She stared into his blue eyes and whispered what she felt in her heart. “And I love you, too.”
Seeing the flash of surprise on his face, she couldn’t help but grin. “I fell in love with you that first day, too.”
“Oh, baby.” Standing, he gently pulled her up from the sofa, swept her into his arms and headed for his bedroom.
Once there he placed her on his bed, in the perfect place to watch him strip off every stitch of his clothes. Then he stripped off hers. When he joined her on the bed, he kissed her again, and then their bodies connected in the most sensuous, most natural way. He was deep inside of her and when he began moving, thrusting in and out, stroking her desire as only he could, she finally knew what it felt like to be loved.
When he whispered again that he loved her, something inside her snapped. At the same moment, she felt her climax peak, driving her almost over the edge. “Parker!”
“Sebrina!”
Nothing could be as real as this. Passion had taken over her senses as desire and need continued to push her towards the edge. Then Parker would snatch her back, they’d share another orgasm, and then they’d build back up again.
This, this was love. And now that she knew it, she would never let him go again.
A short while later, Parker pulled Sebrina closer and wrapped his arms around her. She was exhausted and so was he, but he had to tell her again, “I love you, sweetheart.”
“And I love you.”
He’d heard her response, although her voice was weak. But that was fine. He now knew she loved him as much as he loved her, and that was all that mattered.
“Parker?”
“Umm?”
“Did you actually tell your parents about me?”
He smiled. “Yes, and they told me to tell you that they welcome you to the family.”
She turned slowly and stared up at him. “Seriously?”
He knew why she was asking. “Yes, seriously. I told you they’d changed. And when I saw them together this time, they were beaming. I’ve never seen them so happy.”
“Why, do you think?”
“They’re getting a divorce.”
“What!”
He laughed at the shocked look on her face. “Yes, they are getting a divorce…and they’re thrilled about it. In fact, they’re practically giddy. And I’m happy for them. After almost forty years of marriage, they finally decided to go their separate ways, and live their own lives. I believe they will always be friends, but they deserve to find that one person who’ll complete them.” He smiled. “They want me to be happy, too. And since you are the only woman who can make me that way, I guess I’m yours.”
Smiling, she snuggled closer to him. “And I’ll keep you.”
“What time do you have to be at the airport in the morning?” he asked.
She grinned up at him. “Do you honestly think you’re getting rid of me now, Parker Stanhope? I’ll call both Dad and Mom to let them know something has come up.”
“You’re going to miss spending Christmas with your family?”
“I will be spending it with my family, here, now, with you. I’ll join the others at the family reunion the day after Christmas. Would you like to come with me?”
He wrapped his arms tighter around her. “Baby, I wouldn’t miss it.”
Then he leaned in and took her mouth once again.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
MONICA SLOWLY OPENED HER eyes, then glanced at the clock on the hotel room nightstand. She’d overslept. It was already a little after nine in the morning. Before drifting off to sleep, she had intended to call the front desk for a seven o’clock wake up call. Oh well. There wasn’t much she could do about it now. She quickly eased out of bed and reached for the telephone, hoping Landon was still in his room.
“Yes, Ms. Bennett?”
“Could you connect me to Landon Chestnut’s room?”
“Please hold on.”
She heard the connection and moments later, the ringing of his phone. Her heart was beating erratically. She still hadn’t figured out what she would say when he answered. Moments later, she hung up because he had not answered. So she got out of bed and went to take a shower. Landon usually ate a big breakfast and if he hadn’t ordered room service then hopefully, he’d be downstairs in the hotel’s restaurant.
Less than an hour later, she was on her way downstairs. Before going to bed last night, she had taken the time to call her mother and Michael to let them know she had made it safely to Vegas. She’d also called her two older brothers and Kelly.
Stepping off the elevator, she walked over to the hotel’s restaurant and glanced around in awe. It was beautifully decorated with its own Christmas tree that was as golden as the interior walls of the palace. “Will you be dining alone?” a smiling restaurant attendant asked.
“I’m actually looking for someone. A handsome black male who’s probably eating alone”
The young woman nodded and smiled. “There are several men who fit that description in here. If you’d like, you can take a look around. Maybe you’ll recognize the person you’re looking for.”
“Thanks.”
She walked through the restaurant but didn’t see him. What if Landon had decided to try one of the other restaurants or even a café on the strip? Knowing he had to return at some point, she decided to have a message delivered to his room. It would be there whenever he got back.
She walked back over to the restaurant attendant. “I didn’t see him, I’m afraid. So I guess I’ll be eating alone.”
As Monica was being shown to her table, she passed a table with a man sitting alone. She glanced at him and he smiled and winked. Then she remembered seeing him last night. He’d been with that group of men on the elevator who’d been staring at her, making her uncomfortable. She quickly broke eye contact with him. The last thing she wanted was to give the man any ideas she might be interested.
When they reached her table, she sat down, and the waitress handed her a menu. “Thanks.”
She was looking over the specials, trying to decide if she would order from the menu or choose the buffet, when suddenly, someone slid into the other chair at her table. She frowned. It was the man whose table she’d just passed. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“I was eating alone, and it appears you are too. I see no reason for us not to share a table,” he said. “I’m Warren Duke, by the way. And you are?”
Monica glared at the obnoxious man. “It doesn’t matter who I am. I didn’t invite you to dine with me, so please leave.”
Landon returned to his booth after having hit the buffet table. He’d done some damage—the food piled on his plate looked fantastic. One of the things he liked about the Peachtree Private Investigative Firm, was that whenever he had to travel, he was always booked at some of the best hotels. And it didn’t get any better than Caesars Palace.
He had slid into his seat when he overheard a conversation through the restaurant’s wall. He had to be imagining things—that woman sounded like Monica. He shook his head. There was no way Monica was here in Vegas. It had to someone who sounded like her.