Page 116 of By Invitation Only

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Peyton

After I had played with Amelia and Mark’s children for a few minutes, Booker handed me an envelope. “What’s this?”

“It is Christmas,” he stated.

I looked around the room. Was I supposed to get everyone a gift? Was this a thing and I had no idea? I wasn’t expecting to exchange gifts with Booker in front of everyone.

“I… I left yours at home.”

He smiled. “I don’t need anything. Just open it.”

This might be true. Though, I knew he’d be excited about what I’d gotten him. Coincidentally it could fit in an envelope too.

The room fell silent except for the children playing with their toys.

I flipped the envelope over to open it and Booker spoke. “I’d asked Carrie to wrap it, and she put it in the envelope.”

“It’s fine, Booker,” Carrie groaned.

I shrugged. “Whatever it is, I’m sure I’ll love it.”

I broke the seal and then pulled out the white folded paper. It was a printout of a cabin. I immediately sucked in a breath then gushed. “We’re going to Yosemite?”

“In a few months,” Booker clarified.

“When?” I asked for more of a clarification. There was no info on the paper except for a picture of a snow-covered log cabin.

“President’s Day weekend when we have three days off.”

I looked over at him. That was after he’d make partner and we would be out in the open. “I get you all to myself for three days?”

He smiled. “Yeah, gorgeous. I won’t even bring my laptop.”

I stood and rushed to where he was sitting on the couch to hug him. “I can’t wait…”

Booker turned his head and whispered into my ear, “And no one will be around to hear you when you come.”

Or at least it wouldn’t be Booker’s parents and I wouldn’t care.

Tonight was New Year’s Eve.

For the past several days, I’d been spending time with Booker and his family. I never thought the cocky attorney I used to hate seeing in court would have a playful side. Sure weplayedin bed, but watching him with the children made my heart and stomach do things that I was sure shouldn’t be happening so soon in a relationship.

I’d definitely fallen in love with the most unexpected person at the most unexpected time.

Unlike the last time we attended Sensation, Booker got dressed at my condo. The gang was picking us up in a limo, and we were all riding together like the first time Lorelei went to Sensation. This time she wouldn’t be avirgin. Randy and Lorelei were hitting it off. So much so that I hadn’t seen much of Lore in the week off. Usually over the winter break we’d go shopping for after Christmas sales or whatever, but not this year. She was with Randy, and I was with Booker and his family. They did stop by before Helen and Piers left to go back to Leeds. It was only for an hour or so, and not long enough for Lorelei to gush about her relationship with Randy.

I knew it would happen once Lorelei went to Sensation, and sure enough she was also thinking about joining the club, which I officially did before Christmas. It was my gift to Booker and was going to cost me two thousand dollars a month. It was a big price to pay for entertainment, but totally worth it. It might be weird to gift something to him that was essentially for me, but Sensation was a part of him. It was something he enjoyed, and I enjoyed it too. It was a place to leave my inhibitions at the door and be the person I truly wanted to be.

I wasn’t the attorney who needed to be on her game.

I wasn’t the best friend who laughed while talking about sex.

I wasn’t the girlfriend who cooked her boyfriend dinner every night.

I was confident, sexy, and I finally had no embarrassments when it came to anything I did or saw the moment I walked through the black velvet drapes.