before grinning at each other in total cahoots.

“I can be romantic if I want to be.”

“Then can you summon that Romeo alter ego right now? Because I want you to cross the threshold holding Daisy in your arms,” my sister quips.

“What?”

The single word leaves Daisy’s and my mouth at the same time. At last, we’re on the same page about something today.

“I want you to have the best married life, Charlie. If there’s a zero point one percent chance that a marriage tradition is going to bring good luck, I’m not letting you ignore it.”

Now, how could someone say no to that?

I take Daisy’s silence as a yes and place my arm over her bare shoulder. Her skin is cold, and I don’t know if it’s because of the chill of the weather or if the goose bumps come to attention in response to my touch.

I bend to hold her in my arms. She’s light and fits perfectly, even with the weight of her dress, as if she was meant to be here. Her gaze is fixed on my sister, and her expression hasn’t changed.

How is she acting like being so close to me is completely normal for her, while my heart is pounding so hard I might have a heart attack?

Her indifference and not knowing the reason behind it frustrates the hell out of me.

I walk inside and place Daisy down in the living room amidst my sister’s claps and the huge smiles of the waiting house staff. Daisy has already met my housekeeper, but today she meets everyone.

God, I didn’t know we’d have this welcome committee. My sister must have arranged this, because there’s no other reason why Mrs. Kowalski wouldn’t run this by me first.

The staff welcomes Daisy and hands her a bouquet, a genuine smile on their faces, and for the first time today, I don’t hate being the center of attention.

“My work here is done.” Chloe hugs Daisy first, whispering something in her ear that makes my new wife smile genuinely.

When she reaches me, my sister throws her arms around my neck. “I’m so happy for you, Charlie. I wish you the best married life forever.”

Guilt settles on me like a heavy weight. I’ll rot in hell for lying to my little sister, who wipes away the tears from the corner of her eyes, oblivious to my reality.

After Chloe sprints away, I guide Daisy to my bedroom with a hand against her back.