Page 44 of Hidden

Peter growled. “Leave her out of this. First, it’s not like that. We aren’t even friends. We’re just collaborating on something and second, my mother doesn’t need to know anything. Let her enjoy their Hawaii retirement in peace.” There was no way he was telling Gage he’d slept with Carrie.

“Whoa. You’recollaboratingwith a journalist? Are you ill?”

“Bite me Gage.”

“You’re so not my type, dude. But judging by the way she was looking at you, you’re her type.”

“Seems like the redhead was her type, too.”

“Believe it or not, bisexual people exist, man. I’m glad you’re able to be civil with a reporter. Means you might be moving on and you’ll lighten the fuck up.”

Gage changed the subject. “Did you ever talk to Reggie or Cannon? What did you want them for, anyway?”

Damn it. Peter had been so caught up in the surprise of finding Carrie at the party that he never even remembered he wanted to talk to Reggie.

“Nothing important,” he lied. “Just trying to touch base with a couple of the people from Colombia on something.”

“I was in Colombia. What’s going on?”

“I honestly have no idea, so I don’t want to say much. Ever been to a place called the Doll House Cabaret?”

“Have I ever,” Gage said with a chuckle. “What does that have to do with Colombia?”

Peter sighed. He shouldn’t have said anything. “Like I said, I don’t know. That’s what I’m trying to figure out. I’ll fill you in when I can. Unless you’re slipping Carrie anonymous packages, that is.”

Gage laughed. “Nope. Not me. I can’t wait to hear all about it, though. I should get off here. I still have a few guests.”

Peter ended the call and winced when he saw the time. Carrie Davenport was proving bad for his sleep habits. He headed for the kitchen to get a glass of water and stopped when he saw he wasn’t alone. Carrie stood at the fridge in a pair of tiny shorts and a thin tank top. As he was about to leave and go to his bedroom, she stood and looked at him. “Do you have anything besides vegetables and chicken in here?”

“Sorry, I’m fresh out of Red Bull.”

“Gross. No. I don’t want to stay up all night. I’m just starving.”

“You’re welcome to order takeout. Some places around here deliver late. I have to get my ass to sleep, though.” He opened the top drawer near the stove and tossed some takeout menus on the counter.

“Sure you don’t want an egg roll?” she asked as she perused the menu collection.

“That shit will clog your arteries woman. I still have to work in the morning but what about you?”

“I’m taking the day off.”

“Fine. But you can’t leave the apartment. I still don’t think it’s safe for you despite the little stunt you pulled tonight.”

“Still want to spank me for it?

He hadn’t been expecting that response.

“And what if I said yes?”

She chuckled. “I would turn you down. I’m not a submissive, so bad girl spankings don’t really do it for me.”

He plucked the menu from her hand and stepped closer to her. “But good girl spankings do?”

She made a face. “I don’t really like spankings associated with my behavior at all.”

He laughed and brushed wayward blond hair from her forehead. “That’s too bad, because I’ve been itching to turn you over my knee since the day I met you.”

Her breathing hitched, and she swallowed hard. “What are we doing, Peter? It’s obvious we’re into each other physically, but you have some seriously fucked up issues with me on a professional level that I don’t think we’ll ever get past.”

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