Page 43 of The Heiress's First Date

After my meeting, I swing by the office to touch base with everyone. As I meet with the managerial staff, there’s an odd buzz in the air. Hushed voices.

Everyone’s terribly curious, which I get. I might own one of the world’s largest security firms, but I go the extra mile to keep my name out of the news. If there’s press, I want it to be about how well my team does their job.

Not about who the boss is dating and if he’s at war with his best friend.

Normally, I don’t let things bother me, but today, my body is keenly aware of how far away Katherine is. We’re in the same city, but she’s not by my side.

My muscles are tight with the need to track her down, but I don’t want to interrupt her time with her friend. So, I try to keep my head in the game. As soon as my watch lets me know it’s four o’clock, I’m out the door to the waiting SUV.

???

“This doesn’t count as our date,” I murmur, leaning in close as we follow LaShonda to the door.

Katherine sends me a delighted look, tightening her hold on my arm. “I’m glad to hear that.”

Is it my imagination or does she sound like she wants to prolong all these ‘not our date’ dates?

And why do I feel so good when she clings to me like this? Immortal and proud, like nothing can touch me.

A thrill of excitement zings through my veins. I will never take for granted how easy it is to be with her. How steady and quietly confident she is, or how respectful she is to everyone who crosses her path.

That’s not breeding or etiquette lessons. I’m positive of that because I’ve seen how her mother and grandfather moved through life.

No, this is all Katherine. Innate and effortlessly kind.

A quick elevator ride carries us up to the rooftop bar. “I found this place not long after this one,” LaShonda nods to Katherine, “headed back to greener pastures.”

“Hardly greener.”

They laugh in the way old friends do. Like two people who can communicate through a look. It’s the exact sound that first drew my attention to Katherine. And just like that time, it warms me like a fine whiskey.

Soft jazz music carries across the rooftop from hidden speakers, along with a low murmur of conversation. I follow the women to a small, round table in the far corner, pleased with their choice of seating. I can keep an eye on everyone around us. Not that I need to. I assigned two men to Katherine as soon as we landed in Boston.

No way was I letting her loose in the city unguarded. Especially not after the latest round of pictures and speculation. Social media caught wind of Kingston’s return, and now there are bets about who Katherine will end up with.

I understand a passing curiosity in the elite. The wealthy. That’s been bred into us for centuries.

But this feels like more than that, probably because, for the first time, I’m on the other side of the story. It’s not just a client I’m watching. These are people I care about involved.

Blessedly, there aren’t too many patrons here yet, and no one is paying us any extra attention. My men grab a nearby table, and I breathe a little easier.

Katherine orders a bottle of wine. I stick with sparkling water. LaShonda gives me a long look.

She’s trying to get a read on me.

I get it. I’d do the same to any woman attached to Gabe.

Luckily, the one he has his eye on is the same one I do.

“I’m glad we got to hang out, Alex,” LaShonda says, giving me another one of those thorough once-overs. She shoots Katherine a smile, the kind that says they’ve been talking about me and she’s looking forward to grilling me.

Bring it on. I have nothing to hide from her. From either of them. “Likewise. You two always seem to have a good time.”

LaShonda’s brows lift above surprised brown eyes. “We do?”

I incline my head as the memory flashes through my mind like it was yesterday. “The first time I ever saw Katherine, she was with you at an event. The two of you were laughing.”

From the corner of my eye, I see Katherine’s jaw drop.

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