Page 18 of The Billionaires' Prize

“If that’s what she wants.” I round the coffee table and settle onto the sectional near where Katherine is standing. Kingston watches me, jaw dropped.

“Your mother will lose her mind when she finds out.”

“We’re not telling her. Are you?” Alex enters the conversation and steps closer.

“The only thing I would tell Lucinda Winthrop is to go fuck herself.” His words drip with venom, and I can’t wait to learn the history there. Is it just because of how she treated Katherine, or is there a more personal reason?

“Then we’re on the same page,” Alex says.

“You know this is going to get out. You’ve already seen how the press followed you. Now imagine what it’ll be like when they get wind that you’re dating two of Manhattan’s wealthiest bachelors.”

He’s not wrong about that last part. But my competitive juices are flowing. This is simply another engineering problem. I can handle it.

“And you two.” He waves a finger between me and Alex. “She’ll lose the most because she’s a woman, but please tell me you’ve thought of what this will do to your business. Your reputation is spotless,” he says to Alex. Then he turns those sea foam eyes my way. “And you know how volatile the finance market is.”

“Are you really worried about that, or do you just want us out of the way?” I shoot back. It’s not that he doesn’t have a point, but I still think he wants us out of the picture and will say whatever’s necessary to make that happen.

“We haven’t even gone on our date yet, King. You’re assuming a lot,” she says, wagging a finger between me and Alex and herself.

Several moments tick by, and his shoulders drop. He looks away, stewing.

“Fine.” He glances back at Katherine. “I want a date. I’ll wire the money to the charity right now.”

He pulls out his phone, and my heart stops.

“King. . . don’t.” She takes a step toward him, but he gives her an ‘I’m doing this’ look, and she pauses.

“Are you sure?”

He gives a single, decisive nod. “Absolutely. Then we’ll all be on the same playing field,” he says, fingers flying over his phone.

A grunt of annoyance travels up my throat, and his gaze flicks my way. Must be nice to have a family inheritance.

“Wrong. You’ve known her most of your life and have an inside scoop that Alex and I could only dream about.”

Kingston’s smile is slow, ending in a victorious smirk. Those soft green eyes are arresting, but it’s his devil-may-care attitude that’s truly appealing. “I know.”

Asshole.

There’s a long moment of tense silence. My gut tightens.

“This isn’t a game,” Katherine says. “Stop treating me like a chew toy.”

He might have known her forever, butIknow her biblically. I glance over my shoulder and hold her gaze for a long moment. “That’s not what you were saying this morning when I was on my knees.”

Her blush is a gorgeous shade of pink. Kingston sighs, and I cut him a smug look.

“You’ve thought about it. I’d bet every penny I own. Tell me I’m wrong. Tell me you haven’t imagined stretching her out on a big bed and dining between her thighs.”

“Okay, that’s enough.” Katherine blows out a sigh and stalks around the sectional to stand between us. She holds her hands in a time-out T shape. I’m fine with sharing her with Alex. Having her crushed between us feels right. But having a third man in the picture. . . I’m not loving it.

Especially when he’s made it crystal clear that he wants her for himself.

That dims Kingston’s grin a little. I roll my shoulders. Alex is his usual watchful, gargoyle-like self.

“You’re right,” Kingston says to me, then jabs at his screen and shows Katherine. “They’ll have the money tomorrow.”

The room is quiet enough to hear a pin drop. Decades of competitive spirit rise in me like a swirling mist.

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