Page 26 of The Billionaire Dating Game

“I can wait for my turn.”

She stumbled. “Excuse me?”

He shifted closer. Too close not to raise eyebrows by anyone who cared to look. “A little birdie said you’re a date for hire.”

“I don’t know who told you that.”

“I’ll let you earn the name.” He kissed her.

Not a peck either, but a full kiss on the mouth. Candice froze, momentarily too stunned to do anything other than stare at him wide-eyed. Her nose wrinkled from the scent of his cologne. It was too strong, too musky, and unlike the fresh Irish Spring scent Alexei wore. She shoved his chest until he took a step then another backward.

“After a kiss like that, you’ve more than earned the name. Jasmine told me about your side hustle, and I want you when he’s done.”

She trembled, her open palm connecting with his cheek before she realized she’d raised her hand.

“Whatever he’s paid, I’ll pay double.”

“I’m not for sale,” she hissed.

“Even Jasmine had her price, and she was in a relationship with the upstart.”

He didn’t want her. Rodriguez wanted what Alexei had.

Had he slept with Jasmine?Oh gosh. Her stomach heaved.

Turning, she rushed back to the lady’s room and rinsed her mouth. Her heart raced as she gripped the sink. Guilt washed over her, leaving her clammy and nauseous. Not because of the kiss, she’d done nothing wrong—he’dkissed her. Innocent or not on her part, the kiss was a betrayal, and it came from his colleague. The significance deepened now that she knew Jasmine’s betrayal ran further.

She wasn’t in a relationship with Alexei, but that didn’t stop her heart from loving him, wanting him. To touch him and wipe away Rodriguez’s ickiness.

But when she left the washroom in search of Alexei, he was nowhere to be found.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Alexei

“Did you fuck him?”

Her steps faltered in the dim hallway leading from the elevator to where he sat on the living room sofa.

Anger and disappointment raged inside him. Betrayed, again. He was annoyed at himself for trusting Candice. He’d known better. Women didn’t look at him as someone who deserved to be loved. Alexei was the outsider; he would never belong. Not among the rich—though his investments earned billions over the years—who scoffed at new money or those who saw him as an outsider because of his birthplace.

Candice was supposed to be different. His. Untainted and untempted by the likes of Rodriguez.

She sucked in a sharp breath. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

His jaw tightened. “I saw you.”

She stepped toward him, her eyes widening. “I swear…”

“Don’t you take another step closer unless it’s on your hands and knees.” Keeping his shit together was so damn difficult with her standing pretty in the vintage Ann Lowe meant for an evening of sin.

He was jealous. Alexei closed his eyes. Not even Jasmine had had that power over him. Candice, however, could bring him to his knees. He watched her fall to hers and his spine stiffened as she crawled toward him, then her hands grasped his thighs. His entire body throbbed from the single touch and the pleading in her eyes. But he was too angry…too possessive to be swayed by the tenderness he saw there.

“You kissed him.” He rubbed his thumb across her lips, smearing the red lipstick.

“It wasn't what you think, Alexei.”

His gaze darkened when her tongue swiped the pad of his finger. He knew what he saw. “You enjoyed kissing him, didn’t you?” he growled.

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