Page 66 of Her Billionaire Bargain (Kensington Square)

“We are definitely not having the sex at this moment,” Dex clarified, recovering much faster than I did. Shocker. His only tell was the fingers he kept drumming on his hip. He rarely stayed still for long.

Berry looked between us dubiously before her gaze landed on her book on the bed. “Were you reading my book?” she demanded, hurrying over to put it in the bag I’d packed instead of back under her pillow.

“I was reading it.” Dex kept tapping. “When does the good stuff start?”

“What good stuff? Magic stuff?”

“Yeah, magic and—”

Before he could elaborate, I whacked him in the belly. “Alice, is that a kissing book? Why haven’t I seen it before?”

“I just borrowed it from school on Friday.” She picked up her bag and looped it over her shoulder. “Okay, let’s go see Bob.”

Dex nudged me when I didn’t move. “You heard the lady. Let’s go see Bob.”

“I have to stop by home to get my briefcase. I have work.”

Even as I spoke, my mind whirled.

Was this going to be a habit now? Just spending weekends with Dex?

Even if it felt natural and Berry seemed to like going over there, I didn’t want to confuse her or send mixed messages.

“Where did you hear about the sex?” I demanded, ruing that I’d even opened my mouth.

She rolled her eyes. “Everyone knows about it. C’mon, let’s go. The ice cream stand closes at five and I need to get the money from my piggy bank.”

Dex reached over to ruffle her hair. “I can spot you, kiddo. Or I could’ve if you hadn’t hidden your lunch in your napkin.”

I didn’t know which of us was more surprised. “You caught that?”

He shrugged. “I used to pick out all the tomatoes in stuff. There are probably old husks of them still under the refrigerator in my parents’ house where I kicked them.”

“Oh.” Berry nodded sagely, and I was tempted to kickhim. “Good one.”

He went back to tapping on his thigh. “I thought the sandwiches were good though.”

She jerked a shoulder. “Mid.”

“What does that mean?” he asked, glancing at me.

“Not good. You’re old and don’t know anything.” I turned to walk out of the room, glancing back as the two of them engaged in a playful shoving contest.

“Old, huh?”

“She said it! I didn’t.”

“Uh-huh.”

Berry’s high-pitched giggles followed us down the steps, where my mother was staring upstairs as if we’d shouted for help.

“I heard laughter.”

“Is it that rare?” Dex slung an arm around my shoulders as we reached the bottom, tossing a glance over his shoulder at Berry. “No, this is also not having the sex, Berrster.”

My mother’s eyes widened before she tossed up her hands and fled to the safety of the kitchen. I was tempted to follow.

I supposed this line of questioning meant it was time I sit Berry down for “the talk”, assuming she didn’t know everything from some fellow nine-year-old.

---