17. Sofia
CHAPTER 17
Sofia
I woke up slowly, the haze of sleep thick and clinging, like it didn’t want to let me go. My body felt heavy, my mind even more so, and it took me a moment to remember where I was. The faint scent of something woodsy—something very Hudson —lingered in the air.
His room.
The memory of the night before came rushing back in pieces: the break-in, the panic, Hudson’s steady hands pulling me through the worst of it.
And then… the kiss.
My lips tingled at the thought, and I lifted my fingers to them, brushing the tips lightly over the spot where his had been. My eyes drifted shut again, not to sleep but to relive it. That kiss hadn’t just made me forget the fear and the mess Dane had left behind—it had obliterated every trace of him in my mind, at least for those few moments.
And the way Hudson had looked at me before he kissed me? It was like I was something precious. Something worth cherishing and protecting, and while it struck me that it shouldn’t have been the first time I’d seen that look on a man’s face considering how much of my heart I’d given away in the past, it was.
It was a first, and it was epic, and I’d loved it.
And yet… there was still that nagging fear. Opening myself up to someone again felt like inviting disaster. Sure, Hudson seemed solid, but could I trust my instincts after being so wrong in the past?
A soft sound pulled me out of my thoughts—the rush of water. My eyes flicked to the bathroom door, where steam curled through the narrow crack he’d left. I smiled to myself, wondering if he’d left it open on purpose so he could hear me if I needed him. It was such a small thing, but the idea made warmth bloom in my chest.
And then my brain caught up to the fact that Hudson was in the shower, and I immediately regretted following that thought. I squeezed my eyes shut and covered my face with both hands, feeling the heat creeping up my cheeks. I told myself to get a grip, but the mental image had already taken root, and I groaned into my palms.
Lowering my hands, I sat up. My body felt stiff, like the weight of the night before hadn’t fully left me, but at least my mind was a little clearer. The sound of the water reminded me that Hudson was real, that he was here, and that last night wasn’t just some bizarre stress dream.
It also reminded me that I had no idea where to go from here. Did he regret the kiss? Would he want to talk about it—or act like it never happened?
I glanced back at the bathroom door, half hoping he’d come out and save me from my own thoughts, half hoping he’d stay in there for a long time so I could get ahold of myself before he came out.
But then the sound of the water stopped, and it left an oddly loud silence in its wake before the shower curtain grated against the metal bar, followed by the rustling of his towel.
My eyes darted to the bathroom door just as it cracked open wider, and Hudson’s head popped out. His dark hair was wet, and water dripped onto his shoulders. Shoulders that were, for the record, very bare.
Bare, with water droplets beading on his chest.
His chest, which held artfully done tattoos that made me want to reach out and trace them as they curled over his skin.
Oh, no. He was in a towel. Definitely just a towel. And I… I was gawking.
My gaze flicked downward for a split second before darting back up to his face. His lips quirked like he’d noticed, which only made my cheeks burn hotter.
“Morning,” he said casually, like this wasn’t a totally unfair situation for my overworked brain. “You doing okay?”
“Uh, yeah,” I managed, my voice a little higher than usual. “Good. Totally good. How about you?”
“Also good,” he said cautiously. “Sorry, just thought I’d check on you before I shut the door all the way. Left it open in case you needed me.”
He said it so matter-of-factly, like it was no big deal that he’d thought of that. Meanwhile, my chest ached a little because it was a really big deal to me.
I swallowed, offering a small smile. “Thanks. That… makes sense. I wondered if that was why.”
His smile softened, and something in his eyes warmed. “I’m gonna close it now and get dressed, if that’s cool?”
“Yes! Cool. Totally cool.” I waved a hand, trying not to focus on the water droplet that slid from his jaw to his collarbone. “Do your thing. I’ll just… stay over here. Not looking. At anything.”
He chuckled, and the deep sound made my heart skip. “I won’t be long.”
With that, he disappeared back into the bathroom, and the door clicked shut. I let out a shaky breath and flopped back on the bed, my face buried in my hands once again. And once again, I tried to pull it together, but that image of him—water dripping down his chest and his voice so low and warm—was going to haunt me for the rest of the day.
What was worse, though, was the way his care for me shone through in the smallest gestures, like leaving the door cracked just in case I needed him. It wasn’t just his looks that were getting to me—it was him. And the realization left me reeling.
When the bathroom door opened again, Hudson stepped out wearing a dark green Henley that clung a little too well to his shoulders and arms, paired with worn jeans that hung just right. His short hair was still damp, styled in that shorter-on-the-sides way that was typical of Marines, but there were enough stubborn strands curling at the edges to look maddeningly effortless.
I breathed out through my nose. My mind didn’t need more to deal with this morning, but apparently, he wasn’t cutting me any slack.
“You ready to head across the hall?” he asked, his tone casual as he pulled his watch on over his wrist.
I blinked, forcing myself to focus. “Across the hall?”
“For your stuff,” he clarified, slipping on his boots. “Unless you want to wear my sweats around town today.”
His eyes lingered on me for a split second, a flicker of something warm and appreciative passing over his expression before he turned back to tightening the laces.
It was subtle, but I caught it, and my cheeks flared with heat.
“Oh, right. Yeah, I should probably grab something,” I said quickly, my voice just a little too high.
“I’ll come with you,” he said, his tone leaving no room for debate.
I got out of bed on shaky legs, raising an eyebrow at him. “You’re really taking this ‘not letting me out of your sight’ thing seriously, huh?”
He shrugged, his lips twitching into a small smile as he opened the door. “This is serious, Sofia. Call me old-fashioned, but I’ve been called worse.”
A laugh slipped out before I could stop it. “Old-fashioned, huh? Is that what we’re calling it?”
“You got a better word?” He crossed his arms, leaning against the doorframe with an ease that only made him more unfairly distracting.
I moved toward him as I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t stop the smile tugging at my lips. “Protective. Overbearing. Take your pick.”
“Protective,” he said without hesitation. “Definitely protective. Overbearing would be making you wait while I pick out your clothes for you.”
“Please don’t.”
He grinned. “Let’s go.”
The trip across the hall was quick, Hudson sticking close but giving me enough space to grab what I needed. I tried not to linger on the mess, the chaotic reminder of last night’s violation. Instead, I focused on gathering some clothes and toiletries and tossing them into a tote bag.
My eyes lingered on a few of my favorite books, now tattered and torn.
“There’s a bookstore in town,” he said quietly. “A library too, if you’d rather.”
It was such a simple, silly thing, but it was so sweet that I had to close my eyes and keep my face angled away from him for a moment so I could will the tears away. And when I was sure I had them under control, I picked up my bag and faced him. “Can I change in your bathroom?”
“Yep.” He led me out of the room and waited while I locked the door—not that that had helped much last night.
“Wait— At the risk of sounding like a true crime junkie,” I hedged, “do you know if there were signs of forced entry? My mind is mush, but I swear I used my key to unlock the door when I got back from girls’ night.”
Hudson pursed his lips, sticking his hands in his pockets. “These brass keys are cute for the vibe of the place, but picking a lock like this is a lot easier than getting through the electronic ones at modern hotels.”
I nodded numbly. “Got it.”
He led me into his room, and the second I stepped out of the bathroom in clean clothes and freshly-brushed teeth, everything felt better. But I still desperately needed some?—
“Coffee?” Hudson asked.
I chuckled. “Yes, please.”
Downstairs, the dining room was quiet except for the soft hum of conversation from a few guests at nearby tables. Hudson headed straight for the coffee bar, and I followed, already anticipating that first sip like it was a lifeline.
Before I could reach for a cup, Joan appeared from the other side of the room, her face a mix of concern and sympathy. “Sofia,” she said softly, stopping in front of me. “I just wanted to say I’m so sorry about what happened. I can’t imagine how awful that must’ve been.”
“Thanks,” I said, my voice a little hoarse. “It was… a lot.”
“I almost went in and cleaned it up for you,” Joan said, twisting her hands in front of her. “I thought it might be nice to take it off your plate, but then I realized that might feel like another violation of your space. I didn’t want to overstep.”
Her thoughtfulness caught me off guard, a wave of gratitude swelling in my chest. “Thanks for thinking of that,” I said sincerely. “I really appreciate it.”
Joan offered a small smile. “Of course. And… I heard the break-in probably happened between six and seven.”
“Yeah, that’s what we’re thinking.”
Joan sighed. “I slipped your pen pal letter under your door not long after you left. I feel terrible about the timing. Maybe if I’d delivered it while he was in there?—”
“You might have been hurt,” I cut in, resting my hand on her arm. “Don’t think like that. I’m glad you weren’t anywhere near my room when it happened.”
She nodded, but then a thought struck me—one I couldn’t ignore. I hadn’t seen any pen pal letters in my room when I’d surveyed the damage. Not the new one Joan had apparently slipped under my door, and not the ones I’d kept in my bedside table. That drawer had been wide open and empty.
Had Dane taken all of my pen pal letters, including the new one, leaving one of those prison letters in their place?
And that sickening thought had me calling up the lingering suspicion that Hudson might be my pen pal, and it almost made it worse thinking it was his letters that were taken. Now that we’d shared that amazing kiss, if he was the man behind those letters, it hurt even worse to know they were gone.
But, I still didn’t know if my mystery man was Hudson. If he was, that was that. But if he wasn’t…
My gut churned. Then who was he?
My pulse quickened, and I opened my mouth, ready to ask Joan directly. But before I could get the words out, Hudson returned with two steaming mugs. He handed one to me, his brow lifting slightly as Joan stepped away. “What were you two talking about?”
Banishing thoughts of secret identities, I told him the next best thing. “I think Dane might’ve taken my pen pal letters.”
Hudson’s jaw clenched.
“Joan just told me she’d delivered a new letter last night, and it wasn’t in the room. I would’ve seen it. I know I would’ve.”
“There was a lot of stuff thrown around…”
“I know,” I said, shaking my head. “I just really look forward to those letters, and if it was there, I would’ve seen it. I know it.”
One side of Hudson’s mouth quirked up. “Guess you’ve got a pretty good pen pal, huh?”
“I do. And the fact that Dane would take those letters and leave that other one in its place… It just makes it worse.”
His gaze darkened. “Come on. Let’s get to the station to see what Tommy’s heard.”
I nodded, grateful for him for the tenth time that morning. As we stepped out of the inn, the cold air nipped at my face, causing me to burrow down into my scarf. I wasn’t hiding, per say, but I didn’t hate the feeling of slipping into a cocoon with Hudson at my side.
“Sofia.”
The sound of my name made me stop short. I turned to see Dane walking toward us, his hands shoved deep into the pockets of his coat. His face was drawn, his jaw tight, and for a brief second, I thought I saw worry etched into his features.
Hudson tensed immediately, his stance shifting just enough to put himself slightly in front of me. I rested a hand on his arm, a silent signal not to do anything rash.
His jaw ticked, but he stayed where he was, his sharp gaze locked on Dane.
“Sofia,” Dane said again as he stopped a few feet away. His eyes darted to Hudson, then back to me. “I heard about what happened. Are you okay?”
I folded my arms, unsure of how to respond. “Why do you care?”
“Because—” He blew out a breath, his hand raking through his hair. “Look, I know you don’t trust me right now, but I swear to you, I had nothing to do with it.”
Hudson’s voice was low, calm, and terrifyingly steady. “Prove it. Where were you last night between six and seven?”
Dane’s eyes snapped to Hudson, his jaw tightening further. “You sound like a TV cop.”
Hudson took a step forward.
Dane sighed. “I was in my car. It’s where I’ve been staying. I can’t afford anything else, so yeah. My car’s my only option right now.”
I frowned, studying him. There was no hint of his usual arrogance, no smugness in his tone. If anything, he looked… tired. And worried. But that didn’t mean I was ready to take his word for it.
“Where was your car parked?” Hudson asked through his teeth.
Clearly, he was nowhere near ready to believe Dane’s story.
“The hardware store,” Dane replied. “There’s a spot where I’ve been parking at night.”
Hudson nodded slowly, his arms crossed over his chest. “If there’s a camera nearby, we’ll check it. If you’re telling the truth, it’ll show you were in your car all night.”
Dane met his gaze without flinching. “Good. Do it. Then you’ll know it wasn’t me.”
The confidence in his tone caught me off guard. Dane was many things, but he wasn’t a good liar. If he was lying now, he was putting on the best performance of his life.
Dane started to take a step forward, but when Hudson stood impossibly taller, he thought better of it and stayed where he was. “I know you don’t want to hear it, but I wouldn’t do that to you, Sofia. I’m messed up right now, and I know it. But I’m not like that.”
I wanted to scoff, to call him out on all the times he’d proven he was exactly the kind of man who could leave a note like the one on my car. But there was something about the way he stood there, shoulders hunched against the cold, his words trembling with a weight I wasn’t sure was real or crafted for sympathy.
He wasn’t wrong about being messed up—I knew that better than anyone. But was this just another one of his games, or had I been so caught up in my anger that I couldn’t see the truth staring me in the face?
“I don’t know what to believe,” I admitted, my voice barely more than a whisper.
His lips pressed into a tight line, but he nodded once, like he understood more than I’d said.
I glanced at Hudson, his expression unreadable as his attention flicked between me and Dane.
“Dane,” I said, my voice tight. “If you did this?—”
“I didn’t,” Dane cut in. “Find out if there are cameras. You’ll see.” He turned on his heel and started walking away.
I stared after him, my mind racing, and even though Hudson stayed silent beside me, I could feel the tension coming off him in waves.
I had no idea what to say.
“Are you okay?” he asked, seeming to snap out of it enough to place a gentle hand on my cheek.
I nodded. “Yeah, thanks.”
“Good. Let’s get to the station,” he said, brushing his thumb over my cheek.