Page 22 of I Choose You

Huh. The idea that Kaden could be accommodating and pleasant to work with still seemed at odds with what I knew about his personality. He’d impressed Todd quite quickly, but I knew the real Kaden. From before. Like Rena tried to tell me, I’d changed since high school, and maybe Kaden had too.

“Now.” He leaned his forearms on the desk and folded his hands together. Slanting toward me like that should have seemed imposing, like he wanted to crowd my space. He only appeared driven and determined to chat with me the way he wanted to. “How’ve you been?”

I screamed internally. “This is a business meeting.”

“Then have a drink with me,” he countered.

I slapped my hand on the desk. “Have you listened to a single word I said?”

His chuckle had me smiling a teeny bit. “Sorry, not sorry. I had to try. Just know that you intrigue me. And I’m not like the seventeen-year-old you remember.”

“Thank God for that,” I muttered.

He furrowed his brow. It almost looked like a pout and I resisted another laugh.

“Now this remark you’ve flagged on the last graph.”

“How’s your mother doing?”

I dropped my pen again. He was winning. I couldn’t handle these damn interruptions, and since he’d changed to asking about her, I softened a little. What would it hurt to do this small talk and appease him? Then he’d shut up and pay attention. “She’s doing well, thank you.” When he only smiled, triumphant he’d cracked my guard, I sighed.

“How’s your dad?” I asked out of mere courtesy. The crap he’d pulled in high school had me finding my backbone, but I didn’t have to be a bitch.

I wasn’t expecting the grin that preceded his reply. “He’s great. He’s getting married, actually.”

“What?” I raised my brows and laughed. “Married? I’m shocked your ultra-wealthy dad would risk his inheritance with a new bride.”

“I assume there will be a pre-nup, though I will admit Margaux is very sweet.”

But not a replacement for your mom?

I smiled a sly grin. “Well, you better hope so.” A sigh floated past my lips as I set my elbow on my desk and propped my chin in my hand. “I love weddings.”

“They haven’t finalized a location yet, but it’s clear they’re excited.”

Are you?

Knocks sounded on my door, and we both looked up. Sandra poked in, saying, “I’m heading out.” She beamed at Kaden, then me. “Anything else you need?”

I frowned, realizing all the back-and-forth Kaden put me through extended our meeting well past when I thought I’d be heading home for the day. “Oh. I didn’t realize it was so late. Sorry, Sandra. You didn’t have to wait up for me.”

“Nonsense. I couldn’t figure out my Wordle, so I was stuck sitting there.”

“Don’t tell me it’s got another double consonant.” Kaden groaned good-naturedly.

Sandra winked. “Okay, I won’t tell ya.”

Who is this nice, charming, normal guy who can relate to our secretary about a simple word puzzle? I frowned, shaking my head. “No, I’m good. Thanks!”

She turned and called back, “Have a good weekend.”

Kaden stood, setting his big hands on the back of my chair. “I’m not sorry I kept you so long.”

I rolled. “Gee. Thanks.” I hadn’t kept an eye on the time either. Saying it had been fun would be a lie, but Kaden was starting to wear me down.

He removed a card from his wallet and grabbed a pen from my desk. “I mean it. I’d like to catch up. It’s not every day you run into a blast from the past.”

Especially one you screwed over, huh?