“Merry Christmas.” 


I should have been startled when he spoke. The law office was dead quiet. But I’d known he was there before his voice was even in range. I had a way of knowing when he was near me.


“Not for a few days.” I dropped my pen as if it had always been hot and I was finally sick of the temperature.

“Don’t rush me.”


Drew leaned over me and kissed my forehead. I reached around his neck and pulled him down to me. I was entitled to a good, long Christmas kiss. No deposition in the world was going to deprive me of his lips.


“Beer,” I said before kissing him again, tasting his tongue.


“I just had a few.”


“You had two. I’m getting something artisanal past the Heineken.”


He gave me his entire mouth, daring me to get every last flicker of flavor. I had it just as he yanked away.


“I’m going to take you right on the table if you don’t stop.”


“I was locating the bar you went to.”

He smirked and dropped into one of the mesh ergonomic chairs. His cuffs were rolled up to the elbows, showing his tattoos and forearms rippled with muscle from weekends and late nights playing guitar. He worked three blocks to the west at a small, quiet firm that had three big, needy clients.