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“Someone thinks highly of himself.”
“Just telling you what the papers tell me.” His shrug is matter of fact. He truly isn’t bragging, simply restating a fact he’s read. And he’s not wrong. He is a bachelor, and by any measurement, he is quite eligible and desirable.
If you’re into tech-heads who like to tease. The question is, could he please?
Alex slides the bag of pastries across the counter toward Gabe.
“Mmm. . . bear claw. You do love me,” he says to Alex, then turns his focus back to me. “I can see the headlines now. Manhattan’s Ice Queen caught between a billionaire and a bodyguard.”
I simultaneously melt and roll my eyes at him.
“Nice alliteration, but don’t quit your day job,” I say. “Alex is the CEO of an international security company.”
Gabe goes still, his gaze flicking from Alex to me. His brows quirk, and then his gaze narrows. “But he’d still guard your body if you asked.”
Holy smokes.
My cheeks catch fire, and my mouth drops open in an O.
I’ll admit I’ve always found Gabriel attractive, but the way he’s looking at me right now is next level. It’s. . . seductive. I rock back on my heels and bump into Alex. His hand closes over my hip, steadying me.
Gabe’s eyes narrow on Alex’s hand. The tension notches impossibly higher.
There’s no way I’m misreading the interest in Gabe’s eyes. He’s attracted to me. Last night could have been a fluke. A pissing match with Manhattan’s elite. I could even tell myself he got carried away. Or he believes in the charity.
But there’s no explaining this away.
He’s staring at Alex’s hand like he wants to remove it. Break it. Hold it?
What is happening right now?
I can’t come between them. Friendships are sacred. And these two men. . . I get the feeling they’re closer than brothers.
Alex’s hand falls away, and I immediately miss his touch. Why are my emotions so out of whack? One second, I feel like crying; the next, I want to jump into their arms and beg them to take me. I feel like I’m on a spin-cycle here.
“We’ll take the morning,” Gabe says as if he’s in charge of the decision-making. “Surely the world won’t burn down in the next few hours.”
Oh, dear. Funny Gabe Rothburn is hot. Those blue eyes sparkle down at me like he’s willing me to smile. Come on, do it. Smile for me, Princess.
So I do.
Alex clears his throat.
“I had one of my guys go by our place and pick up some clothes. Your computer.”
“Yes!”
“And I had him stop by the store for you, Katherine, since I don’t have a key.” Something about the way he says those words tells me he’s not above breaking into my apartment if necessary.
I’ll have to examine why that doesn’t freak me the hell out later. Because right now, the prospect of fresh clothes makes me feel like I could fly.
“He left everything in the dining room.”
“Thank you, Alex.”
Those words seem so paltry. He’s been taking care of me since last night. Before that, really. I remember the way he looked, holding the punching bag for me.
Is it his training? His nature?
