Page 45 of Slow Burn

He clutched the steering wheel. “Yes, it was a date gone wrong. Why are you willing to see him again?”

“Because he was a nice guy, and he left early to help a friend,” Georgia explained as if Dane ditching her was no big deal. “I already told you, it’s not the end of the world.”

Elijah pulled into her apartment complex’s parking lot, angry that some dipshit was worthy of another chance with her, which didn’t make any sense because he wasn’t going to date her. But the idea of another man getting her smile, hearing her laugh, and touching her body made his skin crawl.

“I can’t believe all you wanted from winning game night was to drive me home.” Georgia laughed as she unbuckled her seat belt. “Do you want to come up and hang for a bit?”

No, that’s not what he won, but he didn’t admit the real prize was spending time with her. Alone. Without the distraction of her date.

Fuck, he was such an asshole, but it didn’t stop him from getting out of his car and following her into her apartment.

Georgia kicked off her shoes, sat on the couch, and pointed to the space next to her. “Get over here, firefighter.”

Like an obedient dog, he slipped out of his shoes and joined her on the couch.

“I’m being a crap host,” she told him as she snuggled into her seat. “I should offer you a drink, but I’m comfortable.”

“If I get thirsty, I can get my own drink.” Elijah tried to relax but couldn’t.

“I figured out where I went wrong tonight,” she told him with her dark-green eyes shining. “I should have played Mario Kart and Pac-Man first. Those would have been two easy wins for me. Unless you were a racecar driver in a past life.”

Unable to help himself when he was around her, he grinned. “No secret past about Mario Kart, but Pac-Man I used to play all the time. My dad was a dentist, and he had one in his office. Whenever I went to work with him, I played.”

She sat up straight. “You used past tense. I’m sorry, did he pass away?”

“He died of cancer when I was twenty-five.” Elijah’s voice mellowed. “I lost my mom six months after. She was heartbroken and couldn’t get over his death.”

Georgia moved closer to him and gave him a hug. “I’m sorry you lost your parents so young. I bet they are both so proud of the man you’ve become.”

Elijah hoped so, though he wasn’t sure how honorable he was at the moment. He wanted to kiss Georgia like he needed his next breath.

Since she was so close, he took advantage and wrapped his arms around her, tugging her back to his stomach. “I appreciate it. My parents were a bit older. They loved fiercely and took no shit from me. I miss them, but I was lucky: when it happened, I had also finished all my training to become a firefighter. They mandated therapy, which I took advantage of. I also had a mentor, Miles Blackwood, who stepped up for me in ways I didn’t realize I needed.”

“I’m glad you had a support system.”

Not wanting to dwell on the past, he turned the conversation to her. “What about you?”

“Are you asking who my support system is or what I need support for?”

His hand cupped her jaw, his thumb grazing across her cheek. “Both.”

Georgia turned in his lap, so she was now facing him.

When she licked her lips, he was done for.

HOLY HELL, SHE wiggled for a minute while she sat in Elijah’s lap.

He either had a banana in his pants, or he was loving the feeling of her draped over him.

“My support system depends on the issue.” Her fingers played with the wavy hair on the back of his head.

All he did was hum for a second and close his eyes.

“If I need to vent about work or family, I call Nash. If I need to talk about a patient, I always call my friend Maggie. She’s a nurse in Virginia, and we met in undergrad.” Georgia put her hands on his strong shoulders, and he opened his eyes. The gaze they shared was intimate, and she couldn’t help herself as her hips started rolling against him. Elijah gripped her waist, slowing down her movements, but not stopping them. “If I need to talk about a date,” she whispered. “I call Sophie or Anna.”

His hands stopped her from grinding altogether.

“Why are you rapid-fire dating?” he husked out, never taking his eyes off her.