Page 14 of Perfect Alpha

“Thanks, little man.” I bite back a groan because Cade is standing by Hannah’s car. “What areyoudoing here?” I complain. “Don’t you have a date or something?”

“I do, actually.” A dimpled grin lights his impossibly sexy face, making him one thousand times more appealing.

How annoying.

“I agree with Aidan, by the way. You haveverypretty hair,” he says.

I roll my eyes and he continues talking. “I just had to check Hannah’s tire pressure before you guys head into town. It’s all good, kid.”

“Thanks, Cade,” Hannah replies sweetly, hugging her brother.

“Whatever.” I balance Aidan on one hip and open the back door so I can get him settled into his car seat.

When I stand up, Cade is right behind me, and my back bumps into the solid wall of his chest. I make a move to step away, but his hands lock around my biceps.

“I always liked your hair up,” he murmurs against the back of my neck.

When his warm breath caresses my skin, goosebumps cover my body as awareness courses through my veins. My stupid, disobedient heart never cares that I’m supposed to hate him.

Cade presses his hips against my ass, sending hot shockwaves of pleasure shooting down my spine. “Your neck is my kryptonite, Victory.”

He releases his grip and I spin around to face him, licking lips that have suddenly become dry as sand. My insides are melting, but he’s grinning and completely at ease.

He was only toying with me.

I should know to expect nothing less by now. Hopefully, he can’t tell how wobbly my legs are when I walk the remaining steps to the passenger door and lock myself inside the car.

His rich baritone laugh is clear as day despite the slam.

Chapter 6

Cade

Findingabestfriendto help you navigate life is a lucky thing. When your best friend has a twin, well, that means you struck gold.

Bobby and Gavin Henderson are seated across from me in our regular booth at one of the two local bars, Moose Saloon, staring at the game over fresh beers.

Bobby plays quarterback for the New York Knights, but it’s the offseason, so he’s home until August helping Gavin run the cattle ranch that has been in their family for over one hundred years.

With the shitload of money he rakes in as starting quarterback for a team that has been virtually untouchable since he joined it, they could sell the ranch and live in luxury for the rest of their days.

But that isn’t the Henderson way.

They love working their land and, millionaire playboy or not, Bobby still drives his beat-up Dodge RAM pickup truck and works right alongside his cowhands.

He’s upgraded their farming equipment, though, and also renovated his parents’ house and the outbuildings for the loyal men who live on their property.

“What’s on the docket tonight?” Gavin asks.

When we were teenagers, we’d drive our trucks to the river or an empty field to hang out, hoping to get laid by the hottest babes we could find.

Not much has changed, except sometimes we bring the party to Bobby and Gavin’s place, or head to the bar since we’re now legally allowed to be here.

“Victory’s in town,” I tell them, doing my best impersonation of indifference.

I tried to convince the twins to go to the Speakeasy where she’s having dinner with Hannah and Aidan, just so I could get another look at the love of my life. But Bobby prefers the television screens at the Moose.

Like that fucking matters.

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