“Sure.” Her gaze shifted sideways. “Well, sort of. Up close anyway.”
“Good. You’ll have to rely on me.” He didn’t even try to hide the pleased grin. “Now, about Parker. It’s rather fun to jerk her chain.”
“She’s a shark, Clay.”
“Not even close. A barracuda maybe. A small one.” He started walking and tugged Georgie along with him. “Are you embarrassed to be seen with me?”
Now it was her turn to stop and tug him back. “Are you serious? I’d think it was the other way around!”
He arched a brow, daring her to continue. She sputtered for a moment, flustered.
“I am serious, Georgie. I thought I’d made myself clear on this point. I want to date you.”
Her face blanched and she gulped in air.
“Breathe, Georgie. I don’t have a paper bag.”
“Will. Not. Hyperventilate.”
“Good. Look, I don’t want to stress you out, but you know me. Once I make up my mind, I don’t do things halfway.” Her snorting giggle brought him up short.
“Clay, other than Giselle, you’ve never dated the same woman longer than a month.”
“Well, that’s true. But none of them were you.”
He wanted to laugh when she sucked in a breath, beyond flustered now. Instead, he pulled her against his chest and rubbed his hands down her back. “As far as you and I are concerned, my name is officially out of the dating pool, Georgie. At least while we are committed to this relationship. We’ll take things a day at a time.”
“But...the campaign. And...and...”
“And what? You are an intelligent, articulate and very sexy woman.” That statement got another giggle and snort as she pushed away and glanced down at her baggy sweats. His baggy sweats, and didn’t it just turn him on that she was wearing his clothes? Maybe he should call to have food delivered so he could take Georgie back to bed. Then his stomach rumbled. He would ensure his fridge and cabinets were stocked from now on, though, so every morning they woke up at his place, they could have breakfast in bed.
They continued walking for a couple of blocks, neither speaking. On the sidewalk outside the coffee shop, Clay halted and faced Georgie. “We’ll work around things if someone discovers we have a relationship beyond work. Okay?”
Her eyes glittered as she nodded slowly. “Are you sure? I mean, plausible deniability—”
Clay silenced her with a finger over her lips. “Stop. Right there. If this leaks, I don’t want to hide you, Georgie. That’s not who I am.” He dropped his hand and waited. This was make-or-break for him. If their relationship became common knowledge, he refused to skulk in shadows. In his position, hiding anything from the press or the public was a bad idea. Part of him wanted to throw caution to the wind, but the practical, political side counseled discretion. As Georgie had said, “Plausible deniability.”
“Are you with me, Georgie?”
A smile struggled to form on her face as she squared her shoulders. “Yes, Clay.”
“Good. Now I’m starved and if my brain doesn’t get caffeine soon, it’s going on strike.” He pulled the heavy glass door open and ushered her into the softly lit shop.
Once they were seated at a table for two near the front windows, Clay studied her, noting how she fidgeted and looked everywhere but at him. If he had less ego, he might be worried, but he had two advantages. He was a Barron and he knew Georgie. She edged toward reticence but she wasn’t afraid to speak up in defense of an idea. They’d had some passionate debates over the years and to see her flustered was a real treat. This meant he’d gotten to her. He still had some reservations, despite Boone’s pushing, yet sitting here with Georgie felt right.
As a rule, he considered the consequences before making a move, and this whole thing felt reckless. Yet after spending the night with Georgie, he wondered why it had taken him so long to realize what Boone had known all along. Georgie was perfect for him. Smart, politically savvy, sweet in a charmingly real way and fantastic in bed. Oh, yes, they were definitely compatible in that regard. He should have guessed given her fire when they discussed the issues.
As he watched, she pulled out her phone and read the screen. Her thumbs flew as she texted back. A stab of jealousy twisted in his gut. The ping of his own phone distracted him. He tapped the accept call button and put the phone to his ear.
“Where are you?”
“Good morning, Boone. Nice of you to call.”
“Yeah, whatever. Where are you? And where’s Georgie?”
“We’re at the Daily Grind.”