Sleepless in Manhattan (From Manhattan with Love 1)

“It will take more than a miracle and magic to sort out my problems.” Tired and confused, Paige slid off her shoes, made her way to the bathroom, pulled her dress over her head and stepped into the shower.

By the time she emerged, Eva had made tea and was curled up on Paige’s bed.

“Tell me about the problems.”

Paige flicked on the light by the bed.

How had it happened? Who had started it? She couldn’t even remember. One minute she’d been panicking, the next they’d been kissing like maniacs.

She felt a flash of horror.

It was so unprofessional.

“This event—” Her voice was urgent. “It has to be the best thing we’ve ever done.”

“Of course. It will be brilliant. You’ve never organized anything that hasn’t been brilliant. What happened? Sit down and talk t

o me.” Eva patted the bed, her eyes kind. “Jake didn’t like the venue?”

“I—” She realized she didn’t know. “I didn’t ask him.”

“But that was why you went tonight, wasn’t it? To show him the venue. Was everything all right?”

“Yes. It was great. Beautiful.” Romantic. Oh crap, it had been romantic. With the whole city spread before them, sparkling like a tray of diamonds at Tiffany’s.

“Good.” Eva curled her fingers around her mug. “So did whoever kissed you kiss you at the beginning of the night or the end?”

“What makes you think someone kissed me?”

“The stubble graze on your cheek is a little clue, as well as the fact that there is no trace of lipstick anywhere on your face and the only time I ever see you without lipstick is when you’re asleep.” Eva put down her mug of tea. “I’m the first to admit that numbers challenge me, but I’m fluent in body language and the language of love and you’re showing all the signs of someone who has been thoroughly, deliciously kissed by a man who knew exactly what he was doing. Tell me everything.”

What was there to say? “It’s late—we should get some sleep.”

“We both know you’re not going to sleep after that kiss, and I won’t sleep until you tell me everything I want to know, so you might as well satisfy my curiosity. And anyway, this coconut smelly thing has to stay on my hair for ten more minutes or it won’t work and I’m not spending all that money for nothing.” She nudged Paige with her shoulder and picked up her mug again. “Go on. Who was it? Are you seeing the guy again? And how did you manage to ditch Jake?”

She could lie, but Eva knew her too well.

“It was Jake.”

Eva choked on her tea. “You kissed Jake? Our Jake?”

“He kissed me. We kissed each other. I don’t know. It was—confusing. The elevator broke down. We were trapped.”

“Trapped?” Instantly understanding, Eva reached for her hand. “You hate being enclosed. That must have been awful for you.”

“It was. Until Jake kissed me.”

“That is so romantic.”

“It wasn’t. I—” Paige frowned. “I don’t know what it was, Ev. It was—it was—”

“It was what? It was gentle? Brotherly? Comforting? He kissed you as though—?”

“—as though I’d died and he was trying to bring me back to life.”

Eva stared at her. “Holy crap. That’s the kind of kiss I dream about. The-world-is-ending-so-let’s-just-kiss-all-the-way-through-it kind of kiss. Didn’t I tell you that kissing Jake should be on everyone’s bucket list? I can always tell when a man is going to be a good kisser and I bet Jake is an expert.”

Paige thought back. “I don’t know why.”