Page 44 of Falling Together

“Hey,” she says, drawing my attention back up to her face.

“Hey. C’mon in.” I sweep the door open and invite her in.

“Thanks.” She looks around before her eyes settle back over me. “This is a great place.”

“I’m surprised I got it on such short notice,” I say. “Luke has his own space in the basement.”

She smiles at me and I find I really like making her do it. “So he can ignore you in peace?”

“Ouch.” I laugh. “Way to hit below the belt.”

Georgia walks by me into the kitchen, patting my chest. It sends a flurry of emotions coursing through me. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt anything like this. Well, at least since the last time I was with her.

“It smells good in here. What are you making?” She whiffs the pot on the stove.

“Gnocchi. It’s all homemade.”

Her eyes widen as she turns back to me. “Homemade? Wow. Something else I’m learning about you.”

“Which means I get another bite of your pancakes the next time we go.” I wink at her.

“As long as I don’t have to share this, you can have all of my pancakes.”

I laugh. “Duly noted. To keep you happy, make this for you.”

She bats her eyelashes at me. “Italian food is the way to my heart.”

The urge to kiss her is overwhelming. I want to lean over and seal my mouth to hers. I don’t know how someone can be the perfect combination of sexy and adorable, but she is. However, tonight isn’t about us. It’s about breaking the news to Luke.

“The table is already set if you want to eat now.”

“And share our news with Luke?” she asks.

I rub my hands on my pants. My palms are sweaty and the nerves from earlier now seem unbearable. I don’t know if telling him about the divorce was this bad.

“Hey, Luke. Dinner’s ready,” I call out.

He barely looked up when I told him we were having a guest over for dinner. I got a nod in response and that was it.

Stomps sound from the stairs before Luke stands there. His eyes fall to Georgia almost immediately.

“Who’s this?” he asks.

“Manners, c’mon,” I groan. If this is how the whole night is going to go, I’m not looking forward to it.

“Hi, I’m Georgia.”

As nervous as she likely is, she’s handling it a lot better than I am.

“What’s up?” He gives her a nod.

Luke shuffles over to the table and drops down into his usual seat. I pull out a seat for Georgia, and she smiles up at me before I sit down next to her.

“Are you two dating?” Luke asks, gaze flitting back and forth between the two of us. He piles a huge helping of gnocchi onto his plate.

I always make more than necessary because his portions are getting a lot bigger.

“Umm…” Georgia starts.