Page 94 of The Billionaires' Gamble

“Same,” King says, following her lead. The look he sends me as he walks away is hot as lava. I can only imagine what he’s planning to pack. And that makesmeblush. I hope we don’t end up in another tabloid.

At least I won’t be on a commercial flight with a vibe up my…

He ambles off toward the pool house.

Across the table, Ford folds the newspaper and lays it next to his plate, but his attention is on me. Me and Alex and King. And I swear he looks almost—wistful.

That’s an expression I’ve never seen on my little brother’s face, but it’s one I recognize nevertheless.

“You guys have a good trip.” He’s out of his chair and three steps toward the house when he calls back to Sutton. “You coming?”

Sutton half rolls his eyes and follows Ford into the house. Those two. They’ve been glued at the hip for as long as I can remember and were besties long before Sutton’s mom married our dad. They got even closer when Sutton and Beatrice moved in with Ford and Dad, and then they stayed there when their mom died.

I turn to face the last person left at the table with me. “Are you sure you’re okay with this? We don’t have to go today.”

Alex slides a possessive hand up the inside of my right thigh. Then he gives a hearty sigh. “Yeah. I’m okay with it.”

“But?”

His lips twitch.

“I’m not thrilled with you being so far away.”

“So I won’t go.”

“Oh, you’re going.”

A laugh bubbles up my throat. “I’m starting to feel a little like a puppet.”

“My hesitation has nothing to do with you and King and everything to do with your safety.”

“Mmm…” I trail a fingertip up his forearm. “So come protect us.”

“On your date?” He grunts. “King would never let me live that down.”

“So stay a safe distance away.”

He’s silent long enough that I can tell he’s considering it.

“Never mind. I shouldn’t have suggested that,” I say. “You have work here. I’ll be fine. I’m not taking this off.”

I jingle the bracelet.

“Good.”

“Seriously. We’ll be fine. And I think some time far away might be just what King and I need right now. Perspective and all that. I know I keep putting things off, and I’ve got to stop running at some point. Maybe we’ll be able to get back into our building after we get back, and Simon and I can do some plant triage.”

That brings a full smile to his lips, and I can’t stop myself from leaning over and peppering a kiss against the corner of his mouth. His fingers tighten on my thigh, and my breath hitches, heat dripping through my veins.

“Let’s go see what King’s up to,” I whisper in Alex’s ear.

He takes no prodding. In fact, he’s out of his chair in a flash and reaching for my hand. I have to jog across the pool deck to keep up with him. It reminds me of our run through the rain in Paris, and by the time we get to the door, I’m laughing.

But my laughter dies the instant we’re inside, and he pulls me into his arms. His chest rises beneath my hands, and desire coils tight in my belly. The tension from the last seventy-two hours comes to a head, and the overwhelming emotions compound until it hurts to breathe.

“You okay, Beauty?”

Fisting a handful of his shirt, I pull him into a kiss. He groans, tightening his hold on me. New Katherine purrs in delight.