Page 3 of The Heiress Bride
These last few weeks have proven just how little I’ve lived. Existing and living are not the same thing.
And I don’t want to go back to the endless meetings and giving up multiple nights a week to dinners and events.
If there’s one silver lining about the last week, it’s that I no longer have to answer to my mother. But she has definitely been trying her damndest to get in touchwith me.
Unfortunately for her, I have zero interest in seeing her or hearing from her. About the most I’m willing to do is show up to court and tell my side of the story.
Taking a deep breath, I zone back in. It’s turning out to be a very busy day. A busy few days, it looks like.
But honestly, I’d find a way to push that all aside to have a few uninterrupted hours with my guys. We all seem to be pulled in different directions right now. And I suppose that’s a glimpse of our future.
“I miss them,” I murmur.
King drops a hand to my thigh, squeezing gently. “Me too.”
“I don’t like that they’re fighting.” I really don’t like that I left while things with Gabe were rocky. Every second seems to amplify my worry.
“What’s that look for?” He cocks his head, watching me closely.
My stomach tightens with the usual ‘omg, he’s paying attention to me’ feeling, but it quickly morphs into embarrassment. The problem with being intimate with your best friend is that they know all your faces. Your looks. And they care about you enough to pry.
“I’m worried he doesn’t want this anymore andevery second we spend apart just shows him he’s better off without me.”
There’s a long pause where King blinks, his lips part, then he blinks again. Had this not occurred to him? Or have him and Gabe been keeping up with each other?
He didn’t say, and honestly, their relationship is so sparkly new, I didn’t want to pry.
Now I’m starting to wonder if I should. Maybe men truly are shit at dealing with their feelings and ironing things out. And the universe knows, King is especially terrible at that sort of thing. He might be able to say the L word freely, but he still stumbles.
Straightening, I cover his hand with mine.
Time to put on my big girl panties.
“I need to go shopping,” I tell King. His soft green eyes light up.
“What for?”
I tap a fingertip against my lips. “An outfit that says ‘capable but don’t fuck with me.’”
His brows lift, and his lips curve upward like I’ve just given him a puppy. “I know just the thing.”
“Shoes to match?”
He scoffs. “Have you met me?”
He’s off to the closet, pulling out an outfit of his own. Now that I know he likes to dress me, I plan to take full advantage and let him have his way.
“Give me ten minutes to shower and change,” he says as he disappears into the bathroom.
The shower turns on, a nice white noise that almost drowns out the voices in the living room. I’m guessing Alex has upped our protection team now that we’re back in the lion’s den. How long until the press gets word that we’ve been spotted at one of New York’s swankiest hotels?
There’s a knock at the bedroom door. The temptation to ignore it is strong, but I have a hunch who’s on the other side, so I take a gulp of my latte, then push to my feet. Steeling myself to deal with the day, I twist the knob.
My heart does a little flip.
Alex.
Shoving the paneled door wide, I reach for him.
