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He’ll take her. And when he’s done with her, no one would ever find her remains.
*****
Georgie ran into Russell and Naomie in the hallway. They were waiting for the elevator. “Are you going to be in town for a few days?” She asked.
“Me, yes,” Russell answered and looked at Naomie. “I have a feeling it may be a bit longer for her, depending on what Riggs decides to do and whether BioNow will go along with him.”
“I have a feeling they’ll do just about anything for Naomie at this point,” Georgie stated the obvious. Naomie had handed BioNow a fortune in the patent. They’d be hard-pressed to say no.
“I hope they’ll go along with it,” Naomie said. “But we’ll see. If the offer is still open when Russ heads back to Texas, I’d like to take you up on your offer of a place to stay.”
“You know you’re always welcome.”
“Good. We need a girl’s night.”
“Yes, we do,” Georgie agreed, even though she wasn’t sure she wanted to tell Naomie any more than she already had about what happened with Josh.
“Okay, well, we’re off,” Naomie said as the elevator doors opened. “See you soon.”
“I look forward to it.”
She watched the elevator doors close and then headed to Riggs’ room. He was sitting on the bed, giving Robby a bottle.
“You’re getting pretty adept at that,” she commented.
“I never imagined I’d even want to do this. I figured my brothers would be the ones to be good fathers and husbands and that, at best, I’d be an okay uncle.”
“And now?”
Riggs looked up at her, and the sincerity on his face brought tears to her eyes. “Now I want it more than anything.”
“More than your foot?”
“As much. I need my foot so I can teach him.”
Georgie smiled, walked over to the bed, and sat beside him. “I understand that.”
They were silent for a few minutes. When Robby finished the bottle, Riggs lifted him against his chest to gently burb him. “I feel there’s something you want to tell me, and you’re scared I won’t like it.”
“I do, and I don’t know how you’ll react, but I have to tell you.”
“Then say what you need to say. I’m a big boy.”
She nodded and gathered her courage. “First, a confession. As much as I didn’t expect to, I’ve fallen in love with you. Admitting that is pretty scary.”
“Why?”
“Because rejection hurts no matter how much you tell yourself you’re a big girl and can take it.”
“Well, who says you’re going to be rejected.” Riggs gently handed the baby to her. “Would you put him in his crib, please?”
“I’d be happy to,” She took the opportunity that afforded her to nuzzle the baby, hold him close, and pretend, just for a moment, that he belonged to her. Georgie had always figured she’d go through life without children. Since Josh never wanted any, she never thought she'd be a mother. So, she learned to be happy with the life she had. After all that had happened since they brought Riggs to Mass General, she was pretty sure she’d just been lying to herself.
Now, she wanted a husband, home, and family. But she was terrified that particular wish wasn’t on the menu with Riggs.
Once Robby was in his crib, sleeping sweetly, she returned to where Riggs sat. He offered her a hand, and when she placed hers in his, he pulled her in close, trapping her between his legs.
“My brain may not be one hundred percent yet, but did I hear something about you being in love with me?”