He stepped closer, his gaze not leaving her face. She had the cutest dusting of freckles sprinkled over the end of her pert nose. Her brown eyes could warm him like a hot chocolate on a cold night, or make him feel like dirt if he’d upset her. Her thick blue hair fell around her face highlighting how unique she was, and her lips… he’d avoided focusing too much on her lips in the past. They were plump and pink and so,sokissable.
They parted slightly as if she was about to speak, but no words came out. Her eyes widened and he was lost in the depths of them.
“Georgie.” He slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her against him. Damn, she felt good. It was like receiving something he’d been starving himself of for years. Famished now, he bent his head and his lips touched hers.
Paradise. Like diving into the cool ocean after a particularly hot and dusty day’s work.
She sighed and he tasted her sweetness, and all the tension in him released. This was what he’d been denying himself, this was what he’d been missing. He touched his tongue to her lips—
Suddenly he was shoved away.
He stumbled back, taking in Georgie’s flashing eyes and her outrage.
What?
“How dare you!” The tremble in her voice made his brain kick into double time. He’d upset her. But wasn’t this what they both wanted?
When he continued to stare at her trying to figure things out, she advanced on him, poking her finger in his chest.
“Don’t—” Poke. “you dare—” Poke. “use my feelings for you—” Poke. “to scratch an itch.”
“Georgie.” He grabbed her hand before she could poke him again. It hurt.
She tried to shake him off, but he held tight. Her eyes flashed fire. “No. You don’t get to kiss me. Don’t you see how cruel you’re being? You don’t love me.” She was near to tears and it killed him.
“But I do.”
She stilled in his arms, staring at him with shock.
“You said the other day that I was slow.” He smiled. “I’ve kept my feelings for you hidden even from myself. Since you told me how you felt, I’ve been so messed up.” He rubbed her arms, soothing her. “I’ve missed you. I’ve been so used to having my weekly fix of you, but then you stopped coming. Darcy will tell you what a rotten mood I’ve been in.” The words kept tumbling out. “And I’ve been so jealous of every guy who’s shown you any interest. I nearly punched Jerry when he said how hot you looked the other night.”
“He didn’t come inside. I only accepted his offer to make you jealous.”
“Well it worked. I’ve been obsessing over it ever since.” He kissed her again because he couldn’t help himself. “It’s taken me a hell of a long time to realise it, Georgie, but I love you too.
“Really?”
He nodded. Before he could say anything, she flung her arms around his neck and dragged him closer, kissing him. He smiled against her lips as a hunger took over him. This was where he needed to be, this was where he belonged. He’d been a fool not to see it sooner.
A car horn beeped and a guy yelled out of the window, “Give it to her.”
Matt backed away, glaring at them, and Georgie laughed, waving at the car full of young guys.
The interruption was timely. They had work to do and all he wanted was to have Georgie to himself. The faster they got this done, the faster that would happen.
Georgie slid her hand into Matt’s and turned back to the sign she’d been studying. “Maybe we should talk about the seasons in this one.”
Just like that he was forgiven, and everything was all right. Was it no wonder he loved her?
He nodded, marvelling at the way she went from being kissed to focusing on the sign. But her hand was in his and it was so easy, so normal. He squeezed her hand and agreed.
They continued their tour, making notes of where things needed to be added or changed, and though everything with Georgie felt right, there was a voice in the back of his head asking how Darcy would react. He glanced around the car park to make sure no one from town was there.
“What are you looking for?”
Right now he wished she wasn’t so in tune to him. “Nothing.” When she continued to look at him, he sighed. “I’m worried about how your brothers will react.”
She frowned. “About us?”
