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“Mm-hmm.”

“Well, I think we’re going to have to think bigger, because she’s not budging.”

“What did you have in mind?”

She only hesitated for a split second. “A fake kiss.”

“What’s a fake kiss?”

“It’s like a real kiss, but we’re just doing it for Emma’s benefit.”

“Okay. So basically, you’re going to kiss me.”

“Yeah. That okay?”

“Fine by me.”

“You sure?”

A smile tugged at his mouth. “Just kiss me, Maya.”

Her heart hammering, Maya pushed her fingers into his hair, pleased that she’d already taken off her gloves so that she could feel the soft strands between her fingers. She’d been imagining running her fingers through his sandy locks for ages.

Drawing his head down, she slowly brushed her mouth against his, the contact immediately creating a burst of heat in her chest, which sent electricity coursing through her circulation. The familiar softness of his lips contrasted with the new grazing sensation of his beard, which hadn’t featured the last time they’d found themselves like this.

Maya had intended to leave it at that, but now that she was this close in his embrace, she didn’t want to stop. Neither did he, judging by the way he tightened his arms around her, pulling her in to deepen the kiss in a way that signaled to her he’d been wanting this for as long as she had.

A low ache developed in her belly, pulsing with every shift of his mouth over hers. All intentions that this was fake went out the window, and Maya even forgot that they were in a public area, where people they knew could be watching.

Sam broke off for a second, his eyes heavy lidded and lips rosy from their kiss. “Is she still there?”

He sounded like he was hoping she would be, even leaning back in before Maya had answered.

A quick glance confirmed that Emma was gone. But Maya let his lips meet hers again, murmuring, “Still there,” and feeling not at all bad about the white lie. She wrapped her arms around his neck, welcoming the hard press of his body against hers as he dipped in his tongue. The sensation of it caused liquid fire to pool within her, traveling all the way to the tips of her fingers and down to her toes.

Maya broke off to rest her forehead against his, her pulse throbbing. “I think I’m a fan of the beard.”

Kissing her nose, Sam smiled. “Not had a bearded kiss before?”

“Nope. Unless you count Bowser.”

He lifted a hand to trace her lower lip with his thumb, sending goose bumps tingling across her skin. “I’m definitely not counting my mum’s old dog.”

Maya shrugged, having to force herself not to bite the tip of his thumb. She wished to God that they weren’t in a public area. “I dunno. He gave pretty good kisses.”

Raising his eyebrows, Sam leaned in to brush his lips against hers. “I hope I can measure up.”

Maya grasped the front of his jumper. “I’d better double-check. For science.”

She drew him in, this time sliding her tongue in a little, and hoping that they weren’t going to get arrested for public indecency.

Sam responded, his breath hitching, and it sent a sweet thrill into her core. He ran a hand down to rest on the small of her back as he pushed his tongue against hers, his fingers grazing dangerously close to her bottom.

Breaking off, he glanced behind her, heat glittering in his gaze. “Okay. There’re definitely people watching now, and some of them might be the parents of your kids’ class. So I’d better cool it.”

Brushing his cheek with her fingers, Maya smiled. “I’ve got a confession.”

His eyes were sparkling like the sun glinting off the snow. “What?”