“Yeah, but it’s not until next month, so why are you shopping now?”

Shiori exchanged a “men are clueless” look with Vivie and Zara.

“How’d I get roped into this again?” Knox asked.

“Because you won’t let her buy a dress that’s skanky,” Zara said, “while I’d probably encourage her to dress slutty.” She looked at Shiori. “We balance each other out.”

“What’s the age difference between you two?” Shiori asked.

“A year and a half. Vivie’s a senior this year and I’m a junior.”

“Technically, Knox is old enough to be our dad,” Vivie said.

“You’re jumping on the ‘Knox is old’ bandwagon too, Viv?”

“But we love you.” Vivie kissed his cheek. “Got any food? I’m starved.”

“Me too,” Zara said.

“You two are always starved.” He sighed. “I can cook you eggs or grilled cheese.”

“Grilled cheese,” they said in unison.

It was fascinating to see Knox in the big-brother role. He had an easy rapport with the teenagers, and yet she knew if his mother sent him shopping with them, he wasn’t a pushover. And it made her heart melt a little seeing his nurturing side.

Shiori had a pang of jealousy that her relationship with her brother hadn’t been like that. Wanting to leave them to their family time, she tried to sneak out.

But Knox caught her around the waist halfway down the hall. “Where you going?”

“I need to get dressed and call the car service for a ride.”

“Why?”

“Because your sisters are here.”

He looked confused. “So?”

“So they want to spend time with you, not me.”

“They want to spend time at the mall. I want to spend time with you, so you’re coming with us.”

“I only have my walk-of-shame clothes here, remember?”

“I don’t know what your deal is. You looked fantastic last night, nowhere near slutty. What you wore is fine even in the light of day. Better than fine. Come with us.”

“All right.” Her eyes searched his. “And if we run into anyone we know?”

His eyes cooled. “I don’t like this sneaking-around shit. Part of me gets why we have to, but a larger part of me wants to say fuck it.” He traced the deep V of the shirt. “We’re together. People can deal with that.” His unspoken, You can deal with it too, hung between them.

“Would you be so willing to tell people you’re my submissive?”

“Apples and oranges, kitten.” He gave her a lingering kiss and returned to the kitchen.

Shiori made herself as presentable as she could.

Knox walked in, threw on jeans, a button-down shirt, and ran his hand through his hair. Ready and looking delectable in less than two minutes.

“Why are you scowling at me?”

“Never mind. By the way, I used your toothbrush.”

“No worries. But you might wanna think about keeping some of your stuff over here.”

Why that annoyed her—she had no idea. “Maybe you should consider keeping some of your stuff at my place.”

He smiled. “Whatever works. You ready to go?”

“Where are we going?”

“Cherry Creek Mall.”

*   *   *

SHOPPING with Knox’s sisters yanked her out of her sour mood. She’d not spent any time with teenagers since she was a teen, and she didn’t remember her friends being so funny. Probably because they were trying so hard to be cool.

Vivie and Zara didn’t care about being cool, and she had to credit their upbringing for making them want to be true to themselves since Knox was the same way.

The dressing-room door opened and Vivie sashayed out in dress number ten.

“Dear god,” Zara said, “that is hideous. Are those . . . mushrooms in the floral pattern? Because from here they look like dozens of dicks of all sizes.”

“Dammit, Zara, can’t you keep your voice down?”

She looked at Knox. “That was my quiet voice.”

“Shiori? What do you think?”

She shook her head. “Too high fashion.”

“Not to mention the slit goes up so high I can see your underwear,” Knox added.

Vivie stormed back toward the dressing room. “At this rate I’ll never find a dress.”

The saleslady returned with four more dresses and whisked the discarded ones away.