Page 62

I still can’t believe I have a few days off. I haven’t taken any leave from the distillery since I started, and any spare moments I get, I’m managing things for Mom, so a day or two in the city with Hudson is really special. I have already spoken to Mom this afternoon, and she’s doingwell, so I’m letting myself just go with it all and enjoy every moment.
“There were a lot of dresses to choose from. You didn’t have to buy all those clothes,” I admonish him as we walk across the sidewalk. I frown a little, thinking about it all. The closet was full of female clothes, all new and still with tags. All in my size. I know Victoria helped him, but I still feel overwhelmed and left the tags on everything so they can be returned. The gifts are too much, too expensive, and not something I can ever pay back.
“Take what you want back to Whispers and leave the rest here for when we come back,” he says like this is my life and we will just spend our time between the two places. My heart skips a beat at the thought.Could this be my life?The more time I spend with Hudson, the more I’m falling for him. The glimpses I’m getting of what it would be like doing life with him fill me with excitement and joy, from fancy dinners in New York to helping Harvey with homework back in Whispers. As the restaurant door opens and we step inside, I push those thoughts to the side.
“Mr. Hamilton. Welcome back, sir.” A man in a three-piece suit greets us. “Right this way.”
We follow him through the restaurant to a table for two down the back, away from prying eyes.
“People are looking at us,” I murmur, my cheeks heating as every pair of eyes in the room turns our way. I look around and while we are dressed formally, so is everyone else.
“They are looking at you, wondering how I managed to get someone so young and beautiful on my arm,”Hudson says, smiling like he doesn’t have a care in the world. We haven’t talked much about our age difference, primarily because it doesn’t seem to matter to either of us anymore. But I’m aware of how young I look, and while thirty-six isn’t old, Hudson does look a little older and certainly very distinguished, so people will come to their own natural conclusion on that.
“Are you flirting with me, Doctor Hamilton?” I toy with him as we arrive at our table. I like feeling like this. Carefree, natural. Just a girl with her man, enjoying life without the daily stresses that compress me in Whispers.
He holds out my chair for me to sit, and when I do, he leans over and kisses my bare shoulder. Shivers skitter around my body at the touch before he takes his own seat opposite me.
“Is it working?” he asks with a quirked eyebrow, and I laugh as the waiter leaves us with the menus.
“You don’t need to flirt. You had me atfor good,”I tell him, the honesty whipping from me so suddenly, I feel my cheeks blush.
“For good?” he questions, confused.
“The first words you said when you were sitting in my armchair the first week you were home.” Feeling nervous at my admission, my breath catches, and a feeling of warmth spreads through me. I watch Hudson thinking, his lips relaxing into a small smile and his eyes dancing in delight. I feel a little vulnerable, and I swallow roughly, waiting for his response.
“I wanted to see you that day. While I knew I needed to check your mom, it was you I really wanted to see,” hesays, and my mouth opens a little in surprise before I smile even wider.
“Champagne, sir?” The waiter appears at our side.
“I think so. I feel the need to celebrate,” Hudson tells him. His eyes don't waver from mine as he grabs my hand in his on the table, his thumb brushing across my skin.
“What are we celebrating?” I ask as I take my glass and he takes his.
“To the start of something pretty special.” Lifting his glass in a cheers, I copy him, my stomach fluttering at the look in his eyes.
“To the start of something special,” I say, grinning like a fool. That’s exactly what it feels like. The start of our lives together. I take a sip, the bubbles dancing on my tongue, and Hudson orders us dinner. Again, thinking of me and my needs by ordering us two steaks, because they are good for my iron levels.
I takethe last sip of the French champagne as I finish off my meal. I haven’t eaten out at a restaurant like this before. In college, I worked at the local dive bar, and back home, the closest place to eat out is the diner or Whiteman’s Bar. The restaurants Victoria and I visited this week were nice, but nothing like this. This restaurant is next level. If Jolene could see me now, her stare would be searing. She would be green with jealousy.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Hudson asks, leaning back in his chair and watching me closely.
I give him a small smile. “Just thinking aboutWhispers,” I tell him honestly, and he smiles as his phone vibrates. He checks it quickly before his smile widens and he laughs.
“What?” I ask, smiling automatically.
“Connor. He hates me because I’m here with you and he has just flown in so he can do the treatment tomorrow and then spend the weekend.”
I giggle at that, and Hudson looks at me curiously, his smile still wide. “What?”
“It’s just…” I start to say, my laughter interrupting my words. “Tomorrow's treatment is a little different from the others.” I’m already imagining Connor and what’s going to happen tomorrow.
“Different?” Hudson asks, pocketing his phone. “Different how?” Sitting forward, he grabs my hand on the table, his focus entirely on me.
“Well, Victoria and I planned to try something totally out of left field… Tomorrow's treatment is a sound healing massage, followed by yoga flow at this small wellness center on the outskirts of town,” I explain, and he pauses for a bit before he throws his head back and barks out a loud laugh.
I can’t help but laugh along with him, and a few people nearby glance at us.
“Ohhh, I would pay money to be a fly on that wall,” Hudson says, cackling, wiping his eyes.