"Well…” I hesitate. “They say that a kiss from a beautiful woman will cure all pain."
I expect her to laugh. Instead, she smiles softly, leaning closer as her fingers drift into the back of my hair and along my shoulder. “How about an ordinary-looking woman who loves beautiful books?"
I'll have to correct her later. I can't resist her perfect lips a second longer.
This kiss is different from the one last night. A bit less lusty, a bit softer and more affectionate. When my hands skim down her back to cup her luscious round ass firmly and I pull her close, every touch is an exploration of things to come.
The feeling of her fingers in my hair is driving me wild. I reach up to stroke the side of her face and her neck, tilting our mouths together as the heat begins to kick in.
"Devin?" she whispers across my lips. Her breasts are moving in time with her breath, brushing against me in a way that makes my fingers tighten around her.
"Yeah?"
"This weekend is your chance to have some face time with the people that matter at your job."
"Yeah. So?"
Her fingers run along my earlobe, making me openly shudder. She laughs, then steps back. "It would be downright antisocial and a bad career move to miss pizza night."
My bottom lip sticks out. "Grumble."
She stares. "Did you legit just say grumble?"
"Grumble grumble. Grr."
Laila bursts out laughing, playfully shoving my shoulder slightly as she turns away, rummaging in her suitcase for a fresh shirt.
This time when we walk into the dining room, laughing and holding hands, I have zero doubt everyone will believe we're a couple.
We're going to get away with this.
9
LAILA
’Twas the night before Valentine's
And all through the chalet
Brokers ate pizza while getting cray-cray…
Okay, I'm a literary editor, not a poet. But I keep giggling when I see how excited this crowd is to have so many varieties of pizza.
To be fair, it's alot. They even made chocolate and fruit ones for dessert. Honestly, they’re more like pies, but nobody is complaining.
Devin and I make the rounds of the dining room, switching tables every time we get up to get another slice. Most others are doing the same. We end up at Kevin and Katrina’s table, then Devin goes to get another round of desserts for the four of us.
“Devin is so attentive," Katrina says to me. “Why didn't you come out skiing with him?"
I shake my head vigorously. "No way. I'm too clumsy for downhill skiing. And I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to work very well if I went head-first into a few dozen trees."
Katrina laughs. "You could try cross-country skiing tomorrow morning. There’s a little practice trail that only takes about twenty minutes, and they have all of the equipment you need right there."
I'm touched. "Thank you. I'll think about it."
Devin comes back with a plate full of desserts, setting them in the center. "I got a bit of everything, so just grab your favorites, then I'll get another round." He turns to me. "I was thinking you might like this lemon coconut…?"
I tap his arm playfully. "None for me, darling. I can't stand coconut, remember?"
