Georgia’s throat rolled with a swallow. “Thank you,” she whispered.
I couldn’t seem to catch my breath. “Thank you—I mean, you’re welcome.”
She burst into laughter, her smile so wide it showed all her teeth. My heart did a little flip, and my pulse picked up.
She was so beautiful. So full of life. The universe must have decided to do me a favor by having us bump into each other, because life didn’t usually go so well. I’d had to work and scrape by all my years.
But now this.Georgia.
It seemed too good to be true. I wanted to wrap myself around her and hold on tight before the world took her away.
She leaned forward, batting her eyelashes. “What?”
“Where did you come from?” I whispered.
She playfully cocked her head. “New York.”
“Are you sure about that?”
The smile slid off her face, and she stared at me. We were so close together that I could hear her breathing. Could feel the heat from her body.
Taking my chance, I moved a little closer. She parted her lips, her breath catching with a quick inhale.
Pushing the rest of the way across the table, I gently pressed my lips to hers. She reacted with a pleasurable noise, and a moment later was kissing me back.
Her lips were even softer than her skin, tasting like candy and making my head spin. I could have kissed her until the end of time.
Eventually, though, the knowledge that we were in a public space made me draw back. Georgia’s cheeks were flushed, her blue eyes brimming with life.
“Wow,” she breathed.
“Wow, indeed.”
With a giggle, she picked up her coffee. “That’s quite a way to start the day.”
“It will get even better from here.”
Though I didn’t have concrete plans, I knew I would do whatever I could to make sure Georgia had an amazing morning. I would have walked to the ends of the earth for her, that’s how powerful her hold on me was.
Over her shoulder, the coffee shop’s door opened and a familiar face walked in. My shoulders stiffened, and my breath caught in my chest.
What was Lucas doing here? I had assumed he would go to our normal cafe even if I couldn’t make it.
My pulse hammering in my ears, I tried to stay calm.
“Why wait for it to get better?” I forced a smile. “We should make it happen.”
Lucas had walked to the counter without noticing me. For the time being, we were safe. It wouldn’t last long, though.
Standing, I offered her my hand. “Let’s go now.”
She looked confused at my sudden proposition, and I felt a pang of guilt, but there was also nothing I could do about it. The morning was going so well. If Lucas were to come over and talk to us, it could ruin everything.
“Um. Sure.” Georgia tossed her napkin on the table and accepted my hand.
Holding my breath, I led her to the door. Every step seemed to take hours, and I did my best to hold myself together.
Lucas knew too much. As much as I cherished my dear friend, he was of the past. Georgia was the future. I couldn’t and wouldn’t risk losing her.