Page 49 of The Physical Attraction Seminar
You know what? Maybe I take back what I said about needing some girl talk. I think I can manage a few more days.
“The two of you aren’t actually together, are you?” she asks, her tone more of a statement than a question.
“Wh—How’d you know?” I try to feign innocence, but the guilt is evident in my eyes.
“Well, I was standing behind the both of you at the check-in counter the other day, and I might’ve overheard you guys talking about how you thought this was supposed to be a business conference or something?”
I sigh. I’m afraid there is no avoiding this one.
“So, you see…”
"I knew it," she says with a triumphant smile.
“Barrett is actually my boss. We had plans to attend a commercial real estate executives conference here next week, but he got the dates wrong, and well… you know the rest,” I explain. “So, no, we aren’t actually together. I’m just his assistant.”
“Oh, honey, you’re not just his assistant,” she laughs. “That man looks at you like you hang the stars.”
“Well, that might be because we accidentally had a one-night stand before I started working for him.”
“Accidentally? You didn’t know he was going to be your boss?”
“It’s complicated.”
“Sounds like it.” Her eyes widen as she nods. “So, why’d the two of you endup staying?”
“Our only options were to stay here or to go back to work.”
“Mhmm,” she hums. “If that’s the case, then why did you end up attending the seminar sessions? The two of you could’ve easily spent a week lounging by the pool, and no one here would’ve been any wiser.”
She’s right. We didn’t have to attend any of these sessions. And as easy as it would be to lie to her right now and tell her that we decided to attend them out of pure curiosity, I won’t do it.
I cast my eyes downward, feeling a blush creep up my cheeks, uncertain of how to respond.
“Yesterday, I couldn’t help but notice how the two of you were laughing at the foreplay seminar—it was genuine and playful. I know I don’t know much, but I don’t think that was ‘just attraction,’ hun.” When she looks at me, her eyes are filled with tenderness and warmth. “It was far from it, if you ask me.”
I smile up at her, still struggling to find the right words to say.
She flashes me a warm, encouraging smile. “I know my input might not count for much, but I think you should go to the kissing seminar tomorrow.”
“Charlene… he’s still my boss. I can’t do that.”
She looks side to side, then over her shoulder. “I don’t see anyone else from your job here. Do you?”
“Well, no, but…”
She has a point.
“Exactly. So just freaking kiss him, honey. No one has to know.”
“But—”
“Aht, aht. No ‘buts’. Make him temporarily fire you if it makes you feel better about it, but trust me when I tell you that you shouldn’t leave this seminar without kissing him.” Standing up from her chair, she gives my hand a tender, reassuring squeeze before she departs. Just before reaching the door, she pauses and glances back at me. “Hey, Lyla?”
“Yes?” I look over my shoulder at her, feeling her nurturing warmth as our eyes meet.
“I don’t know what’s holding the two of you back, but I just want you to know that whatever it is, it’ll be a lot easier if the two of you tackle it as a team.”
TWENTY
