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‘And what about you?’ Rhiannon asked with a probing look. ‘Is he hero material?’
Georgie sent her eyes heavenwards. ‘Sometimes I wonder if I did the right thing in agreeing to this stupid bet. It’s like tempting fate to say you won’t do something, for all of a sudden the very thing you’ve sworn not to do is dangled in front of your nose until you can’t think straight.’
Rhiannon put out her hand palm upwards. ‘Pay up, sister. You’re going to have to anyway so why not get it over with?’
Georgie set her shoulders. ‘No,’ she said. ‘After Andrew I said I wouldn’t even dip my toes into the dating swamp for three months minimum and I meant it.’
‘That was before you met Ben Blackwood,’ Rhiannon reminded her.
‘I can be strong,’ Georgie said as she inserted the other earring. ‘I can do this, I know I can. So what if he’s good-looking and loves his little sister and keeps his family’s farm afloat by paying all the bills for them.’
Rhiannon’s eyes bulged. ‘He does all that?’
‘Yes, and he loves his stepfather.’
‘Uh-oh,’ Rhiannon said, handing Georgie her lipstick.
Georgie stared at the slim tube for a moment.
‘What’s wrong?’ Rhiannon asked. ‘Don’t you think it’s the right colour? I think it goes brilliantly with your outfit. That dress looks sensational on you by the way. I wish I had your figure. Maybe I’ll join the gym after all.’
‘I think I’ll just wear lip-gloss,’ Georgie said with a tiny frown creasing her brow. ‘I don’t want to overdo it.’
‘Believe me, Georgie, you could turn up dressed in a garbage bag and you’d be overdoing it,’ Rhiannon said wryly. ‘One look into those big brown eyes of yours and he’s going to be lost, if he’s not already.’
Georgie gave her flat mate a big squishy hug. ‘You’re so good for my ego,’ she said. Putting Rhiannon from her, she asked earnestly, ‘You won’t be too lonely here all by yourself, will you?’
‘I’m not going to be … I mean … er … not at all,’ Rhiannon said quickly. ‘I’ve got some work to do on my PhD philosophy paper. I’m going to the university library for a couple of hours.’
‘As long as you’re sure?’
‘Totally.’
Georgie took a deep breath and inspected her ensemble in the full-length mirror. ‘Well, then …’
The doorbell rang and Rhiannon handed her the tiny evening purse she’d selected to wear with her cerise dress and high-heeled sandals.
‘If you’re going to blow a thousand mackeroos, make sure it’s worth it,’ she said with a cheeky grin.
It will certainly be worth it, Georgie thought as she answered the door.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
BEN had to force his eyes to stay fixed on Georgie’s face as she opened the door at his summons. She was dressed in a knock-out pink dress that skimmed her slight curves and highlighted the healthy glow of her skin. Her hair was loose about her shoulders, its sun-kissed light waves full of body and bounce, making his fingers twitch yet again to reach out and thread through its silkiness. Her perfume drifted towards him, a different one this time. It was a subtle but totally intoxicating scent that reminded him of sun-warmed honeysuckle.
‘Hannah is waiting in the car,’ he said by way of greeting, not able to think of anything else on the spot. ‘She had a good day today. Thank you.’
Georgie followed him towards the lifts. ‘I had fun, too,’ she said. ‘She’s a lovely girl and great company.’
He stabbed at the lift button without looking at her. ‘I can’t help worrying about her,’ he confessed with a small frown. ‘She’s lived in the country all her life. She’s not as street smart as city kids.’
‘She’s fine, Ben,’ Georgie reassured him. ‘I thought she was very mature for her age.’
He sighed and held the lift doors open with his arm as it arrived, waiting until she stepped inside before joining her. ‘She had to grow up pretty fast,’ he said, still frowning. ‘She spent months in rehab, regaining her mobility. I still get nightmares thinking about it, you know.’ He paused momentarily. ‘What could have happened …’
She couldn’t stop herself from reaching out to touch him on the arm, her fingers curling into the solid warmth of his flesh. ‘It didn’t happen, Ben,’ she said softly. ‘She’s fine.’
Ben looked down at the slim fingers curled around his forearm and, almost without knowing he was doing it, rested his on top. ‘I have a patient the same age as Hannah booked in for Monday’s list,’ he said. ‘That was who I had to see earlier today. She’s the same age, the same height—she even looks like her.’
