Page 112 of Hushed

“We’re going to worry about each other. I get that, babe. As long as you don’t give me shit for worrying about you, I’ll do my best not to give you grief for worrying about me.”

She sighed against him, and he kissed the top of her head.

“We’re going to make this work, aren’t we, Gage?”

“Damn right we are. You’re stuck with me, pet.”

“Why did you start calling me that?”

Gage pondered it. “It felt right as soon as I said it last night. Imp is fine sometimes, especially when you’re being a brat, but doesn’t express what you mean to me. Does it bother you?”

She leaned back and looked up at him, her cheeks rosy and eyes bright. “No, Sir. I like it a lot. But not in front of Reggie.”

“I’ll reserve it for when we’re alone and playing.”

She beamed, and he couldn’t resist bending to kiss her lips.

He straightened and smacked her ass. “Now, I think you have some work to do, young lady.”

She giggled but didn’t argue. Just blew him a kiss and scurried toward his office, stopping to grab her backpack from the entry where she’d dropped it last night.

She stopped halfway and looked down at her shirt, making Gage laugh.

“As much as I enjoy having you in my t-shirt, we’ll sort out some better clothes for you before I have to go to my meeting.”

She snorted, and he looked at her puzzled.

“You don’t get to call a trip to the White house a meeting like it’s another day at the office. That’s not normal.”

He threw his head back, laughing. “Says the woman who’s casually DJing a wedding for a major celebrity next month?”

She stuck her tongue out at him, and he crooked a finger at her.

Obediently, she returned to his side, and he tucked a hand under her chin. “You’re lucky your brother is here and awake or I would find something more useful for you to do with that tongue. Now go to work.”

She wrapped her arms around him and stood on her tiptoes for a kiss, which he willingly gave her.

When she was safely in his office, he pulled out his phone and called Olivia for help with clothing for her.

“I’m not working at either bar today, I can bring something and take her shopping,” she said when he explained the situation.

Gage closed his eyes. “I’d rather you shop and bring stuff here. It’s complicated to explain, but I’m not comfortable having her exposed right now.”

Olivia was married to someone as protective as he was, so she didn’t argue.

“Let me make sure Daddy doesn’t need me for anything, and I’ll get started.”

“I swear you call him that in front of me to make me uncomfortable.”

Olivia giggled, and Gage shook his head. “Brat. Thanks for the help.”

“Anything for family.”

He ended the call and finished cleaning up the kitchen mess before heading to his bedroom to change. A housekeeper came twice a week, but Gage couldn’t stand a mess being left for too long, so he usually cleaned the kitchen himself.

When he walked in, he found Kenzie sitting on the edge of the bed. She’d slipped out of his office without him noticing.

“What’s wrong, pet?”

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