Page 27 of Her Billionaire Bargain (Kensington Square)

“Yes, it works.”

“Why is it in the center of your living room?”

“It’s off to the side. Ish. I’m redoing the place and it’ll be going in my new man cave. I’ve got a new designer.”

“Another one? What happened to the last one?”

“When I bought the place?”

“Yeah. Just hire them again.”

“If I liked what Jacques had done, why would I be redoing the house so soon?”

“That is a point.” Preston tapped his chin. “You live alone. Isn’t the whole house your man cave?”

“Yes. So, if I want to have a game machine in the center of the foyer, my business. Why are you here? Both of you?”

“Isis thought you were dead. She’s called, and I quote, many, many times.”

And I’d heard absolutely none of them. Then again, I think I’d turned off notifications before I passed out last night.

Two late nights in a row made for a very exhausted Dexter. And last night hadn’t even included a single drop of alcohol.

“Can you sound a little more dismayed by that possibility?” I shook my head. “You’re a sadist, Preston.”

“She said you weren’t answering her calls and she’s knee-deep in painting her kitchen so she wouldn’t be able to get over here until later. I mean, if you really were dead, there was no rush, right?”

“Comedians, the whole lot of you.” I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Did you and your conjoined twin actually need anything or did you just come by to put the final nail in my coffin? And no, Bishop, you’re not getting my Pac Man machine in the will.”

He laughed and dropped down in my huge overstuffed recliner. “Thanks for the update.”

“Did your wife pop yet?”

They’d eloped to Fiji around Valentine’s Day. Blew my mind, but then again, the fact that they’d fallen in love on a weeklong Fiji trip still did too.

Between him and my brother, they were basically spokespersons for instalove.

I wasn’t jealous one bit. Even if such madness seemed like…madness.

“Nope. Still cooking.”

“Are you divorced yet?”

“Nope.” His continual cheerfulness set my teeth on edge, so I glared at him.

“Why are you two so goddamned happy all the time?”

Pres shrugged. “Not sure you want to know.”

I sighed, already veering back into despondency. I was certain it likely had to do with kinky sex. Though at this point, any sex would be kinky to me. “Probably right.”

Bishop and Preston exchanged glances. “I got an interesting call this morning,” Bishop announced.

They’d always had this secret unspoken best friend communication deal that made me feel left out, as stupid as that was. I hadn’t been close to my older brother in more years than I could count, and to be honest, there had been times I’d hung out with Bishop more than Preston. I’d never felt as judged by Bishop.

Preston didn’t even have to exert effort to make me feel as if he was looking down at me. It just came part and parcel with the fact he was ridiculously smart and competent in all things, along with more driven than I’d ever been.

Early on, I’d discovered school wasn’t my thing, so I’d worked on majoring in having fun. But I’d never wanted anyone to know I wasn’t capable of leading a law firm. Instead, I made it seem as if I just didn’t choose to be as relentlessly excellent as my older brother.

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