Page 113 of The Heiress's First Date

No kidding.

Kissing her is like sticking my lips to a downed electrical line.

“You make my heart race,” I say, releasing my grip on her hair as I flash the display her way.

She reads the message, and her lips curve up, parting slightly. “Ditto.”

I take a half step back, and my dick protests. He’s not in charge of this rodeo, though, I am.

Less kissing. More talking.

Easier said than done when she’s looking at me like I’m a real live unicorn. That sort of adoration could go to my head.

“Did you have a good time?” I ask. Another step back and I reach for her hands.Focus on her trip, King. On the things we need to discuss, not how pretty her lips are.

She nods and glances over my shoulder. I glance back, the air shifting as Alex appears, looking a little less stern than he did a few minutes ago. Good snacks will do that.

“Katherine was about to tell me about your trip. Hope you guys took pictures,” I say.

Alex halts next to us, brow lifted like, ‘Did you really just say that?’

“I meant of the city. Gardens. You know, the sights.”

Katherine laughs.

“Your mind’s in the gutter,” I mutter.

“Guilty,” she says with a snicker. “I wonder why that is.”

His lips twitch, and he turns his attention to Katherine. “I need to head to the office for a little while. Gabe’s going to be home late. Roman is on his way here.”

Alex glances my way. “Everything’s okay with Tomasz?”

“Tomasz?” Katherine parrots.

“My personal shadow,” I say. “Yeah, everything's fine.”

Alex nods. “He’ll be able to keep up when you work out.”

Okay. I get why she likes him. It’s more than his pretty face and big... biceps. He’s detail oriented and clearly always thinking of her.

Guilt slices through me like a razor blade.

There were plenty of moments over the weekend where I was most definitely not thinking of her.

“Is there any news about the water damage?” she asks, glancing between us.

“The last thing I heard was that they’re still looking into it. It sounds like a main pipe burst on a floor above your apartment.”

Her hand flies to her chest. “That’s not good.”

“I’ll be in touch,” Alex says and steps around us.

She follows him to the door, a hand sliding up his broad back. There’s a weird tugging sensation in my chest, but not like I’m worried about losing her because now that I’ve come to terms with my feelings, there’s no going back.

No second guessing.

But this feels like... a broadening. An expansion.

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