Sara Stone - Full Exposure

“Georgia.” Liam rushed in, moving to the side of her bed. He lowered his forehead to hers and hugged her tight. “You scared me. When I heard Eric’s message. Jesus.” He squeezed tighter. “I thought I’d lost you.”

“I’m OK. No major damage. Promise.”

He stepped back and looked her over, assessing for himself. “You’re sure?”

She nodded. “Yeah, I’m sure. They’re releasing me tomorrow. Just one night for observation. That’s all.”

“Good. That’s good,” he said. “You’ll come home?”

Georgia hesitated. She knew she’d held on to her anger long enough. Liam loved her and had been trying his best to take care of her. When he’d walked into the kitchen and found her naked with his friend, he’d been trying to protect her. She might not need him to fight her battles for her, but he was her brother. He’d always try.

“I—”

“She’s coming home.” Eric stepped forward, moving beside Nate on the other side of her bed. “With me.”

Liam’s eyes narrowed as he stared at Eric across her bed. But Eric ignored him, turning to her. He raised one hand, running his fingertips down her cheek.

“I was wrong, Georgia. I let you go. I told myself it was the best thing for you and for my family. I hid behind your traumatic experiences, when you were the one who faced your demons head-on. I let my childhood dictate my future when I should have fought for you.”

He leaned down, brushing his lips over hers, a gentle kiss, but one given in front of her family and his. He pulled away and Georgia stared up at him, wondering if he understood how much she needed him in her life. How she’d realized that she was stronger with him, loving him, than apart.

“Eric,” she whispered.

“I’m sorry, Georgia,” he said. “Please come home. I’ll be here for you every day. I’ll help you heal, inside and out, no matter how long it takes. I swear I’ll trust in your inner strength. If you promise you’ll let me help you when you need it.”

She nodded, feeling close to tears, but no longer caring who heard his magical words.

“Let me be your next big rush. Let becoming part of my family be your next big thrill,” he said. “Georgia—”

“Yes,” she said quickly. “Yes.”

He raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything. She had a feeling she knew what he’d been about to say, and she didn’t want to hear it. Not here. Not like this.

He’d told her he loved her before, while she was surfacing from a nightmare. Today, the wreck, and the dead woman from the other car—it felt like another terrible dream. When he said those words to her, she needed to know they came from the heart and were not wrapped up in fleeting panic and dread.

Fear touched every corner of her life. And that wasn’t going to stop. Not today and probably not anytime in the future. But she didn’t want it to be part of this moment with Eric.

THE NEXT MORNING, Eric and Nate picked her up at the hospital and brought her home. Eric took them out to lunch in town and, over burritos, asked about her doctor’s follow-up instructions. The conversation moved from the side effects of a concussion to how many trains Nate could bring to show-and-tell at preschool.

No declarations of falling in love or promises of forever.

On the drive home, Georgia silently hoped the right moment would arise for Eric to declare his feelings. She wanted to hear those words. But Nate grabbed her hand the minute they walked in the door. He dragged her up the stairs and down the hall to the room she’d stayed in when she’d first become his nanny. Her hope hiccupped. When Eric had said those words back at the hospital—becoming part of my family—she’d envisioned different living arrangements.

“It’s gone!” Nate cried.

Georgia crouched beside him. “What’s missing, kiddo?”

“The sign!” he wailed.

She heard Eric’s footsteps in the hall and turned. “Not gone. Just moved. Georgia will be sleeping in my room from now on.”

The hiccups vanished as if she’d been holding her breath, waiting for confirmation. Eric scooped Nate up and took Georgia’s good hand. He led them back down the stairs to his master bedroom. Now their room. Setting Nate on the floor, he pointed to the door. “There it is.”

Georgia sank beside the little boy, studying the circles, dots, and Xs on the paper. “Did you make this, Nate?”

He nodded. “This sign will keep the bears away.”

“Thanks, kiddo. It’s perfect.” Georgia drew him into a hug. Releasing the little boy just enough to see his face, she added, “You know what else helps keep the bears away?”

“What?”

“Waking up and remembering I have you and your uncle Eric.”

She felt Eric’s hand on her shoulder. He gave her a light squeeze.

“Always,” he said. “Always.”

Georgia spent the rest of the day playing trains, reading books, and watching Nate run in the yard. Eric fired up the grill and made steaks for dinner. Afterward, they put Nate to bed. Together.

Stepping out on the stone patio, monitor in hand, Georgia watched the sun sink behind the mountains.

“Thinking about a swim?” Eric came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist, drawing her back against him.

“The water’s too cold this time of year,” she teased.

“It might be refreshing.”

“Maybe. But I’d probably have a difficult time swimming.” She held up her sprained wrist.

“You’re right.” He turned her around in his arms until she was looking up into his familiar blue eyes. “How about a shower?”

“I have a better idea.” She ran her good hand down his arm, entwining her fingers with his. “How about the bed?”

Holding his hand, she led him inside and down the hall to their bedroom. A bottle of champagne stood in an ice bucket beside the bed. “I guess you didn’t have your heart set on a swim.”

He gave her hand a gentle tug, drawing her into his arms. “I knew we’d end up here eventually.”

“Hoping I’d drop my towel and climb onto your bed?”

“Yes.” He claimed her mouth, kissing her deeply. “But I can’t promise I’ll keep my hands to myself this time.”

“You’d better not,” she said, glancing down at the splint on her arm. “With the way my arm feels, I don’t think I can undress myself.”

Eric stepped back, looking her over as if assessing her limitations. “That could be a problem.”

“Eric, I’m fine,” she said. “I’ll just need a little help with my shirt and the button on my jeans.”

He shook his head. “I don’t know. The things I want to do to you . . .”

Her breath caught and she reached for the button on her jeans with her nondominant left hand. She struggled to release the top of her jeans, refusing to give up. Finally, she succeeded, pushing her pants down her legs.

“I’d hate to hurt you,” he said. But he began unbuttoning his white dress shirt.

“You won’t.” Georgia managed to remove her underwear and toss them on the pile of clothes with her jeans. “I’m strong, remember?”

“I did promise I’d always believe in your inner strength, didn’t I?” Eric pulled his undershirt over his head.

Georgia nodded, staring at his muscular chest as she struggled to pull her injured arm into her T-shirt. By the time she dropped her shirt on the floor, he’d discarded his pants and boxers. She swallowed, looking him over from head to toe.

It was as if they were back at the beginning. She ached to touch and explore the man she had loved for so long. More than anything, she wanted to make love to him. Just as she had that first night when she’d boldly walked into his room.

Only now she’d fallen in love with him. This wasn’t about a moment in time, but the rest of her life. And her future looked as if he was one second away from tossing her on the bed and proving that he was anything but straightlaced.

Georgia reached her good hand behind her back and struggled with her bra. But she couldn’t do it. “You don’t really need to see my breasts, do you?”

“Yes, Georgia, I do.” He closed the space between them until the fabric of her bra brushed against his chest. With his two good hands, he released the hooks. He drew the shoulder straps down her arms, carefully navigating around her wrist. Then he stepped away, taking her bra with him.

“You’re beautiful, Georgia.” He tossed her bra aside. With one hand, he touched her chin, lifting her gaze to meet his. What she saw there—it wasn’t playful and lighthearted. It was as if he was offering her a glance inside, at his heart and soul.

“Your outer beauty drew me in years ago,” he said. “But it’s your courage, your bravery, your resolve that won my heart. You asked me the other day if I was in love with you. And I was too much of a coward to acknowledge my feelings. I hid behind fear.”

She lifted her good hand to his face, cupping his cheek. “You did what you thought was best for a little boy.”

“No, I was afraid. And once I realized it . . .” He shook his head. “I didn’t think I deserved you. But I want to try because you’re what is best. For Nate and for me.”

“I’m glad to hear that.” She moved closer, pressing her naked body against his.

His arms wrapped around her, holding her close, his mouth brushing her ear. “Yes, Georgia. I’m in love with you. And I’m going to make sure you never doubt my love again.”

She kissed his neck, his chest, anything she could reach, needing to feel his skin against her lips, while their limbs pressed tight. Eric. He was her rock, her stability, and her future. He was her friend. And now her lover. Always.

“Make love to me,” she whispered, running her mouth up to his ear. “Please.”

HOURS LATER, GEORGIA woke to the sound of the doorknob turning.

“Uncle Eric?” a small, tired voice called.

“Be right there, buddy.” Eric gently lifted her head and slipped a pillow where his shoulder had been. “I’ll be back.”

“I’ll be here,” she promised. She watched as he pulled on his boxers and headed for the door.

Rolling onto her back, she stared at the ceiling, smiling. This was the beginning of the rest of her life. And right now she’d never felt so worthy of living, of returning home. That feeling might vanish tomorrow only to resurface again next week. She knew that. But for right now, she savored it. And if she continued to wonder why she’d lived, she’d have Eric by her side, loving her, supporting her—and that made the future look like a rainbow.

An hour later, maybe more, Eric returned and climbed into bed.

“Nate’s asleep,” he whispered.

“Good.”

She let him wrap his arms around her. Resting her head on his chest, she closed her eyes. And finally, she fell asleep.

LIAM WALKED INTO the Moore Timber office in sneakers and clean clothes. It was the first time in months, maybe years, since he’d showed up without traces of the forest he’d been harvesting. But Georgia had given him an ultimatum: sit down with Eric and fix things, or else. He didn’t want to face her “or else.” He’d discovered over the past few weeks that his baby sister was a tiger—wild, sometimes skittish, and ridiculously fierce.

He found the door to Eric’s office open. “Is now a good time?”

Eric looked up, his eyebrows raised in surprise. He hid it quickly behind a smile. Liam shook his head. Leave it to Georgia to keep this forced visit from her boyfriend.

“Sure. Come in.” Eric stood and moved to the chairs in front of his desk. “Are you here for the results of the DOF investigation?”

Between learning his best friend had been sleeping with his sister (his hands formed fists again at the thought) and Georgia’s accident, Liam had pushed the investigation to the back of his mind. He knew he was innocent. He didn’t need the DOF or any other government organization to tell him that.

“No,” he said. “But I would like to know where that son of a bitch started.”

Eric gestured for him to sit, and he did, claiming the chair opposite his friend. “That’s the good news,” Eric said. “You were right. NOAA worked with the DOF to trace the fire back to a lightning strike on the other side of the hill. The wind blew sparks over to where you were harvesting, and from there, well, you know how the fire jumped all over the place.”

“Good.” Liam ran his hands through his hair, more relieved than he wanted to let on. “It still sucks that you needed a government organization to step in before you’d believe I followed the rules.”

Eric leaned forward in his chair, resting his forearms on his thighs, his hands clasped tight between his knees. He kept his eyes downcast for a while, before looking up at Liam.