As Tyler introduced herself again, Georgie stood passively listening to the surreal conversation flow around her. What the hell! Who had invited Margaret and her bloody father, of all people? If she ever created a list of the people she never wanted to see again, Margaret would be on top, with her grasping social climbing father a close runner-up. Picking up on the gist of the conversation, she knew they had wrangled their way into an invitation with the intention of pitching her on their latest charitable endeavor. Bristling, it took everything she had not to blindly punch somebody out. Charitable endeavor, my ass! As far as she was concerned, the only charity the O’Sheas were interested in, were the O’Sheas. Sure enough, the O’Sheas were the charity pitch she was scheduled to hear. Remaining calm, she sat listening to father and daughter drone on about the need to add a veterans wing to their clinic. For over forty minutes they pressed her on the needs of the community, Georgie’s needs and how the two dovetailed perfectly with their plans to expand. Georgie wanted to throw up. These two had been angling for ways to expand an already upscale O’Shea Medical Clinic built with DiNamico money. Trying to tempt her by offering to name a new wing after her father had been the last of many mistakes.
Georgie stood, straightening her vest. She had forgotten to retrieve her jacket from Tyler, who now held it out for her to slip on. Nodding thanks, she hoped that Tyler would realize how much she was both grateful and relieved to have her there. Knowing she was understood by Tyler was immeasurable. Not for the first time she was more than aware of the fact that her ex, who was casting meaningful glances at her, even after all this time didn’t understand a damn thing about her. The DiNamico and Phipps families were not about self-gratification. They didn’t do things to get their names on buildings! They did what they could when and where they could because they believed in giving back.
“Dr O’Shea,” she murmured, offering her hand to Margaret’s father, “my pleasure.” Then she nodded to Margaret and walked out.
She regretted having to leave Tyler to clean up her mess. What else could she do? She would find Marnie and let her know just who the big corporate guest was and ask how that had happened. She had been warned that Zoe was up to no good but this was beyond her doing. She was sure Lou was behind this. He was the one who had added the second pitch session for a “veterans’ charity” to her list. Charity my ass!
* * *
Tyler escorted the O’Sheas through the foyer and into the upper level of Georgie’s apartment. She had wanted to escort them completely out of the building, but they quite pretentiously explained they were guests of the company president, Lou Phipps, and were staying for the party. Changing directions, she took them around the buffet tables and down the circular staircase to the reception area, leading them directly to Marnie Pulaski. She was at the center of a small group and in the middle of a conversation. When she finally turned to be introduced, she faltered for a moment, before accepting Margaret’s outstretched hand.
“Margaret. How nice of you to make it. And I see you brought your father,” she said, offering her hand to the senior O’Shea.
Tyler observed the interaction between the three with keen interest. While Marnie schooled her emotions well, anyone with half a brain could see she did not like the pair. In fact, Tyler was pretty sure the woman had a big hate on for Margaret’s father. Not normally a troublemaker by nature, she wasn’t sure what had gotten into her when she explained to Marnie, “The O’Sheas are a guest of Mr. Phipps, the company president! As a matter of fact, Georgie and I were lucky enough to hear about their expansion plans for the O’Shea Medical Center, and how they hope to cater to veterans in need.”
That caught Marnie by surprise. Both facts did, but just like finding the O’Sheas standing in Georgie’s living room, she took those body blows like a prizefighter. Taking the senior O’Shea by the arm, she led him toward the bar. “It’s so nice to see you, James. I’m glad to hear you’re doing so well. I know you’ve wanted to expand the clinic for some time…”
As they trailed off, Tyler turned away intending to find Georgie. Instead, Margaret O’Shea hooked her arm, halting her on the spot.
“Don’t run off! I wanted to ask you how my Georgie’s doing. Poor thing!”
“I’m sorry Margaret. I’m not at liberty to discuss Ms. DiNamico.” Still, she was unable to extract herself from the woman.
“Oh,” she said, patting Tyler’s arm with such sincerity she was temporarily taken aback. “I’m sorry, I should’ve explained who I am! I’m not a stranger. Georgie and I were, well let’s just say very close. If it hadn’t been for Afghanistan…” she lamented, almost seeming sincere. “So, tell me how she’s doing?” She placed a dramatic hand on her chest. “I had no idea it had gotten so bad she needed full-time help!”
“You misunderstand. I’m Georgie’s executive assistant, not her medical aide.”
“But Zoe said you’re a doctor. What’s your specialty?”
“Ethics! I’m a PhD, not a medical doctor.”
“I see,” Margret said, although clearly she didn’t, or didn’t care.
She couldn’t tell which and considered herself lucky when the woman simply turned without further comment and walked away.
Tyler paced the length of the guest room. Where was Georgie? Had she misunderstood or gotten it all wrong? She racked her brain, replaying everything that had taken place. After the run-in with Margaret, Georgie’s ex, Georgie had taken the dog for a long walk. Tyler was thankful she had created a contingency just for this. Before the party she had taken Georgie’s heavy winter coat, gathered up her best mitts, a hat and her winter boots, and stored them in the machine shop. She even remembered the dog’s winter coat and spare leash. When she learned that Georgie and Maggie, dressed like the abominable snowman and her sled dog, had snuck out the back door, she arranged for security to alert her the moment they returned. At one a.m. Georgie had successfully snuck back in as quietly as she had slipped out and Tyler guessed she was hiding in her room. She knew she could call up the security program and pinpoint Georgie’s exact position in the building but she wanted to respect her privacy. She also didn’t want to impinge on Marnie, who was busy putting out all the fires Lou Phipps kept setting every time he opened his big mouth. Instead she nabbed Lori, asking her to help.
It was the right move. Lori had Georgie on the dance floor within minutes and it was pretty much where she’d spent the remainder of the night. She danced with her cousins, her sister, and even Tyler a few times. Always fast songs, and always quite innocent. At least compared to their moment on the roof.
Dammit, she wanted to kill Margaret O’Shea! In truly despicable fashion, the woman had shown up asking for money, and she’d spent the night trying to play nice and acting as if she were still family. One consolation was her complete lack of interest in Tyler. If only she’d been uninterested before destroying their moment on the roof.
It had been sublime. The snow, the wind and the wildness and Georgie’s eyes. She’d had a good idea Georgie had escaped to the roof but nothing could have prepared her for the emotions the wind and weather evoked. Standing alone on the prow, staring into the blizzard, she seemed a titan, fearless and alone. Wind and snow seemed to sail around her, as if she herself were the eye of the storm. And as Tyler watched, she questioned whether she should disturb her until Lori’s comments replayed in her mind. Georgie had always been alone. Not by choice but forced by the circumstances of her life.
She had gone to Georgie, drawn in a way she could barely comprehend. And for a brief moment it was just them. Alone together in the eye of the storm and she knew Georgie wanted to kiss her, hold her and she ached to be taken into her arms. They had been so close yet she had stalled, as if needing to explain something, and then the moment was gone.
When Lori finally dragged Georgie downstairs and out onto the dance floor, Tyler had secretly rejoiced. She wanted to see her have fun but more than that she just wanted to see her. She cheered with everyone else when
all the DiNamico/Phipps women took to the dance floor together. It was already after three a.m. and almost all of the guests were gone. She watched as Georgie and her family danced and joked and finally got to let loose. She was disappointed when the music stopped but lucky for her Marnie had yet to dance with her husband and asked the DJ for one more song. Georgie had come to her then with an unassuming smile and an open hand. Still it made her knees weak. She had shed the tuxedo jacket. She had the arms and the shoulders of an athlete, accentuating the striking emerald-green waistcoat which was a perfect match to her eyes and complemented her light olive skin. Leading her to the dance floor, she took Tyler in her arms in a manner that seemed almost shy. There was a sweetness about Georgie. A kindness that she’d come to count on but it was always her eyes that betrayed her emotions. Tyler was sure Georgie was feeling everything she was and more. God, the woman had control! When the music ended they stood inches apart but still holding hands. Georgie’s eyes said everything she wanted to hear. Everything! So why was she still alone?
Grabbing Marnie’s tablet from the dresser she did the one thing she promised herself she would never do. Bringing up the security program she entered the master password. It was easy to convince herself she was just checking that everyone had made it home, or at least out of the building. Forcing herself to go through the motions, she began with the first floor, before tabbing through each consecutive number until reaching nine. On the plan diagram, six little triangles were displayed. Not good with maps, she had to orient the drawing to understand it. It was easy to see that three of the triangles were in Henry’s apartment. She didn’t have to tap them to know it would be Lou, Bonnie and Skip. There was one triangle in Leslie’s apartment, which made sense, and in Georgie’s there were two. Hers in the guest room, the other was Georgie. So she was in her bedroom. The realization almost crushed Tyler.
Tossing the device on her bed she stood and began pacing again. Why hadn’t Georgie come to her? Had she changed her mind? Had she misunderstood? She racked her brain trying to decide what she’d done wrong. She had seen the way Georgie looked at her. She felt the way she had held her, touched her. Even her halting condensed speech intimated her interest. So why was she still alone?
Then it occurred to her. Why was Georgie in her bedroom? At night she always slept two rooms over. She hit the reload button for the program data and watched as the triangles were re-populated on their floor. Georgie was definitely in her bedroom and not the safe room she slept in. It took Tyler a long minute to compile the pieces. Georgie had been trying to tell her something on the roof. Something important. She knew, because she’d spent so much time learning to interpret her interactions. She truly understood now that Georgie could do or say but not at the same time. To communicate complex ideas she needed to see the words before she could speak them. Tyler had watched her do so it many times, yet standing there in the center of the storm, she’d held her breath. She could see the importance of what Georgie wanted to share written across her face. More than that, she could feel it in herself and in every essence of the woman who had wrapped her jacket tightly around her and stood there arms bared to the tempest. That was just like Georgie. Needing to make sure she was understood, to share and to acknowledge…And that’s when it occurred to her.
“No, no, no, no, no, no, no!” Georgie and her rules! Georgie and her fairness! Georgie…“You can’t come to me.”
She understood immediately and knew that regardless of their feelings, ethically Georgie was in the place where she couldn’t make the first move. Why had she not thought of that! She wasn’t sure whether she should scream or cheer. Now the question was, could she go to her?
She paced back and forth a few times trying to work up her courage. Is that why Georgie is in her bedroom and not her sleep room? Is she waiting for me? Retrieving the tablet she tabbed to a different page. Tyler wasn’t the only one with the master password. She’d used it that afternoon to check the security settings for the guest room and was delighted to see Georgie had taken the time to bar everyone including herself. Searching down the list of electronic locks associated with Georgie’s penthouse apartment it only took a moment to find the serial number for the master bedroom. When she clicked on the number only two employee names were listed under access: Georgina DiNamico and Tyler Marsh. For a moment Tyler thought she might faint.
She hadn’t been wrong. Georgie wanted her and Georgie was waiting for her.
She was out the bedroom door and around the long balcony to the south side master suite. At the door she suddenly halted. Before she could even think to back away or change her mind the bedroom door opened quietly and she was there.
There was a way about Georgie. A way that was sexy, and exciting, and gentle all at the same time. Accepting her outstretched hand, she followed her into the room. She was still wearing the tuxedo pants and vest but like Tyler, she had shed her footwear. Her gaze devoured Tyler in her gown. Standing toe to toe, she could see the questions in Georgie’s eyes and realized she needed to be sure. “Yes,” Tyler whispered, “I want to be here.” She watched as her words made their way to Georgie’s eyes. Georgie’s hands were on her face, holding her, touching her, then sweetly, sweetly kissing her. Her lips glided over Tyler’s and telegraphed desire throughout her body as she deepened their exploration. She felt overwhelmed with desire and almost light-headed and giddy from expectation. “I’m going to fall down, if I don’t sit down…”
Georgie leaned back slightly, looking in her eyes, recognizing the arousal on Tyler’s face. Taking her hands, she took several steps back toward the bed. With a smile she was starting to recognize was just for her, Georgie unzipped the side zipper on her evening gown and let it slide off her shoulders onto the floor.
If Tyler’s legs had been weak before, they were now reduced to slush. She stood, frozen in place as Georgie began removing her vest and the tuxedo trousers. She pushed them down her thighs, revealing smooth athletic legs and the sexiest underthings. The way her tanned body fit the black lace bra and panties was enough to make Tyler weep. When she tossed the trousers away, she offered her hand, just as she had when the night began, and continued moving back and onto the bed. Any shyness Tyler had felt earlier was now completely gone. As she followed Georgie on top of the bed and on top of her, a long involuntary moan escaped her, “Oh God!”
The sensation of full contact was so overwhelming she thought she would come on the spot. As if sensing the height of her arousal, Georgie slowed her with her hands before rolling her into her arms. Side-by-side, her arm wrapped firmly around Tyler’s back made Tyler feel connected and safe. Georgie’s other hand was on her face, stroking her hair gently from her eyes and teasing away the long wisps. Her lips followed everywhere her fingers touched. Cheek, brow, eyes, then, oh yes, and then her mouth.
Tyler tried desperately to govern her breathing under the kiss but when Georgie trailed soft fingertips down her neck and over her small sensitive breasts, all thoughts of self-control evaporated. Pushing her onto her back, Georgie stripped off Tyler’s panties with skillful speed before sliding a strong thigh between her legs. Easily matching her rhythm, she continued to encourage her with her hands and lips.
“Don’t stop, please don’t stop!” Tyler begged. Looking in Georgie’s eyes told her everything she needed to know. Her, Tyler, she. She was all that existed in those gorgeous green eyes. Suddenly knowing she was the only thing holding Georgie back, she begged her, “Yes, inside baby, please…”
Georgie was inside her and she couldn’t control the scream. Involuntarily digging her nails into her strong back, she rode out spasm after spasm in Georgie’s strong arms. Somewhere in the back of her brain she was aware that she was saying things, calling things, words and sounds she’d never imagined could come from her and all the while Georgie was there, holding her, coaxing her, pushing her to feel more. The orgasm had come with such intensity that when she was once again aware, she found herself hanging on to Georgie for dear life. Her
head was nestled in Georgie’s neck, one arm tightly wrapped around Georgie, the other fixed in a death grip on a length of bed sheet wound tightly in her fist. Forcing herself to breathe, she wrapped her arms around Georgie’s neck. It was at that moment she realized she had been in such need, Georgie was still in her underwear. As pretty as the bra and panties were, they definitely had to go. It only took a moment to search for and unhook her bra clasp. Without even looking, she could feel Georgie smile. Face to face, Tyler admitted with embarrassment, “I’m so sorry—I feel like a teenage boy, going off like that, it’s just that…”
Georgie halted the apology with a deep smoldering kiss. When her lips moved on to her neck, Tyler struggled to gulp in air.
Exploring her collarbone, her mouth trailed lavish caresses all the way to her breast. “Again? Wait, I…Oh God!” A greedy mouth assaulted her breast with a laving tongue, while her hands continued to explore and discover Tyler inch by inch.
Involuntarily arching, she dug her nails mercilessly into Georgie’s back, knowing she couldn’t stop if she tried. Those hands were everywhere. On her breasts, her legs, and combing fingers up her thighs…Struggling with the onslaught of sensation, Tyler wasn’t actually sure of anything anymore. As Georgie parted her thighs wide, she continued her downward progress. “Where, what, oh no you’re not…” At Georgie’s abrupt halt, she had to replay her words in her mind. Overwhelmed and excited beyond imagination she opened her eyes. There was concern in Georgie’s eyes and something more, something beyond feral. Damn those green eyes! At that moment she knew she would never be able to say no to that look.
“Yes!” It was her new magic word. Dropping her head back, delighting in letting Georgie have her way, “Yes, oh yes you are…”
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