“Ha! Taking advantage of the young and impressionable. I never would have guessed.” Mari held out a bite of sausage. “Open.”
She opened right up. She didn’t take advantage. She just enjoyed the young and snuggling while she was recovering from Mari.
“Good, right?” Mari sipped her coffee again. “I’m not making fun of you, Beks, honestly. I’m really impressed, and I’m absolutely happy to admit I was wrong about you.”
“You weren’t that wrong. I was young and I needed to explore all my options. Now I know what I’m here for.”
“I know what I’m here for too. I just don’t know if I can do it where I was anymore.”
“Do you not like it? I mean, New York?” She didn’t have an opinion on it; she was more curious.
“I love New York. But New York is Josie now.”
“Oh.” Yes, that made sense. “I can see that. I’m so sorry. She sucks.”
“Well, she’s making someone happy I guess. I like to think I dodged a bullet. I can work anywhere. My whole team does.”
“So, where would you go?” She thought she might see if she could find a little place here. Colorado was expensive, but worth it.
“I don’t know.” Mari shrugged. “I’m not there yet. I have no idea.”
“That’s fair. I can do a reading for you later, if you want.” She found that it clarified a lot.
Mari snorted softly and shook her head, but then turned and looked at her suddenly. “You know what? Why not?”
“Cool.” She fed Mari a bite of pancakes to muffle the urge to squeak.
“Mmm.” Mari chewed and swallowed, then smiled at her. “What do you usually do for Christmas? Most of the time I’m working right through it. It’s going to be nice to just relax.”
“Sometimes I go on a cruise, sometimes I go to friends. This is a busy time for Bry, so it’s neat to get to see him, take a break.” She tended to be busy with some clients in crisis, but this year, so far, it had gone well.
“Does he have a family here? He seems pretty invested in the place.”
“He’s dating a little ski bunny who travels all over teaching skiing in the winter and doing rafting in the summer.” He was happy seeing her a few times a month. They had an exciting relationship.
“Well good for him. Does he have a place here? Or an apartment at the resort or…?”
“He lives here in staff housing. It’s a cute little apartment. Tiny, but free with his salary, so he’s good.” She got it.
“Can’t argue with free.” Mari flopped back on the bed with a groan. “Oh, that was so good. Yummy.”
She reached out, parting the robe and stroking Mari’s belly. Damn, that was the prettiest little stretch of skin.
Mari tangled their fingers. “Let’s sleep in and bum around the room tomorrow. A day in. What do you think?”
“I think that sounds like heaven. I would love to spend time with you.” Bekka blushed dark, but it was the truth. Mari fascinated her.
“Rest your foot. Make Christmas plans.” Mari kissed her fingers. “Screw around.”
“I’m in, Mari.” She winked up, circling the sweet dip of navel. “All in.”
9
Marissa had spent most of the day enjoying Bekka and not caring what time it was, but they had dinner reservations in the swanky resort restaurant, and she’d sent Beks off to her side of the suite to get dressed half an hour ago.
She’d showered and done her hair, blown it out and left it down, but now she was thinking she should put a clip in it, like a half up-do. Something about the dry air here made it staticky.
Her wardrobe was on point though. The skirt was a little tight and her blouse was a little loose in all the right places, and she was wearing the one pair of heels she’d brought with her.