Page 74 of The Billionaires' Prize

Kingston: I’ll always catch you. face blowing a kiss emoji

Three dots appear immediately.

Katherine: ditto. smiling face with open hands emoji

My cheeks puff up like a chipmunk, and I blow out a sigh. She really is the best friend a man could ask for. I glance up at the ceiling, thanking my lucky stars. She forgave my gaff. Evenbetter, she wants me just as I want her. I’m so freaking happy. Relieved.

Well, not at the moment. But as soon as I step off of this box of death, I will be.

Ding.

The doors open, and the breath I’ve been holding whooshes out.

“Honey, I’m home,” I call, my voice echoing down the wide hallway.

There’s a masculine snort from deeper in her apartment. “Cute,” Gabe calls.

Whatever.Her tinkling laugh tells me I’m right on the money. She stands in her bedroom doorway, smearing lotion on her hands.

“What are we thinking? Table? Couch? Bed?”

“Chinese food in bed?” Gabe asks, brows hovering near his dreamy hairline.

We turn to stare at him.

“You’ve never had a bad day, ordered half the menu, and vegged in bed all evening?” I ask.

“I have a couch,” he says as if it’s as obvious as the furrow between his brows.

“Yeah, but this way, you don’t really even have to get out of bed later. You just snuggle down and go to sleep with a full belly.” I pat my six-pack.

The expression in his eyes shifts from confusion to desire in a heartbeat. But it’s not sexual. No, it’s like a lightbulb going off over his head because he sees the method to the madness.

“Come on, geek boy. We’ll show you how it’s done.” I step past Katherine and head for the far side of the bed, balancing the heaping bag of containers on the nightstand.

I toss one of the throw pillows onto the chaise lounge and then make myself at home against the headboard. Katherine’sbed is big and comfortable and layered with soft linens and plush pillows. Basically, it’s heaven.

“If you get soy sauce on the duvet, my housekeeper will throttle you,” Katherine says as she heads for the bathroom and hangs up the towel. A moment later, she returns, brushing her hair out with her fingers.

Gabe glances warily at the opposite side of the bed. Maybe he needs a distraction. I grab the remote and toss it to him.

“Pick something for us.”

He turns to the TV on the opposite wall and seems happy to have something to do. Before long, he’s settled on the opposite side of the bed, flipping through options.

Katherine crawls up the middle. I hand out food as we veto one show after another.

An action movie starring Liam Neeson pops up, and Kat makes a funny sound in her throat.

I pause with a mouthful of chicken chow mein and look at her.

“What? I’ve never seen it.”

“But she wants to see it,” I tell Gabe, leaning forward so I can look him in the eye.

She huffs and settles back into the cloud of pillows.

“She has a thing for protective guys,” I add, ignoring her eye-roll.

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