Page 26 of Moody's Grumpy Holiday
I pursed my lips to hide my smile. “I likesomethings in December.”
“Name three…that aren’t fifty-year-old game shows.”
“Warm blankets, birds, and chocolate-covered pretzels.”
“Oh, good ones.” Hudson pointed to the television. “The Joker’s Wildokay?”
“Lovely. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
He pulled his cell from his pocket and scrolled through messages, seemingly in no hurry to leave. I wasn’t sure why he hadn’t moved on yet. I was an expert at scaring off eligible bachelors…and friends. And looking and feeling the way I currently did, I couldn’t believe this one was still lurking about. Hudson was either a masochist or a weirdo or both or?—
Or maybe he was lonely.
I frowned. So? It wasn’t my problem he’d moved to a new state and started a new job. Did I have to be nice because he was being nice to me? Was that a rule? If so, I didn’t like it. I’d warned him that I was no good till January. No good at all.
“Are you staying?” I asked testily.
He glanced up from his phone. “I don’t have anywhere else to be, so…sure, if you’d like the company.”
“Why?” I winced.
Contrary to my sassy mouth, ungracious behavior didn’t come naturally to me. It was hard work being a full-time turd. But I truly couldn’t understand what this handsome hunk of a cowboy was doing here playing babysitter to my sick downtrodden self. IfIhad a choice, I wouldn’t hang out with me.
Hudson snickered. “Because you’re so pleasant.”
A smidge of decency surfaced out of the blue. “Sorry, I’ll try to be less…”
“Of a dick?”
“Yeah, that.” I brushed my forearm across my nose and sniffed. “I just thought you’d want to explore the area before you settle into your new job. This doesn’t seem very fun.”
“This, my friend, is a good time,” he quipped, flashing a sexy grin my way.
I rolled my eyes. “I’m serious.”
“I know. The truth is, I did my share of exploring a couple of months ago. I was up and down the coast and saw San Francisco, Yosemite, and Moro Bay. I spent a day in Monterrey, drove through Carmel, and even went to that Hearst mansion.” Hudson snapped his fingers. “What’s it called?”
“Hearst Castle.”
“Yeah, that was cool. But for now, my focus is getting to know everyone and the animals at the ranch without stepping on toes. Tanner and the other owners have been welcoming, but I’m not officially part of the crew till January.”
“I hate to sound like a broken record, but why did you come to California early if you knew they didn’t need you till—oh, no!” I gasped, furrowing my brow. “Oh, no.”
“What’s wrong?”
I wrinkled my brow, embarrassed yet determined to proceed. “Did you fall in lust with me? Is this a sexual conquest excursion waylaid by an inconvenient malady?”
Hudson’s mouth fell open. He closed it quickly and choked. A bubble of laughter escaped through his nose like fizzy champagne he was attempting to stuff into a bottle. He finally gave in, threw his head back, and guffawed.
“You are really something, Moody.”
I slipped under the blanket, intending to ride out the wave of mortification in peace, but that wave never materialized. I knew without verbal assurance that Hudson wasn’t making fun of me. Just as I knew that for reasons unknown, he liked me…quirks and all.
Ugh. Fine, I liked him too.
I kicked the blanket aside and sat up to straighten my Halloween-themed flannel pajama bottoms. “Okay, wise guy. Pipe down and control your hilarity. It’s a valid inquiry, and you know it. Most people wouldn’t choose to make a big move in December, especially if it requires a return journey to visit with family for Christmas Day.”