Page 49 of Georgia On My Mind (Southern Promises)

“You want to go?” he whispered in her ear, his warm breath comforting.

She closed her eyes and leaned her shaking head against his. “No. I’m fine.”

“Okay. They’ll settle down soon. Come help me get the grill ready.” Hart stood and extended his hand helping her up.

*

“Where’s your bathroom?” she asked.

“Down the hall to the left. You can’t miss it.” He kissed her cheek, watching her go back in the house. This was the first time she had been around his family, which made him nervous. What did she think? He could tell she was melancholy being here. But why? Was it because she never had what he did growing up? Was it because his sister and Clay were unintentionally flaunting their love and happiness after what he and Gia had just gone through? They hadn’t had a whole lot of time to sit down and talk about everything. He was hoping to later that evening, away from his family.

“I meant to tell you earlier when we were alone, Gia’s great.” Clay stood next to the refrigerator as Hart helped himself to another beer.

“Thanks, man. She’s pretty cool.”

Clay looked around the room as if to make sure they were alone. “Katie kind of filled me in on everything this morning. Are you sure you two are alright after what went down the other night?”

Every muscle in Hart’s body tensed. He knew his sister would tell Clay everything—she told him she would. Again, thoughts of the night at the strip-club came barreling back to the forefront of his mind. “I’m fine, Clay. No worries. We’ll get through it.” His tone was terse.

Clay nodded and reached out to squeeze his arm. “Okay. If you ever need to talk, I’m here for you.”

When Gia came back from the bathroom, she seemed cheerful and more talkative while he prepared the grill. At one point, she was chatting away about a class she used to teach for engaged couples wanting to learn the first dance for their nuptials.

“Hey! That’s a great idea!” Katie exclaimed. She turned to Clay and batted her eyelashes at him. “We could have Gia help us come up with something really special for our wedding.”

“I’d be happy to help,” she offered.

Hart couldn’t help but notice his father grimace.

As the sun started to dip behind the tree line of the Parker residence, they dined alfresco on grilled burgers, salad, and deviled eggs. Mrs. Parker was giddy, serving homemade ice-cream from a tall silver canister into pretty crystal dessert bowls, adding a big chunk of Gia’s homemade brownies on top. The flavors of the meal and dessert reminded Hart of countless lazy summer days he had spent at his childhood home. The nostalgia was sweet as he remembered those happy days of his youth, but something was gnawing at him. Something was off. Clearing some of the plates, he made his way into the kitchen and noticed his father following him from behind.

“Son, I’ve wanted to talk to you all day.”

Hart slid the dirty dishes into the sink and sighed. “What is it, Dad? Am I not acting a certain way? Am I embarrassing you in front of Mom?”

Mr. Parker had his hands on his hips and shook his head, a menacing smile creeping across his face. “You think you’re something else, don’t you? Bringing a pretty little thing like Gia into our home?”

Hart frowned hearing his father call Gia, a “thing.” He used the term of endearment, “sweet thing” all the time around Gia, but hearing the word come out of his father’s mouth without the “sweet” was unsettling. “What does that mean?”

He watched his dad puff out his chest. “I played a few holes of golf earlier today at the club before you all got here. Ran into a couple of your buddies on the course.”

“So? You run into them all the time. That’s nothing new.”

“But the story they told me.” He raised an eyebrow. “That was new. It seems your little pop tart likes to take her clothes off at a certain strip club in town.”

All of the blood drained from Hart’s face. This couldn’t be happening. Surely his friends wouldn’t have told his father what happened the other night, especially when he begged them not to tell anyone. It was a complete misunderstanding. Gia was not a stripper in the club. Leaning closely into his father’s face, he spoke through gritted teeth. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Mr. Parker jutted his chin out defiantly. “You’ve really made a mess of your life now, boy. Everyone is talking about it. Do you know how embarrassing this is going to be when your mother finds out? And what about your poor little sister and Clay now that they’re engaged? Do you want this information leaked to the tabloids while they’re planning a wedding? You know how famous he is.”

Hart’s hands fisted against his rigid sides.

“Get that tramp out of my house. She’s not welcome here, and neither are you as long as you’re dating her…”

A small gasp was heard in the hallway. Their heads whipped around to see Gia standing near the bathroom, her face deathly pale and full of remorse. Obviously, she had overheard their conversation.

“Gia,” Hart croaked.

Chapter Twenty-Six

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