Page 16 of One Boiling Summer (Texas Summer #15)

RISK AND REWARD

HUDSON

I came to in the hospital and rubbed my eyes, only to find a figure at my bedside—broad-shouldered, arms crossed, lips twitching like he’d been waiting for me to wake up so he could pester me.

“Carson, what the hell? Been watching me sleep?” I grumbled.

“Morning, Sleeping Beauty,” he said, voice low. “Hope you’re feeling better?”

“About as good as can be expected for running into a burning building,” I croaked, my throat like sandpaper.

“Good. Water?”

“Yes.” He held up a cup and straw to my lips. I took a long thirst-quenching draw from it.

“Need an extra pillow?” He asked.

“No.”

“Blanket?”

“No.” He began to annoy me.

He knew it and grinned. “Do you have feelings for Lacey?”

“Yes—” The word popped out automatically. I fell for it, just like when we were kids. He tricked me into answering three harmless questions before sliding in the zinger. My brain finally caught up. “Aw, hell.”

“Still works.” Carson smirked. “Knew it.”

“So what if I do?” I shifted in the bed. My chest burned, but Doc said I’d be fine. “She’s beautiful, smart, tougher than she thinks, and she’s been dealt a rough hand. Only one problem—I don’t think she sees me as anything more than a friend.”

He scratched his jaw. “When I left her at Mama’s last night, she was pretty shook up about things.

Tears me up inside. She’s one of my oldest friends, Hud.

But dammit, I can’t be there for her the way she needs right now.

I’ve got Java, and I’ve got Emme glued to my side, worried I’m going to leave her, but I wouldn’t.

We’re about to be married, and she means everything to me.

But you?” He lightly slugged me. “Lacey needs a friend, and I think you’re exactly who she needs.

Start there, and if it turns into more, all the better. ”

I gaped, needing clarification. “Are you saying you’d be fine if I go after her as more than a friend?”

“No better man in the county I’d rather see her with.” He shrugged like it was the most natural thing, me longing for his ex. “Besides, I’ve seen the way you’ve looked at her over the years whenever she’s come back for a visit, even if she never noticed.”

“Oh yeah? And what exactly do you think you see?”

Before he could answer, the door swung open and Anderson strode in, wearing a white coat, stethoscope, and worry lines. “Morning. Feeling dizzy? Short of breath? Chest tightness?”

“No, no, and nope.” What was it with my brothers and these questions? “How is Presley?”

“Fortune favored him, too. He’ll need to stay here a little longer with a worse case than yours, but he’ll be fine.” It relieved me to know my efforts hadn’t been in vain. Doc continued. “Now, we’ll need to run a few more tests on you, then see if we can get you out of here today.”

“Doc, are these tests really necessary?” I complained.

“Merely precautionary. Need to be thorough,” he explained, flipping through my chart.

I yanked the pulse-ox off my finger. “Then I’m done. Let me out of here, Anderson.”

He sighed like one of those whiny little-brother noises. “Hud, smoke inhalation can take time to?—”

I caught Carson’s eye. “Where’s Lacey?”

“Mama took her to the lake this morning.” He grabbed his keys off my bedside table, already a step ahead of me.

“Perfect. Take me there.” I got out of the bed against Doc’s protests. “The fresh air at the lake is better than recycled clinic air, wouldn’t you agree? If I cough up a lung or something, I’ll come back.”

He pinched the bridge of his nose, as Carson tossed me a set of clothes no doubt Mama had sent for me.

“Come on, hero. Your ride awaits. See ya, Doc,” Carson headed out the door. Anderson had no defense against our tag team.

At the lake, I spotted Lacey in one of the Adirondack chairs by the fire ring, wrapped in a sweatshirt that dwarfed her. She stared sadly at the water like she hoped for answers to all of her problems.

I had the answer for her: Me. But would she ask the right question?

“Brought you someone,” Carson called.

I held up two Java Co. cups. “Someone, and caffeine.” My ribs ached and lungs burned a little, but nothing that could keep me down. Not today.

Surprise brightened her eyes, then worry clouded over. She got up and hugged Carson first—quick and grateful—then turned to me. Her arms slid around my waist, bringing her body fully against mine, and rested her head on my chest. She stayed there, and I planted kisses on top of her head.

“I’ve been so worried.” She whispered into my chest.

“I’m here and better now, with you,” I murmured into her hair, breathing in the lingering fragrance of minty shampoo. This was much better than that hospital air.

“Are you going to be okay?”

“Lungs sting some, but Doc gave me a clean bill of health.”

“Good.” She parted from me and slapped my chest. “You scared the hell out of me running into the fire like you did,” her voice shook, scolding.

Carson took the cups out of my hands and set them on the armrests. “Welp. This is where I should leave you two to figure things out. I gotta get back to the shop and to Emme. You two behave. Or not.” He winked and slapped me on the back like he wished me luck, then ducked back to his car.

“Lace, let me explain—” I tried, but she paced away from me, out of my reach facing the lake, hands holding her sides.

“No, Hudson. Last night was awful. But thanks to Mama, I got through it.”

“Mama’s the best.”

“I never wanted to be a fireman’s girl, Hudson.”

I dropped my shoulders. So she’s not going to give me a chance? “I understand.”

“But I will try. For you.”

Wait. Did I hear that right? I went up to her and wrapped my arms around her, holding her in my embrace. My head rested on her shoulder.

“Here’s what you need to know about me. I’m tough, Lace.

I’m sure what you saw last night appeared far worse than it really was.

Remember, I’m a trained professional. I quickly calculated the risk and knew I’d make it out, and I trusted the first responders of this town would take care of me on the other side.

I realize that requires a huge leap of faith for Mama and anyone who gets close to me. ”

She faced me with her soulful brown eyes and my breath caught in my throat. “I’ll work on my faith. You work on staying safe. That’s the deal for us to move forward. Okay?”

A rush of feelings swept through me. “Hell yes.” I swooped her up and carried her back to the Adirondack chair, positioning her across my lap.

We sat and sipped our coffees. Only she made a face. “Ugh. Black? Think they forgot the caramel.”

I sniffed my cup and grimaced. Even in my condition, the smell proved too sweet. “That one’s mine, actually. To be honest, I prefer plain without all the sweet stuff.” I passed hers over.

She frowned. “You drink it straight? But you ordered caramel that first day.”

Sheepishly, I admitted, “It was silly, but I wanted any excuse to keep talking to you, so I ordered the same and it worked.” I took a long pull of the strong bitter brew and sighed further back into the seat.

“Guess it did.” She grinned and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, then arched her eyebrow at me. “I also found out that it wasn’t Carson, but you who looked after my house while I was gone.”

I focused on the far shore of our pretty town lake. “He needed help, and seemed way in over his head starting the shop up. I’d do anything for my brothers, so I guess, at first, I didn’t want you thinking any less of him that he couldn’t handle the extra responsibility.”

She placed her hand on my arm. “You could’ve called me, Hudson. The mowing, the dusting—you didn’t have to do all of that.”

“But that’s what I do,” I said quietly. “Take care of the people I care about.”

“And you care about me?” Her voice cracked like fragile glass.

I met her eyes, trying to say everything my heart needed to say with just one look. “More than breathing, Lace. I know you’ve only been back here a few days, but I can’t look at you without yearning for more.”

On her armrest, her phone buzzed, and I glanced down, reading the name Archer on the text. She let it go.

“Archer?” I cocked a brow, praying it wasn’t some city slick boyfriend of hers I’d have to deal with.

“That’s my old boss. We’ve been texting about things. He’s offered me my job with salary increase and more,” she explained.

So… I’d lost her before we’d barely began.

Might as well lay my cards on the table.

This was something I gave great consideration to as I tossed and turned in the hospital.

I took in a shaky breath and leaned my head back.

“I’m falling for you fast, Lace. Told you as much last night.

But if you need to go back to New York—I’ll move, too.

I’ll get a job with a fire department there or something. ”

“What? No. You have it all wrong. Archer has simply offered to draft the plans to rebuild my house, as a gift.” She suddenly straddled me in the chair, facing me head on. My heart stuttered, my hands landing on her thighs as her palms cupped my face.

“I don’t need New York. I need you. Hudson, I’m scared, but I’m not running. I’m going to rebuild. Put down roots. Make Poppy Valley my home.”

My lips twitched, searching her eyes for the truth. “Are you sure? Last night you hesitated.”

“Yesterday I was drowning, but you’ve been there every step of the way to save me. Today I see everything so clearly.” She kissed my lips, sweet and tempting. “I left Poppy Valley once to chase a dream. But it led me back here to you.”

“Are you sure I’m what you want?” I brushed my palms up and down her thighs.

“Yes, Hudson. Let’s see where this takes us.” She pressed her lips to mine again, slow and savoring. I could sit here all day with her and die a happy man. But my cock got too excited, especially when she shifted against it on my lap.

I groaned. “Anything else I can help you with right now?”

A wicked glint lit her eyes. “I could come up with a list.” She rocked her hips, not doing me any favors.

“You know I’m good with lists. Tell me what you need and I’ll take care of you,” I growled, hands sliding beneath the cardigan, beneath the t-shirt to her back—bare, warm, perfect.

That’s when I noticed she was wearing one of my old country bar tees.

My shirt. On her. The vibes messed with my head in every good way.

I deepened our kisses, taking what I needed, demanding that she meet me there.

She parted, breathlessly lost in the moment with me. “I want you, Hudson. Take me today.”

She didn’t need to ask me again. The heat in her eyes undid me. My jeans were already too tight. If I didn’t get her skin on mine soon, I was going to combust worse than a five-alarm fire.