Page 98 of By Invitation Only

CHAPTER TWENTY

Peyton

When you’re single, you don’t need to worry about what you’re going to get the love of your life for Christmas. It’s easy and sometimes depressing. This year I wasn’t single, though I couldn’t go around announcing that fact to anyone except Lorelei. And she wasn’t single either. She and Randy had hit it off at Sensation, but their relationship wasn’t a secret. She even made it a point to announce it one day in the break room. I, on the other hand, had to pretend that I went home every night and drowned my sorrows in a bottle of wine. That was what I used to do, especially after dealing with clients all day.

I wanted to get away. I wanted to go somewhere with Booker that wasn’t in LA and go out, do normal couple stuff. I didn’t want to have to worry about someone seeing us. So I started to search for places to book for Christmas in Yosemite.

Yosemite was over seven hours away from Los Angeles. I’d never had a white Christmas. To wake up on Christmas morning, my man next to me, snow falling and a fire blazing in the fireplace, sounded like heaven. Of course, I’d have to tell my parents. Christmas Eve was spent with my cousins and other family members at my parents’ house. I’d stay the night, wake up the next morning and exchange gifts. Later in the day, family members would come back for Christmas dinner. We spent Christmas at my folks’ because they had the biggest house. But this year I wanted to be with Booker. I couldn’t bring him to my parents’. My dad would ask him what he did for a living. I knew my father would never report us to the State Bar, but since he was a retired judge, I didn’t want him to know about any wrongdoing.

After I talked to Booker about going out of town for the week while our offices were closed, I’d figure out how to tell my parents.

I heard a key in the door and smiled, knowing Booker was home. Sunday I’d stopped by the hardware store and had a key made. It was time. Not only because we’d each professed our love for one another, but because—okay, that was totally the reason. I never thought that I’d ever fall in love with him. He was the opposing counsel I’d loathed. Now he was the sexy attorney who did things to my body that I never knew were possible. Plus, he made me feel special. From the way he held my hand, to the way he always locked my door for me when we left. I didn’t need him to bring me flowers or whisk me off to Paris. I was happy with what we were building.

As I heard the door close, I stood and began to walk to the kitchen. I’d made meatloaf for dinner, trying a new recipe that I hoped went with Booker’s diet. I knew he enjoyed going to the gym, and I didn’t want to ruin all his hard work.Ienjoyed his hard work.Damn…

“Gorgeous,” he greeted, kissing the side of my head when he came to the kitchen.

“Hey, how was work?”

He rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. “I can’t wait until this shit is over with.”

I turned to the fridge and grabbed him a bottle of water, then reached in my cabinet for the vodka I’d picked up at the store for him. It wasn’tBeluga. I’d looked for it, but quickly decided I’d rather spend twenty-five bucks on a bottle of vodka instead of ninety.

“Here, I think you need this.”

He smiled. “You got me vodka?”

“Yeah, and I made you meatloaf withEzekielbread.”

He took the bottle from my hand and set it on the counter with the water. “You really do love me,” he said, pulling me to him. His lips pressed against mine. My arms went around his neck, and I pushed against him, his back hitting the counter. He deepened the kiss, his tongue seeking and finding mine. I had no doubt that I would spend forever in bed with him. I craved him, and all those years that I spent despising him were wasted time.

When we broke apart, I said, “I do.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.” I brushed my lips to his. “Make your drink, and I’ll heat your food.”

He let me go, and I turned to grab his plate from the fridge. “After I make partner and I come home around six, we’ll be able to finally eat dinner together.”

I smiled as I looked over my shoulder at him. “I like the sound of that.” It wasn’t lost on me that he called my place home.

Booker took his seat at my breakfast bar while his food was heating in the microwave. “And I won’t get reheated food.”

“You’re lucky I’m giving you any food,” I teased. I really did know how important becoming partner was to him, and if I had to cook breakfast, lunch, and dinner for him to achieve his goal, I would.

“Yeah, beautiful, I am lucky.”

The microwave dinged, and I grabbed his plate. “Oh,” I started, remembering something Lorelei had told me at work. “Lorelei said she referred someone to you. I guess I represented her current husband in a previous divorce of his.”

“Monica said something about it. She set up the appointment,” he stated around a mouthful.

“Good.”

“Before you run off to bed, I wanted to tell you that I researched how to become a citizen.”

“You did?” I smiled.

He swallowed. “I did, and Carrie’s right, it takes six to twelve months. I’ll have to study U.S. shit.”