Page 89 of Rival Hearts

I hoped to God that he would be okay with us dating, but he couldn’t tell me that he found fault in Alex.

When I lowered my phone, I had two texts from Alex.

Are you home? Can I come over? I had a rough day at the office and your face is just what I need right now.

I smiled and opened the second.

I’m going to take your silence as tacit agreement because I’m losing my mind on my own, letting my thoughts take over. Overthinking is no fun.

Before I could even reply, someone knocked on my door. I stood, and when I opened up it was Alex.

He wore jeans and a faded gray T-shirt that turned his eyes from the color of the sky to slate.

Or maybe it was his mood—he was clearly not in a good space. His jaw was set, lips pursed into a thin line.

“Yes,” I said.

“What?”

“You can come over.”

A small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, and he slid his hand under my hair, pulling me closer for a kiss. I breathed his cologne, and my mind went blank when he held me like this, his body almost right against mine.

He broke the kiss and walked into the apartment past me, leaving me feeling dizzy.

“What happened?” I asked, shutting the door.

“I had a meeting with my investors and they’re just…” He grunted. “They’re difficult people. And I get it. I mean, they’re all worried about where their money is going and what the returns will be, but I feel like the more money they have, the more tight-fisted they become, not willing to take any chances.”

He turned to face me, and in his eyes I could see the storm that went on inside him.

“I’m trying here, you know? I have so many people to please, and I don’t know how to do it. I’m just one person.”

“It sounds like you need ice cream.”

Alex frowned, and the look of pure confusion was the perfect combination of drop-dead gorgeous and completely adorable.

“Ice cream?”

I nodded and walked to my freezer. I took out two tubs.

“We have Rocky Road and Choc Mint. Which do you prefer?”

“Which doyouwant?”

I smiled at him. “Well, right now I have both.”

He laughed and shook his head. “Choc Mint.”

“Good choice.” I handed him the tub and a spoon from my drawer.

“What’s this supposed to do?”

I blinked at him. “Don’t tell me you’ve never eaten your emotions.”

Alex shook his head slowly, looking at the ice cream tub as if it were from another world. “I usually drink them, if you must know.”

With his perfectly sculpted body, I was willing to believe that.