by Emma Lea
They walked determinedly to the car, but didn't run in case it spooked Marilyn and she came running after them. They got in the car and Connor backed out of the parking space and drove sedately away, waving to Marilyn over his shoulder. They didn't speak until they hit the main road and then Georgie laughed.
“Oh my God! Does that happen often?”
He sighed ruefully, “At home it does, but I'm usually safe when I come here. The locals know me and kind of protect me from the prying eyes of the media and I don't usually run into many tourists.”
“You were really sweet to her,” Georgie said with a soft smile, a warm feeling of affection filling her. Connor looked at the road and Georgie swore his cheeks turned a little pink under his tan. Was the great Connor Faulkes blushing?
“Do people always call you by your full name?”
He groaned. “Fans do. My name has become like a brand name, but I suppose it's the same with most actors. Like Tom Cruise, Chris Pine, George Clooney. If I just said Tom, Chris and George then you wouldn't know who I was talking about.”
“But still… you are a person behind your name and it’s kind of weird to call you ‘Connor Faulkes’ like you can't be Connor without the identifier of your last name.”
He shrugged. “People want to meet the movie star, not the man.”
“I suppose,” she mused, “I think I like the man better.”
He shot her a look and his mouth quirked in a grin. “Are you admitting you like me?”
“Oh God,” she said dropping her head and blushing furiously.
He laughed, the sound filling the cab and rippling over her skin. “Georgie likes me,” he cooed.
“Now you're pushing it,” she said, but there was no heat in her voice.
“Na ah, you can't take it back,” he said, his wide smile splitting his face and his eyes sparkling. Then he sobered just a little. The smile was still on his face, but not as wide, and his eyes darkened as he shot her a quick glance before turning back to the road. “I like you too, Georgie,” he said, reaching across the console and taking her hand in his.
All the girlie bits inside Georgie broke out into cheering and applause making her heart race and her head spin. Connor Faulkes liked her, she thought and then gave herself a mental slap. Connor, the man, liked her and that was even better.
7
Georgie sat in Book Club trying really hard not to stare at Connor. Since their little adventure to the billabong, he had been a regular visitor at Bookish, picking up new books for Dawn, staying to have coffee and a chat with her while devouring her freshly baked muffins. She knew that her regular customers had noticed. They hadn’t said anything to her directly, but she saw the knowing looks and the smiles. Even now as she sat in Book Club with an argument going on about Jordan Wicks’ motivations for his actions, the attraction between them felt palpable and Dawn had a very ‘cat that ate the canary’ look on her face.
As much as she had come to like Connor since getting to know the man behind the Prince Charming persona, she knew that it couldn't turn into anything long lasting. They were from two different worlds and they were not worlds that could be easily blended. Not that she thought Connor had forever on his mind. They got along well and were friends; however, she was a bit of a distraction for him while he was here and that was the extent of their relationship.
She steadfastly refused to think about the near kiss when they were in the billabong except she was kidding herself, because she couldn't get it out of her mind. Would he have really kissed her if she hadn't gotten spooked? She didn't have any experience with real-life relationships between men and women and was ashamed to admit that at the tender age of twenty-four, she had never been kissed. She was a romance book trope. The only thing she knew about kissing was what she read about, and she had read a lot. All the signs had been there; the way he looked at her, how his eyes had dropped to her lips, the way his arms had tightened around her. It was all textbook, the romance story prelude to a kiss. And it had freaked her out.
She bit her lip as she remembered the moment that had seemed to stretch out and slow down around them and her eyes met Connor’s across the Book Club circle. The intensity in his gaze made her wonder if he was thinking about that moment too. Was he remembering how well they seemed to fit together? Was he thinking about how it felt like they were in a dream world where only the two of them existed?
The sudden silence in the room had her tuning back in to the present. All eyes were on her and she swallowed, feeling like an idiot for letting herself daydream while in a room full of the worst of the town’s gossips.
“Ah, where were we?”
Kendra hid her smile behind her hand and Connor grinned at her, his eyes sparkling with humour.
“We were asking about next week,” Dawn provided helpfully.
“Right,” Georgie said feeling flustered and out of sorts. “I think it's time we moved on to book two, what do you say?”
A round of nods and murmured agreements and then everyone was packing up and making their goodbyes. She sat there, mortified to have been caught, but unable to make her getaway. She didn't want to leave yet and didn't have to go back to the shop that afternoon. Millie had taken on Wednesdays so she could do Book Club and it left her afternoon blissfully free. Usually she would be heading directly to her apartment for a long, leisurely afternoon with a good book or a sappy movie. Today, she wanted to stay here.
“Georgie,” Dawn said after everyone was gone, “why don't you stay for lunch?”
“Oh, I couldn't. I don't want to be a bother. We already take up so much of your time with Book Club.”
“Nonsense,” Dawn said, “I love having Book Club here. You’re the one who has gone out of her way to accommodate an old lady. Let me thank you by giving you lunch.”
Georgie shot a look to Connor who had just walked back in the room, flicking his keys around his finger.
“All right Gran?” he asked.
Dawn smiled at her grandson, “I'm good,” she said, “I was just asking Georgie to stay for lunch. Are you going out?”
He looked down at the keys in his hand and then at Georgie and she knew. He was leaving.
“I have to go in to Armidale for a meeting,” he said, his eyes leaving Georgie’s and making contact with Dawn’s. “Will you be all right on your own for a couple of hours?”
“Can't you stay for lunch, dear?”
He looked at his watch, but didn't look back at Georgie. “I really need to go.”
“You have to eat,” Dawn said.
“I'll grab something on the way,” Connor said and then turned to walk out of the room, “I'll see you tonight.”
Connor walked out and left Georgie staring after him in confusion. He hadn't even said good bye to her and seemed like he couldn't get out of the house fast enough. Had she done something to upset him? Or had he just come to realise that they really had nothing in common?
“Help me up, dear,” Dawn said, struggling to get out of her recliner, “And let's have some lunch.”
Connor pounded on his steering wheel in frustration. He had handled that badly, but he didn't know what he could have done differently. He did have a meeting in Armidale, although it wasn't until later He just needed to get out of Georgie’s orbit before he did something that they'd both regret.
He couldn't deny the attraction he felt towards her. It was an attraction that was growing day by day the more he spent time with her. He'd overheard Gran invite her to lunch and he knew that if he didn't get out of the house, he was going to take things with her to the next logical step and if he did that then they were both going to get hurt. He was leaving in a couple of weeks and starting something with her would end badly. If the paparazzi ever got wind of her, her life would be ruined and he didn't want that for her. She guarded her privacy and he respected that. He knew what he was getting into when he pursued this career, but Georgie didn't ask for any of it and she shouldn't be punished for his fame.
&n
bsp; That didn't make walking away any easier, though. He'd barely been able to keep his eyes off her during Book Club and then when she'd started to lose attention on the discussion, he knew what she'd been thinking about. It had been written all over her face. She was thinking about what had nearly happened in the billabong and that made him think about it and remember how right she felt in his arms. He had wanted to kiss her in that moment and still wanted to kiss her. But if he did, if he let things go that far, he would be making a promise he couldn't keep. There was no future for the two of them, despite what he might hope for. They were on parallel tracks, running side by side but never destined to cross. It was something he needed to keep reminding himself.
“So, you and Connor, huh?”
Georgie blushed. “We’re just friends.”
Dawn laughed, “It looked a lot more than that.”
“No, really,” Georgie insisted, “We are just friends. There's nothing going on between us. Besides, he’s Connor Faulkes and I’m, well, I'm just me.”
Dawn reached across the table and squeezed Georgie’s hand.
“I've never seen him look at anyone the way he was looking at you today.”
“That's sweet to say,” Georgie said, “But it's impossible. We are so different and come from such different lives. He has his movies and his fame and I have Bookish.”
“Those are not insurmountable obstacles,” Dawn said.
Georgie shrugged. “What would I do in his world? He dates celebrities and models. Women who are tall and gorgeous and know how to wear designer clothes. I'm a bookshop owner with a penchant for quirky shirts and Converse shoes.”
“And he's just a man who thinks you're pretty and likes being around you. I know where he goes during the day, I know how much time the two of you have been spending together. Why not just relax and let whatever is going to happen, happen?”
Georgie patted Dawn’s hand. “It's a lovely dream,” she said, “But that's all it is, a fairytale. Connor is Prince Charming and I'm just a fun distraction to keep him occupied while he is in town.”
“You're selling yourself short,” Dawn said with a shake of her head, “You're selling him short. Besides, what's the harm in having fun for the short time that he is here? Not every relationship has to be forever. If you like him and he likes you, what's to stop you from taking it a day at a time? If nothing else, you'll be making memories that will last you a lifetime.”
Maybe Dawn was right. Georgie had never even had a boyfriend, so why was she thinking in terms of forevermore? Admittedly having Connor Faulkes as her first boyfriend was a steep learning curve, but hey, why not? She could look at it as an experiment, and wouldn't her parents be proud? She was bound to learn something and the experience would be good for her. She may even get her first kiss out of the deal and when Connor left, they could even stay friends. She could be his pen pal, and they could keep in touch via email and Skype, wherever he was in the world.
It sounded like a good plan, so why did she feel so rotten?
8
Sleep eluded Connor. He couldn't stop thinking about the flash of hurt that had crossed Georgie’s face when he’d skipped out on lunch after Book Club. Telling himself that nothing could happen between them and that he needed to keep his distance did nothing to stop the desire he had to see her. Quite simply, he enjoyed her company. His lame attempt to put distance between them had hurt her and was hurting him too.
Disgusted with himself and finally giving up on sleep, he dragged himself out of bed and pulled on a pair of sweat pants before heading to the kitchen. His meeting in Armidale had gone well and there was lots for him to read over before he committed to anything, so now was a good a time as any to start.
Connor was surprised to see his Gran awake. It was barely dawn and there she sat at the kitchen table, her crutches propped up beside her and a cup of tea in front of her. She looked up and smiled at him as he walked in.
“Kettle’s just boiled,” she said.
“Thanks,” he replied walking into the spacious kitchen and making himself an instant coffee.
He joined his grandmother at the table taking note of the book she was reading.
“What number is that?”
“Three,” she replied without looking up.
“Do you think there's enough in the series to make the franchise viable?”
She looked up at him then, her face thoughtful. “Each book deals with a different couple, so I think so. Your character doesn’t have many scenes after the first book, just a few here and there.”
Connor nodded, “Yeah, I knew that. Which actually kind of suits me fine.”
“Oh?” Gran raised her eyebrows at him in interest, “Care to share?”
He smiled and shook his head, “It’s early days yet. I’ll tell you more when I know more.”
“Does it have anything to do with your appointment in Armidale?”
“Maybe,” he said, getting up to make himself another cup of coffee.
“Does that mean you might be around a bit more?”
“You’re like a dog with a bone, aren’t you?” he asked as he came back to the table and sat down.
“I miss you,” she said, “And…”
“And?”
“I like having you around and I’m not the only one.”
“Gran,” he said, exasperation in his voice.
“I like seeing the two of you together,” she said, “She’s good for you and you seem to be good for her too.”
He looked down at the mug in his hands, unsure what to say.
“I’m not saying you have to marry the girl,” Gran said, “Just…”
He looked up at her when she paused. Her eyes were soft and compassionate and he felt a rush of affection for her.
“Just don’t give up on the possibilities. Why not take it a day at a time, while you’re here. Get to know her.”
He sighed. He wanted that, he did, but he was worried. “I don’t want her to get attached to me and then when I leave, she gets hurt.”
“But she knows you’re leaving, so shouldn’t she at least be given the choice? You pulling away from her because you think it’s the right thing to do doesn’t give her any say in the matter.”
“I just thought I’d save us both a bit of heartache.”
Gran smiled softly at him. “And has it?”
He shook his head, both in acknowledgement of her question and his awe at her perception.
“The press would eat her alive.”
“Why do they need to find out?”
“They always find out.”
Gran shrugged, “It seems to me you’re looking for problems before they even become problems. If the press—”
“When, Gran. It’s when the press find out.”
“Okay fine. When the press find out, we’ll deal with it then. Until that time, why not just relax and enjoy yourself. Take a pretty girl out on a date. Laugh, dance, share a meal and some good conversation. You might even get the chance to kiss her goodnight.”
Connor smiled to himself. What was the harm in it? They had already gone out on their bushwalking adventure and nothing dreadful had happened. In fact it had been kind of wonderful and he very nearly got to kiss her. He knew he couldn’t rush things with her, but a goodnight kiss after a date would be expected, wouldn’t it? Especially if the date went as well as their bushwalking had gone.
“Fine,” he said, smiling at Gran, “I’ll ask her out on a date. Where do you suggest I take her?”
His Gran smiled victoriously and he had the feeling he’d just been had, but the joy that had suffused him when he had decided to ask Georgie out chased away any misgivings he might have had. So what if Gran had subtly manipulated him into asking Georgie out? It wasn’t a hardship by any stretch of the imagination. He wanted to take her out on a date.
Connor stood outside Bookish and watched Georgie as she helped old Mrs. Thompson. It was a little bit stalkerish, but he didn't often get the chance to watch
her in her natural environment. He knew as soon as he walked through the door, Georgie would change. It wasn't arrogance that led him to that conclusion, but knowledge. There was something between them, something undeniable. Whenever they were in each other’s air space, the chemistry between them arced, making them both behave differently. Unfortunately it made Georgie self-conscious and clumsy. For him, though, it was another story. Whenever he was around her, he felt more alive. His skin became super sensitive, his hearing sharpened and his eyes were drawn to her like magnets.
The shop door opened and Millie walked out, giving him a knowing glance.
“Connor,” she said, “What are you doing here?”
“I've come to see Georgie,” he answered truthfully.
Millie crossed her arms and stared him down. “I hope you're here to apologise.”
“She told you?”
“Of course not, but I'm her friend and I know when she's upset about something. The only thing she could be upset about is you. What did you do?”
“I was an idiot,” he confessed.
“Lead with that,” she said, “I hope you have a plan to make it up to her.”
“I do,” he said.
“Good.”
They both turned to see Georgie say good bye to Mrs. Thompson and head over to the coffee machine to serve another customer. He liked watching her when she was at ease, the way she confidently moved about her space, a smile on her face as she spoke to her patrons.
“Well, go on,” Millie said, “I'll cover for her while you apologise.”
He took a deep breath and stepped into the shop. She knew exactly when he crossed the threshold, he could see her shoulders tense and her smile become more forced. He hated that he'd done that, that the ease they had found with one another had been disturbed because of his stupidity. Millie pushed him from behind, reminding him that he hadn’t come to stand in the door way. He moved into the shop and over towards the counter where she was handing over the coffee she had just made. He waited for her to farewell the customer before he stepped up to her. She shot him a quick glance and then turned to walk away, but he shot out his hand to take hold of hers so she couldn't leave.
