Page 97 of I Choose You

Yesterday felt like such a whirlwind, and after all the ups and downs, I felt like nothing would be the same.

I’d woken up so worried about her feeling hurt from what Kody said. Then the stress of confronting him and fighting. After that, the desperate need to see her, and then the high of going to her mom’s and witnessing that this incredible woman I cared about was such a sweet soul, so giving and compassionate. And when we ended it with a deep conversation and hot sex?

I kissed her shoulder again and peered at her face.

She’d come to matter so much. She was important to me.

After all these years, I’d finally found something—someone—I cared about more than my career. More than anything.

Seeing her smiling and hearing her laughter had become my priorities, and I considered how rare of a gift that was. I hoped Dad felt like this with Margaux because I knew, even at this starting stage of a relationship with Brooke, this was a crucial bond that would keep two people together no matter the hardships and trials that might come.

Another alarm clock beeped from her watch, and I frowned. She sure liked to set them early, and I thought I started my days at the crack of dawn.

I yawned, silencing it. After one more kiss on her shoulder, I left her to sleep a while longer and went downstairs.

We hadn’t planned for her to stay over. I didn’t have any products here that she could use, but I did have food. And coffee. The least I could do was offer her my bathroom to get ready, but I’d give her a little more time to sleep first. I cracked open some eggs to scramble but frowned.

“Shit.”

I remembered seeing a receipt on her desk. When she’d been on that call yesterday. She seemed to prefer egg whites and some kind of organic smoothie.

I shrugged, improvising. I’d eat all six of those eggs myself if I had to. But I pulled out another skillet and prepared it without the yolks, in case she wanted an option that was familiar. A quick look through my fridge showed organic ingredients, but nothing that seemed to belong in a green smoothie.

“Best I can do.” I couldn’t cater to her every request, but I wanted to learn more about how I could see to her needs. Adjusting my grocery list wouldn’t be a hardship. And that was assuming I’d have another chance to make breakfast in bed for her.

Once I loaded it all up, I brought the tray to my room. Before I reached the open door, she called out, “I hope you’re Kaden.”

I chuckled. “Expecting someone else?”

“A maid,” she replied as I entered.

She sat up, rubbing her face. A sleepy smile stretched from ear to ear and I wanted to bask in the sunshine of it. “I knew I smelled coffee.” She held her hands out to grab at it. “I wondered if some poor hired help would find me in here looking like a troll.”

I set the tray on the bed and tossed a muffin at her.

“Hey!” She giggled, catching it before it smacked her face.

“Troll? Shut up. You’re gorgeous.”

I realized now, as I leaned over the bed to kiss her, that it wouldn’t be a default thought to enter her mind. The more often I said it—sincerely—it might catch. Repetitions to sink in.

“I feel like a troll,” she admitted, wincing as she slid over for me to sit next to her. “I think I’m glued to your sheets.”

I smiled. “Sorry. Not sorry.”

“Hmm.” She took a coffee. “Me neither.”

“I’m not sure I’ll have everything you usually use, but my shower is all yours.”

She arched a brow. “With your company?”

I growled, diving in for another kiss, but she leaned back. “I have morning breath!”

I cupped her face and dragged her back to me. She softened under a long kiss as I showed her that I didn’t care.

“I would love a chance to play with you in the shower, but I do have to work today.”

She nodded, reaching for the plate. “Since you took off yesterday?”