Page 82 of I Choose You

Sandra’s smile widened in surprise when I finally arrived at her office. “Good morning, Kaden. I didn’t realize we were expecting you today.”

I smiled, or I thought I did. I hadn’t figured out a reason to explain why I was here. I just wanted to be near her and forget about the fight with Kody.

“I just needed to see Brooke for something.” There. It wasn’t a lie. It was vague as hell, but I didn’t care to elaborate. I wasn’t in the mood to wait for permission.

“Oh.” She frowned, seeming confused.

I cranked up the wattage on my smile for her and added a wink as I walked down the hall. “I remember the way.”

“Right. Okay,” she called out, her tone unsure.

I reached her office within another minute, but I didn’t knock. Her door was open, as it usually was, and I spotted her on the phone.

She raised her brows at me. “Uh huh. I agree. That’s half as much as what should be provided within the specifications Steven emailed me.” Her gorgeous green eyes tracked me as I let myself in.

Furrowing her brow, she swiveled in her seat and held up a finger, asking for a minute.

I sat, leaning forward to rest my elbows on my knees as I waited for her to finish her call. It seemed like one of those tricky ones with no convenient pauses. She frowned, seeming to start but never complete an insertion of well, I’ve got to go.

I didn’t mind. Now that I was here and I heard her smart replies and sweet voice, I calmed down a bit.

When she hung up, I stood.

“I need you.”

That was so not what I’d intended to say. I hadn’t rehearsed anything, but that sounded wrong.

She blinked and took in my appearance, instantly becoming worried. “What? What’s wrong? Are you okay?” She stood, and I put my hand out to gesture to calm down.

“Yes.” I cringed, backpedaling. “Sorry. I’m okay.”

She arched one brow. “You sure?”

“I just needed to get away. A bad morning.” I exhaled, already feeling better in her company. “And you’re the only person I want to spend time with.”

No lies. Just the truth. She could interpret it however she saw fit.

“Oh.” She didn’t look at me for a moment, idly tracing her finger in a crescent shape on her desk. “A bad morning because…?”

I shook my head. I didn’t want to rehash it all. I especially didn’t want to explain to her that I realized I cared about her as more than a fake date should.

“Because you forgot to do laundry and the last clean boxers you had were the plaid ones?”

I rolled my eyes. A smile almost won. I appreciated her attempt though.

She glanced at her phone, then her computer. “Well, I do have an errand to run. And I need a ride.”

“Would you like company with that ride?” I dangled my keys.

She hesitated for just a moment before nodding. “Yeah. I would.”

28

BROOKE

As Kaden drove us out of the city, I caught myself before I reached for him.

He’d shown up like a dark storm, all glum and unhappy. He seemed restless, too. Beneath it though, I sensed that he might be conflicted and hurt. His pain called to me, making me want to pull him into my arms and hug him. It was on the tip of my tongue to offer comfort, but I wasn’t sure what I would be sympathizing about. He remained closed-lipped on the walk to his SUV, and the only words we’d spoken since he started driving were my instructions of where to go.