Page 12 of Georgia On My Mind (Southern Promises)

“No. We’re good.”

Gia pulled him through the dining room out into the lobby and continued to hold his hand while they waited for the valet to bring the car around.

“Are you okay to drive or do you want me to?” She was looking at him intently, no sign of repulsion or disappointment in her expression at all. The slight buzz from the whiskey had relaxed him, and he knew he was in no position to drive. Without a word, he opened the passenger side door and slid onto the leather seat, ready to lie back and close his eyes.

“Be my guest.”

The ride back to her studio didn’t take long, and he was surprised when she put the car in park and turned it off right in front.

“Come on,” she said, easing her long legs out of the sports car and slamming the door.

Hart wasn’t expecting this date to continue, but curiosity got the better of him. He opened the door and pressed the auto-lock button before following her inside the building. He stood with his hands in his pockets and watched her cross the long expanse of the room and put her purse on the piano. “Lock the door,” she said.

Hart turned around and latched the deadbolt per Gia's request. When he turned back, Edge of Desire, by John Mayer was playing through the speakers, and she was standing in the middle of the room with a smile on her face.

“What are you doing?” he asked. Gia seemed to have a knack for making him nervous.

“Come here.”

Hart ran his hand through his hair before slowly ambling toward Gia. He stopped within inches of her, their faces extremely close. Her blue eyes seemed to sparkle in the fluorescent lighting, an indication that she was up to something. He waited with anticipation.

“Give me your left hand.” She held her right hand out to her side. Tentatively, he placed his left hand on hers.

“Now put your right hand on my hip.”

The way she was looking up at him with those big, blue eyes made his manhood stir. “If you want to dance, just say so. You don’t have to be all technical about it,” he teased.

Placing his palm on her small waist, he gently pulled her forward to where their bodies were touching. The aroma of her flowery hair was heavenly and immediately infiltrated his nostrils as they started to sway back and forth to the music, the touch of their fingers and the proximity of their bodies releasing noticeable heat. Their chemistry was undeniable, and Hart wasn’t sure if he could hold back any longer.

“Why are we dancing, Gia?” he finally asked, his voice raspy with desire.

She looked up into his face, her expression soft but etched with concern. “You were pretty stressed out. I find that dancing always calms me down, so I thought it might do the same for you.”

“Hmmm,” he mumbled, unaccustomed to the kindness she was displaying. He leaned in and rested his chin on her head, closing his eyes. He was finally starting to unwind since arriving at the studio. Warm, soft lips touched his jawline, surprising him, and he immediately tensed.

“Shh,” she whispered, her warm breath floating over his skin. “Relax, Hart.”

He slid his left hand down her side, wrapped his arms around her waist, and buried his face into the sweet crevice of her neck. She snuggled into his embrace, and they continued to dance, neither one of them realizing the song had ended until she started to giggle.

“What?”

“The music stopped.”

“That doesn’t mean we have to.” Hart pulled back and brought his hands up to hold her face gently with his large palms. Her pupils dilated with want, the pale blueness of her incredible eyes obscured. “Can I kiss you? Please?” His brow creased as he patiently waited for her to answer.

“Yes.”

He started to move in, but she put her hand up to his mouth, stopping him in his tracks.

“Before you do, you need to know that I’m glad you told me the truth.”

“You are?”

“Yes. I know it was hard. And I know you’ve been through a lot, even if you did bring it upon yourself.”

Hart shook his head and looked at the floor. She grabbed his chin, forcing him to look at her. “I know what it’s like to want to give up.”

Her face was filled with empathy. He stared at her, not knowing how to respond. He didn’t have to. Gia leaned in and covered his mouth with hers, their tongues exploding in a frenzy of want and need. The guilt he felt about his scandalous past just seconds earlier shattered when her lips melded with his. It was as if a hammer slammed through a large plate of glass, the shards bursting through the air, the noise deafening, leaving him reeling in her arms.

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