Tori stands up and reaches for her purse, looking pissed at the world. “Enough of this bullshit. You need to get out. We’re going to go out, grab a few drinks, and have fun. No thinking. No caring. No crying. Call up Kyan and I’ll call up Brad and we’ll make a night of it.”

Kyan . . . My heart swells at the memories of last night. The sex was great, don’t get me wrong, but the best part was just lying in his arms afterwards without a single care in the world. What I wouldn’t give right now to go back to that moment and forget this day all together. We laid there for what seemed like hours, talking and enjoying the freedom. He asked me about my job and my family, my interests and anything that I would expect a boyfriend to want to know. Whenever I said something funny, I found comfort in the vibration of his chest as he let loose and just lived in the moment with me. Oddly, I crave for that feeling right now.

“I can’t just call Kyan up and ask him to go on a double date, Tori. It’s not like that with us. He’s got two businesses to run and he’s not my boyfriend. He’s just . . . he’s . . .” I stop and let out a frustrated breath. “He’s busy.”

Thinking about Kyan only seems to make my head hurt at the moment. I want nothing more than to ask him to hang out with me, but I’m afraid he’ll say no and remind me of the fact that we can never be anything more. The thought causes my chest to ache and I fill up with anxiety.

“He might not be.”

“Huh?” I look up from my phone that I didn’t even realize I was now holding.

Tori grins and points to my phone. “Send him a text. It’s not going to hurt to ask. Then go to your room and change out of that work attire crap and throw on something cute and flirty.”

I watch Tori as she rushes to her room and flicks on the light. I can stand here and drown in my self-pity all night or I can just say screw it, ask Kyan to come out with us, and forget all about my sister and her stupid invitation.

“Screw this,” I mutter while pulling up Kyan’s number and sending him a text. I drop my phone down onto the table and hurry to my room to change.

After throwing on a black and silver tunic and a pair of gray leggings, I slip into what I call my rock girl boots and pull my hair into a sloppy bun above my right shoulder.

I feel a nervous knot form in my stomach as I walk back into the living room and reach for my phone. My heart jumps when I see two text messages from Kyan. Taking a deep breath, I pull up the messages and read them.

Kyan: I can leave work now and meet you.

Kyan: Where are we going? I’m grabbing my things and walking out the door now.

Oh my God . . .

My heart does this stupid little dance as I quickly text him back. I feel as if my fingers can’t move fast enough and I find myself mentally yelling at my fingers to work.

Me: You really didn’t have to leave work for me, only if you’re free. No pressure. We’ll be at Bare.

My phone vibrates immediately with his response.

Kyan: Oh, I’d definitely rather be spending time with you instead of in this stupid office. See you soon.

I’m ashamed that Tori walks out and catches me with this stupid, silly grin on my face. I know I look ridiculously happy, because she’s got her head tilted and she’s clapping happily like a two year old.

“Looks like Kyan wasn’t busy after all. Imagine that.” She looks me over, checking out my going out attire before nodding in approval and whistling. “Now that looks hot. This is the Calla that I like to see. The fun one that isn’t always worrying about everyone else and what they think.” She glances down at my boots. “I seriously might have to borrow that outfit sometime.” She throws her hands on her hips and smirks while pushing out her breasts. “You likie?”

She’s wearing a pair of black skinny jeans and a white off-the-shoulder shirt that says: Objects in shirt are bigger than they appear.

I laugh as I reach for my purse. “Yup. That shirt is totally you.” I shove my phone into my purse and loop my arm through hers. “Looks like we’re going to Club Bare. Kyan is leaving work to meet us there.”

She turns to me and lifts her eyebrows. “Leaving work, huh? Yeah, someone just wants to be fuck buddies my ass.”

I push her with my hip. “We’re just having fun. I’m sure he was about to leave work anyways. Now shut up and let’s go before I change my mind.”

CLUB BARE IS PACKED WHEN we arrive, but we somehow manage to snag up a table and cover it with all of our crap. The only way to keep a table in a place like this it to make it as blatantly clear as possible that it’s taken. I guess the same could go for your woman as well. The only way to keep her in a place like this is to make it clear that she’s with you.

That is exactly what Brad is doing right now. Tori is standing in front of the table and Brad is so far up her ass that I almost believe he’s literally up there.

“What do you want to drink? You can stay here and watch our table while Brad and I go get the drinks.” Tori is reaching in her purse for her wallet when Kyan’s voice sounds next to my ear.

“Am I first to claim you tonight?” I feel his lips brush my ear as he smiles against it. “I had to be sure to beat all the other assholes to you.”

I nod my head and laugh as I turn my head to look up at him. “You’re definitely first, Mr. Wilder. Lucky you, I guess.”

He steps around the table and I about die on the spot when my eyes land on what he’s wearing. I notice Tori clearly checking him out too, as if Brad doesn’t even exist at the moment.

His thick legs are being hugged by a pair of form fitting, black trousers and his broad chest is covered in a white dress shirt, rolled up to the elbows, with a black vest. His tie hangs loosely around his neck and his hair looks as if he’s just finished having the best fuck of his life. In other words, he looks dangerously irresistible. I can guarantee that every female mouth dropped on his way over to this table and they’re busy wiping the drool from their damn chins right now.

He smiles at Tori and says hello before introducing himself to Brad. He leans into Brad’s shoulder with all the confidence in the world and says something before turning back to us. “So what will it be, ladies?”

Tori raises a brow and twists her face up in thought before settling on a beer, as well as the rest of us, and before we know it Kyan has one of the waitresses over taking our orders and smiling at Kyan as if she’s the happiest girl in the world.