Page 4 of Counting On You

Chapter One

Kaiden

Three daysearlier

My life sucks.

I'm not a sex addict. Honestly, I’m not. That word makes me cringe. I’m not even sure why I’m here, but apparently the board thinks my healthy sex life is spiraling out of control…

Well, they’re wrong.

It’s not an addiction if I enjoy every minute of it.

It’s not an addiction if I love what I do.

But tell that to the thick-sculled fatties with no sense of humor on my board.

“This is a catastrophe for the company,” Ben, one of the six board members, says. “We’ve already lost two million in revenue.” He slaps the paper for effect, then looks up, his gray-blue eyes meeting mine. “This cannot go on, Kaiden.”

I cringe at the last word. Only my friends and family are allowed to call me Kaiden, and they never do so lightly.

“What do you expect me to say?” I shrug. “That I’ll give up my private life to make you happy?”

There is a short silence.

My brother, Chase, leans forward.

Now, let me tell you something about my brother.

He’s a kickass attorney. He’s proven himself on numerous occasions. Whenever either of us needed to get out of a sticky situation, he always knew what to do.

Except, now I’m not so sure.

There’s a frown on his face, and he takes too long to reply. Either he’s preparing for a long speech, or worse, he agrees with the board.

For the sake of our friendship, I hope it’s the first option.

“Chase.” My sharp tone conveys a warning I hope he’s clever enough to heed.

He turns to me and exhales a long sigh. “Kade, they’re right.” I stare at him with a mixture of shock and anger. “You’ve painted the company in a bad light.”

“Et tu, Brute?” My mouth tightens in a line.

Again I’m reminded that we thrive on opposites.

I may have been adopted, but growing up in the same household and being closer than real brothers, I would have thought Chase would agree with me for once.

I guess I was wrong.

“Those are serious accusations,” Chase continues. “As your attorney, I can tell you this could ruin your career. Your life. The woman in question—” Chase waves his hand to Ben. “—what’s her name?”

“Brenda,” Ben says.

“Brenda went to the tabloids,” Chase says, as though I’m not familiar with the outcome of my last sexcapade. “This 365-day, non-stop sex calendar of yours is earning serious attention right now—and not in a good way. We can’t afford for it to draw any more attention or else we’ll end up losing important deals and clients. If you don’t stop, we’ll soon be facing a crisis.”

“You’re all a buzzkill.”

When I came up with the idea of a 365-day, non-stop sex calendar, I didn’t realize it would be such a rewarding challenge. My best friend, Cash Boyd, owner of the famous Club 69 establishments, couldn’t agree more. In fact, he’s the one who’s been more concerned that I make it than even I am. He’s my wingman. Sometimes I wish my brother would be more like him rather than have the brain of an attorney.

---