Chapter 16

16

Hudson

I stare at her astounded, my eyes as round as saucers. They've got nothing on the racing of my heart. It feels like it might thud out of my chest.

She's a… what?

I mean, I remember her words that night but I didn't exactly think she meant she had never had sex. Just she hadn't had any in a while. My brow furrows as I try to line up the pieces and connect the dots. "A virgin?" I stammer.

"Why don't you skywrite it?" She glances around as if anyone could hear us.

I lower my voice to her ear. "How?"

She huffs. "Is it that pathetic?"

"I didn't say it was pathetic."

A pretty pink flush rises on her cheeks as I stare at her. So, it's fucking true.

My little Blue Belle has never had sex?

"I'm just surprised, okay. I mean, what the—How?"

She waves at the bartender and I don't go to stop her. I mean, I don't mean to gape, but she's twenty-five. "I haven't found the right guy, alright?" She's tight lipped like she's embarrassed or something.

I don't have the heart to tell her this is the best news I've ever heard, because then I'd have to explain why.

Still, I wait for her to barrel over with laughter, ready for the punchline but she remains perfectly still and poised. "Georgia, if you're messing with me?—"

She laughs without humor. "Would I really make something like this up? Why would I do that?"

I can't think of any reason, but then, I can't keep a straight thought in my head right now. This beautiful, smart, back talking woman, who happens to drive me up the wall, is still holding her V card?

It's like heaven just came calling.

"Say something, Huds."

I rub my chin, then clear my throat. "I mean, it's just a surprise." It comes out a little hoarse, but that's because I'm thinking about where no man has gone before.

"Well, I've come close," she waffles on. "Plenty of times, actually. I just… It just didn't feel right in the end. And I never felt that spark with anybody. Maybe there's something wrong with me."

I watch her carefully. She thinks something's wrong with her? This woman.

I narrow my eyes. "With whom did you come close with?"

She shakes her head, a little laugh escaping her. "Mind your business."

"And there's nothing wrong with you," I add.

As I try to think about which asshole actually got to third base, she says, "Does that turn you off?"

I shake my head. "No, Georgia-Blue, it doesn't." I rarely use her name, but this situation calls for it. Our drinks arrive and I clutch the glass like that will save me.

"Why is that?"

I give her a pointed look. "You're special, Princess. All jokes aside. We have our little jibes at one another, but you're not like any other women. And I'm not makin' a pass at you."

"But I'm just Grayson's little sister."

I shake my head, taking a sip of my drink. "I guess you grew up."

I almost choke when she asks; "Did it turn you on defending my honor?"

I watch her cautiously, as cautious as I can with the current situation. We shouldn't be talking like this, but she's the forbidden fruit. Now I know how fucking Adam felt. "No, Princess , it turned me on the way you said, I'll be upstairs fucking my boyfriend. "

Her eyes pop wide and she giggles, holding the glass up to her lips again and I watch her take a sip. She runs her tongue over her bottom lip to catch the tiny drop she missed.

"I guess you did say I looked hot, so now we're even."

My eyes rake over her body once more. "That fucking dress should be illegal," I mutter. But that only makes her giggle again.

"Are you still playing a part now, or are we back to being us again?"

I swallow hard as I knock the rest of my whisky back, unable to sip it any longer. I don't need to go getting smashed when clearly I need to be Georgia's bodyguard, but I'm still in control. "I made a promise to?—"

She folds her arms across her ample chest with a huff. "Grayson again! Is that all this is about?"

"George, don't be like that."

Her gaze is fierce and I know enough to know when she gets like this, there's no backing down. She's like a furious little bull.

"Tell me! Are you just doing this because you made some stupid promise to my brother?"

"I'm supposed to be looking after you!" I grit out. "How am I supposed to do that when you look so goddamn beautiful! We kissed a few weeks ago. Then you tell me you're a virgin while some asshole paws over you and I'm supposed to just turn around and walk away?"

Her frown lifts and her eyes glow with so such warmth I could fucking bathe in them.

"You like me?" she whispers.

"Georgia-Blue."

"Your eyes tell me everything," she goes on. "I know how to read them, how to read you. They're scorching through me right now, Hudson. Why do you fight it?"

I sigh, long and hard. Running a hand over my hair, unable to come up with any excuses except the same one. "Because if we crossed that line, there's no going back," I say. "That and Gray will kill us both, you know that, right?"

"You're not potentially fucking Gray," she whisper-shouts.

I blanch, lowering my voice. "You keep speakin' like a brat and I'll put you over my knee."

She crosses her arms over her chest. "Promise?"

She has no idea what her pouty little defiance does to me, but she's about to find out if she keeps it up.

I grip her chin with my thumb and forefinger. "I'm supposed to keep you outta trouble."

"I guess you really don't know how to wrangle the wild bull after all."

"You got me all wrong, Princess, because that's exactly what I'm trained for. I just never expected it from someone as stubborn as you."

"Stubborn?" She balks. "Ask anyone in Stoney Creek and they'll tell you that Hudson Nash is the grumpiest cowboy this side of the mountain."

"Is that right?"

"Uh, huh."

"What else do they say?"

She bites her lip, then says, "According to Dolly Simpson, you go all night."

My breath catches in my chest. "You can't let up about that, can you?"

"She certainly can't. She also tried to snag Gabe, Travis, and Gray, and probably Beau and Brooklyn, too."

"But that's not what makes you mad. What makes you mad is that I slept with her."

She's about to spout something else but then Liz appears behind us and we both turn at the same time. "There you are!" she coos. "Come on, we've got some southern country music for y'all, and I know that you know how to move those dancin' shoes!"

She tugs on Georgia's arm, effectively spilling her drink as I take it from her hand and set it on the bar, but Georgia reaches for my hand and for some inexplicable reason, I take it.

I don't fucking dance, that's not to say I can't, but tonight it looks like all bets are off.

We enter back through the ballroom and the party lights are in full twinkle mode, the band starting up and everyone cheers. I guess there's a few more people here from the south than I thought.

Liz is already running toward her groom, leaving Georgia by my side.

I spin her in my arms as she falls into my chest. "You were sayin'?"

"Now you've got me here, Precious Princess, what you gonna do with me?"

"You don't dance."

I tilt my head toward the music. "You pull a southern man onto the dance floor, he's not gonna just leave you standin' there by yourself."

Her lips part. "You dance?"

"Guess we're gonna find out."

I pull her closer and I know for a fact she's been boot scootin' with Brooklyn and Blake. Plus, I've seen her many times on the dance floor at Moose's. I know she can move. She just doesn't know that I can too. My grandmama taught me, and they say it's like riding a bike.

I place one hand over her shoulder, cupping her neck as her hand rests on my forearm. My other hand cups hers, it's soft and warm, just like her. I walk her backward as our feet pick up the beat, then we join the crowd.

"Hudson!" she squeals as I spin her, in true boot-scootin' style. "You're the devil for lyin' to me!"

I grin. "Shhh, I'm tryin' to count, it's been a hot minute since I did this."

She laughs and I spin her, holding one hand, then spin her back as she lands in my arms. She shimmies next to me as we walk the line, then I do it again, flipping her out in a spin, and pulling her back in. "No freakin' way GP!" She wraps her arms around my neck as I move her around the room.

I can't help but grin too, I can't remember when I've let loose like this and really enjoyed myself.

I take her hands over her head as she moves in front, her back to me, and she shakes that little ass as I move my feet in time with her, making sure to lead her forward so she doesn't fall. I know what a klutz she is.

"Surprised?"

"When did you learn to move?" She glances back at me, her face flushed and that makes me wanna spin her a hundred more times.

"Mind your business."

She throws her head back and laughs. I wrap my arms around her waist as we continue to move, the crowd of dancers all enjoying the groove. "You know your times comin', Hudson Nash," she tells me. I love how her southern accent comes out when she's been drinking. "I'm gonna own that title one day at Moose's."

"You wish," I tease. "Not gonna happen."

"Uh, huh. I've been practicing."

I laugh. "Since when?"

I spin her back and start like we did from the beginning, facing one another as our feet move and I hold her neck, and her waist. "Since forever. You're goin' down and sweet Jesus it's gonna be a fine day when I claim that title."

I shake my head. "You wish. Keep dreamin', Blue Belle. Moose's isn't for pretty little southern belles, it's for roughnecks like me."

"I can be a roughneck."

I chuckle. "Nah, you're not foolin' me. You ain't never gonna be a roughneck even if you tried."

I spin her out again and I realize watching her laugh and enjoy herself could be my new favorite pastime. She falls about laughing when she slams into my chest, then she lets go and starts to walk around me, strutting her stuff as I watch, hardly able to wipe the smile off my face. She's playing with fire and we both know it. Her palm presses against my chest as she circles, and I can't do anythin' but encourage her.

"That how a country girl moves?"

"Yep."

"You got any other moves?"

"Uh, huh." She bumps my hip with hers and I burst out laughing. She does too and it makes me feel like a kid again. For a few moments I forget what we're doing. I forget there's such a big age-gap between us. I'm almost forty. She's still young. So fucking young.

"What do you call that?"

"The bump and grind?" She walks back the other way and I pull her into me, linking our fingers as we reverse turn. The song changes and it's even faster. "You sure you don't need a breather, old man?"

I give her a lopsided grin. "This old man can keep up with you any day of the week, shortie."

"Ha-ha. You know it's not my fault I didn't inherit my brother's vertical capabilities."

"That's true. Remember when you stood in that pile of manure when you were a kid?" I chuckle at the memory.

"Yes, and I remember you tellin' me that good things come in smaller packages?"

I'd forgotten that. "Then I had to tell your mom that you were helpin' me with the horses so you didn't get in trouble for havin' manure all over you. In fact, she scolded me for it."

Georgia chuckles. "Such a southern gentleman."

Nope. It only reminds me once more that I've known her for such a long time. Of course, I've only ever looked at her as like a little sister all those years ago. I was out on the road so much I barely spent any time in Stoney Creek. But the Bassett's have all been like a second family to me. Especially after Mom died.

My face drops and I feel Georgia's hand on my cheek. "Hey."

I look up.

She frowns. "Are you sad?"

I shake my head. I don't want to put a damper on the evening. I just don't know how to tell her what I'm feeling, and that I shouldn't be feeling it. Not with her.

"How could I be sad when you're here?"

She shakes her stuff and pulls a funny face, I laugh, my feet barely keeping up with hers. The one thing about country music, is it sure as shit gets the heart rate going.

Whatever happens tonight, I know it's been one of the best nights of my life, and it isn't over yet.