Page 51 of Fool Me Twice

Laughter broke through my walls, and at first I thought I’d imagined it. Opening my eyes, though, I followed the sound to a window overlooking the backyard.

Sebastián and Georgia were on the grass, running around and shooting each other with dart guns. Sebastián giggled relentlessly, while Georgia smiled big.

As I watched, Georgia hid behind a tree as Sebastián pursued her. When he came close to her hiding spot, she slipped around the side of the tree and shot him in the back.

“Not fair!” Sebastián shouted, although he also squealed in glee.

Georgia took off across the yard, with him running right after her.

Seeing the two of them so happy together made my heart feel light. The last few days of working with Georgia had been extremely productive. She’d proven an even more valuable asset than I’d expected her to be.

The only mistake that had been made was on my part. I’d let my feelings take lead that first afternoon in her office. Lost in her blue eyes, I’d nearly done something unforgivable.

Then again… if I had kissed Georgia, would she have kissed back?

The thought made my head spin. I could nearly feel her smooth skin against mine, her full lips pressed against my mouth…

I shook away the thought. Georgia had given no indication that she was interested, and I was her boss. It didn’t matter how I felt about her. If I really cared, then I would back up and give her some space.

Opening the window, I shouted down into the yard. “Hey, you warriors! It is dinner time!”

Georgia looked up at me, and that was her downfall: Sebastián got her right in the chest with a dart.

“Oh, no!” she wailed, hand pressed to her heart as she collapsed.

“I’m sorry,” I laughed. “That was my fault!”

From her position on the ground, she gave me a thumbs-up while Sebastián danced around in glee.

In the nook off the kitchen, Melba waited for us, playing a game on her phone. Steam wafted off the dishes courtesy of our cook. I’d asked for a special dinner tonight in order to impress Georgia, and she’d provided exactly that with picadillo, baked pineapple, and a fresh coconut cake.

“Did you wash your hands?” Melba put her phone down and peered at Sebastián.

He wiggled them for inspection. “Yes.”

“I did too,” Georgia said, taking a seat next to Sebastián—and so close to me that our elbows nearly touched.

Though we had a formal dining room, it was way too large for family dinners. Unless we had a great number of people over, nearly every meal was taken in the breakfast nook. It had always felt roomy enough, but with Georgia suddenly so close I felt hot under the collar.

“This looks amazing,” Georgia cooed.

I couldn’t help but smile. I only wished that I’d been the one to make the dinner. Though I didn’t have much time for it anymore, cooking used to be one of my favorite activities.

Noticing Sebastián’s empty plate, I urged him to take some rice and picadillo, but his nose curled.

“I don’t want any,” he said.

I stared at him. His mood since taking his seat had done a one-eighty. “Picadillo is one of your favorites.”

He shrugged, mumbling, “I just don’t want it. Why do we have a cook anyway?”

I felt my lips turn down. “To… cook for us.”

Was this because I hadn’t made him a meal in weeks?

I put down the rice. “Sebastián, I’m sorry that I haven’t been able to cook for you lately. I have this weekend off. Would you like to make something together? Or you tell me what you would like, and I can make it.”

“I know you’re working all the time.” He stared at the table. “My friends all have moms to cook for them.”

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