"That's how you chose your chat name?"
"Yes, but I think I have grown up since then."
He brushed a strand of hair away from her face. "Perhaps I have too."
"There, that settles it. We have both gotten old in the last few weeks."
"Has it only been a few weeks? In that case, it's about time for our second date."
She put her hands on her hips. "Not without Jim's permission."
"I already have it. He gave me permission the day I hired him to run GSTS."
"That bum, he never said a word to me about it."
Austin finally opened his arms to her. "Come here."
When she quickly went into his embrace, he held her close and closed his eyes. "We have some unfinished business."
"What's that?"
"I didn't get to kiss you goodnight after the ball."
"Then you'll have to take me to another one."
"Or I could kiss you now."
She leaned back to look into his eyes. "Yes, you could."
He slowly lowered his lips to hers and felt her melt in his arms - at last. That is, until he heard someone on the lawn whistle and opened his eyes.
"Georgia, is that who I think it is?" the woman coming out of the garden shouted.
"Who's that?" Austin asked.
Georgia nodded to her friend and took his hand. "Come with me, Mr. Steel. There is someone I desperately want you to meet."
By the time they got downstairs, the woman had come inside and Laura was with her. Georgia reached for her friend's hand. "Austin, this is my best friend in the whole world - Sharon Connelly."
Austin was taken aback by the name, but he nodded, "Sharon, it is a pleasure to meet you."
"Otherwise known as Teresa Douglas," Laura added.
He looked at Sharon and then at Georgia. "Has anyone ever told you how much the two of you look alike?"
"I don't think so," said Georgia.
Sharon wrinkled her brow. "Neither do I."
Laura slipped her hand around Austin's arm. "Sharon's mother was married to Mathew too. Sharon pretended to be my maid, found Georgia's birth certificate in Mathew's safe, and then wiped my darling Mathew's bank account completely out."
Austin studied the delight on Sharon's face. "Really, I am impressed beyond words. I can't wait to hear how you managed that."
"Mathew killed Sharon's mother in London," Laura continued, "and she was there. In fact, she took pictures of him doing it."
"She was there?" a shocked Austin asked.
Laura moved away from Austin and looped her arm through Sharon's. "She is such a dear girl and very brave."