The Breaking Season Read online K.A. Linde

Categories Genre: Alpha Male, Angst, Billionaire, Contemporary, Romance Tags Authors:
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Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 96513 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 386(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
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“Is that what you think?” I asked in the bored, detached voice I used for Court’s musings.

“Don’t do that shit,” he said, pointing his finger at me. “I know you.”

“We’re working it out.”

Court nodded enthusiastically. “Good.”

The elevator dinged then, announcing the rest of the party. Sam and Gavin strode into the penthouse. Gavin gave a quick salute, and Sam just nodded his head. They took two of the remaining chairs.

“Waiting on one more,” I said.

“Nah,” Gavin said, glancing toward the wet bar. “Robert’s not showing tonight. He’s with Whitley.”

I raised an eyebrow at him. “He didn’t tell me that.”

Gavin shrugged. “It’s Whit.” He looked over at Court. “Hey, Kensington, you playing bartender?”

“Yeah, yeah,” he grumbled and got out of his chair.

“So, Whitley got back together with Robert,” Sam said thoughtfully. “How do you feel about that?”

Gavin looked at him in confusion. “What do my feelings have to do with anything?”

Sam gave him a perfectly measured look that said, Confess all your sins.

I nearly laughed at it. He was so good at getting people to talk. Just one look, and he ensnared them.

“I don’t know why you’re looking at me like that,” Gavin said.

Court dropped a drink in front of him. “Probably because you two were all over each other in Puerto Rico.”

“Yeah, so? That was, like, a month ago, and we’re both always all over someone.”

I methodically shuffled the cards, waiting for one of the guys to get it out of him. I already had my suspicions, but usually, I didn’t have to say much to get to the truth of the matter.

“Uh-huh,” Court said.

“What?” Gavin grumbled.

Sam gave him an incredulous look. “You’ve been mooning over Whitley for at least the last six months. I thought you’d have made your move while we were gone.”

“Me?” he gasped. “Mooning over someone? Have you met me?”

“Yeah,” Sam said.

Finally, I set the cards aside and leaned forward. “You two had sex while we were on vacation.”

“I didn’t say that,” Gavin said, looking between us all as if he were caught in a trap. Then he sagged. “But… yeah.”

Sam chuckled. “Knew it.”

“Did you already know?” Court asked me.

I shrugged. “When have you ever seen Gavin babble this much? Let alone deny his conquests?”

“I’m not… denying shit,” Gavin growled. “But Robert’s my buddy. I wouldn’t have done anything if I’d known they were going to get back together. We were both single at the time. Now, they’re together. So, I was trying to keep it on the down-low. I don’t want him to think I’m moving in on his girl.”

“That’s awful gallant of you,” Court drawled.

“Just deal the cards,” Gavin muttered.

I set to dealing for the table as they continued to bicker. I suspected that Gavin was lying. I’d seen the way that he’d been looking at Whitley for months. And it hadn’t been until we were all on vacation that Whitley started looking at him like that, too. He hadn’t just stumbled into her bed for a one-night stand. He’d premeditated that shit. And now, he was backing down because he didn’t want to hurt his friend. It was… nice of him, but it didn’t sound like Gavin King. What was it about Whitley that kept the compulsive flirt at bay? And when it would all irrevocably boil over?

We let him be and returned to the cards. As usual, Sam swept the table over and over again. I swore that he could count cards. I’d never caught him at it, but it didn’t make sense that he kept hustling us. It was like when I went to Hank’s. I could crush everyone in that place with how good I was at pool, and it defied logic that I would win time and time again. That was Sam at poker. I didn’t know why I kept inviting him. Except that he was one of the guys now. Not that any of us liked losing to him every week.

“Hey,” Gavin said near the end of the night, “I heard another piece of juicy gossip.” He looked up at me and then down at his cards.

I knew what he was going to say before it was out of his mouth. I braced myself.

“I heard Fiona’s pregnant.”

Everyone’s gaze snapped to mine. I kept my face perfectly blank. At least I’d prepared for neutrality or else I might have scowled.

“Why are you all looking at me?” I asked.

“Camden,” Sam began.

But Court cut him off, “You asshole, you didn’t tell me!”

“So,” Gavin asked, leaning in, “is it yours?”

“No way Katherine would have moved back in if it were his,” Court snapped.

“You’re not that stupid,” Sam said.

At least someone believed that. Christ.

“I was already aware,” I said, laying down my cards.

Sam revealed his cards, too. Beat me again. Motherfucker. He cleared out the pot, and I resumed shuffling.

“And?” Court prodded. “If it’s not yours, whose is it?”


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