Georgia On My Mind

by Marie Force

  He freed her breast from the cami. “Mmm,” he said, his lips vibrating against her fevered skin. “So pretty. So perfect.”

  Georgie went rigid as she suddenly remembered blood tests and mastectomies. “Stop,” she whispered. “Please stop.”

  Breathing hard, he let his head fall to her shoulder. “I’m sorry.”

  She was at once furious with herself, frustrated at the unfulfilled desire that still pulsated through her body and sad—so painfully sad.

  The soft pressure of his lips against her shoulder made her go limp in his arms.

  “You must think I’m a terrible tease—”

  He stopped her with a gentle kiss. “I think you’re the sexiest, most desirable, fascinating, frustrating, adorable, caring woman I’ve ever known, and it’s been a really long time since I’ve wanted anyone the way I want you—and not just in bed.”

  Georgie had to fight to keep her mouth from falling open. Oh! How could he say that? How am I supposed to resist him when he says stuff like that?

  His grin was small but satisfied. “Nothing to say?”

  “You’re not playing fair,” she said softly.

  He gathered her in close to him and reached over to shut off the light. “Nope.”

  Throbbing pain in his arm woke Nathan early the next morning at the time he usually got up to run. That wasn’t happening today, though. He was furious to realize he felt weak and depleted from the fever that still gripped him. Being helpless, injured or sick never sat well with him. His mother had often called him her worst patient, which was saying something in his family.

  To detract his attention from the pain in his arm, he watched Georgie sleep and wondered if she would retreat again when she woke up to find him in her bed. He smiled when he remembered her accusing him of not playing fair. Damn right he wasn’t playing fair. Where would that get him? He was playing it straight, and clearly she was unused to that strategy.

  Old Doug what’s-his-name in Atlanta was probably the type to play games. She’d said he was a sports agent. Imagine the ego on that guy. Probably thought he was God’s gift to women. Nathan hated guys like him who gave the rest of them a bad rap. Georgie deserved better.

  Maybe it was time for some good old-fashioned romance. He smiled as he imagined her thrown off balance and unnerved. He liked her that way. The idea got better the longer he thought about it. He’d have to get some pointers from his brother Kevin, the king of romance.

  “What are you all smiles about?” Georgie grumbled.

  “Uh-oh,” he said, curling himself around her. “Is someone not a morning person?”

  She grunted and turned away from him, presumably to go back to sleep.

  He kissed her neck and was pleased by the tremble that rippled through her.

  “I see you’re feeling better,” she mumbled.

  “Better but not perfect. I’ll need some more nursing today.”

  “I’ll see if Tess is available.”

  Despite the pain it caused him, he tightened the arm he had around her. “It’s not Tess I want.” He couldn’t believe it was possible that the sound of her voice was enough to turn him on.

  “Beggars can’t be choosers,” she said dryly.

  “I’d like to hire you to take care of me today.”

  Georgie grunted. “You can’t afford me.”

  “Don’t be so sure,” he said against her ear.

  She squealed. “Stop!”

  But instead of stopping, he nibbled on her earlobe. “I’ll stop when you agree to nurse me back to health.”

  “I hope you’ve got lots of time.”

  He could tell he surprised her when he caressed her breast. “I’ve got all day. In fact, I’m on convalescence leave for the next few days, and I need a nurse.”

  Georgie squirmed out of his embrace and turned so she could see him. “I’m a terrible nurse. Didn’t you hear what Tess said about that bandage I put on you last night?”

  He shrugged. “Like you said, beggars can’t be choosers.”

  “So you’re begging?” she asked with a smile that brought out the dimples.

  Nathan’s heart literally skipped a beat as he traced a finger over one of them. He really loved those dimples. “Are you opening the center today?”

  Her smile faded. “I guess not, since they’ll be at the hospital. I’ll need to get over there at some point, too.”

  “Spend the day with me?”

  “I’m leaving Newport. Soon.”

  “So you’ve mentioned.”

  “I don’t want you to forget that.”

  “What I’m suggesting is strictly a business proposition.”

  Her eyebrows knitted with skepticism.

  “Business with benefits?” he asked with what he hoped was a cajoling smile.

  When she reached out to caress his face, he almost stopped breathing. She studied him for a long time. “You’re very difficult not to like. You know that?”

  He laughed and kissed the palm of her hand. “I do so love your backhanded compliments, Georgie Quinn. Does that mean you’ll take care of me today?”

  Reluctantly, she said, “I’ll do my best.”

  Chapter 14

  As she brushed her teeth, Georgie could see Nathan stretched out in her bed and had to admit that she had liked waking up with him. Ugh! Despite her best efforts to stay aloof and uninvolved, he had an annoying way of ingratiating himself. If only he wasn’t so nice and funny. And hot. So hot! Why couldn’t he have been just a little bit ugly? Or self-absorbed? Humorless would have helped, too. Anything to give her a reason to resist him, to stay away from him, to dislike him!

  All at once he was with her in the bathroom, reaching out to shut off the water she had left running while she brushed her teeth. Startled, she stared at him.

  “Gallons of wasted water,” he said with a sheepish grin.

  Georgie turned the water back on and spit out the toothpaste. “Do you mind?”

  “What?” He scratched his chest and stretched. “The door was open.”

  “You might want to put some clothes on. I don’t live alone.”

  “They saw the goods last night when you and Tess stripped me. Speaking of which, I’d like to request a do-over when I’m not delirious with a fever. I didn’t get to adequately enjoy it.”

  “In your dreams.”

  He wiggled his eyebrows at her.

  Rattled by his close presence, Georgie pushed past him and crossed the hall to her room.

  “I need my nurse to give me a sponge bath.”

  She spun around to discover he had followed her. “Not in your wildest dreams.”

  “A shower, then?”

  “Feel free. Towels are in the closet.”

  “My nurse should accompany me. In my weakened state, I could fall or reopen my wound. You wouldn’t want that to happen on your watch, would you?”

  “You’re seriously pushing your luck, and it’s only eight thirty. Your nurse is going to quit if you keep up this sexual harassment.”

  “Can’t blame a guy for trying,” he said with a cheerful smile. “I’ll be in the shower if you need me.” He grabbed his jeans and T-shirt and headed across the hall. “Are you sure you won’t join me?”

  “Positive.”

  “Your bedside manner could use some work,” he said as he closed the door to the bathroom.

  Georgie couldn’t resist a giggle. Why does he have to be so funny? And cute? And all but irresistible? Why couldn’t he be a typical guy and turn into a jerk as soon as he got what he wanted? He’d already had it all and was still hanging in there just the same. What was wrong with him? Was he some sort of masochist or something?

  She headed downstairs hoping Cat or Tess had made coffee. Her head buzzed from the lack of sleep, her worries about Gus, and her turmoil over Nathan. In the kitchen, she discovered a party going on.

  Tess and Cat, still in pajamas, as well as Ben, Ian, and Rosie, were sitting around the kitchen table drinking coffee and ora
nge juice. When Georgie walked in, Ian had the good grace to look away from her skimpy attire, but Ben took a full, measuring look. As she crossed her arms over her breasts, she wished she had taken the time to get dressed. “What’s going on?”

  “We were worried when Nate didn’t come home last night,” Ben said. “That’s not like him, so we were hoping he was here.”

  “We filled them in,” Tess said.

  “How is he today?” Ian asked.

  “Full of beans,” Georgie said as she reached behind the pantry door for a zip-up sweatshirt her mother had kept there. She put it on and brought a cup of coffee with her when she joined the others at the table.

  “That’s a good sign,” Tess said, wiping up a splash of Rosie’s juice.

  “He’s in the shower,” Georgie added.

  Rosie worked her way onto Tess’s lap.

  “Rosie,” Ian admonished. “Tess is trying to drink her coffee.”

  “She’s fine,” Tess said, wrapping an arm around the child. As she nuzzled Rosie’s golden curls, a wave of pure longing crossed Tess’s face. If Georgie hadn’t been looking right at her when it happened, she might have missed it.

  Georgie noticed that Ben, who was monitoring Tess’s every move, hadn’t missed it, either. On the other hand, Cat and Ian seemed to be having trouble looking at each other. Very interesting.

  Rosie snuggled with Tess for a few minutes before she got up and went over to Cat.

  “Can I sit with you now?”

  Cat, who always seemed so composed, looked nothing short of panicked. “Um, well, I guess so.”

  Rosie climbed up onto Cat’s lap, oblivious to the fact that Cat didn’t want her there. While Tess had wrapped her arms around the child, Cat let hers hang at her sides almost as if she were hoping Rosie would take the hint and choose another lap.

  Cat was saved when Nathan walked into the room, his hair wet from the shower.

  Rosie bolted off Cat’s lap and ran to her uncle.

  He scooped her up with his good arm and kissed her noisily on her pretty lips. “What’s up, buttercup?”

  “After a while, crocodile.”

  As the other adults laughed, Nathan said, “We’ll get it straight one of these days.”

  “What’s the matter with your eyes?” Rosie asked.

  “I don’t know. Why?”

  “They look funny. Are you sick?”

  “I have a fever from the boo-boo on my arm.”

  Rosie rested her hand on his forehead. “You should go back to bed. My daddy makes me stay in bed when I have a fever.”

  “Don’t worry, Georgie is going to take care of me today.”

  Rosie turned to Georgie. “Do you know what you’re doing?”

  Tess snorted under her breath.

  Georgie shot her a glare before she looked up at Rosie. “I’ll do my very best.”

  Rosie wrapped her chubby arms around Nathan’s neck and squeezed. “I hope you feel better.”

  “Thanks, baby.”

  “Uncle Nate!”

  “Oh! Sorry. Can’t call you that anymore. I forgot.”

  “That’s okay. I forgive you.”

  Georgie’s throat tightened with emotion as she watched him interact with the child.

  Cat got up from the table, and with a muttered “excuse me,” she went out to the front porch.

  “Do you have her for a minute?” Ian asked Nathan.

  Nathan bounced the girl up and down, and she squealed with laughter. “Sure do.”

  Ian followed Cat to the porch.

  Nathan’s face was stiff with pain he was working hard to hide from Rosie, so Georgie directed him to a chair and got him a cup of coffee.

  “Thanks,” he said with a warm smile.

  “What’s up with those two?” Ben asked, nodding toward the door.

  “She likes my daddy but not me,” Rosie said with a frown.

  The others stared at her in disbelief.

  Ian found Cat sitting on the wicker sofa, vibrating with tension.

  “Nice day,” he said. Great opening, Caldwell. Brilliant, in fact.

  She glanced over at him. “Uh-huh.”

  Ian sat down next to her. “Something wrong?”

  “No,” she said quickly. “Why?”

  He shrugged. “You can’t seem to look at me today.”

  “That’s not true!” She turned to meet his steady gaze. “There. Are you happy?”

  “It was just a kiss, Cat.”

  “Except that it wasn’t. If it had been ‘just a kiss,’ I wouldn’t be having such a hard time looking at you.”

  Struck by her honesty, he reached for her hand. “It was quite a kiss, huh?”

  She shook off his hand. “This isn’t going to happen, Ian.”

  “Why not? We’re both single, at least I hope you are—”

  “I am.”

  “So then what’s the problem?”

  “You’re a nice guy—”

  “Thanks. Have dinner with me tonight.”

  “If you’d let me finish—”

  “Only if you’re going to say yes.”

  She uttered an exasperated growl. “I have to work.”

  “You also have to eat.”

  “What about . . . what about Rosie?”

  “I have people who help me out since I work a lot of nights.”

  “Where’s her mother?”

  “Out of the picture.”

  “So you’re a . . .”

  “Single dad? Yes.”

  “Oh.”

  “Is that a problem?”

  Cat gnawed on her bottom lip for a moment.

  As he watched her, he had an overwhelming urge to loop her brow ring around his tongue.

  She looked up at him with vulnerable brown eyes that belied her tough exterior. “I’m not much of a kid person.”

  “I’m not asking you to be.”

  “But she’s, you know, a factor.”

  “I’m asking you to have dinner with me, not marry me and raise my child.”

  She blanched, which made him laugh.

  He leaned in closer to her and was amused by her sharp inhale. She was not as tough as she looked, not by a long shot. “I haven’t done much dating since she came along. Since we’re talking dinner, not marriage, it shouldn’t be an issue.”

  “As long as it’s just dinner, and as long as you know I’m not interested in an insta-family, then I’ll go.”

  “Fair enough.”

  “What should I wear?”

  “What do you want to wear?”

  “Something like what I had on last night.”

  “Do you have another one of those tank tops?”

  “Lots of them.”

  “That ought to do it.”

  “Just dinner,” she said warily. “And it has to be early. I need to be at the club by eight.”

  “I’ll pick you up at six.”

  “Why do you think Cat doesn’t like you, honey?” Nathan asked Rosie.

  She shrugged. “I don’t know. Cuz.”

  “Well, it’s not true,” Tess said. “So you shouldn’t give it another thought.”

  Rosie’s eyes shifted toward the door. “He likes her.”

  “Maybe,” Nathan said, “but he wouldn’t be friends with someone who doesn’t love you as much as he does, as much as we all do.”

  “That’s right,” Ben said. “We won’t let him.”

  Rosie smiled at her uncle.

  “Did you have breakfast, Rosie?” Tess asked.

  She nodded. “I had cereal with my daddy at six thirty.”

  Ben winced. “Give the guy a break, will ya, kid?”

  “Daddy says I get up with the chickens.”

  Nathan laughed and smoothed a hand over her hair. “It’s a wonder he doesn’t fall asleep on the microphone on the nights he has to work.”

  Smiling at the visual, Georgie stood up. “I’m going to take a shower. I want to get to the hospital.”

  “Who’s going
to take care of me while you’re gone?” Nathan asked with a petulant pout.

  Georgie rolled her eyes. “Rosie, will you keep an eye on Uncle Nate for a few minutes? Make sure he doesn’t get into any trouble?”

  “Okay, Georgie,” Rosie said, her expression solemn.

  “Rosie’s in charge,” Georgie said to Nathan on her way out of the room.

  “Let’s go check out the garden,” Nathan said, holding out his hand to his niece.

  When they were alone, Ben turned to Tess, and before he could lose his nerve, he said, “You’re very beautiful in the morning.”

  She stared at him.

  “I’ve been sitting here all this time hoping I’d get the chance to tell you that.”

  “Thank you,” she said, flustered, as she stood up and got busy clearing the cups and mugs from the table. When she reached for his mug, he took her hand.

  “Do I make you nervous, Tess?”

  Looking down at him, she contemplated him for a long moment. “Yes.”

  “Why?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  “Is it me? Or all men?”

  “A little of both.”

  Pleased that she trusted him enough to make that confession, he closed his hand tighter around hers. “You have nothing to fear from me.”

  “That’s good to know.”

  “I enjoyed being with you last night.”

  “I did, too. With you, that is.”

  Charmed by the color that flooded her cheeks, Ben said, “You know, this was the first morning since everything happened that I’ve woken up thinking about something other than my own litany of complaints.”

  “Is that so?”

  He nodded.

  Without releasing his hand, she sat down next to him. “I was thinking about something you said last night, about your friend Greg.” She paused. “But if you’d rather not talk about it . . .”

  “Tell me.”

  She glanced down at their joined hands and then raised her lovely gray-blue eyes to meet his. The muscles in his belly quivered, and for the first time in longer than he could remember, he felt a surge of desire. He wanted her. The realization would have knocked him off his feet if he had been standing on them.

  “What you said about the guilt you feel because he died and you didn’t?”