Page 106 of Token

“How long did you have this planned?” she asked, peering up at him as they walked hand in hand toward the front doors. It didn’t make sense, but she felt a little starstruck. And horny as hell. She wanted to get him alonesobad. Oh, the things she wanted to do to—

“Kennedy?”

The sound of her name was jarring, the voice vaguely familiar. Her head snapped to the front, and heading directly toward her was Malcolm Coombs, her ex-boyfriend from what felt like eons ago. He was also the first man to propose to her.

Nate’s hand tightened around hers, a sign his possessive instincts had kicked in. “Another ex, I take it?” he muttered under his breath, sounding like the proverbial long-suffering boyfriend.

“Yes. Now, be nice,” she whispered, as Malcolm’s long strides swiftly closed the distance between them.

Except for a few grays on his closely cropped head and a little more meat on his frame, he looked the same. He looked good.

“Malcolm, I can’t believe it’s you. It’s been years.” How did she greet the man whose heart she’d been told she broke eight years ago when she was with the man she was in love and living with?

“It’s beentoolong,” he replied with an amiable smile, his gaze flicking to Nate and taking in their clasped hands.

Kennedy delicately cleared her throat. “Malcolm, this is my boyfriend, Nate. Nate, Malcolm’s an old friend.”

The men exchanged polite nods.

Returning his attention to her, Malcolm asked, “How are you? It looks like things are going well.”

She glanced at Nate and smiled. “Things are wonderful. How are things with you?”

“I’m doing great. Married five years now,” he said, holding up his left hand to display a thick platinum wedding band. “As a matter of fact, there she is now,” he announced, turning his attention to a pretty Asian woman approaching from the direction of the ladies’ restroom.

Everything seemed to get easier then, the conversation lighter. By the time they parted, the initial awkwardness was long gone. Malcolm’s wife had been friendly, proudly showing Kennedy pictures of their four-year-old son.

“That was nice,” Kennedy commented once she and Nate emerged from the lounge into the lit city streets.

Nate huffed, tightening his arm around her waist and pressing her closer to his side. “It’s bad enough your hockey player is dating your twin. Now I’m being forced to make small talk with every ex-boyfriend who ever proposed to you.”

“She isn’t my twin,” Kennedy denied for the third time since Nate had seen a picture of the couple on the front ofPeoplemagazine. Although, she had to admit there was a strong resemblance, but the woman was hardly her twin. Her eyes were hazel and her hair was a little shorter.

“Ah, come on,” Nate scoffed. “He couldn’t have you, so he got a woman who looks like you.”

He wasn’t the only one who thought that. Aurora, Sahara, Jonathan, Julie, and Mina thought so too. The couple were the talk of the hockey world, many claiming it proved Roger’s innocence. How could he be a racist if he was dating a Black woman? And formerly shunned by every major brand, he’d managed to rehabilitate his reputation enough to sign a lucrative endorsement deal with a cologne company. Romantic that she was, she hoped he wasn’t using the woman, and if he was, Kennedy hoped she was in on it.

“Are you saying you find her attractive?”

“I’m saying she looks like you, so of course she’s beautiful. Lucky for me, I have the genuine article.”

Kennedy smiled. The man was obviously biased and she loved him dearly.

“Now come on. That’s our ride,” he said, pointing his chin toward the—limo—waiting at the curb in front of them.

Kennedy stopped abruptly and stared at him. “That’s for us?”

“I thought I’d treat us to something roomier tonight,” Nate replied, urging her toward the black stretch limo.

Roomier for what?Did he think she was going to have sex with him in the back of a limo? Silly man.

After helping her inside their luxurious ride, Nate joined her, and soon they were on their way. While she took in the cream interior, leather seating, and expansive bar, he moved to the sound system.

“This is nice,” she said, smoothing her hand over the leather seat. “But wouldn’t you rather do it in the comfort of our bed?”

Her question elicited a hearty laugh. “You think that’s what this is all about?” he asked.

She took another look around. “What did you expect I would—” Kennedy broke off when her gaze swung back to him...because in his hand was a black velvet box, and nestled inside was a solitary diamond ring.

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