Page 5 of Come Back to Me

When the fire is roaring, Giana pats the space on the log next to her. “Come sit by me.”

I take a seat and prop the guitar on my knee.

“Will you play something for us?”

I try to swallow the lump that’s been in my throat since I first laid my eyes on her on the sidewalk in town. Nervesvibrate all the way to my fingertips as I give a light strum across all the strings. “What do you want to hear?”

The look she gives me is heated. Her deep-brown eyes soften as a lazy smile draws on her lips. “You pick.”

Across from us on another log, Pete tickles Nettie and she laughs.

It’s been a while since I played, and I want nothing more than to impress the beautiful woman sitting so close to me. She may have grown up in this small mountain town, but something tells me she’s more experienced than most. That thought causes a song to pop into my mind.

As my fingers strum the chords, I allow myself a few moments to get a feel of the guitar in my hands before I go into the riff. Once I begin, I feel Giana still next to me. Everyone knows this song. It’s being played on every radio station across the US.

“Ooo, I love this song,” Nettie says.

A sweet little smile stretches on Giana’s face as I hum along to the song. It grows when I begin singing the lyrics, “I want to hold your hand,” gazing right at her as I do.

My singing voice isn’t terrible, but it’s not as if the Beatles will be asking me to join their band either. The flicker from the fire illuminates Giana’s freckled face, showing off her round, glowing cheeks while she grins. My heart shifts in my chest. I will sing every Beatles song if it means being awarded that smile.

“I think he’s singing to you, Gigi.” Nettie’s voice carries above my own.

I’m not mad she said it. If anything, I should thank her. Because the way the blush on Giana’s cheeks is noticeable even in the darkened night means she doesn’t hate what’s happening between us. Those pink lips of hers are so perfect they’re just begging me to kiss them.

Something tells me, if I don’t make a move tonight, I might not get the nerve again. And then I’ll be kicking myself when I’m back on the ranch in Texas.

Giana gives off vibes that she’s a no-nonsense type of gal. Like she’s got plans, and someone can either join her or not, and it’d be no skin off her back.

I’m not sure of much, but I know one thing; I want to join her. In anything, andeverythingshe does.

Giana giggles before standing and yanking Nettie up by her hands, and the two of them dance in front of the fire. The way Giana shimmies her hips to the beat of the music has me enamored. The glow from the fire reflects against her bare, freckled arms, and it creates shadows against the trees. I’m in a trance. I’m not even sure how I continue playing, but I do.

When the song ends, Pete snatches the guitar from me and yanks me to stand. I stumble forward and rub a hand on the back of my neck. Pete nods his head in the direction of Giana before he begins strumming a familiar slow tune. It’s hard to see this time if she’s blushing against the fire’s light, but something tells me she’s not.

She’s done blushing.

“Are you gonna ask me to dance, Mr. Moretti, or are you gonna force a girl to be straightforward?”

“I love a girl who’s straightforward, but there’s also nothin’ I can think of that I’d like more than asking you to dance.”

“Nothing?” she asks, her voice laced with teasing.

My fingers tremble slightly as I hold my hand out to her. “Giana, would you like to dance?”

“I thought you’d never ask.” She gifts me with a bright smile before placing her hand into mine.

I guide it behind my neck and let go of her hand once she tethers her fingers in my hair. My dick twitches at the physical contact. Her gaze sweeps up my chest until it lands on my face,and we make eye contact, and it sets fire to my skin. Instinctively, I take her free hand in mine and hold it against my chest while I wrap an arm around her back and pull her in even closer.

Desperation to kiss her fills me, but I restrain and instead, lower my head and press my cheek to hers. The sweet scent of cherry blossoms in her hair is intoxicating, and my eyes drift closed while I inhale.

We stay like this for a while. Holding one another and swaying to the quiet strum of Pete’s guitar and the hum of his voice. As her fingers twirl and tease the hairline at my neck, I’m so turned on I’m not sure I’m able to hide it from her.

I’m not sure Iwantto.

But with how snuggly her body is pressed against mine, as if she and I have been molded together, I don’t think it’s much of a secret. And she doesn’t seem to mind. Which only makes my cock that much harder.

We don’t notice when the sound of the guitar stops. We hardly notice the flames of the fire have died down to a few flickers. We barely notice when Pete nudges my back and tells us he and Nettie are going to take a walk.

---