Page 66 of Fool Me Twice
After battling traffic to get Sebastián to school, Georgia and I headed back toward the house.
“We’re going back to your place?” She frowned. “Did you forget something?”
“Not… exactly. But there is something I do need to pick up.”
“Okay.” She laced her hands on her knees, seemingly content to not pry.
At the head of the driveway, I popped open the garage doors and parked the car inside. “Come with me, please.”
Grabbing the backpack I’d loaded for the day’s excursion, I led Georgia across the garage. When she saw what we were headed for, she gasped.
“Really?” She stopped in front of the motorcycle. “I figured you didn’t ride anymore.”
“I don’t get to very often, but it’s an indulgence of mine.” I settled into the seat and handed her a helmet. “Climb on.”
Fitting the helmet onto her head, she sat behind me and wrapped her arms around my waist. A thrill pulsed through me, and for a moment I doubted my ability to drive with her touching me.
Once we got out on the road, though, it became easier. I focused on the task in front of me, and Georgia kept her hold on my waist light but firm, so it wasn’t too much of a distraction.
If she wondered where we were headed, she didn’t have the capability to ask. Leaving the city, I headed to the bottom of Vista Chinesa and parked.
Climbing off the bike, Georgia shook out her long hair. “I forgot about this place!”
“I haven’t been here since we came here.” I shielded my eyes and gazed up at the mountain.
“Really?” She stared at me.
I lifted a shoulder. “I always felt that it was our special place. I didn’t want to share it with anyone else, nor did I want to experience it without you.”
“Rodrigo,” she murmured, coming closer and draping her arms over my shoulders.
“It’s true.” I ran my thumb down her chin, my chest bursting with an almost unbearable mixture of passion, desire, and fear.
If only she knew how strongly I felt about her.
Yes, if only she knew—then what? Would she return my affections? Or run screaming for the hills?
Georgia seemed to be even more of a free spirit now than when we dated. Someone like her probably didn’t want to be tied down.
But if she did… it would make me the happiest man in the world.
You need to tell her the truth,my conscious whispered.
I inwardly cringed. Although I wanted Georgia to know everything about me, there came a time with every matter when it was too late to come clean. Doing so would only make a person look bad. It would ruin things.
“Ready?” Georgia took my hand, and I grabbed the backpack.
“Ready,” I responded, pulling her under the crook of my arm as we walked.
The hike up to the top was fairly easy, as well as being one of the most beautiful ones in Rio de Janeiro. Back when we were dating, Georgia and I had taken the hike regularly. A few times, we’d even snuck to the top at night and shared a drink while watching the city lights flicker on.
Being back on our old stomping grounds had an even greater effect on me than I’d expected. It made me ache to think about all the days and years Georgia and I had missed in each other’s lives.
And it was all my fault. I had pushed her away with my fear and secrets.
Now I’d been given a second chance, and it looked like I was doomed to repeat the past.
Unless I did something different.