Roman (Cold Fury Hockey #7)(53)

“You know,” she says sweetly as we enter the kitchen. “This ostentatious display of wealth could be overcompensation.”

“Excuse me?” I ask with surprise as I drape her jacket over the back of an island stool and motion with my hand for her to sit. “Overcompensation for what?”

Georgia’s eyes flash mischievously but she shrugs with an innocent air. “Oh, I don’t know…I’m just saying…”

Yeah, I know exactly what she’s saying, and I also don’t even bother to engage her because I know that’s what she wants. Georgia loves to bait me.

Narrowing my eyes at her, I redirect her attention. “Would you like some wine or perhaps a mixed drink?”

“Why?” she challenges me. “You going to get me drunk and take advantage of me?”

My brain actually wars with itself. The stuffy, staid executive within me wants to take offense she would ever think I’d do something like that, and another part of me wants to drag her off to my bedroom so I can assure her I don’t need wine to loosen us up.

“Georgia,” I chide, hell-bent on getting the upper hand. “Why do you have to resort to these underhanded tactics to get me to admit that I want you?”

And for the first time since I’ve met this wicked and wild woman, her jaw drops and she’s absolutely speechless. I just smile blandly at her, waiting for her to get her bearings back.

Because Georgia is fruity at the best of times and unpredictable at the worst, I have no clue how she’ll respond. So I’m not exactly surprised when she bypasses the stool I’d offered her and instead walks right into my personal space until we are mere inches from each other. I top her by almost a foot, so I look down as she looks up, and her brown eyes are dark but glittering with something I can’t quite put my finger on, but it makes my blood start to race.

“You need to kiss me right now,” she demands, although it’s done sweetly, and with her southern twang that makes it adorable.

“Really?” I ask as I bring my hands to her shoulders.

“Yes,” she says with a nod. “Now would be a good time.”

And I couldn’t agree with her more. It’s time. It’s way past time, as a matter of fact.

I bend my head down as Georgia raises to her tiptoes, and I brush my lips lightly against hers. Her arms go around my neck, her fingers into my hair, and she presses her mouth insistently against mine. The minute her tongue touches the tip of mine, my head actually swims from the overload of feelings rushing through me. Lust, wonder, fear.

Yes, fear, because it’s been awhile since I’ve done this.

I haven’t been a celibate man all these years since my wife died, but I haven’t exactly been active the last few years, preferring to immerse myself in work.

But this, right here? It’s amazing and thrilling and I suddenly want more. I want to experience everything with Georgia, and if the tightening in my pants is any indication, there’s quite a bit of Georgia I want.

My hands drop from her shoulders, slip around her waist, and I pull her in tight to me. Georgia lets out a tiny moan when her belly presses against my erection, and for a brief moment, I’m embarrassed.

But the embarrassment passes, because Georgia makes a moaning sound of need, then presses in tighter against me and suddenly, now all I can think about is getting our clothes off and taking her to bed.

“Well, this is an awkward scene to walk into,” I hear from behind Georgia, and I immediately recognize my daughter’s voice.

I immediately release Georgia, thankful that the kitchen island stands between Gray and me and she can’t see the embarrassing problem in my pants at this moment.

Georgia turns as she carefully runs a hand around the edges of her lips, perhaps in a subconscious move to check for smeared lipstick, but it hasn’t smeared in the slightest.

And there Gray stands in my kitchen, twirling her keys on one of her fingers with a mischievous look on her face. “Guess I should have knocked, huh?”

I give her an admonishing look, because Gray never has to knock on my door. Besides that, she has a key.

“Gray,” I say as my hand goes to Georgia’s lower back. “This is Georgia Mack. My date for the night.”

“Date? Is that what they call making out in the kitchen?” Gray asks smugly, her eyebrow cocked at me before turning her attention to Georgia. She nods her head and beams a smile. “It’s lovely to meet you, Georgia. I’ve heard a lot about you from Dad and Lexi.”

“It’s great to meet you too,” Georgia says sweetly.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, curious about why she’s dropped by. Gray’s so busy these days she hardly ever comes over.

Reaching into her purse, she pulls out an envelope and steps up to the island to hand it across to me. “You left early today and I went into your office to leave you a note for tomorrow, since I’m going to be gone, and I saw your mail there. This was lying on top and I figured you’d want it.”

I take the envelope from her and my eyes immediately focus on the logo on the return address. “The DNA results,” I murmur.

“Open it, Dad,” Gray says softly. “Let’s make this reality.”

“You know,” Georgia pipes in, sounding extremely nervous. “This is a private moment. I actually should go, give you two time to process whatever’s in that envelope.”