Page 65 of If Our Hearts Collide

But a win is a win.

I park the SUV, hop out, and open Penny’s door. My breathing picks up as I anticipate what is going to happen once we get inside the building. Through the parking garage, we take the elevator up to the lobby, where an attendant is waiting for us to grant access. This is the main reason I love this building. The security is top-notch.

“Mr. Stone,” the attendant greets with a smile.

I dip my head in a nod, glancing down at Penny as confusion makes little lines on her forehead.

You’ll know soon enough.

We pass through the lobby to the opposite side where there is another line of elevators.

“Okay, you can go now,” she says expectantly. “Please.”

“No.”

There’s no way in hell I’m leaving now.

She turns to take in my strong stance. “No?”

“That’s correct.”

“Why are you making this so difficult?” she asks, visibly shaken over my unyielding nature.

After a long pause, she turns, marches over to the mailboxes and then to the side where there are lockboxes. She pulls out her phone and glances at the screen, scrolling through messages until she apparently finds the information she’s looking for. Finding the lockbox she needs, she undoes the lock and pulls out a key.

I follow her as she goes back to the elevators and then hits the button for the eighth floor once we get inside. I guess I should be relieved that wherever she is going is not going to be some nasty place. This building is nice and well-kept. However, that does not negate the fact that she has only been back in the state of Oregon for a couple of weeks. That would have left zero time to make any real connection with anyone of the opposite sex. Whoever this guy is that she is meeting better be worthit, have his driver’s license ready, and not look like a complete loser. Even then, I might just drag Penny out of the fuck-buddy situation kicking and screaming.

And I will. No problem at all.

Or maybe I can just embarrass the shit out of her and make this whole night turn sour.

I’m on a roll already of getting under her skin, so I doubt I have to provide much effort to continue on the trend.

“You are making this feel weird,” she mutters, right as the doors open to let us out.

“Good.”

Her nose scrunches up as she makes a face at me. I make one back. She laughs, and in return I laugh.

“You drive me nuts.”

“The feeling’s mutual,” I say with a smirk.

I allow Penny to lead us down the well-lit hallway, stopping in front of 815. She places the key into the lock, turns, and then pushes open the door. I’m not exactly sure what I was expecting, but it definitely isn’t what I find in the room.

Emptiness.

There is nothing inside. Just a bare apartment, with all of the normal amenities and appliances, polished and waiting to be smudged.

Even the walls smell of fresh paint.

“You aren’t meeting anyone here, are you?” I ask.

“I’m not a slut, Collins,” she snaps, looking over her shoulder to take in my posture and stance.

“I, ah?—”

“You thought it. So don’t even try to deny it.”

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