Page 85 of By Invitation Only

As I exited the lift onto Peyton’s floor, mygood mateSam was walking toward it.

“Hey, wallbanger.” He chuckled as he slid past me.

I turned to face him. “Jealous?”

He threw his head back, laughing. “Why would I be jealous of you? You’re probably only fucking one chick, and I have an entire list on speed dial.”

First of all, everyone was technically on speed dial these days. Second of all, I’d had plenty of arse in my day, and I was happy with the one I was with.

“Keep thinking that, mate.” I turned to walk down the hall toward Peyton’s door. I knocked and waited for her to answer. Ireally needed my own key or something.

The door swung open, and my gaze roamed from her booted feet all the way to her loose brown curls. She was in jeans and a cream colored sweater that hung off one shoulder. Instead of greeting her with a kiss like I normally did, I stepped forward and placed my lips on her bare skin.

“We’ll be late if you keep that up,” she teased.

I grinned against her skin. “Carrie would understand.”

“Just contain yourself for a few hours.” She laughed and stepped passed me into the hall.

I closed the door and reached for her keys so I could lock it. “I’m trying, gorgeous, but I haven’t seen you all day.”

“I think you’ll live.”

“Maybe. Maybe not. Are you willing to risk it?” I joked.

“It depends. What are we eating for dinner?”

As we walked toward the lift, I grabbed Peyton’s overnight bag and handed her back her keys so she could put them in her purse. I reached for her hand, needing to feel her skin on mine.

“Chinese.”

She sucked in a light breath. “My favorite.”

I grinned. “Yeah?”

“Yeah. This night just might turn out great.”

I laughed. “Trust me, will you? Carrie’s a sweetheart.”

“You keep telling me this, except the first words out of her mouth were rude.”

“She assumed you were just some random bird, and she was ready to go home. She was probably hungry, too.”

A slow grin spread across her face. “Women are bitches when they’re hungry.”

“Exactly my point. Tonight I have no doubt she wants to redeem herself.”

“Have you seen her in the last month?”

I nodded. “But only for a few minutes at the beginning of the month when I went home to get my clothes for the gym and work.”

“Maybe if things work out, I can come over after work or something to hang with her while you’re working late. We can switch off days or something. I go to your place one day. You to mine.”

“Don’t want to spend a night without me, baby?” I teased.

“Please. You’re the one who told me to pack a bag for tonight.”

“You’re right. I don’t want to go a night without you,” I admitted.