Page 77 of Kissing the Boss (Fairy Tale Quartet 2)

My tongue came out to wet the surface of my lips, because oh yeah, no one made cooking look quite as delicious as Ezra Nash did.

“So Broderick worked you overtime again tonight, huh?” he asked conversationally as he washed his hands before opening the bread bag.

I nodded, distracted by the meticulous way he covered the counter with paper towels and set down each piece of bread on them, one beside the other in a neat row.

“Yeah, uh, we’ve been working on the Purses portfolio we have to present on Friday. Finally finished it this evening.”

Ezra paused from buttering the bread to raise his eyebrows my way. “Really? Already? That’s awesome. I doubt my department will have the Jackets portfolio finished until late tomorrow. I swear, I was about to strangle two members on my team until they finally compromised on an idea this morning. And it was because of patches on elbows of all things.”

“Oh! I think I met them in the elevator,” I announced brightly before knitting my brow. “But they didn’t seem that at-odds about it. After I made a little suggestion, they seemed totally willing to work together.”

“Wait.” Ezra stopped buttering to point his knife at me, his eyes wide with shock. “Were you the woman who fixed their fight?” Suddenly, he gripped my face in both hands and kissed me on the lips with a quick, hard peck. “Oh my God, babe. Thank you. You’re a lifesaver. They’d been fig

hting nonstop for over a week about it, and then suddenly, they returned from a smoke break and everything was fine again. Said some lady they met in the elevator put it all in perspective for them.”

“Uh… Maybe that wasn’t me, then,” I tried. “I mean, I barely said anything. Just that it wouldn’t hurt anything to try it one way. It could always be changed if it didn’t work.”

“I have no idea what you said, but it freaking worked. You are a kickass mediator.”

“Well…” I flushed and ducked my head, not sure how to take such a compliment. “I’ve actually enjoyed working with everyone in Purses on our portfolio,” I added, totally changing the subject. “I was so proud of how it turned out; I had to scan all the pages and save PDF files as a keepsake.” I laughed at my own silliness. “I’m such a sentimental sap.”

“I think it’s sweet,” he said, nudging my arm with his before he finished buttering the bread and then put the cheese sandwiches together.

“That reminds me,” I told him, not sure how any of this made me think of what I suddenly remembered. “Lana knows I’m working at JFI again.”

Ezra stopped piling bread to turn to me, his gaze serious and eyes dark with concern. “She knows? Everything?”

“Not about us, I’m sure,” I reassured. “But she stormed Brick’s office and threatened him.” I filled him in on all the women who had shown up not long after that.

Ezra gave a low whistle. “Wow, poor Carmichael. She’s definitely one vindictive woman.”

I nodded, though at the moment, my stepmother was the last concern on my mind. I was too content to be here, right in this moment with Ezra.

After he finished making our grilled cheese sandwiches, burning one side because we got a little too carried away making out during the wait, we returned to my room, where we fed each other, laughing over dripped cheese and toast crumbs. Then we spent the rest of the night talking, sleeping, and exploring each other’s bodies.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Have you ever had one of those mornings where you woke up and everything just felt right? The best amount of cushion possible was molded around you, the perfect covers on top, pillow fitted just so under your head, the temperature of the room excellent, and you’d slept a good, solid deep sleep? Then your alarm ruins it all, and you groan because you want to keep lying there, just like that, without moving a muscle, for the rest of eternity?

Yeah, it was one of those mornings, for sure.

My eyes flickered open. I stared at the wall of my room for a moment, feeling rested and relaxed. A slow smile started and then, boom, the alarm shrieked out this totally unnecessary and increasingly annoying racket, making something grumble in complaint right into my ear before a warm weight draped across my stomach shifted.

I squeaked. Totally didn’t scream, because I’m not a screamer, but there was a definite noise of alarm that escaped. And I gave a little jump, too, plus I might’ve also gasped, “Oh God. I forgot you were here.”

After not sharing a bed with anyone, ever, I was used to waking up alone. So this… This was new. Not at all bad, but definitely new.

The body curled up behind mine shook as he began to chuckle. And suddenly, I couldn’t decide which was worse: the alarm clock that continued to beep, or Ezra laughing at me.

Lunging across the mattress, I slapped the snooze button. Then I flopped onto my back and winced up at the ceiling, feeling a little sore and a lot too-awkward to face him. Because last night, last night had been perfect. What if I looked at him now and everything was just all wrong? I couldn’t handle all-wrong after a perfect night.

“Is that my cue to leave?” he asked, somewhat cautiously.

“What? No!” Worried I’d made him feel unwanted, I rolled to face him. “No, no, no. That’s not at all what I—oh. Oh, wow.”

Bright blue eyes twinkled in the morning sunlight as he rested his cheek on my pillow—need to repeat that one more time…rested his cheek on MY pillow!!—and watched me.

Dark eyebrows crinkled over those blue eyes. “What?” he asked, confusion lining his curious gaze.

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