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“Mr. Adamant, I’m not bothered. Really, I’m not.”
Adam seemed to be overcome by what Georgie could only describe as anguished gratitude.
“You are too kind, Miss Jones, in seeking to spare my feelings like this, but no, it was an unpardonable liberty!”
Georgie’s lips twitched and she murmured. “I wouldn’t say unpardonable.”
Adam cleared his throat and stood stiffly at attention, as if he were under military inspection. He turned his head to the side, presenting his cheek. “Strike at your leisure, Miss Jones.”
Georgie gaped at him. “I’m not going to slap you, Mr. Adamant. We were shadowing two gangsters in a secluded park at night. You chose a clever, practical solution to allay their suspicions when they noticed us.”
Adam bowed slightly. “I thank you for the compliment Miss Jones; nevertheless, I must insist.”
Georgie looked him over for a long moment, then pushed out a resigned sigh. “Alright … here it comes …” She pulled her hand back dramatically as if readying to bowl a cricket pitch.
Adam closed his eyes and braced. At first he felt nothing, but then there was a puff of warm air on his face, followed immediately by the lips he had just kissed, smothering the sound of his scandalized surprise.
But he didn’t pull away …
“There,” Georgie breathed after parting from him. Her big bright eyes searched his face and her wide, rosy lips spread into a smile. “Now we’re even-steven.”
Adam blinked at her, his brows furrowed as he tried to think, his mind feeling as slow as molasses as the affects of the kiss were still swirling through him.
“Who’s Steven?” he said hoarsely.
“Oh, it’s just an expression, Adam.”
“Oh … like cockney rhyming slang but with the actual word alongside the rhyme? Doesn’t that rather defeat the purpose?”
Georgina laughed. Adam still did not understand what was so funny but felt his own lips turn up anyway. Her laughter always had that effect on him. A slow, warm smile continued to spread across his face as he considered her. Georgie’s smile softened as she saw the look and felt an involuntary shiver of delight. She never saw him look at her like that before.
Adam suddenly and decisively took her hand and looped her arm through his.
“Our ‘friends’ seem to have left us behind, my dear.”
Feeling a surge of joy, Georgie gasped in mock offense. “How rude of them!” She exclaimed, looking up at him, eyes sparkling with humor and admiration.
Adam’s grin took on that slightly rakish tilt that Georgina recognized as the thrill of adventure.
“Let’s catch up, shall we?”
The pair took off together at a brisk walk towards the retreating shadows of their quarry.