Four years earlier...
Georgia had worked for Diana for a little over a year and things had fallen into a routine that was helping her cope with her almost obsessive thoughts about Ewan Mailler. Her dreams had started out simple, a kiss or a dance, something to suggest that the attraction was there, but as she had spent more time in his presence and she had started to notice little things about him they had grown.
Her morning meetings with him made her feel as if she had run a marathon. Her heart was racing, her palms were sweaty, and her legs were shaky. She had no clue why her body was reacting so strongly to the man but it was. At first, she had thought it was because he was just a handsome charismatic man and it had been a while since she had been close to any man, but now she wasn't so sure.
Diana had brought a few men home who were just as handsome and charismatic as Mr. Mailler and they had done nothing to make her heart race or her knees shake.
He never treated her as anything other than an employee. He never looked at her longer than necessary and he never touched her. Their relationship was the epitome of employer and employee, proper with just enough respect shown not to be considered a suck-up.
Now, here she was packing a bag to head home for her visa renewal and vacation. She would be gone for two weeks and she was looking forward to getting away, clearing her head, and getting a new perspective on how things stood. Hopefully, she would come back cured because she would hate to lose her job. It paid well and she was able to build up her retirement funds.
Craig had booked her on a flight to New York with a stop in Dublin. He had apologized for the layover but it was the only flight that wasn't full since she had left the decision of the dates until the last minute.
Diana had been going through a crisis and had to be reasoned with in regards to her leaving. Georgia looked over her room one more time making sure she hadn't forgotten anything and picked her suit jacket up off of the bed. The bright red material set off her dark hair and made her feel powerful.
Putting her thick wool coat over her suit and grabbing her simple rolling suitcase and purse, she walked down the stairs and into the foyer. Noticing there was a car waiting out front she continued on, giving her bags to the driver and climbing into the car. She couldn't hide her surprise as she ducked her head into the car and came face to face with Ewan Mailler sitting in the seat looking at his phone.
"I'm sorry I thought this was the car that was taking me to airport." She started to retreat and when she felt his hand on her arm she could barley keep from jumping out of her skin.
"You're correct. Craig booked us on the same flight."
Georgia eyed him, then his hand which he removed from her arm.
She slowly settled back into the seat as the driver closed her door. "Why?"
"It was convenient and it gives me time to get to know you since it's likely that you'll be around indefinitely."
Georgia didn't know what to say to this. She was wary about him getting to know her but she was pleased that he thought she would be around for a while. She looked out of the window as the car started to move.
Neither of them spoke other than mild pleasantries until they were seated on the plane in a first class cabin.
"I didn't know you flew commercial," Georgia said suddenly, finding it odd that he was on a plane that wasn't his since he had enough money to have a fleet of them.
"As long as I get where I'm going I don't much care how I get there," he said as he settled back in his seat his arm brushing hers.
He had given Georgia the window seat and she sunk back into it as far away from his overwhelming presence as was possible. "I find that hard to believe," she said without thinking as she buckled her seatbelt.
"Some of the only down time I get is while I'm traveling, so why wouldn't I want the journey to take a little longer than it needs to?" He looked over at her and his face was so close to hers that she could see the stubble that was just starting to coat his jaw.
She looked up into his eyes which were watching her closely. Everything froze, all of the sounds of the plane and the people around them faded away as her gaze traveled down to his lips. They were nice lips. The bottom one was full and very kissable.
Upset at the direction her thoughts were taking she turned to look out of the window without meeting his eyes again. She focused on the activity below and the light snow that was falling as if her life depended on it. She heard him talking with the flight attendant who was trying to flirt with him even though he seemed oblivious.
"Are you really not interested or is she beneath your standards?" Georgia heard herself asking much to her mortification as the woman left. "Forget I asked that, it was totally inappropriate," she said, clearing her throat.
"I generally try not to flirt with women who wear wedding rings."
Her head jerked up as mortification made her face turn blood red. As she looked at him he nodded towards her ring. What was he trying to say...that he would flirt with her if she wasn't wearing a ring or that she should know better as one who was wearing a ring? She reached down and twisted her ring around her finger, her gaze not leaving his face as he watched her hand movements.
When his eyes meet hers she turned to look out of the window again. This was going from bad to worse quickly. She wasn't going to have a job after this flight if she continued on the way she was going. It was best if she only spoke when spoken to she decided as she folded her hands in her lap, doing her best to ignore her racing heart and the wonderful smell of the man next to her.
It was a short flight to Dublin and almost as soon as they were done ascending they started their descent. Neither she nor Mr. Mailler said a word to each other but she was aware of his every movement and it was all she could do to keep from jumping every time his arm brushed hers on the armrest.
As they began the descent the Captain came across the loud speaker and apologized to those who were on any flights that were connecting to fly to the North Eastern U.S. because a major snow storm had stopped all inbound flights within the last hour.
Georgia heard a lot of groans from the other passengers but Mailler seemed unfazed.
"Well it sounds like you're going to get some extra down time," Georgia said as the plane taxied towards the gate.
"Sounds that way," He agreed as he pulled out his phone and started to send a text. He was contacting Craig no doubt, asking for him to make arrangements for them.
He got a response almost immediately and then he put his phone away as he patiently waited for the plane to park and the other passengers to depart. When the plane was empty he rose, his massive frame filling the cabin as he began to get his personal stuff from the bin above their heads.
"Sorry about the hold-up on the other end Mr. Mailler." the Captain said from the cockpit not ten feet away from them.
Ewan nodded, letting him know that he heard him but not giving him any more notice.
He waited for Georgia to rise and gather her things before he led the way off of the plane. When they walked out of the gate and into the terminal there was a representative waiting for them.
"Mr. Mailler, I'm Kira and I'm so sorry for the delay. We have you and your friend booked on the first flight out tomorrow. We have arranged for two rooms at one of our hotels and we have a car waiting to take you there now." The beautiful blond woman was practically out of breath as she talked and walked at the same time.
"Our luggage?" he asked as he moved through the terminal not slowing down his pace.
"That we cannot do. I'm sorry." She shook her head.
Georgia had the impression that they had sent their prettiest customer care representative to help Mr. Mailler in an attempt to sooth any irritated nerves. However, Georgia knew not to say anything walking as fast as she needed too to keep up with Mailler's powerful strides.
"Thank you Kira. We will take the car but pass on the rooms."
Guessing by the way he said we, she was included in his plans for the night. Her heart gave a little jump at the thought. In a way he had taken care of her. Granted, it was just as easy to make plans for two as it was for one, but he hadn't left her to her own devices which he had every right to do since she was only his employee.
The car that was waiting for them was warm and clean and as they settled in he gave an address to the driver and the car started to move. It wasn't a very long ride and soon they were pulling up outside a small pub that was housed in what looked to be a 17th century building. It was not what Georgia was expecting. She had expected their destination to be a five star hotel with all of the amenities.
"Ewan!" A thick Irish brogue filled the night air as a short stocky dark haired man stood in the doorway to the pub. "I guess even you can't control the weather."
"Collin." Ewan held out his hand as the short man reached out and grasped his hand pulling him into a hug. To Georgia's surprise he hugged him back then stood back and put his hand on his shoulder.
"You look good Collin, married life agrees with you." Then she watched as an honest to goodness smile transformed Ewan Mailler's face. He had perfect white teeth, and lord help her, when a dimple appeared she had to stiffen her knees at the impact it had on her.
"Who is that lovely lady there behind you?" Collin asked as he glanced over at her.
"This is Georgia Dawson."
"Ms. Dawson. It's a pleasure. My name is Collin Shealy" He reached out his hand
Georgia took it in hers with a smile. "Collin, it's a pleasure to meet you."
"Lord help us a yank, you surprise me Ewan." His laugh was loud and boisterous making others want to join in with him.
Ewan ignored the comment. "I hope you can feed us Collin, I can't speak for Georgia but I'm starving."
Georgia's stomach did a funny flip at his use of her first name. Really, what was wrong with her? A smile and his use of her first name should not have such an impact on her.
"Only the best for you Ewan. Come on in and we'll get you settled."
They followed Collin into a warm half full room of locals who were paying no attention to the two new people. There was a beautiful redhead on the stage who was singing her heart out to the crowd. It was a beautiful haunting tune but it was in Gaelic so she had no clue what the song was about.
They were led over to a table in the corner by the fire and Mailler helped her off with her coat, his fingers brushing her shoulders. She sat in the chair that Collin held out for her thanking him as she did so. No sooner had they settled in then food started to arrive along with a warm lager.
Georgia didn't ask any questions she just went with it and ate the delicious food and sipped at the warm beer, letting the atmosphere relax her for the first time that day. When the beautiful woman finished after a few more songs there was a round of hearty applause as she left the stage and headed right for Mailler.
"Ewan," she greeted as she hugged him close and it was plain to see that he was just as pleased to see her as she was to see him. Georgia eyed her over her beer glass and did her best to push back the jealously that was suddenly overwhelming her.
"Moria this is Georgia, Georgia this is Moria, Collin's wife."
Moria held out her hand as she took in Georgia's appearance. If she thought her presence there was odd she kept it to herself. "Is there anything you need Ewan? How is the food, can I get you more?" She looked over her shoulder and waved to someone.
"Everything is perfect and there is nothing more we need," Ewan assured her, taking his seat again.
"I'm pleased to hear it. Nothing is too good for the man who saved my Collin's life and made sure he came home to me. Let me know if there is anything you need," she said with a kiss on Ewan's cheek before she wandered away to play hostess.
Mailler seemed to be taking it all in stride, if he was uncomfortable in any way he hid it well, but then he hid all of this thoughts well.
"Shall we try to have a conversation?" he suggested after a moment of tense silence. "We have a long evening before us and it might make the time pass more quickly." He leaned back in his chair watching her across the table.
"Sure." Georgia took a sip of her warm beer and set it aside with a grimace.
"I take it warm beer is not your thing?" He nodded towards the beer that sat more than half full on the table.
"No, not particularly."
"Would you like something else, a glass of wine maybe?"
"Something simple, water or some tea would be nice." He gave her a thoughtful look before rising to move towards the bar.
"I'll get it." She rose to cut him off. "I'm sorry I'm not much of a drinker." She felt herself blush, embarrassed that she had misunderstood and that he had meant for her to get her own. She did, after all, work for him.
"No, I'll get it." He put his hand on her shoulder and gently pushed her back into her seat.
Georgia complied quickly, anxious to end the disturbing feeling of his hand on her shoulder. She watched as he moved gracefully across the room towards the bar. He never seemed to be out of his element. For the past year she had seen him in many different situations and he always appeared to be in control. Even now, in the simple act of getting a drink from the bar, he was comfortable as he talked to the people sitting next to him. He must have said something funny because Georgia watched as all of the men laughed and then turned to look at her.
When he returned to the table he handed her a bottle of water, her fingers brushing his as she reached to take it from him. "Thank you." She turned to look at the men who had gone back to their drinks. "Do you mind me asking what you said at the bar that was so amusing?"
"I told them that I had no hopes of getting you drunk and taking advantage of you if you were going to stick to water but at least you were proving to be a cheap date." He reached for his beer as her turned his chair towards the fire and settled into it.
Georgia smiled and shook her head at the thought him trying to do that very thing.
"You don't believe that that was what I said?" He looked over at her with an amused expression.
"Hardly, I'm not exactly your type." She took a sip of her water thankful for the coolness as it traveled down her throat. If he only knew that he didn't have to get her drunk, all he really had to do was kiss her and she would probably be his for the taking.
"And what is 'my type'?" He gave an insincere smile. "I mean other than the wedding ring part. I'm assuming that that's what that ring means."
"Yes, that's what it means." She looked down at her ring and twisted it around her finger.
"You don't strike me as the type who would be separated willingly from a husband even if things got a little tough."
"Thank you," she said. That was indeed a compliment, and the fact that he had guessed that about her told her just how good he was at gauging people's characters. The whole evening was turning out to be surreal. She took off her glasses and sat them on the table rubbing her face.
"What happened?" he asked after a minute of waiting. She didn't know why but she had the impression that he didn't like the fact that he wanted to ask the question.
"You didn't want to ask that question did you?"
"No, but I do want to know the answer."
"And you're used to having all of the answers without having to ask aren't you?"
He looked up at her. "That's part of it." His eyes met hers not releasing her from his stare.
"What's the other part?" She licked her lips as the atmosphere between them suddenly changed.
"I'm bothered by the fact that I want to know." His gaze dropped down to her lips before he looked back towards the fire.
Georgia cleared her throat. She was getting to see a whole other side to this harsh man who people feared.
"People fear you, you know." She watched him as he gave a slow smile.
"Yes it's part of the Mailler image. They feared my father so they must fear me."
"You don't mind being feared?" Georgia watched him closely.
"No, it can be useful in dealing with people. When you're feared you don't have to mess about with the niceties of polite society."
Georgia laughed. "In other words you can be as rude as you like."
He turned to her grinning. "Exactly." Their eyes met again with total understanding and a connection was made in that instant
"My husband was killed in Iraq four years ago."
"Military." He nodded. "How did he die?"
"IED."
They were both silent. Her thinking about her husband and Mailler's thoughts a mystery.
"You were military weren't you?" Georgia continued after a few minutes.
"Yes." He took a large swallow of his beer.
"Why did you leave it? It seems like it would be a good fit for you. The control and organization of it all."
He was silent as he weighed his answer.
"Was it family obligations?"
"No, not at the time but it probably would have been that in the end."
Guessing that he didn't want to answer she stopped talking searching her mind for a new subject.
"Your husband, you loved him very much." He picked the subject for her.
"Yes, we were high school sweethearts. He was my best friend not just my husband." Georgia tried to pull her husband's image into her mind but couldn't. All she could see was Ewan Mailler sitting across from her, the sharp angles of his face highlighted by the fire while the shadow of a beard darkened his jaw. He was a beautiful man.
"What about you? Any great love affairs?" As soon as the question was out she was aware of the inappropriateness of it. "I'm sorry that's none of my business."
"Neither is your history but I'm still asking the questions so you have every right to ask as well." He looked over at her and smiled. "In answer to your first question I am no longer in the military because of an IED, the very thing that took your husband's life and no, I have never had a great love affair. I don't think I have it in me. I'm a selfish bastard really."
"No you're not. You give a large chunk of your money away to others." Georgia knew this and she also knew that no one was supposed to know about it, she had only found out by accident.
He laughed a sound that warmed her. "And how do you know that?" He motioned for another beer.
"I saw your tax return," she replied softly, realizing she had probably said the wrong thing.
He stilled, drink in midair. "I think I underestimated you."
"It was completely by accident. My Aunt is and accountant and I used to help her so I know how to read them. It was on your desk one morning and I happened to notice it." Her words trailed off as she realized she was not helping herself in the least.
"So you know what my job was before going into the family business, what was yours before becoming my sisters whipping girl?"
"That's a bit harsh, besides you saw my resume."
"No, I love my sister but she is a self-involved spoiled brat who thinks of no one but herself." He thanked Moria as she dropped off another beer. "I would like to hear about it from you. You can tell a lot about a person by how they talk about their past jobs"
Georgia regarded him, he could probably tell a lot about a person when they talked about anything.
"So what was your dream profession?"
"I was a chef." Georgia smiled at his look of surprise.
"That didn't make it onto the resume." He shook his head and laughed "I never would have guessed that. What made you change jobs, did you fail as a cook?"
"No I didn't fail as a CHEF," she corrected as he smiled at her. He had been goading her. She shrugged, taking a sip of her water. "A friend of a friend mentioned that you sister was looking and I wanted something new to do so I applied. It seems to have been a good move. I don't have a lot of free time on my hands which suits me well."
"That part I get." He nodded and they were silent for a while as Moria started to sing again.
They talked off and on for the rest of the evening until closing time came. Georgia was shocked as Collin and Moria locked up the pub and wished them goodnight before they headed up a staircase behind a door next to the bar.
"We have rooms upstairs," he explained as he watched her concerned face.
The sudden silence of the room surrounded them. All Georgia heard was the crackling of the fire. He rose and moved towards the glowing embers. "Tell me Georgia, have you had any lovers since your husband?"
Georgia could only stare at Mailler in stunned silence. His broad back facing her as he looked down into the hearth. "Mr. Mailler I don't-,"
"I am very attracted to you Georgia."
Georgia opened her mouth as if to say something but nothing came out.
"I don't trust easily but I feel that I can trust you."
"You can." She cleared her throat. That was not what she should be saying.
"Should we take this upstairs?" He nodded towards the door.
"Is this how you normally make your approach towards a woman?" Georgia rose feeling like she had less of an advantage by sitting, or maybe it was so she could make her escape more quickly, she couldn't decide as she cleared her throat again and crossed her arms.
"No." He walked towards her, his massive frame filling her vision as he approached. "But I thought it was an approach that you would appreciate since you're still in love with your husband." He reached out and took her face in his hands. "Would you like a more romantic gesture?" His thumbs traced her cheeks before one moved down to her lips.
"It has been awhile." She felt her toes curl at the contact, so much for a quick escape she couldn't move even if she wanted to.
"Hmmm..." he said as he lifted her chin and looked down at her. He examined her face closely and she took her time examining his; finally allowing herself to note all of the fine lines and details that she had missed with her past examinations that had been quick and covert.
When his lips gently took hers the contact was so brief and so gentle that she was unsure it had even happened, the only sign that it had was the burning of her lips, it was as if they had been touched by a flame. It was not what she had imagined a kiss from him to be like. She had always imagined that it would be fast and hard.
"There is something..." he trailed off looking around him as if he was unsure of the setting.
Georgia suddenly picked up on his unease. Whatever was coming next he didn't want it to happen here in the main room of the pub.
"Let's take this upstairs," she agreed softly, noting a change in his shoulders that was so minor she wasn't even sure it had happened. They gathered their things and took the same staircase that Collin and Moria had earlier.
The room was small with a double bed, two nightstands, and small coal burning fireplace. There was a throw rug on the floor and a few simple pastoral pictures on the walls. It was simple and functional not a room she would associate with Ewan Mailler and a great seduction scene. She had to smile at the thought.
"I know, it's not what one would suspect of me, is it?" He placed two keys on the mantle above the fireplace. "This key is for the room next door." He slid it towards her. "Despite what you think, I did arrange for two rooms and you're welcome to leave at any point."
Georgia watched as he took off his suit jacket and draped it across the back of the chair in the corner. He turned to look out of the window as he undid his tie. His mood had suddenly shifted from relaxed and a bit teasing to very tense. She watched as he took a deep breath and ran his hand through his hair.
"You never asked the question."
"What question?" Georgia was confused, not only by his sudden change of mood but by his odd statement. She thought that as soon as they hit the room that would be it.
"Why I was taken out of active service?" He turned to look at her.
Georgia sat her purse on the mantle with shaking hands. She then removed her glasses and placed them next to her purse. "I imagined that surviving a bomb blast and recovering from it was not an easy task, there had to be some damage that needed to heal."
"Yes, but what damage? This is the part where you say you look fine, what's wrong with you?" He sounded harsh as if he had been in this same scenario and he was angry that she wasn't following a set script.
"Fine, what's wrong with you?"
"I sustained massive burns on my left arm, leg and torso," he said this with no emotion, as if he was talking about someone else completely.
"O.K."
"O.K., that's all you have to say?"
He obviously wanted her to say more but she wasn't sure what. She looked at her ring. "At least your alive, my husband wasn't so lucky."
She heard his sharp intake of breath. "That's one way to put me in my place."
"I wasn't trying to, I was just being honest," she whispered.
"I've had sex since then but I haven't let anyone see the scars except my doctors." At her shocked looked he smiled. "I'm just trying to be honest."
"So why are you telling me this?" Georgia crossed her arms watching him.
"As I said downstairs, I trust you and I would like something more than a quick release. I want to hold a woman again, sleep beside one."
"And I want to be held again." Her voice broke as she said it. Until that moment she didn't know just how badly she wanted that very thing.
"But it can't go beyond this." He looked around him. "Things have to remain the same in the real world. I will be your boss and you will be my employee and this cannot affect that."
She nodded, he was only promising her now and nothing more, but did she dare take it? She had dreamed of this man for a year. She had wanted to know his touch, and the fact that he was scarred didn't diminish that fact.
Georgia looked at him standing across the room. His broad shoulders, flat stomach, and narrow hips were all male. His arms were crossed in front of him and she could see his strong hands where they rested in crook of his elbows. How often had she watched those hands across his desk and wondered what they would feel like on her skin?
"You're taking a risk? What if I turn out to be a raging psychopath that demands that you marry me after pretending to be pregnant?" She reached up and undid her hair letting it fall around her shoulders. With shaking hands she placed the pins on the mantel with her glasses.
His eyes followed her every movement. "I'd fire you, demand proof, then turn you out; completely ruining you, making sure you never worked anywhere ever again."
"Well, so long as I understand the terms." She took off her suit jacket and laid it next to his on the chair then walked towards him. "May I touch you Mr. Mailler?"
"Ewan, and yes you may." She watched as he swallowed hard.
She ran her hands over his chest, feeling the muscles as they twitched under her fingers. "I've only ever made love to my husband," Georgia said, wanting to share something of herself with him.
He held still as she started to unbutton his shirt. The undershirt he wore hid everything but the slight scarring at his neck. The fact that he worked out was evident in his muscles. Next, she unbutton his cuffs before she pushed the shirt off of his shoulders moving behind him to catch it and lay it over the chair. When she reached for his undershirt and went to lift it they both stopped breathing. Her arms weren't long enough so he had to help her get it over his head. Then he stood before her, his scarred flesh hurting her heart. She couldn't lie and say that it wasn't disturbing. The thought of pain he must have gone through was inconceivable.
She traced the scarring, the ridges, and uneven texture with her fingers. "Can you feel anything?" she asked looking up at him.
"Enough." His voice was low and rough. She continued around to his arm and then his back, paying equal attention to both the scarred and unscarred skin. His unscarred arm had a tattoo banded around his bicep. It caught her off guard. It was so unlike the Ewan Mailler she knew. This was the mark of a different man. One she hoped to get to know better.
When she reached for his belt he grabbed her hands and held them to his chest with one of his hands. His other hand went up to her hair gathering it in his fist. "Now it's my turn, Georgia."
Her knees trembled at the sound of her name. "Well, I do know how to take turns Ewan." She returned the favor of saying his name and watched his eyes darken as she said it.
"I'm glad to hear it." His lips took hers in a fierce caress just as she had imagined he always would. When she groaned in response all of their walls came tumbling down and it wasn't like anything she had ever experienced before.
They missed their plane the next day and the day after that.
But Ewan was not lying when he said that it would end there. When she returned from New York he was Mr. Mailler and she was Ms. Dawson. The only difference was she had removed her wedding ring.
If he noticed he never said a word.