Page 56 of I Choose You

I giggled loud enough that another shopper glanced up at me.

I wouldn’t. Flirting and being silly were fun, but my insecurities ran way too deep to model for him—or anyone else. It had taken me a while to not be one of those girls who requested the lights to be turned off during sex. A self-conscious attitude wasn’t something I could flip a switch for and turn off. Being in the mood helped me forget about exposing myself—and being with someone who actually knew how to put me in the mood made a difference too.

“What do you have there?” Rena asked.

I hadn’t noticed her approaching, and I jerked a little. The matching panties and bra set fell to the floor, and my best friend wasted no time picking it up.

“Do I even want to know?”

I giggled and shook my head.

But I bought the stupid thing anyway. The panties were too big and the bra was too tight, but I didn’t care. It wasn’t for me. And Kaden would never see it.

You never know when you need a gag gift, though.

19

KADEN

When I walked into the office on Monday morning, I kept one mission in my mind.

I couldn’t put it off any longer. Now that I’d struck a deal—another deal, between the two of us—Brooke couldn’t be a secret any longer.

I had to talk to my brother.

I found him in the staff breakroom. We had our own office spaces to prepare food and eat, but he didn’t seem hungry for anything in the fridge here. Caging in the new receptionist with his hands pressed against the appliance, he clearly wanted a different snack.

She giggled, not seeing me enter with his body blocking her view. Her foot rubbed up along the back of Kody’s leg. He answered in kind, shoving his leg between hers and dropping his hand to cup her ass.

Come on. At least find a closet or something.

“Ahem.”

She squealed in surprise and lowered her leg. Kody turned his neck to face me. His smirk proved that I’d annoyed him.

“What?”

“I need to speak with you.”

“Oh.” The receptionist slid from his embrace. “I’m sorry, Mr. Wagner. I mean, uh, you, Mr. Wagner. Not that Mr. Wagner. But, uh, that report, no, the file, uh, I’ll just—” Her trailing ramble followed her out the door as she escaped.

“Was that necessary?” Kody sighed and straightened.

I shook my head and left.

“Cock block.” He followed me down the hall.

“I thought she hated you,” I said, glancing back at him.

“Oh, she changed her mind.” He grinned.

“Uh huh. I also thought I gave you advice to keep your hands off her,” I replied as we reached my office.

“You did.” His smug smile annoyed me.

I shoved him inside so I could close the door behind us. “Didn’t look like it back there.”

“I keep my hands off now, but she—”