The prequel continues ….x

Chapter 10

An Unconventional Relationship

"I want ya to come to Manchester with me to meet my family."

Elvis looked up from the reports he was finishing, the ones that were taking his attention away from his love for the better part of the morning. He began to agitate his pen back and forth in his hand. Georgie had been standing at the window looking out and sipping a warm brew. When she knew she had his attention she turned around and watched him further. Elvis was looking at her. He stopped agitating the pen and laid it down on the table. "Ya want me to meet yer folks?" He asked.

"That's right." Georgie smiled and walked towards him. Once she reached his side her hand began to gently massage the back of his head. She enjoyed the rich thickness of his dark hair. Elvis continued to look at her and gave her, what Georgie thought was, a sad smile. "Why was he hesitating?" Her stomach dropped. She began to feel uneasy. She was not certain what to make of his demeanor. Somehow he seemed like that impenetrable SAS Commander! She could not read him and of course, Elvis picked up on that. He reached an arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him. "What line was he going to use?" She wondered, just waiting for the ball to drop. She was in love with this man but she would not be made a fool. Elvis scooted back in his chair and pulled her onto his lap. It shocked her but she strove to keep her guard up. She would not waver on this. Her family was important to her. She had met Elvis' extended Army family and she naturally assumed it would only be a matter of time she would meet his parents. He had talked about them often enough. It always sounded as though he intended for Georgie to meet them. Georgie needed to get home, she wanted to get home for a family visit during her leave and it would be the perfect opportunity for them to meet Elvis.

He gazed at her. He knew she was disturbed by his lack of response but he could not help it. He had recently been briefed on a covert operation his team would be heading into at a moment's notice. "When were ya hopin for this meet up?" He asked, rubbing her back with his hand. His sincere question caught her off guard.

"Well, soon actually, later today or tomorrow. We only have so much time off Elvis. I would like to see them." She said honestly. He was looking at her intently and she could not read him. "I know you have to finish those reports. But I was hoping afterward we could plan something."

She wanted to be cool and not give in to how wonderful it felt sitting on his lap, feeling his warmth, and inhaling the delicious scent of his cologne. She believed it would reveal loads about Elvis Harte in how he reacted to meeting her family and of course, how they would react to him. When she had communicated with them, she gushed on about the handsome SF Captain she had met and fancied without measure. Her mum was not thrilled about her interest in a military man but her dad on the other hand was impressed. The two sisters seemed to be taking the developing relationship in stride. Marie wanted to know how fit he was? And Lulu was curious about what Special Forces did exactly.

"I 'ave to be honest with ya George." Elvis said as he reached up and fingered strands of her hair behind an ear. "I would love to meet your family!" "Oh here it comes!" She thought, the infamous "but!" His further statement hit her like a freight train.

"The only problem, is that I may be summoned. I mean we can leave for Manchester, but ya gotta realize that if I get called….I'm gone." His gaze was intense and she was sorry she ever doubted him when she saw the turmoil in his eyes. It was forever difficult for Elvis to maintain a relationship. Why his being in the military alone was a reason Georgie initially turned him down. She felt really bad, deflated in fact. He was a commanding officer. His life and job were tremendously complicated. He was risking his entire career even having a relationship with her. But, she was in love with him, truly, utterly, and she wanted some sense of normalcy. She never in a million years ever thought she would fall for someone. But Elvis was the one. He is the one.

Georgie took her hands and lovingly placed them on each side of his face. "Elvis. I understand. But I would really love for ya to meet them. If ya get called away then so be it. I want them to know the extraordinary man I fell in love with."

Elvis felt his heart constrict. Their relationship had grown serious in a short amount of time and they both knew it. He was certain she was the one and he did not want to hurt her. He believed she understood, but her family buying into his cloak and dagger career was something else entirely. His own parents were not able to comprehend what their son was capable of behind enemy lines. What would Georgie's parents think when his response could often end up being…

"I can't answer that."