Page 122 of By Invitation Only

Laughter filled the room as my leg bounced up and down.

Hurry the fuck up, Mitch!

“So, I looked over the numbers before coming in here, and it appears that this past week sealed the deal for one of you. I’m proud to welcome Booker as partner.”

I smiled, cheers erupted, and Randy pulled me from my seat and gave me the tightest hug I’d ever received in my entire life.I did it. I fucking did it!Hugs, handshakes and slaps on the back commenced until it was Clint and I face to face.

“You worked over Christmas break?” he asked.

I nodded. “I did. I had to make partner,” I clipped.

He sighed with a slight nod. “I thought you’d take it off with your parents in town and all.”

How’d he know my parents were in town?

“They understood,” I clarified.

“Hey, I have a conference call with a client. I’ll meet you at noon at your office for lunch,” Randy said, patting me on the back as he walked passed Clint and I. Once he was out of the door, Clint and I were alone. I hadn’t realized everyone had left, but here we were.

“It’s funny.” Clint crossed his arms. “I expected you to enjoy the holidays with your folks and yourgirlfriend.”

My body went ridged. “Girlfriend?”

He looked toward the open door and then back to me as he took a step closer and whispered, “Yeah, Peyton Winters.”

What. The. Bloody. Fuck?

“Peyton? I’m not dating Peyton Winters.”

“Oh, so you’re just fucking her?”

I officially wanted to throttle this wanker, throw him against the wall and beat the shit out of him. But then it would prove he was right. The weird thing was how did he know? The only time Peyton and I were out in public together was when we went to Sensation. Every night I went over to her apartment at the wee hours of the morning or late at night like some love struck teenage boy looking to get laid. Of course that wasn’t true, but we were careful.

I thought.

“I don’t know what you think you know, mate, but you have it all wrong.” I crossed my arms and spread my legs a little to stand my ground.

He grinned. “You see, that’s what I thought. I knew I lived in the same building as that hottie, and when I saw you the first time, it didn’t even register that she was the one you were going to see.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I clipped.

He continued. “But then I saw you again and again and again. You see, I take my dog for a walk before bed, and sometimes I’d see you pull into the garage and then I’d put two and two together.”

“I was visiting my mate.”

“Peyton?”

“No, my mate, Sam.” I thought of that guy quickly as my cover. Thankfully I “knew” someone else in that bloody building.

Clint threw his head back and laughed. “Right. So you’re telling me that you go to a guy’s house that late at night?”

I glared daggers at him and thought more of a cover. “Do you know Sam? Do you know what goes on behind his closed door?”

“Enlighten me.”

I chuckled and leaned back to sit on the edge of the table, my hands beside me as they curved around the edge. “Walk by his apartment at night. I’m sure you’re bound to hear the women screaming.”

I knew I could.