The Naughty List Bundle - Kylie Adams [300]
But she knew she’d always hate herself if she didn’t at least give him a chance. “I’ll tell him today.”
Ruth laughed out loud. “That’s wonderful!” She hugged Georgia again before gently pushing her into a seat at the table. “Now, how about a cookie to celebrate?”
From the doorway, Adam and Lisa said, “I want one, too!” and as Georgia opened her arms to her children, still sleepy warm from their beds, she thought that she had to be the luckiest woman alive. Perhaps after today, she’d also be the most fulfilled.
JORDAN HEARD her car pull up and walked around to the front of the house. People had been arriving all afternoon, and he’d been anxiously waiting for her. He’d found a studio, and he could barely wait to discover her reaction to that.
The moment they saw him, Adam and Lisa jumped out and came running, followed by Ruth. Jordan was barely able to swallow down his emotion as he embraced both children. They chatted ninety miles a minute, telling him about all the cookies their grandma had made and about the pictures they’d colored for him to decorate his office, and about a frog they’d found in the backyard.
“Jus’ like you tol’ us to, we played with it and then turned it loose.”
Jordan stroked Adam’s downy hair, warmed by the sun. “I’m sure the frog appreciates it. They’re not meant to be pets.”
Lisa nodded. “We remembered.” Then she leaned forward to whisper, “‘Sides, Grandma hates frogs.”
Jordan was still chuckling when Ruth and Georgia reached his side. Ruth gave him a hug, though Georgia looked shyly away, prompting him to curious speculation. Following the lead her mother and children had set, Jordan pulled Georgia close for a hug. To his surprise, she briefly nuzzled her nose into his throat and sighed.
Just that easily, he was aroused. Of course, he stayed semiaroused around her anyway.
Trying to discern her mood, Jordan studied her and only vaguely heard Ruth announce that she and the kids were taking the cookies to Honey. Georgia waited until she’d gone, then licked her lips in a show of nervousness.
Jordan touched her hair, teased by the warm afternoon breeze. He loved how the golden-brown curls framed her face and how the sunlight glinted in them. “Georgia?” His voice was husky, affected by more than his sexual need of her. He wanted her, all of her. Forever. “Is something wrong?”
He took her arm and started her toward the back of the house where everyone was gathered. He could feel the tension emanating from her and sought to make her more at ease by rubbing her back.
Her eyes closed and she moaned softly, then suddenly blurted, “I have something I want to tell you.”
Jordan tensed. He could tell by her expression that she wasn’t completely comfortable with what she had to say. If she thought to try pulling away from him, after they were finally getting so close, she could damn well think again. He took her hand in his and laced their fingers together. Jordan could hear the others chatting in the backyard as they rounded the house, though Georgia seemed oblivious.
“I’ve been going over everything you said.” She peeked a look at him, then frowned in concentration. “That last night at the bar, I mean.”
Jordan nodded. “I want to talk about that, too.” He now had options for her, viable options. He hoped she’d be pleased.
She stared at him in sudden horror. “You’ve changed your mind? You don’t want me anymore?”
“What?” Jordan jerked around to stare at her. “No,” he said, his frown deepening. “Hell, no. Where’d you get that crazy idea?”
“I thought—” She shook her head and started walking again. “I thought maybe, because I pushed so hard, you’d decided to leave me alone now.”
“Georgia.” How could she possibly