Chapter 17

17

A lyssa’s muscles ached as she trudged through the snow toward the building where the event would start in two hours time. The cold December air stung her cheeks, but she barely noticed. Her mind kept drifting back to last night - the warmth of Denise’s skin, the softness of her lips, the way she’d-

Alyssa couldn’t stop herself from smiling. She’d been so busy today that she’d hardly had any time to think about last night. She’d spent the day helping customers secure their trees, directing traffic, and making sure everything ran smoothly. Her lack of sleep was catching up with her now though, and she wished she could sneak off and go for a nap somewhere, but there just wasn’t time.

Alyssa opened the door and stopped in the doorway.

“We need to make sure there’s enough room for the line to wrap around,” Denise said, helping Greg, one of the college students she’d hired last month, put up the roped barriers.

Alyssa’s heart skipped. Denise’s hair was pulled back in a messy bun, and she was wearing a white hoody with well-worn jeans. She looked so at home giving directions, like she belonged here.

Greg nodded and moved the barriers. “This look okay?”

“Perfect.” Denise turned as Alyssa came into the room. Their eyes met, and a flush crept up her neck. “Hey. I hope you don’t mind that I’m here.”

“I’m going to take my break, if that’s okay,” Greg said to Alyssa.

“Sure,” Alyssa said, sliding her hands into the pockets of her jeans as Greg left because she didn’t trust herself not to pull Denise into her arms then and there. She looked so effortlessly gorgeous. “No,” she said to Denise with a smile. “Why would I mind?”

“We never really talked about what my role here would be so…” Denise pressed her lips together. “I didn’t want to overstep, but at the same time, this is one of the busiest days of the year around here so…”

“I appreciate the help.” Alyssa thought about all the other things that they never really talked about. They’d fallen into bed last night without ever saying whether it was just a casual thing that they’d both given into in the heat of the moment or if there was the possibility of it being something more.

Although Alyssa nearly laughed out loud at that thought. Denise was still entirely out of her league, even after last night.

“You okay?” Denise asked, tilting her head slightly as she studied her.

“Tired.” Alyssa said as she held her gaze. “In the best possible way,” she added. “I’m definitely not complaining.”

Denise smiled. “I know. I can imagine. What time did you leave?”

“Before seven.”

Denise grimaced. “Four hours sleep?”

Alyssa could feel her cheeks heating up, a memory of Denise grinding against her thigh, their bodies pressed together as they’d kissed, both of them coming within seconds of one another. “Something like that.”

Denise glanced behind her and then stepped into her space. “Can I kiss you?” she whispered.

Alyssa’s breath caught in her throat. The question hung between them as her gaze dropped to Denise’s lips, remembering how they’d felt against her skin last night.

“Yes,” she breathed.

Denise cupped her face and pressed their lips together. The kiss was soft, tender - so different from their heated exchanges the night before. Alyssa’s hands found Denise’s waist, pulling her closer as warmth spread through her chest.

Denise pulled back from the kiss, but kept her hand on Alyssa’s face, her thumb brushing against Alyssa’s cheek.

“Come up to the farmhouse later?” Denise asked. “After the event, I mean. We could have dinner, celebrate it going well.” Her lips quirked into a smile. “Hopefully going well.”

“I’d like that.” Alyssa’s fingers curled into the fabric of Denise’s hoody.