Free Nashville by Heart: A Novel by Tina Ann Forkner Page B

look that said he wished there could be a
lot more where that came from before escorting her off the dance floor. All she
wanted to do was drag Will to the parking lot or somewhere they could talk
about what just happened, but Tasha was in the mood to celebrate. Gillian had
barely recovered from the shaky feeling in her legs when Tasha and several of
their friends swept her back toward the dance floor. Gillian reached a hand out
to Will.
    “You
coming?”
    He
laughed. “No. I’d sooner eat barbed wire than line dance.”
    She
laughed, surprised there was anything at all he wouldn’t do. She personally
loved line dancing. It was great exercise, and the songs were always fun. Every
now and then she’d smile back at him from the dance floor, showing off her
moves. He stood there smiling back with his thumbs hooked in his jeans pockets,
and she wondered how they were going to define their relationship now.
    “What
was happening to you two out here?” Tasha was huffing beside her as they did an
intricate move with their feet.
    “I
think that was obvious,” Gillian answered, no longer trying to deny it.
    Tasha
smiled. “You two are hot for each other.”
    “We
aren’t in high school.”
    “No,
but I bet you wish you were. Then you wouldn’t have to worry about that
agent-manager thing.”
    “We
were caught up in the moment.”
    “A
very hot moment,” Tasha pointed out. Before Gillian could answer, she tried the
next step. Failing, the two crashed into each other, exploding into giggles.
They walked off the floor together.
    Will
stood off to the side, hat now on his head. He was a sight to behold, and a
glance around reminded her that she wasn’t the only one to notice.
    “I
think I’ll get home,” he said. “I’ve a lot of work to do.”
    “You
work too hard.” Gillian gave him a light punch in the arm before boldly sidling
up close to him.
    He
slid one arm around her waist, yanked her closer, and gazed down at her. “Probably
not as hard as you’ve been working.”
    “Thank
you for noticing.”
    He
shook his head. “I’ve never seen a musician who works harder. I’m only sorry to
say you’re about to be even busier.”
    “Then
I better party while I can.” She was conscious of how his hand pressed against
her lower back, locking her securely against his body. She stared up at him
under the shadow of his hat.
    “Why
don’t you stay and have some more fun?” she said. “It’s been forever since I’ve
been in a place like this without an apron and a tray of drinks.”
    She
recognized the desire in his eyes because it mirrored her own as he leaned
close to say something in her ear. She tilted her head, shivering as his lips
brushed her cheek.
    “I
believe if I don’t leave now, I might say or do something we’ll both regret
later.”
    Emboldened
by his frank admission, she turned to whisper in his ear.
    She
let her lips graze the sideburns of his temple and whispered, “How do you know
I’ll regret it?”
    He
caught her around the waist with both hands, pressing her firmly, but tenderly,
against him. He smiled.
    “Woman,
you don’t know what you’re saying. We barely know each other. You’re just
caught up in all this excitement. Have you had anything to drink?” His eyes
traveled around the room and landed back on her.
    “No,
I haven’t, and how do you know what I’m caught up in? I know who I am and am
not attracted to.”
    His
grin widened. His eyes slipped down to her lips and back up to gaze hungrily
into hers. “OK, I do know what you’re caught up in tonight, but you need to focus
on that guitar. And I’m going to let you, no matter how crazy just being around
you makes me.”
    “Maybe
it’s you who makes me crazy,” she countered, her chest rising and falling from
the breathless feel of being so close.
    Backing
slightly away, his eyes now traveled appreciatively over her. He let out a
sigh, shaking his head back and forth.
    “Where
this is leading is a bad idea,