Page 28 of Stolen Kiss

“I feel much better than last night. Just a dull headache now.”

Her bed was against one wall which meant there was only one way off the bed and that was over Jason. She was in no fit state to straddle his body to get and get ready for family time.

“I need to get ready, Jason.”

“In a minute,” he said, grabbing her waist and bringing her in close so they were front to front.

He kissed her forehead where his thumb had rubbed.

“How are you really feeling?”

A little dizzy by his proximity, but she didn’t say it out loud. His warm body was comforting. The duvet had dropped to her waist. Even though she was wearing thick PJs, she could still feel him and it made her insides sigh.

“I feel okay, no blurriness, dizziness. I think the sleep did me good.”

“Okay.”

“Thank you for bringing me home.”

“You scared the shit out of me when you fell in the water after your team mate whacked you.”

“Yeah, she’s off my Christmas card list.”

“You’ve got good team mates, they all went into the water after you, no hesitation. I was impressed with the speed in which they got you to safety.”

“We practise a lot. The waters can be unpredictable. I think we practise more life-saving techniques than rowing.”

“I’m glad you’re safe.”

“Me too,” she said and dropped her head. Before she knew it she was moving closer to his body and he wrapped her in hisarms. She could’ve stayed there all day, but she needed to get to her parents’ house and apologise for no roasties.

Then her head snapped up. Jason was quick enough to get his chin out of the way as it was resting on top of her head.

“Did you say my best friend is stealing roast potatoes?”

“Yeah, if she burns herself then she only has herself to blame.”

“She can’t cook.”

“But I can.”

“Oh, yes, you can.” In her Jason haze she’d forgotten he was a chef.

“Yeah.”

“Like well? My dad is a tough judge of roasties.”

“We’ll see when we get to your parent’s place.”

“We?”

“Yep. I got an invitation for carrying their daughter home. Apparently your dad said it makes a change you weren’t drunk this time.”

She cursed into his chest hiding her embarrassment from him. His hand came up, slipped under her hair at the back of her neck and rested there. He was massaging lightly encouraging her to look up.

“I was glad I was there. Freya kept watch over you while I made your potatoes and now she’s downstairs, thinking I don’t know what she’s up to.”

“You really shouldn’t have left her alone with them. For a slim framed woman she can pack away a lot of roasties.”

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