Guarding His Heart Page 14

  Her smile faded as she stared back at him. “It would be a fabulous job, but I won’t be able to. I’m leaving on Christmas Eve.”

  “You can do it when you come back from your vacation?”

  Disappointment filled him as Georgie’s brow wrinkled and she shook her head.

  “But I’m not coming back. I’m leaving Half Moon Bay.”

  Her words surprised her, but Georgie knew it was the only way to guard her heart.

  …

  Liam unlocked his front door and Georgie nodded her thanks to him. He’d offered to bring Mutt up with them and she thought it was more for him to have something to focus on so they didn’t have to talk. When she’d mentioned moving on, he hadn’t commented. He’d dropped his arms and gone into the kitchen, and she heard the gurgle of the coffeemaker as he’d poured himself a coffee. She’d gone upstairs and changed into her work clothes and boots and shoved her cell phone into her pocket.

  The walk up to the house had been quiet, with each of them making desultory comments about the weather and the beautiful sapphire blue of the ocean. Mutt eased the tension by bounding from one to the other, but Georgie sensed that Liam’s thoughts were elsewhere as he headed for his study and she went upstairs to work.

  Probably on his book.

  “Damn!” She swore as she hit her thumb with the hammer for the fifth time in three hours. Like Liam, her thoughts were elsewhere, but they weren’t on his book or even on her upcoming trip. His face filled her mind. The night they’d shared had been magic. He was kind, considerate, loving, teasing, and damn beautiful to look at. Last night he’d opened up and let her into his soul, and she’d seen the creative side of him flow as he’d whispered softly to her. Words that brought them so close to each other, and words she would remember for the rest of her life.

  If only… Georgie shook herself and willed herself to move on. She’d killed it all by telling him she was leaving.

  I am leaving. Get the job done. Finish up and move on. Independence.

  She picked up a length of wood and pulled out her tape, measured it, and cut it to size. It was only when she carried it over to the wall and tried to fit it that she realized she’d cut it a foot short and three inches too wide. She moved across to the window and sat on the ledge, letting the fall sun warm her.

  Had last night been a mistake? They both carried baggage and they both had things they wanted to achieve, plus she had places to go. They would have to come to terms with it and break it off before one of them—or both—got hurt. And God knew, neither of them could handle any more hurt. She’d just read about Liam and his ex-wife in a magazine that she was sure Sienna had left lying around deliberately.

  While Sienna had been trying to matchmake, maybe she’d also wanted to make sure Georgie went in with her eyes wide open. Well, she had, but it was beginning to hurt already. The fear of leaving Half Moon Bay was now real. She could almost taste the uncertainty building in her chest, and the thought of leaving Liam when she’d just met him was one she didn’t like.

  She closed her eyes but his face wouldn’t go away.

  His gentle smile, his blue eyes, and the angles of his face. She raised her hand to her own cheek—it was still tender from the rasp of his rough stubble against her skin. The memory of how little sleep they’d gotten brought a smile to her face, and she opened her eyes as resolve flooded through her.

  She was overthinking this…as usual. Georgie could almost hear Sienna’s voice in her head. “Stop analyzing everything. Just enjoy the moment.”

  Over the past few months, she’d forgotten how to have fun, how to enjoy life. She’d always been the one who had played the practical jokes and thought up the harebrained schemes when they’d been growing up. It was time to lighten up and retrieve her old sense of fun. She’d been the mistress of sending funny texts. Sienna had even threatened to print them out and publish them in a book.

  There was no reason why she couldn’t spend some time with Liam before she went away. Ana had Blake, Sienna had Jack, why couldn’t she hook up with Liam and have some fun with him before she went away? Memories to hold on to while she was off learning how to be independent. Georgie grinned as she remembered some of the memories that had been made last night. Okay, if she’d been looking for the real thing, it might have worked out. He might have been the One… Now that she had planned out her life, though, she didn’t need Liam.

  But there was nothing to stop her from seizing the moment, was there?

  Three more weeks. She might as well make the most of it. They’d have a good time and if they spent the odd night together, well, that would add some more amazing memories to take away with her. It was time to take what life offered her before she headed off into the big wide world.

  And she was going to start right this minute.

  Georgie stopped outside the door of the downstairs study and balanced the tray she was carrying on one arm. With the other hand she pulled the band from her hair, shook her hair loose, and licked her lips, trying to ignore the sudden lack of moisture in her mouth. Taking a deep breath for courage, she tapped lightly on the door before pushing it open.

  As she walked across the room, Liam turned and his eyes crinkled at the edges.

  Phew. First hurdle overcome.

  “It’s way past lunchtime.” She kept her voice bright and busied herself finding a clear spot to put the tray down. “I made us some sandwiches.” She grinned as she looked around at the piles of books on the floor. “You sure do need those bookshelves.”

  Liam jumped up, took the tray from her, and put it on his desk. He looked distracted, and for a moment she was worried that she’d intruded on his privacy. That worry disappeared when he reached out and pulled her to him. His hair was mussed as though he’d been running his hands through it, but his smile was sweet as he looked down at her.

  “I was just thinking about coming up and telling you it was time for a break. You work too hard.” He pulled her closer.

  “Really? I thought—” But she didn’t get to tell him what she thought because he was kissing her. Softly and gently, and Georgie slid her hands up beneath his shirt and splayed her fingers on the smooth skin of his back. Liam’s mouth moved from her lips to her cheek and then to that ticklish spot on her neck beneath her ear. He’d discovered that last night and now he headed straight for it.

  She couldn’t help the giggle that bubbled through her lips.

  “So you find my lovemaking amusing?” He pulled back and looked at her for a long moment. “Hmm. I must be out of practice. Maybe I’d better do something about that?”

  “What about lunch?”

  “Lunch?” His eyes were half closed, and the way he was looking at her sent a thrill shooting all the way to Georgie’s toes. “Seeing as you’ve gone to all that trouble, we’d better eat…first.”

  The thrill turned into a shiver and Georgie swore that her entire body was covered in goose bumps.

  …

  The afternoon flew by in a very pleasurable manner, but Liam didn’t spend it writing new chapters, and Georgie didn’t build any new bookshelves. He propped himself up on one elbow and watched her as she stood looking out the window of his bedroom. She was wearing one of his white shirts and it just covered her bare thighs.

  “I’d better go downstairs and check on Mutt. It’s almost dark.” She picked up her shorts and slid them up over those long legs with his shirt hanging out loose over them

  “You made lunch, so I guess it’s my turn to cook dinner?” Liam slid off the bed and reached for his jeans. “You will stay?”

  “For dinner?” Georgie’s beautiful green eyes held the hint of a smile.

  “I was hoping for the night?” As she walked toward the door, he grabbed her hand and held it against his chest. Her cheeks were rosy and her skin was still damp with perspiration. Liam inhaled the sweet smell of her hair as she rested her head against his shoulder.

  “Shouldn’t you be writing?” Georgie asked. She was a perfect
fit against him, and he slid his hand through her silky hair.

  “I should be, but I’ve written enough to make my editor happy.” The muse had come back with a vengeance, and the more time he spent with Georgie, the more the words flowed. “Very happy.”

  “Shoot, I forgot we were going to the city tomorrow.” She pulled back with a frown. “I’ve hardly done any work today. What time is your appointment?”

  “A lunchtime meeting at the Fairmont. If it’s a problem for you to take me there, I can call Aldo and get him to drive me up to Half Moon Bay.” He smiled when the telltale blush stained her cheeks and her frown disappeared. “But it would be nice to have your company.”

  “No, it’s all good. I have to go up there, too. I just worry about getting your job finished. No matter what”—she looked at him coyly from beneath her lashes—“you are paying the store for me to build you a room full of bookshelves. I’ve made very little progress today.”

  “But it has been a good day?”

  “You know it has. And I don’t think you need any more practice for a while.” Georgie’s eyes held a mischievous glint as she moved away from him. “Now I’m going down to see to that poor neglected dog while you cook.”

  Liam sat down on the bed after she went downstairs. The sense of contentment that flowed through him was unfamiliar. He hadn’t felt this at ease in a long time. He took a deep breath and basked in the warmth that was flowing through him. His book was coming along brilliantly, and he knew that Georgie was responsible for the way he was feeling and the way the words were appearing. She’d gotten beneath his skin and brought his emotions spiraling back to the surface.

  The good ones.

  If he kept writing like this, he’d have this book finished well before the Christmas Eve deadline. Georgie had brought a fresh outlook and joy into his life in the short time he’d known her. Even when he’d been with Vanessa, her neediness had stifled him. The social life she had made for them had been time-consuming and had bored Liam. The joy that his writing had given him had disappeared as he realized the mistake he had made in marrying Vanessa—along with his muse. That had been the problem with his writing over the past few months. Events since her death had overwhelmed him, and it had continued to block his creativity. He’d buried his feelings and not let himself feel the emotions that were bubbling under the surface—the facade he showed to the world. The person he’d become in the artificial world she’d created for them.

  But he still had work to do. If I can drag myself away from Georgie and back to the computer. And he had to sort out exactly what these feelings were. He’d only just met her, but in ten days she’d made him feel more alive than he’d felt in the last two years.

  Liam frowned and made his way down to the kitchen, deep in thought.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Sex between two consenting adults. That’s all it was.

  Nothing else.

  Georgie cursed as her hair band snapped and her neatly coiled hair tumbled down. Good times before she went away.

  They were going to be late. Even though she didn’t have an appointment, she knew Liam had to be at the Fairmont hotel at noon to meet with his editor. It wasn’t far from there to the travel agency down near Union Square, and it was a beautiful day for a walk.

  Even though Liam had wanted her to stay the night, she’d insisted on coming home after dinner, telling him she had things to do, but she’d come home mainly because she’d needed some space. She did have to organize some dates and papers to take to the travel agency and she should have done it last night, but when Liam had insisted on walking her home, he’d come in and ended up staying and they’d talked until after midnight.

  Georgie couldn’t help grinning as she fixed her hair. She’d taken extra care with her appearance today. A touch of makeup, an elegant hairstyle—if only she could get it to stay up—and a long-sleeved silk top over black jeans. A pair of flat but strappy sandals completed the look. If she was spending at least part of the day in Liam’s company, she wanted to look nice.

  “Oh. Shoot.” A tap at the door announced his arrival and she opened her window and called down to him. “I’m coming.” She gave up on her hair and gave it a quick brush, leaving it loose, checked her lipstick, and picked up her bag, travel itinerary, and a warm jacket.

  Liam was waiting on the porch, stroking Ana’s cat, Sooky, and Georgie’s mouth dropped open as she pulled the door shut behind her.

  “We…ell, Mr. Author, don’t you look right pretty.” She tipped her head to the side and looked him up and down. From the tip of his polished shoes to the neatly knotted tie at the collar of his pale blue business shirt.

  “Not as pretty as you do.” His smile sent a pleasant buzz through her and she smoothed her hair back from her face.

  “It’s a shame we have to climb into that old truck,” she said.

  Liam looked over at the truck and then glanced down at his watch. “I have an idea. We have plenty of time. My editor called just as I was leaving. Her flight’s been delayed so my meeting’s been put back till two o’clock. I hope that doesn’t mess with your day?”

  Georgie shook her head and waited to hear his idea, but he smiled enigmatically without telling her what it was. She shrugged and called out to Mutt as she opened the door of the old truck. “You guard the house, boy, and don’t even think about getting out.”

  “Will he be okay home by himself?” Liam frowned as he slid in beside her and a shot of warmth filled her. He really was a great guy, and she was getting more sucked in each time he did or said something sweet—and there had been more than a few of those times over the past couple of days.

  “He should be okay. I got up early and checked the fence where he’s been getting out and it looks sturdy. He might howl a bit but he’ll be fine.” She looked up with a grin at Liam’s house perched on top of the cliff. “At least he won’t bother the neighbors.”

  The Cabrillo Highway was busy, and Georgie concentrated on driving as they headed north. They were just south of Half Moon Bay when Liam’s phone rang. Georgie pulled off to the side of the highway while he answered. The truck was so damn noisy it was almost impossible to hold a conversation when it was speeding along the road, let alone hear someone on the other end of a cell phone when the motor was revving away.

  Liam shot her a smile as he took the call. They were parked on a bluff just before the Half Moon Bay Golf Club and the view of the sea opened out in front of them. The birds were diving for fish close to the shore, and when Georgie opened her window, their shrill cries floated in on the sea breeze. It was a glorious day—no clouds, for a change, and very little wind. Despite being early winter, the forecast was for the high sixties. Seals lay on the rocks soaking up the midmorning sun and the smell of the salt air was refreshing as it drifted up from the sea.

  “Thank you, I’ll wait for your email.” Liam’s words were formal and Georgie glanced over at him. A frown wrinkled his brow as he stared out through the windshield and he was unaware of her looking at him. Georgie made the most of the opportunity. He was clean-shaven this morning, and the angles of his face were less pronounced without the shadow of his usual dark stubble. His shirt was the same ice blue as his eyes and his hair curled softly onto the collar.

  Georgie knew she was falling for him and that it was a crazy thing to do. She had to put a halt to it before she got hurt. And she knew that hurt would come as sure as morning followed night. It would be worse, much worse than any other time, because she’d never fallen so deeply for any other man. She sighed and turned back to the view over the ocean.

  “No problem, it’s not your fault. Talk soon.” Liam disconnected and put the phone back into his jacket on the seat between them.

  “Change of plans,” he said. “Larissa’s flight has been canceled and she’s postponed the meeting till next week.”

  “Oh.” Georgie bit her lip. “So what do you want to do?” Did he want to go back home? They were only half an hour away and she’
d have time to drive him back and still go back to the city.

  “Can you take a left here and pull in at Half Moon Bay for me?” Liam grinned at her and her stomach did a double backflip. If he’d asked her to fly to the moon with a smile like that, she would have done her damnedest to do it.

  “Sure…where to?”

  “Do you know where the Ritz-Carlton is?” He looked very pleased about something as Georgie started the car.

  “Yes, it’s the next left, down on Miramontes Point Road.”

  She turned off the highway and followed the curving road until they reached the hotel. The yellow brick building perched on the sweeping lawns glowed in the morning sun. It was a beautiful place and Georgie had always had a yen to stay here. Liam grabbed his jacket and climbed out.

  “I won’t be too long, I hope.”

  Georgie shrugged and settled in to wait. Ana’s old truck looked out of place next to all the flashy cars parked along the manicured hedge. She pulled out the folder holding her travel documents and began to think of the questions she had for Sandy, the travel consultant. She hadn’t had a chance to think about her trip for a while. Either that or she was blocking it from her mind. The tentative itinerary was Hawaii to Rio de Janeiro after Christmas and in March she’d fly to Sydney. She had to decide how long she would stay in Australia and then choose her next destination so Sandy could book her flights. Georgie flicked through some of the brochures the travel agent had sent her, but nothing appealed. She sighed and put her head back on the headrest. It was too late to change her mind; she’d paid for half of the trip already and changing her mind because she was a coward—or for some other reason she was not even going to think about—was not enough for the travel insurance company to refund her money.

  The noise of her door opening had her eyes flying open and Liam stood there jangling a set of keys.