A few minutes later, he knocks his shoulder against mine, and I try not to wonder when the last time this carpet was shampooed. “But if it gets your juices flowing, I’ll pretend to fight with my best friend over you.”
Quickly, I shake my head, unsure where I find the energy or muscles, for thatmatter. “Please don’t.”
“That’s right. You don’t like being in the spotlight.”
Did I tell him that?
He wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me against his side. We’re such a mess. Me with my dress askew and him with his slacks gaping open.
“Being the center of three men’s worlds is an odd place for you to be.”
Something flares in my chest, white hot, and a tiny gasp escapes my lips as I tip my chin up to look at him. Am I dreaming?
I’ve got to be. This whole day has been… pretty much a fantasy. And if I’m dreaming, I might as well go for broke.
“Am I? The center of your world?”
He holds my gaze for a long, stomach-twisting moment. “Yeah. You are.”
8
ALEX
Kingston gives up whatever he was researching on his laptop and slaps the lid closed. His knee bounces, and he drags a hand down his face before checking his phone for the millionth time. I get it. Katherine’s not responding to his texts, and his brain is playing a round of Worst Case Scenario.
With a soft sigh, he slouches into the couch, laces his fingers, and rests them on his six-pack. It’s like he’s trying to convince himself that if he’s still, he’ll be unbothered by her absence.
Good luck with that, buddy.
I glance out the front window, keeping an eye on the street outside the townhouse. Tadhg texted almost forty minutes ago to let me know they were leaving the Winter-Farmington office. Gabemessaged right after that, asking if I’m free for dinner.
Of course, I’m free for dinner. Like King, I’m desperately curious to see if our best friends have worked out their issues or if I’m going to need to drop them off on a deserted island until they come to their senses.
Unlike King, I’m not vibrating and can contain myself to the armchair. He bounds off the sofa, circling the coffee table. Hands on his hips, he joins me in my stakeout. But he only lasts a second and a half before he’s blowing out another sigh, turning back to the fireplace.
“Where are they?”
“Is this what it’s going to be like for the next fifty years?” I ask.
He stops and turns back to me, running both hands through his hair. “What?”
I wave a hand at the length of him. “You going out of your mind any moment Katie Bird isn’t by your side.”
He cocks his head, green eyes flashing fire. “Like you’re not going out of your mind. You’ve checked your phone more than I have.”
Lips twitching, I glance back to the window. “Guilty,” I mutter beneath my breath. But I’m alsorunning a company and am personally responsible for all our protection.
“The fact that Gabe wants to have dinner is a good sign,” he says, pacing back and forth in front of the fireplace.
“I’d say so.”
He pauses to stare at a plant on the mantle. “Maybe he should take her to a rainforest for their date.”
I huff a laugh. “You’re planning his dates for him now?”
King glances over his shoulder at me. “Someone has to.”
My phone vibrates on the small side table, and I reach for it. “You’ve got a lot to learn about your boyfriend.”
