Page 110 of The Life-Changing Magic of Falling in Love

The atmosphere alters. Thickens. ‘Fun?’

George turns so that he’s standing as close as he can get to me without actually touching me. ‘You’re not having fun?’

‘I—you—we—’ How can we be here again so soon? In this confusing, swirling, exciting place?

The spell is broken the moment the kitchen door opens. I turn to see who it is and George immediately ducks down beside me so that he’s hidden by the kitchen island unit.

I feel his hand on the back of my thigh presumably for balance and I have to place my wet hands on the cold countertop to keep steady.

Kyle Denton, the Head of Cardiology, steps into the room. ‘I was looking for George.’

The hand on my thigh gently squeezes making me stammer out, ‘Um, I think he left.’

‘Damn. I was hoping to pick his brains again.’

I clear my throat. ‘If you leave your card, I can make sure he gets it.’

‘You can?’

I feel the warm pressure from George’s hand. ‘Sure. I maid for him.’

‘You’re made for him?’

George’s hand tightens.

Sweet. Baby. Jesus.

‘What I mean is, I’m his maid? His cleaner. We’re friends,’ I end with.

Kyle takes a card out of his pocket. ‘You’ll make sure he gets this?’

He moves as if to come around to my side of the countertop so I hold up my wet hands apologetically. ‘Pop it on the countertop and I’ll make sure he gets it.’

‘Appreciate it,’ Kyle says, laying down the card before leaving.

George rises to his feet at the door closes. My thigh still tingles with warmth from the heat of his hand. My heart is beating super-fast. He’s close. So close I see he’s staring not into my eyes, but at my mouth. For one absurd moment I think he’s going to kiss me.

His gaze moves up to mine and our eyes search each other out like the answer to the world’s trickiest crossword clue is on the tip our tongues.

George’s head descends and then he pauses and suddenly he’s stepping back on a sharp inhale of breath and saying, ‘Thanks for saving me. Again.’

‘Not a problem,’ I mumble.

What just happened?

Why did he pull back?

I could ask him.

But what if I got this all wrong?

What if he hadn’t pulled back because he hadn’t even pushed forward?

What if I imagined the swirling vortex of anticipation licking deliciously at my insides?

‘Why did you leave so abruptly the other night?’ George asks as he picks up a dish towel and a stack of silverware and begins drying it.

I sneak a glance at him. He doesn’t look all hot under the collar and there’s absolutely no sign of his heart beating out of his chest. ‘I wanted you to have a nice visit with your family. You didn’t need me there.’

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