Page 51 of The Millionaire's Mechanic

George put down the fork. “Oh. I didn’t even think of that. I can’t testify against them?”

It should have warmed him that she automatically thought of doing that for him. But the idea of her in the same room as Kolesnik made his muscles clench, his fight-or-flight switch firmly onfight.

“I don’t think that will be necessary. They have the DNA evidence, my written testimony, and my security men as witnesses connecting him to the car.”

Nodding, she looked down at her plate as if getting her bearings. “I guess that means we can go home now?”

“Yes,” he said, picking up his fork and digging in with gusto, looking forward to getting home. “But we don’t have to rush. Tomorrow morning is soon enough, now that the mountain road is passable.”

“That’s great.” Georgia gave him a brilliant smile, then resumed eating.

Rainer studied her carefully averted face. He tilted his head, catching her eye. “Are you worried about what will happen when we go back?”

“I am,” she admitted with a tiny shrug.

“Well, don’t be,” he assured her. “Until everyone involved is behind bars, I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure you and Ephraim are safe.”

She stared at him for a beat before nodding jerkily. “I know. Thank you.”

Then she turned her attention back to her plate, making little conversation for the rest of the meal.

CHAPTERTWENTY-FIVE

Georgia picked up her suitcase, frowning at their surroundings. They had just landed on the tarmac and disembarked from the jet, but this was not the same airport they had flown out of.

Standing on her tiptoes, she searched for a central hub. But there was only the air tower and the hangers to store the planes.

“Is something wrong?” She turned to find Rainer’s attention fixed on her.

The impact of those eyes hit her even harder today because he’d been so distracted last night, his mind on the kidnappers and what he needed to do to finish their ordeal.

It had seemed too selfish to bring up their situation in the midst of that. But the question still burned in her mind.What happens to us when we go back?

Georgia hadn’t had the guts to ask, because she was afraid that she already knew.

Rainer hadn’t touched her last night. After dinner, he’d gotten a few phone calls. Excusing himself with flawless politeness, he’d taken the calls in the office. When he came out, it had been edging toward midnight. He’d gotten into bed with her, pulling her into his arms, but he hadn’t touched her intimately.

She had stayed awake, silently waiting for him to strip off her clothes, but he dropped off to sleep almost immediately. Georgia had fallen asleep, telling herself the fact he hadn’t wanted to have sex didn’t mean anything. He was still holding her there in bed, his chest pressed to her back.

When they woke up, some of Powell’s men had arrived. One set the house to rights, putting back the mattress, while the other prepared their departure. She had been embarrassed, waited for them to smirk about the one bed, but the two men were distantly polite and professional. After breakfast, the pair escorted them down the mountain and onto the plane, sitting at the other end to give them privacy. Now one took Rainer’s bag and they disappeared, presumably to fetch a vehicle.

She took the fact that he didn’t offer to take her bag as a sign. “I know I was kind of out of it, but I’m fairly sure we flew out of a major airport. I thought we would fly back into one as well.”

“Ah, I see. Well, flying out of a major airport is atypical for me,” Rainer said. “The wait times for a runway can get crazy there, which is why I normally fly out of smaller places like this. I only flew out of a major when we left because the jet service I use had just landed there. It was faster for them to refuel and tap a fresh pilot for us than get someone out here. But smaller airfields are faster as a rule. Why do you ask?”

“I, uh, was going to go look for a taxi stand. They’re sometimes cheaper than an Uber.”

There was a moment of silence when all she heard was the wind.

She was looking at the ground, so she only saw the polished leather of his shoes stepping closer. “George, can you look at me?”

Reluctantly, she obeyed. Eye to eye, it was impossible to conceal the doubt and indecision she’d been hiding from him all day.

His hand moved up to splay over her nape. Instantly relaxing under his hold, she melted against him with a sigh.

“Did you really think things were over between us?” he asked, stroking down her back.

“The thought crossed my mind,” she admitted, mouth pursed.

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