Page 113 of Her Billionaire Bargain (Kensington Square)

“He insulted me?”

“No, he just indicated Bishop had commented you have many interests that keep you busy. And I might’ve threatened to rip off his balls if he said anything like that to you. I know you’re sensitive about being distractible and…well, he’s not allowed to make comments. Ever.”

“Aww, Ice.”

“Then I informed him you were dating Shelby and probably loved her, so of course I couldn’t be interested in you that way. But then maybe that’s why I started to be. I’ve never seen you…domesticated.” She bumped my arm with her own. “It’s kind of hot.”

“You’re pushing it, Jenkins.”

“No, I’m serious. It looks good on you. But yeah, I’ll admit in the back of my mind I always thought maybe the pact we made at fourteen would come into play. You know? You aren’t a bad fail-safe, Shaw.”

“Oh my God. No way.” I started to laugh. Hard. “The married-at-forty pact? If we didn’t find anyone else?”

She nodded somberly.

I stopped laughing. “You’re entirely too good for me.”

“Yeah. I know. But youarepretty cute.” She sighed. “I even had a moment when Preston found Ryan. I never thought he’d ever find an actual human woman. Some kind of robot, sure, but an actual human? No way.”

I had to laugh again. “Yeah, it was a mystifying moment. Wait until they procreate. Your head may explode.”

“Oh, God. Or get married.” She shuddered, sliding me a sidelong glance. “Though if you’re moving in with Shelby, you might be first on either of those.”

“Don’t you want to warn her about me?”

“Oh, yeah. I want to warn her you love harder than anyone and you’re the most loyal person ever and you’d go to the end of the Earth for someone who matters to you. Think she can handle all that?”

I swallowed hard and turned to pull her into my arms. “I love you, Ice. You’ll always be my first girl.”

She hugged me back, blinking entirely too fast. “No, I won’t be. But I’m good just being in your life. I’ll get over this verging-on-middle-age loneliness crap I have going on. It won’t be weird. Promise.” She sniffled. “Shelby’s lucky. But so are you. She’s a damn good woman, Dexterous, and don’t you forget it, or I’ll kick your ass.”

“Oh, thank God. I was afraid you were going to promise to be nice to me.” I shuddered. “I can’t abide by that. So, don’t even think about it, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Is that why you came over here? To tell me you don’t know why you have a crush on me?”

“Not a crush exactly. Let’s not talk about it ever again.”

“Sounds good to me. But I’m gonna use it for blackmail with the moms and you can’t stop me.”

“Oh, they already know.” She covered her face with her hands, all of her rings winking. “That’s why they called you that night. Your mom was determined to get you to marry me while I wasamenableto the idea, as she said. But then she realized you were way into Shelby and basically gave up.”

I choked and then tipped back my head. “Our parents need hobbies, man.”

“Don’t they just.” We walked out of the kitchen and came face-to-face with Eli. “You’re still here?”

“I am,” he said cheerfully. “You two kiss and make up?”

“Not how we make up,” I informed him. “More likely to be with insults and possibly physical violence, though that’s usually on her end.” I held up my hands palms out. “I’m a man who comes only in peace.”

Eli laughed long and low while Isis wisely took that moment to take her leave, promising to call Shelby soon for lunch.

Me, I could get my own lunch. After I cleaned up the congealed egg mess on the stove Isis hadn’t even disposed of.

“Women,” I said under my breath as Eli and I sat down at the kitchen table a few minutes later. I’d grabbed my briefcase so I could bring him up to date on a couple of our biggest current cases—and so he could sign the NDA I’d had Isis prepare earlier in the week.

“I know. They can be a real mindfuck.”

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