The Billionaires’ Prize (The Heiress Merger #2)

6. Gabe

6

GABE

We make it from the helicopter to our parking garage with zero hassle, thanks to Alex’s team. I don’t know about everyone else, but I’m breathing a sigh of relief because the last thing I need is the head of PR lighting up my phone again. I’m already dreading tomorrow’s meetings.

As it is, no one’s around to see me, Alex, Katherine, and Kingston get out of the midnight black SUV together. As we ride the elevator up to Katherine’s apartment, Kingston is practically bouncing on the balls of his feet. I don’t know him well enough to know if this is nervousness or if he’s always this energetic. But based on his social media, I’d say it’s a bit of both.

His feed is full of pictures of him doing gravity-defying parkour tricks and hanging from light posts. If it’s climbable, he’s probably scaled it. Seems he’s utterly fearless.

At least he’s wearing a shirt now.

The tension between the four of us is heavy enough to crush diamonds. Katherine stands in the back corner, gaze downcast, as if she’s afraid we’ll try to talk to her but isn’t ready for the conversation yet.

Talking isn’t what I’m interested in at the moment.

Ding.

The doors open, and Alex and I move to the side. Katherine steps off, cupping the potted plant. Succubus. Sucralose. I’ve already forgotten what she called it.

Alex stalks behind her, shoulders back like he’s ready for a photographer to jump out of the coat closet. I don’t bother to tell him to relax or remind him we’re in a secure building. His team and the building security have been working together to ensure we’re not bothered. This is just how he is. On alert.

Kingston grabs his bag and follows, right at home. His ease speaks of years in Katherine’s life and in her apartment, and I’ll admit, I’m jealous.

My phone vibrates, and I hold the elevator door open as I glance at the screen.

Wallace: Investigator just arrived. Will have a report for you soon.

Anxiety and relief swirl through me as I read my attorney’s text. Finally. Some fucking answers to the mystery that has become my beach house.

I pull up the rear, my chest tight. Her entryway is softly lit by twin sconces flanking a tall mirror. She places the pot on a sleek, glass table. A plush rug muffles our steps.

She takes her dress and shoes from me. “Be back in a minute. Make yourselves at home.”

We watch her disappear through a door across the room. The kitchen is to the left, and the living room to the right features the high ceilings and tall windows. The dining area is tucked away and cozy.

I take a deep breath, my body instantly relaxing at the delicious scent perfuming the air. It’s soft, almost delicate, slightly musky, and a little floral, with a hint of smoke and conifer. It’s neither feminine nor masculine, simply classic, and I make a mental note to find out what it is.

One of my favorite parts of having money is how nice everything smells.

Fancy good old boys’ club? Bourbon and leather.

Tailor on Fifth Avenue? Timeless, with hints of cooling rain and spice.

Offices, hotels, and even car dealers have custom-designed scents that seduce the senses. And not a single one of them smells anything like the cows I had to milk as a kid.

Her place is homey and put together, with little touches that remind me of her. From the modern chandelier over the dining room table to the fuzzy blanket on the back of the sleek sectional that dominates the room. The plush fabric looks soft and luxurious, like a perfect place for a nap. Or to watch a game. The far wall has a large series of shelving dotted with plants. I do a slow turn, learning everything I can about her from her space.

“So what is this?” Kingston asks, dropping his duffle behind the sectional.

Though he gives no context, I know what he’s asking. It’s the same question that’s been running through my mind all morning. And it’s only grown louder since he showed up.

“This?”

“Are the three of you dating?” He crosses his arms and leans against the couch. It’s like he’s trying to come off casual, but I can see the defensiveness in him. Feel the hurt-boy vibes he’s throwing off.

“No,” Alex says, and I add a “Nope. Alex is straight.”

Kingston stills, his eyes locking with mine, and he cocks his head ever so slightly. There’s a crackle of interest and attraction.

Katherine returns empty-handed, her gaze immediately falling to a garment bag draped over the couch near Kingston’s hip. “You brought your tux.”

She knows the bag on sight? It’s nondescript. Just how close are they?

“Of course.”

Her fingertips ghost across the fabric. “I’m sorry I missed that.” She shoots a quick frown his way.

“What is this, Kat?” He swirls his finger in a circle, gesturing to all of us.

Wordlessly, she picks up the bag, carries it down the hall, and tucks it behind a door. When she returns, I narrow my gaze. She’s searching for words and not looking at any of us.

Oh hell. Is this the part where she kicks Alex and me to the curb? Now that her bestie is back? The guy she’s always wanted.

“I don’t know.”

Alex stands to the side, and I can feel him crawling into his shell, strengthening the walls around his heart.

“It’s not like I planned any of this.” She curls an arm around her middle, clasping the opposite elbow.

Kingston pushes away from the couch and stalks to the wall of windows. The afternoon light slants in, making his golden tan and hair glow.

That’s not the answer he wanted, but she’s telling the truth. Hell, I’m not sure that this isn’t gonna blow up in my face, but I know what I want. More of her. More watching her take my best friend’s cock. More of everything she’ll give us.

“What do you want?” I ask, staring at Kingston.

“That’s a bit personal, don’t you think?”

It’s my turn to cross my arms over my chest. “Like walking up to your best friend and playing tonsil hockey?”

He whirls my way, his expression tight, and clamps his hands over his hips. “Look, man, I don’t know you, and you don’t know me. This is between me and Katherine.”

My feet move as if they have a mind of their own, carrying me toward him. I pause between the massive, low-slung coffee table piled high with books, plants, and a candle as thick around as Alex’s thigh and the TV. My girl has great taste. Hanging on the wall is a monster flat screen no thicker than a stack of cards.

I return my attention to Kingston.

“Not anymore, it’s not. You left, guy.” I shove my hands in my pockets.

He shoots Katherine a pained look but then turns his attention my way, moving a few steps closer across the thick, patterned rug. His hands drop from his hips like he wants to be ready for a confrontation, but I’m pretty sure he doesn’t have a violent bone in his body.

Passionate, sure.

“I had my reasons. Katherine understands.”

“Doesn’t mean she should just wait around for you to change your mind.”

His head jerks back like I just gave him an uppercut to the chin.

“I’m not trying to pour salt into the wound, man. I promise. But if you’re hoping that we’re just going to walk away, I don’t see that happening.”

“Really?” Katherine’s voice is soft and so hopeful it makes me want to give her the moon.

What the fuck?

I look at Alex, who gives me a small nod. “He’s in. I’m in.”

“In what? You’re going to date them both?” Kingston asks Katherine, voice rising with disbelief. But not with judgment, so that’s something.

“If that’s what she wants.” I round the coffee table and settle onto the sectional near where Katherine is standing. Kingston watches me, jaw dropped.

“Your mother will lose her mind when she finds out.”

“We’re not telling her. Are you?” Alex enters the conversation and steps closer.

“The only thing I would tell Lucinda Winthrop is to go fuck herself.” His words drip with venom, and I can’t wait to learn the history there. Is it just because of how she treated Katherine, or is there a more personal reason?

“Then we’re on the same page,” Alex says.

“You know this is going to get out. You’ve already seen how the press followed you. Now imagine what it’ll be like when they get wind that you’re dating two of Manhattan’s wealthiest bachelors.”

He’s not wrong about that last part. But my competitive juices are flowing. This is simply another engineering problem. I can handle it.

“And you two.” He waves a finger between me and Alex. “She’ll lose the most because she’s a woman, but please tell me you’ve thought of what this will do to your business. Your reputation is spotless,” he says to Alex. Then he turns those sea foam eyes my way. “And you know how volatile the finance market is.”

“Are you really worried about that, or do you just want us out of the way?” I shoot back. It’s not that he doesn’t have a point, but I still think he wants us out of the picture and will say whatever’s necessary to make that happen.

“We haven’t even gone on our date yet, King. You’re assuming a lot,” she says, wagging a finger between me and Alex and herself.

Several moments tick by, and his shoulders drop. He looks away, stewing.

“Fine.” He glances back at Katherine. “I want a date. I’ll wire the money to the charity right now.”

He pulls out his phone, and my heart stops.

“King. . . don’t.” She takes a step toward him, but he gives her an ‘I’m doing this’ look, and she pauses.

“Are you sure?”

He gives a single, decisive nod. “Absolutely. Then we’ll all be on the same playing field,” he says, fingers flying over his phone.

A grunt of annoyance travels up my throat, and his gaze flicks my way. Must be nice to have a family inheritance.

“Wrong. You’ve known her most of your life and have an inside scoop that Alex and I could only dream about.”

Kingston’s smile is slow, ending in a victorious smirk. Those soft green eyes are arresting, but it’s his devil-may-care attitude that’s truly appealing. “I know.”

Asshole.

There’s a long moment of tense silence. My gut tightens.

“This isn’t a game,” Katherine says. “Stop treating me like a chew toy.”

He might have known her forever, but I know her biblically. I glance over my shoulder and hold her gaze for a long moment. “That’s not what you were saying this morning when I was on my knees.”

Her blush is a gorgeous shade of pink. Kingston sighs, and I cut him a smug look.

“You’ve thought about it. I’d bet every penny I own. Tell me I’m wrong. Tell me you haven’t imagined stretching her out on a big bed and dining between her thighs.”

“Okay, that’s enough.” Katherine blows out a sigh and stalks around the sectional to stand between us. She holds her hands in a time-out T shape. I’m fine with sharing her with Alex. Having her crushed between us feels right. But having a third man in the picture. . . I’m not loving it.

Especially when he’s made it crystal clear that he wants her for himself.

That dims Kingston’s grin a little. I roll my shoulders. Alex is his usual watchful, gargoyle-like self.

“You’re right,” Kingston says to me, then jabs at his screen and shows Katherine. “They’ll have the money tomorrow.”

The room is quiet enough to hear a pin drop. Decades of competitive spirit rise in me like a swirling mist.

She tucks her hair behind her ear, clearly nervous about the turn of events. He wants her and has made it desperately clear that he came back from wherever the fuck he was for her.

It’s not like we were going to stop him from donating to a charity. We’re not monsters.

“That’s generous of you,” she says, and I see her transform before my eyes. Nervousness gone, poise in its place. Chin up, back straight, she smiles at him. It’s a simple, no-frills, no-teeth smile. But it holds a world of warmth.

I want that.

She pats him on the chest and then turns away. “Anyone want anything from the kitchen? I’m parched.”

Alex checks his watch. “I need to head out.”

She pulls out a bottle of water. It’s got a label I’ve never seen before, probably some bougie girl-water.

“Let me walk you out,” she murmurs.

He nods at me and Kingston before striding toward the elevator. I push off the couch.

They look good together. Polished, even in casual clothing. Excellent posture. When I was young, I couldn’t fathom such a life. Books were too interesting, and no one in my tiny Nebraska town carried themself the way Alex and Katherine did. Kingston, too.

She presses the down button, and he says something that has her nodding. I feel Kingston crowd in next to me, watching our best friends smile at each other. I swear I see little hearts zinging around their heads. Cupid is fluttering in the air like a chubby hummingbird, drawing his bow.

Alex cups her cheek, and a pang of desire punches me in the stomach. She presses a hand to his chest and stretches up, meeting him halfway.

Ding.

He brushes a kiss against her lips and then steps back, staring down at her. She presses the bottle into his hands.

He steps onto the elevator, hits a button, and then gives her a half smile. Maybe he’s not as in his shell as I thought.

When she turns back to us, Kingston and I don’t even bother to act like we weren’t gawking. She grins at us. “I told him to stay hydrated.”

Kingston groans, and it takes me another second to catch her meaning. My blood heats. Where has this vixen been hiding?

“You guys hungry?” she asks, at the refrigerator again.

“Not for food,” King utters under his breath, and I huff a quiet laugh.

The tension between us fades a bit.

“Same,” I murmur back. “I am, but I think I’ll run upstairs and make some calls. Take a shower. Put on some fresh clothes,” I say because I miss my shower gel. Yeah, I know that’s odd.

“Sounds good.” She takes a long sip of water, the column of her throat moving with each swallow.

Fuck me.

“I’m gonna go say hello to my parents, but I’ll be back by dinnertime,” King says.

Katherine laughs. “Do I stink?”

“Not even a little bit,” I say.

Kingston shakes his head. “You know how Momma is. She’ll be breaking down your door soon if I don’t show my face,” he says.

“I know.” She crosses the floor to us and presses her palm over his heart. “Tell her I say hello.”

He nods and steps away and I’m relieved he doesn’t kiss her again. Seeing him pull her into his arms and kiss her breathless was hot as fuck, no lie. But I’m still not sure he doesn’t intend to yeet me and Alex out the nearest window.

She grabs his wrist and pulls him around. He comes to her easily. Their kids would have the most amazing golden hair. And their eyes. Holy cow. Their babies would be models.

Geez.

Stop. Just stop.

Stop thinking of them kissing. Stop thinking of kids.

She stretches up and brushes a quick kiss over his lips and then steps away from him. He stands there like a statue for several seconds, not even blinking. Hell, I’m not sure he’s breathing.

Finally, he comes to life again. “Kat?—”

She jerks a thumb toward the hall. “Go. We’ll talk more later.”

He nods, and I can practically see an alarm clock over his head, counting down the seconds. “Later.”

Then he strides toward the elevator like his ass is on fire.

“I was sure he was gonna stick around and have it out with you,” I murmur. It seems like the two of them still have a lot to work through. We all do.

She shrugs, glancing after him. “He’s not good with heart words.”

“Heart words? What the hell is that?”

She huffs a laugh and crosses to the shelf of plants, turning a pot and tugging a yellowed leaf. “His feelings. He calls them heart words.”

After sticking a finger in a few of the pots, she turns back to me. “With the way we grew up, you’d think he’d be a pillar. Have a wall built around himself. But Kingston’s never met a stranger.”

Grabbing her phone, she tucks herself into one of the two corners of the sectional and pulls the blanket over her legs. It takes all my willpower to stay exactly where I am because every cell in my body wants to go to her, cuddle in next to her, and just soak her in.

She sees people.

She sees me .

“He’s got the nicest heart of anyone I’ve ever met. But that doesn’t mean he’s great at expressing his feelings.”

“Apparently not.” Though he seemed perfectly ready to express his displeasure at having to share his bestie.

Humor flashes across her face. “Yeah. But who is?”

She holds my gaze, a silent question in her eyes. Do I feel it? The connection? Do I have heart words I need to express?

“Good point.”

My phone vibrates, and I fish it out of my pocket. “This should be my attorney.”