She straightened herself out, opening the door with her best fake smile plastered on her face. “Hi. Come in.”
Paisley removed her woolly hat, stuffing it into her coat pocket. “I brought a bottle of wine. I thought we could probably both use it.”
“Thank you.” Georgina took it from Paisley, their fingers grazing. “Can I take your coat?”
“Yes, thanks.”
Paisley removed her coat, shoving the scarf around her neck into the arm of it and handed it to Georgina. She was visibly tense; that was understandable. But Georgina didn’t want Paisley to be tense around her, or in this house. It was once their safety…even if Paisley had never known it could become their danger zone. Georgina’s heart ached when she thought about what she’d put Paisley through, but she would do it again in a heartbeat if it was required. She would always keep Paisley safe.
“So, how was the drive?”
“It was okay. The city was kinda congested but nothing worth complaining about.” Paisley kicked off her shoes and glanced up at Georgina. “Shall we go inside?” She nodded towards the living room door.
“Oh, of course.” Georgina held out her arm, catching a hint of Paisley’s shampoo as she passed her by. Her hair was curled and falling below her shoulders, a new look that impressed Georgina. “So, did you want to open this or do you want a glass of the white I already have open in the fridge?”
“Is it your usual white?” Paisley turned, her eyes glowing with the fire. “I mean, the one we used to buy in?”
“It is,” Georgina said, unsure as to where this conversation was about to go. “I can open this if you’d prefer it.”
“No. The open bottle will be fine.”
Georgina disappeared, pouring two glasses of wine before returning to Paisley.
“I couldn’t drink this when you left,” Paisley admitted. “I know it’s just a bottle of wine, but it felt as though it was our thing, you know?”
“I used to sit in the kitchen all night in Scotland with a bottle of this in front of me.” Georgina smiled, praying she hadn’t divulged too much.
Paisley sipped her wine. “With your wife, or…?”
Okay, she deserved that. Georgina wouldn’t argue.
“No, alone actually.” Georgina motioned for Paisley to take a seat, following her but keeping a slight distance. “I didn’t often spend time with Rhona.”
“Rhona.”
Paisley spoke Georgina’s ex-wife’s name as though she was testing a cheap wine on her palette for the first time.
“It doesn’t fit, does it?” Georgina smiled faintly. “I never thought it did.”
“Yet you still went and married the woman.”
“Okay.” Georgina held up a hand. “I know you don’t like what happened, and I don’t either, but we’re not here to discuss the woman I married.”
“Oh, okay.” Paisley sighed, resting back against the couch. “Then I will sit quietly while you tell me all about the three years I spent wondering where you were and what you were doing.”
“I left to keep you safe. Me too, but I was more concerned about you,” Georgina explained. “The night I dropped you at home, I was threatened. I wasn’t sure how legitimate the threat was, and I was too shocked to understand what was going on, but when I came home…I knew it was serious.”
“How?”
“These windows?” Georgina’s eyes landed on the bay window. “Every one of them had a brick through them. The three front bedrooms, too.”
“By who?” Paisley frowned. “Why would anyone threaten you, Gee?”
“Because I was in love with you.” The words shouldn’t have fallen from Georgina’s mouth—it was too soon—but they’d been spoken. “Sorry, I just…I was told I had to disappear.”
“By who?”
“Just…an ex-client.” Georgina lied. “He had a grudge against me. Somehow found out about us. He used it to his advantage.”
“You’re a lawyer, Georgina. I’m sure you could have worked a way around it. Gone to the police, maybe.”
Georgina knew Paisley wouldn’t understand. How could she? All Paisley saw was the woman who walked away from her, not the woman who spent almost seven months confined to the house she was renting up near Loch Lomond. Paisley didn’t see the Georgina who fell apart night after night, sobbing into her pillow because she desperately craved Paisley Healy. No, she only saw the bitch who left.
“I couldn’t go to the police.” Georgina shook her head. “He had people watching me. Not even thirty minutes after the threat, I came home to find my house destroyed. I really don’t believe I had the time to call the police.”
“You didn’t even try…”
Georgina closed her eyes, breathing through the anger she felt. Paisley had no right to say these things. She had no right to judge when she had gone on to live her normal, safe life. A life which she couldn’t have had if Georgina had remained in Liverpool.
“No, you’re right.” Georgina drained her glass, standing and moving into the kitchen. “I didn’t try, I just left. Unnecessarily.” She refilled and turned back to face Paisley.
Paisley shrugged. “Maybe it was unnecessary.”
“You know when I sat drinking wine without you…” Georgina received a nod from Paisley. “I sat with my phone in one hand, my glass in the other. It would have been the easiest movement in the world to just press call on your number, and I wanted to. God… I wanted to more than anything in this world.”
“But you didn’t.”
“Because I didn’t know what the outcome of that call would have been. And if someone had hurt you, if they knew…I was all the way in Scotland. How could I have protected you?”
“You could have stayed, Gee.” Paisley ran her fingers through her hair, focusing on the framed photos on the mantelpiece. “I mean, look at us. We were so good together.”
“We can be that again,” Georgina said, sitting beside Paisley and taking her hand. “I did all of this to protect you, Paisley. You can tell me how much it won’t work, how you couldn’t ever be with me again, but I left because I love you. I left because I couldn’t put you in that position. That danger.”
“Who was the client?” Paisley’s hand remained in Georgina’s. “Please, tell me.”
“You don’t know him.” Georgina squeezed her hand. “I just couldn’t risk your safety, Paisley. And I thought after a week or so it would blow over and I could come back, but I was being watched in Scotland, too.”
“Why would someone do this?” Paisley’s voice broke.
“I don’t know.” Georgina sighed, pulling Paisley against her chest. “They didn’t like it, but this…what they did to both of us? Paisley…” Georgina pulled back, finding Paisley’s sad brown eyes as she cupped her cheek. “I never meant to hurt you like this. I see the pain in those beautiful eyes. I see the devastation I caused you, but you have to believe I never meant it.”
“I know.” Paisley cried.
Georgina’s face fell. Her heart tumbled into her stomach. Paisley, she was beginning to understand. “W-what?”
“I see how tormented you are, Georgina.” Paisley’s eyes closed. “I know you hurt just as much as I do, but I don’t know if I can do this.”
“Please, I need another chance with you.” Georgina had never been one to beg, but she would for the rest of her life if she had to. “Paisley, I’m so in love with you. I always will be.”
Paisley shook her head. “We’ve lost so much time together. So much we should have done with one another…those chances have gone.”
“We have all the time in the world.”
“We don’t.” Paisley gently removed Georgina’s hand from her face. “You married another woman. You stood in front of people and said vows. We can never get that moment back. I should have been the one you shared that day with. I should have been the one wearing a wedding ring…given by you.”
“I’m sorry,” Georgina whispered. “I’m so sorry for everything I’ve put y
ou through.”
“And I believe that you are.” Paisley smiled. “But I can’t be sure you won’t disappear again. I can’t do this with you to one day wake up to find you gone.”
“I won’t ever leave you again.”
“How can you be so sure you’re all of a sudden safe?”
“Because the original threat…he’s gone.”
“Gone where?” Paisley asked, her brow furrowed.
“I have it on good authority that I don’t have to worry about him anymore.”
“Bu—”
“Paisley, I’m not giving you any more than that,” Georgina said, leaving no room for discussion. “What you need to know, I will tell you. The rest…it really doesn’t matter anymore.”
“I beg to differ…”
“And you worry about the marriage,” Georgina started. “I married Rhona to try and knock them off my trail. I thought if they knew I was married, they would leave me alone. I thought if they saw I had moved on, I wouldn’t have to worry about them—or you. We were divorced within three months.”
“I wish things could have been different, Gee.” Paisley placed her hand over Georgina’s. “I really wish this could all disappear.”
“But it can’t?” Georgina held back the urge to cry. She was sick to death of crying.
“No.”
“I can’t sit across from you falling more and more in love every day when you won’t even acknowledge my existence. I can’t watch you fall in love with someone else.”
“I haven’t even dated since you left. You have nothing to worry about.” Paisley appeared to be embarrassed by that admission.
“You haven’t?” Georgina was taken aback by that information. “Really?”
“Really…”
“But, Victoria…” Georgina didn’t trust her. She had no idea what relationship they had. Victoria was a game player. It was written all over her smug face.
“We were never together. Just…passing time.”
Something within Georgina changed in that moment. She had a newfound determination. A goal in sight. A reason to wake up every morning. “Then I’m not giving up on us. If I have to spend the rest of my life convincing you that I’m worth it, that we can be us again, then I will do exactly that.”
“Gee…”
“No.” She held up her hand. “Nobody will ever make me feel what you once did. I know who I need, and it’s you. I’ve only ever needed you.”
“This is a mistake.” Paisley lowered her eyes. “I don’t want you to constantly fight for me. It never should have been this way. We never should have been apart.”
“And now, I have to fix that.”
Paisley stood, taking her half-full wine glass into the kitchen. “I should go.”
Georgina followed behind her, watching her every move. She loved the nervous side of Paisley, but she wished those nerves had been brought on by something else. Arousal. Flirtation. Anything other than apprehension. Paisley suddenly grabbed her coat, choosing to forego wearing it.
“Hey, Paisley.” Georgina caught her wrist as the door opened. “I love you.”
Paisley’s eyes changed—softened. “Goodnight, Gee.”
10
Paisley focused on the contract in front of her, proofreading it before it was sent to the required recipient. Georgina wasn’t yet taking on new cases—those reasons her own—but Paisley was thankful to have a job. When she left Georgina’s last night, she had texted her, asking if she could remain in Georgina’s office. She really didn’t want to go back to Victoria—that side of her no longer existed. Yes, the fun, flirty nature of Victoria had been refreshing at one time, but having Georgina back changed everything. Even if they never rebuilt their relationship, she would never flaunt someone like Victoria Walsh under Georgina’s nose. She meant more than that. Georgina may never know that—not truly—but Paisley would always know it in her heart.
She’d arrived back at her apartment last night, the Christmas tree sitting miserably in the corner—still incomplete. Instead of wallowing, partaking in her very own pity party for one, Paisley decided to finish the task she should have completed days ago. The tree looked better, it appeared to have a little more life in it, but so did Paisley. It wasn’t true. She had come to realise that as she sat alone, Georgina in the home they should have shared in the past. Tonight, she felt as though the life had been completely sucked out of her. Everything ached. Her body felt tired. Heavy. She knew she wouldn’t ever have the life inside of her that she did when Georgina Weaver was in her arms. Paisley would pull through, though. She always did one way or another.
The door suddenly opened, the clock displaying five minutes after eight in the morning as Georgina strode through the office. Paisley had woken this morning feeling less angry. More informed, but significantly less angry and agitated about Georgina’s whereabouts for the last three years. She could understand her reason for leaving in some way, but surely it could have been different. Surely, somehow, they could have been together. What the hell did Georgina’s ex-client have on her that would require them to threaten her with Paisley? She didn’t know, and she wanted to know more.
Paisley didn’t mix with the clients. She was here, in the office, ensuring everything behind the scenes was taken care of. She didn’t involve herself in the politics of law or the cases Georgina took on, so why had they targeted their personal relationship? None of this made sense.
Paisley’s eyes moved from the document she was working on, Georgina’s perfume finally pulling her away from her concentration on the screen in front of her. Paisley’s breath caught as they focused fully on Georgina. Wearing a sheer black blouse and black high-waisted pants, Paisley knew this was a look planned with her in mind. Georgina wasn’t even wearing her coat, clearly discarding it before she reached her office. Paisley didn’t want to ogle. She didn’t want to give Georgina the satisfaction of knowing she was staring right through her blouse…but she couldn’t help herself.
As Georgina stepped up towards the window, the light providing a silhouette of what lay beneath the material, Paisley closed her eyes momentarily. How was she supposed to focus on work today? The answer was she couldn’t. Not in a million years. Paisley may believe that getting involved with Georgina again would be a mistake, but God…that woman shattered every ounce of control Paisley possessed. She always would.
Paisley levelled her voice. “Good morning.”
“Morning, Paisley.” Georgina turned, smiling fully as she folded her arms across her chest. “Anything for me?”
“I will have it in the next ten minutes, yes.”
“You’re too good.” Georgina shook her head, laughing. “I should probably up your pay.”
“My pay is just fine, thanks.” Paisley’s focus returned to the work in front of her. “I have an appointment with the doctor at eleven. Would it be okay if I used my lunch hour to go to it?”
“Of course.”
“Thanks.”
“Is everything okay?” Paisley nodded, glancing up to find concern flash in Georgina’s emerald eyes. “I mean, you’re not sick?”
“No, I’m okay. Medication review.”
“I don’t want you to use your lunch hour. Go to your appointment and then go to lunch,” Georgina said. “I shouldn’t have anything too heavy coming my way. Just reviewing end of year files.”
“You still haven’t taken on any cases.”
“I’ve decided to hang back until after the new year.” Georgina finally took a seat, her body now almost hidden from Paisley’s view. “New year. Fresh start.”
“Well, I hope that works out for you.” Paisley clicked print on the file and crossed the room, retrieving the printed paper from the tray. “Here. It’s the last of the contracts you’ve thrown my way so far.”
Georgina stood, removing the distance. “Thank you.” Her hand fell to Paisley’s wrist, holding her in place a moment longer. “And thank you for coming over last night.”
“I told yo
u I wanted to talk.” Paisley nodded. “So, thanks for agreeing to it.”
“Whenever you want.” Paisley felt Georgina’s warm hand disappear from her skin, marginally disappointed when it had. “Would you like to come over tonight? I actually still have some of your things…”
Paisley frowned. “What things?” She was sure she had everything that belonged to her.
Three weeks after Georgia left, Paisley had snuck into the house in the middle of the night. She grabbed what she could see, what she knew was hers, and left as quickly as she’d arrived. In all honesty, Paisley had shown up there hoping to find Georgina, but she hadn’t been lucky. There was no sign of her ex-girlfriend, just the smell of fresh paint in some of the rooms. The front bedrooms. Repairs for the smashed windows. It makes sense now.
“I mean, is it anything important?”
“All of your belongings are important.” Georgina backed away from Paisley. “I can just bring them here in the morning, if that’s what you want?”
“O-oh, uh…” Paisley weighed her options. Going to Georgina’s home again would give her the opportunity to spend time with her without it seeming like something else. The problem was, the more time they spent together, the less likely Paisley was to break free. She never imagined she would want Georgina completely out of her life, but she couldn’t take any more pain. Any more uncertainty. You know why she left. Paisley sighed, realising she was treating Georgina unfairly. “Okay, I’ll come over.”
Georgina opened her mouth to speak but shook her head and walked away.
“What is it?”
“Never mind,” Georgina said. “It was a stupid idea.”
“No, go on.” Paisley quirked an eyebrow. “Don’t hold back.”
“I wondered if I should make us dinner.”
The words hung between them. Paisley desperately wanted to say yes, to leave Georgina’s feeling satisfied, but that worry was still present. The fear of being thrown away again would always be there. That was the exact reason she couldn’t allow this to go any further.
Forever Yours Page 8