by Thorpe, Kara
“I thought Mrs. Mercer was known for serving dinner early.”
Georgiana shrugged. “She was, but last year the meals started gradually being served later. No one knows what prompted the change and no one’s brave enough to ask her. Dan and I usually stop for a burger or something before one of her parties.”
“You didn’t stop tonight?” His stomach rumbled at the mere mention of a hot, greasy hamburger. The reheated, rubbery meal he’d eaten on the plane was nothing but a memory.
Georgiana’s stomach burbled quietly. Her eyes fell to the toes of her metallic silver sling-backs. “It didn’t feel right knowing that Dan and I hadn’t warned you. It’s only fair that we both starve. Two stomachs growling in solidarity and all that.”
Robert’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. He didn’t believe her for a second. She was a right terror when she wanted to be. His Georgiana would have wolfed down the burger and then tormented him with a detailed description of every calorie-laden bite.
“Got caught up working on a project and lost track of time, didn’t you?”
She glared up at him through the fringe of side swept bangs obscuring her peripheral vision. “Maybe.”
Robert chuckled. He couldn’t count the times his assistant had yanked him away from a computer program and shoved him into the shower. Everyone believed the “wet and wild” look he’d turned into his trademark had been carefully cultivated to add to his attraction. Only his bodyguard and his assistant knew that it was a result of his tendency to lose track of time, and he’d sworn them to secrecy.
“What was it?” He paused, glancing her way, “Finally perfected that time machine you designed in junior high? I always knew that if anyone could shatter the laws of time it’d be you.”
Georgiana’s cheeks reddened. She wished she hadn’t turned down the earlier proffered glass of wine. Every time Robert smiled at her, something inside fluttered. It wasn’t fair that he knew all her quirks while the man he’d grown in to was so unfamiliar to her. He was the one on solid footing while she struggled to figure out how to handle his devastating mix of charismatic, seductive business mogul and computer geek. She forced herself to remember what she’d been working on before she’d remembered about the dinner party. Science kept her grounded.
“Earlier this morning, Dan and I were talking about an all carbon-fiber reinforced polymer project, but we got sidetracked when he brought up biodegradable hydraulic oil. I think I know how to fix Norwood’s problem with the BHO.”
Robert perked up. There was a gleam of interest in his eyes that had been missing for most of the evening. “Is it a fix for the issues we’ve had with the thermal or the oxidative stability?”
“Neither. Dan never mentioned problems with those. I came up with a solution to potentially boost the viscosity index.” Georgiana rubbed the back of her neck. She ignored how thrilling it was to have a date who understood terms like ‘viscosity index’ and ‘oxidative stability.’ She was better off remembering he wasn’t with her by choice.
“I was under the impression that was a lost cause.”
“Nothing’s a lost cause, Bobby. You know better than that.” She laughed half-heartedly. She hadn’t counted on the problems with thermal and oxidative stability. It changed her plans for the viscosity drastically. “Dan was supposed to have the specs sent to me. I can go over them later and see what I can find.”
“We have our best chemists working on the issue, Georgiana. You have enough on your plate. If it becomes absolutely necessary, I can arrange for you to consult with our research department.”
“It’s one of your father’s pet projects. He doesn’t like it when they get stalled, and I was hoping to work it out so he doesn’t stress himself while he’s supposed to be recovering.”
“I’ve taken steps to reduce his workload, but I hadn’t thought about his personal projects. I promise I’ll make it a priority. I’ll keep him in the loop, but monitor his involvement.”
“Thank you.” She straightened when she noticed several sets of eyes pinned on them. “We should circulate before the rumors start.”
Robert tucked her hand in the crook of his elbow, leaned forward to chuckle in her ear. “Oh, doll, it’s far too late for that. The rumors started as soon as we walked through the doors together.”
She laughed, but didn’t deny his declaration. “I always come to these things with your father. Hopefully they’ll simply believe you’re filling in for him.”
Robert could easily understand why his father would insist on escorting Georgiana to the various galas and dinners they were obligated to attend. She was a single, attractive, wealthy woman, and there were those who would see the oft-absentminded scientist as easy prey. Remembering that the last event he’d seen Georgiana at, though, had his lips curling down in a frown.
“He wasn’t with you at the Lassiter Labor Day weekend party on Fishers Island last September.”
She grinned, started towards the nearest cluster of people. “Our arrangement is for his benefit, not mine. Ever since Merry Widow Winslow cornered him and put her hand down his trousers, he refuses to go solo.”
Robert’s eyes traced the demure but still tantalizing v-neckline of her dress. The hints of pale, smooth skin were more seductive than the expanses of skin other women habitually displayed. “Dad has excellent taste. He couldn’t ask for a better date. If he’s not careful, someone could steal you away.”
Georgiana stopped abruptly. Her face was wan and her eyes were fixed on his platinum tiepin. “I know you don’t want to be here Bobby, so I appreciate you how good you’ve been. You have a reputation for a short attention span and an appreciation for fake breasts and long legs; I’m just the dorky girl you got strong-armed into escorting. I was prepared for it to be like the Cotillion fiasco, but this isn’t at all what I expected. Since I’m sure we’re going to be stuck in this position again, I just want you to know that I’m not going to try and keep you from having fun while you’re in town. I can handle the pity and saccharine sympathy. You don’t have to stick to me like glue.”
“Did you breathe at all just now?”
“I’m serious, Bobby. I don’t want to hold you back. If you see someone you want, go for it. Don’t worry about me.”
Robert placed his empty crystal tumbler on a passing waiter’s tray and covered her hand. “I assure you, my reputation has been grossly exaggerated. I can handle a night of celibacy.”
Her lips twitched as she tried to hold back a laugh. “Maybe you can, but I don’t think the gossip columnists can survive without something to gnaw on. You wouldn’t want to have that on your conscience would you?”
“They’ll make up something physically impossible and morally outrageous, I’m sure.” Robert met her smile with an encouraging grin. Conversing with her was easier and the light banter was more enjoyable than the practiced flirtation and false flattery he used with other women. “Cotillion was a long time ago, Georgiana, I’m not the same person. Besides, we’re friends, remember? I stand by my friends.”
“Bobby, I…”
“Georgiana, darling.” Lacey Mercer bustled forward and wrapped pale, French-tipped fingers around Georgiana’s forearm. She tried to tug Georgiana free from Robert’s grip, but his grasp was stronger.
“Mrs. Mercer.” Georgiana brushed her lips across the older woman’s razor-sharp cheekbone. “Bobby and I were just coming to compliment you on the party. Judging by those tempting smells coming from the kitchen, we’re in for a real treat tonight.”
Lacey beamed back at them. She set her half-empty wine glass on nearby table and cupped Georgiana’s cheek. “It is lovely to see you enjoying yourself, darling. I have been simply torn up with worry ever since poor Daniel’s attack. It’s too soon for you, my dear. There’s only so much heartbreak a soul can handle before it splinters.”
Georgiana shifted uncomfortably. Her smile dimmed. “Bless your heart, Mrs. Mercer, but Dan is doing better than we anticipated. Bobby’s back in town to hel
p, so you can see that I’m not alone.”
Lacey turned her attention to a silently observing Robert. She took her hand off Georgiana’s cheek and waggled her finger at him. “You, young man, have been away for far too long. Gallivanting about New York flashing your bits to anyone with a camera. It’s about time you returned. Your father’s missed you.” She tapped the end of his nose reprovingly. “Take care of our precious Georgiana. She could use a sturdy shoulder to lean on.”
Before either of them could reply, she pivoted sharply and glided off with a whirl of maroon tulle and gardenia perfume. Georgiana’s cheeks were bright red. The implication that she couldn’t manage her life hung heavy in the air.
Robert lifted her chin with a warm finger. “She didn’t mean anything by it. She was raised to believe that a woman needed a man’s support to be complete. Given the suddenness of your father’s death, I’d say you’ve done a remarkable job of stepping in his shoes.”
She blinked back tears. “That’s a lie, but thank you.” She squeezed his arm and swallowed heavily. “She was right about one thing, though. Your father has missed you. You’re all he can talk about for days after your phone calls. He reads me every email you send, even if it’s just a summary of the latest meeting or benefit. He may complain about seeing you in the tabloids, but if you look in the safe in his bedroom you’ll find a copy of each article.”
Robert froze as she continued to tease him about his latest exploit. His father’s heart attack had shaken up the Board of Directors, but it had also startled him into reflection. His days playing the footloose, rich bachelor were at an end. It was time for him to give into the growing urge to settle down and continue the legacy his parents had started. He needed someone who fit into his world, someone he enjoyed spending time with, someone who understood him.
Someone like Georgiana.
He wasn’t in love with her, but there was camaraderie. Camaraderie could lead to affection. They were social and intellectual equals; rekindling their once-close friendship would be the first step to building a firm foundation for marriage. She got along with his father, and his board would see her as a stabilizing force in his life. Convincing her they were well suited would be difficult, but he thrived on challenges.
“Incoming.”
Georgiana’s low whisper jolted Robert out of his musings. The puff of hot breath against his ear sent an unexpected, potent bolt of lust straight through him. Lack of physical attraction obviously wasn’t going to be an obstacle. He looked up in time to see Prask stalking towards them.
“Robert.” Prask jerked his head up and down in greeting before turning to Georgiana. His thin lips curved into an oily smile. “Georgiana.”
“Prask.” Robert’s voice was cold and hard. It was a tone that inspired fear in his competitors. He fought the urge to tuck Georgiana under his arm. Any sign of possession would ruffle her feathers; he didn’t want to give Prask anything to gossip about.
“I’ve left you two voice messages, Georgiana.” Prask ignored Robert and focused on Georgiana. His dark eyes slithered down to a point under her jaw and slightly above her waist.
“I have been busy, Prask.” Georgiana shifted, pulled her shoulders back. Prask’s gleaming eyes lifted to her face. She pasted on a smile. “Besides, you know all my appointments have to go through Yvonne.”
Rather than explode as expected, Prask merely chuckled. “There are more ways to get what I want than you think. You can’t hide behind that ball-busting bitch, and I refuse to allow you to ignore me for much longer. I’m not a patient man. I won’t go away, Georgiana.”
Once Prask was out of earshot, Georgiana let out a weary sigh. “Unfortunately, he has a point.” The sharp pain in the back of her skull had returned with a vengeance. “He wants my company, and he’s not one to let go of something that he wants.”
Robert’s flinty eyes were like lasers on Prask’s back. He would have to keep a close eye on Prask’s interactions with Georgiana. The way he leered at her was infuriating. “Neither am I.”
Chapter Three:
“Are you staying at Dan’s or at a hotel?” Georgiana asked, once the valet had retrieved their respective vehicles. Robert’s black, mid-range rented sedan looked clunky and unrefined next to her bright blue Aston Martin Vantage convertible. The valet had put the top down; the chrome accents caught and reflected the moonlight.
“Mmm,” Robert hummed. “Angling for a dinner invitation, already? I will admit that I’m not used to dining solo and party food never quite satisfies.”
Georgiana jangled her keys impatiently. Her eyes were steadfastly fixed on a point just over his left shoulder. “I don’t know why you bother flirting with me. It’s never going to work.”
Robert leaned forward so that the tip of his nose grazed her cheek. The fresh, citrusy tang of her perfume was twice as potent as the whiskey he’d consumed earlier. He resisted the urge to bury his face in the curve of her neck and let the scent fill his lungs. “I never say never, Georgiana.”
He was rewarded with a slight shiver and the dilation of her pupils. Despite what she claimed, she wasn’t completely immune to him. He could work with that. He rocked back on his heels and grinned rakishly. “I’m in the mood for a nice, juicy steak. You look like you could use the iron.”
“I don’t need… I’m not…” Georgiana’s cheeks flushed. Irritation glittered in her eyes. Her face scrunched up a moment before smoothing into a placid smile. He knew better than to trust a debutante’s serene expression. “I wasn’t asking you to dinner.”
“That’s a shame. Now I’m heartbroken and hungry.”
She snorted. “You’d have to have a heart first.” She leaned against the bumper of her convertible and jerked her pointed chin in the direction of his father’s house. “I’ll follow you to the house. Dan changed the locks last year, and I should explain about NORA.”
“Who is she? I wasn’t aware Dad had a housekeeper on staff.”
“Oh,” she said, laughter spilling from her mouth, “I think this you’re just going to have to see. NORA is something you need to experience to understand.”
It was a pity about dinner. He was looking forward to spending more time with Georgiana. He wanted to solve the mystery of what had happened to make her so guarded. He wanted to see one of those bright, full-on smiles she’d been famous for as a child. He wanted to know if she tasted as good as she smelled.
On the drive to his father’s Memorial-area mansion, Robert set his assistant Cedric to work digging up information on Georgiana and Collier Analytics. By the time he pulled up to the white metal gates leading to the reproduction 18th century French Chateau his mother had designed, Robert was caught up on new NS business and had canceled his outstanding social engagements.
The blue convertible stopped near the electronic panel mounted to a sturdy white pole. Georgiana hopped out of her car before Robert could open his door. She lifted the panel’s protective covering.
“Delivery drivers are assigned a one-time use code. If you have any regular visitors, they’ll have to pass the background check before we can set them up with the biometric readers. Currently, only the fingerprint reader and retinal scan work properly. Your father and I were working on implementing the facial recognition software before the heart attack.”
Georgiana rested her left palm on the panel. After a second, two green lights flashed. She crouched down and positioned her face in front of the tiny camera. The lights flashed again. The gates squeaked as they rolled open.
“I don’t recall Dad being so security-conscious.”
Georgiana grimaced. Her eyes slid back to the panel. “He’s been working on a few new projects, ones that he hasn’t even shared with your NS board. I’ll explain more in the house.”
He followed the Aston Martin up the long driveway to the seven-car garage. The topiaries and statues his mother had picked out looked the same as they had when he was a child. He remembered playing hide-and-seek in the magnificent gardens an
d splashing in the fountain, rather than the pool in the backyard, on hot summer days.
He abandoned his luggage in favor of trailing Georgiana up the paved walkway. Her strides were long, hurried. Even though she was in heels, he had to jog to keep up with her.
Georgiana slid her finger across a keypad discretely tucked into a niche in the limestone wall. She tapped in an eight-digit code. The door locks opened with an audible click. She smiled back at Robert before pushing open the heavy, cherry door.
“NORA, it’s Georgiana,” she called out, voice bouncing off the marble floors and curved staircase. “I have Robert Norwood with me. He’s going to be living in the house while Dan recovers. He’s to have the same access that I do.”
“Who are you…?” Robert started, only to be cut off mid-question.
“Please provide override code.”
Robert’s mouth fell open. The voice coming from hidden speakers was his mother’s. Though slightly modulated, he would have recognized that crisp, beloved tone anywhere. Georgiana placed a small, cool hand on his wrist and shook her head.
“Override code G-C-11432-A.”
“Code accepted. Full access granted to Robert Norwood. Please input his codes and biometric information into my database, Georgie dear.”
Georgiana scowled at the endearment. “Your father did that. He thought it was funny. It’s one of the few bits of source code I don’t have access to.”
“That’s Nora?”
”NOrwood Residential Artificial intelligence. NORA.” Georgiana gestured towards one of the small cameras tucked in the corner of the room. “Multiple cameras, sensor suites, and audio pick ups in almost every room. Sensors and audio, but no cameras, in the bathrooms. I should warn you that all matter that passes through the toilets is subjected to analysis. NORA monitors the vital signs of everyone in the house. She was the one who noticed your father’s heart attack.”