Free Project Seduction by Tatiana March Page B

that surged all over her skin.
    "I need a minute,” she yelled. “You'll have to wait."
    She didn't stop to listen for a reply. Instead, she rushed back into the bedroom where she began to pull clothes out of the wardrobe. Her hands shook, and the hangers got tangled up with each other.
    Whimpering with distress, she threw everything on the floor and covered her face with her hands. What was happening to her? She was a cool and competent person with a first-rate logical mind. She couldn't be falling apart because she didn't know what to wear in front of the man who was coming in to fix the heating.
    She closed her eyes and reached down to grab a hanger at random. A flimsy summer dress with an abstract pattern in muted shades of green, one of her new clothes. A good choice. Her fingers shook as she untangled the slim straps from the hooks on top of the hanger.
    She heard Rick's voice drifting in from the hallway, but couldn't make out the words. He was going to leave her, and never come back. Georgina tossed the dress over her head and ran into the hall, stopping behind the door just long enough to make sure the dress wasn't on back-to-front, and that the short hem hung untangled past her hips. Then she took a deep breath and opened the door.
    Rick wasn't there.
    Georgina rushed outside and spun around. There was no sign of him. She couldn't stop the wail of anguish that rose deep inside her.
    "Are you all right?” He stepped out through a narrow door in the corner of the landing. A few long strides had him by her side.
    The sensation of relief was indescribable, and the urge to propel her body into his arms was as powerful as it was inappropriate. “I'm fine,” Georgina said stiffly, her eyes riveted on him. For God's sake, the man's come up to fix the heating. Get a grip .
    Rick eyed her with curiosity. “I thought I heard you cry out."
    "I stubbed my toe.” Georgina stared down at her bare feet. There'd been something about red nail polish on her list, but that wasn't for a couple of weeks yet.
    "I was just checking when the elevator is due for the next inspection,” Rick explained.
    "Oh. Is that what it is? I've never noticed that door before."
    "It's concealed on purpose. Elevators are an easy target for vandals, and they cost a lot to repair."
    "Oh."
    "You want me to look at your heating?"
    She nodded, taking in his appearance. There were signs of a hasty shave over his face. The stubble from last night was gone, but he'd missed a thin strip by his left ear. Then Georgina swallowed, as she realized it was on purpose. The scab from where she'd cut him with her handbag almost a week ago created a little island that needed to be left alone. Her arm twitched as she fought the temptation to raise her hand and run her fingers along the healing scar.
    "Are you sure you're all right?” Rick's gaze swept over her.
    "What?” she said dreamily.
    Perplexed, he shook his head and stepped in past her.
    No, I'm not , Georgina thought. I'm not all right at all, but I can't figure out what the hell is wrong with me .
    She dawdled on the landing until she could no longer delay following him inside. He stood in the middle of the hall, looking strong and capable in the jeans that fit just right, not too tight, not too baggy, and in the neatly tucked white shirt. The cuffs were undone, and the sleeves were rolled up to the elbows, and he fiddled with the temperature dial.
    "Have you interfered with the inlet valve in the bathroom?” he asked without turning to her.
    "I don't even know what that is, or where it is."
    "Is it all right if I take a look?"
    Georgina froze. The bathroom. Was there a mess? Had she pulled out the plug? Were the ice-cubes still swimming around in the sink?
    "Let me just check if it needs tidying up.” She eased past him, keeping as much distance between their bodies as she could.
    The basin was still full of water and ice. She pulled the plug, but the cubes were too big to go down the hole. She scooped