Page 19 of The Billionaires' Prize

She tucks her hair behind her ear, clearly nervous about the turn of events. He wants her and has made it desperately clear that he came back from wherever the fuck he was for her.

It’s not like we were going to stop him from donating to a charity. We’re not monsters.

“That’s generous of you,” she says, and I see her transform before my eyes. Nervousness gone, poise in its place. Chin up, back straight, she smiles at him. It’s a simple, no-frills, no-teeth smile. But it holds a world of warmth.

I want that.

She pats him on the chest and then turns away. “Anyone want anything from the kitchen? I’m parched.”

Alex checks his watch. “I need to head out.”

She pulls out a bottle of water. It’s got a label I’ve never seen before, probably some bougie girl-water.

“Let me walk you out,” she murmurs.

He nods at me and Kingston before striding toward the elevator. I push off the couch.

They look good together. Polished, even in casual clothing. Excellent posture. When I was young, I couldn’t fathom such a life. Books were too interesting, and no one in my tiny Nebraska town carried themself the way Alex and Katherine did. Kingston, too.

She presses the down button, and he says something that has her nodding. I feel Kingston crowd in next to me, watching our best friends smile at each other. I swear I see little hearts zinging around their heads. Cupid is fluttering in the air like a chubby hummingbird, drawing his bow.

Alex cups her cheek, and a pang of desire punches me in the stomach. She presses a hand to his chest and stretches up, meeting him halfway.

Ding.

He brushes a kiss against her lips and then steps back, staring down at her. She presses the bottle into his hands.

He steps onto the elevator, hits a button, and then gives her a half smile. Maybe he’s not as in his shell as I thought.

When she turns back to us, Kingston and I don’t even bother to act like we weren’t gawking. She grins at us. “I told him to stay hydrated.”

Kingston groans, and it takes me another second to catch her meaning. My blood heats. Where has this vixen been hiding?

“You guys hungry?” she asks, at the refrigerator again.

“Not for food,” King utters under his breath, and I huff a quiet laugh.

The tension between us fades a bit.

“Same,” I murmur back. “I am, but I think I’ll run upstairs and make some calls. Take a shower. Put on some fresh clothes,” I say because I miss my shower gel. Yeah, I know that’s odd.

“Sounds good.” She takes a long sip of water, the column of her throat moving with each swallow.

Fuck me.

“I’m gonna go say hello to my parents, but I’ll be back by dinnertime,” King says.

Katherine laughs. “Do I stink?”

“Not even a little bit,” I say.

Kingston shakes his head. “You know how Momma is. She’ll be breaking down your door soon if I don’t show my face,” he says.

“I know.” She crosses the floor to us and presses her palm over his heart. “Tell her I say hello.”

He nods and steps away and I’m relieved he doesn’t kiss her again. Seeing him pull her into his arms and kiss her breathless was hot as fuck, no lie. But I’m still not sure he doesn’t intend to yeet me and Alex out the nearest window.

She grabs his wrist and pulls him around. He comes to her easily. Their kids would have the most amazing golden hair. And their eyes. Holy cow. Their babies would be models.

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