22. Hudson
CHAPTER 22
Hudson
I sat at a corner table with the guys, nursing a beer and pretending not to be hyperaware of the group of beautiful, laughing women at the other end of the bar.
Well, objectively, they were all beautiful and laughing… but I only had eyes for one of them.
Sofia was at a table with Grace, Holly, and Robin, and all four of them were decked out in ugly Christmas sweaters and matching grins.
It wasn’t like I was hovering—at least not by my definition. After all, I’d loosened up a bit thanks to us having over two weeks of peace. For example, she didn’t have to check in with me every time she left our room, and I didn’t feel the need to trail her like a shadow.
Still, she was worth putting up with a boatload of “overprotective bodyguard” jokes, and that was why I’d suggested having a guys’ night at the same place that the girls would be gathering.
It was a compromise. She got her freedom, and I got my peace of mind. Just because it’d been quiet didn’t mean anything had been resolved.
Nick took a sip of his beer, his eyes scanning the bar. “You tell her yet?”
“Tell her what?” I asked.
Nick grinned. “That you’re living out every Hallmark Christmas plot with your fixer-upper house in a magical little town?”
Jack leaned back in his chair, laughing. “He’s got you there. But I do have a question. Are you planning to marry the girl or just have her watch your house while you’re busy being a recruiter in Harrisburg?”
Jamie whistled. “Shots fired.”
I laughed at the low blow, but then Tommy leaned forward, crossing his arms and propping them on the table between us. “I’d actually love to know the answer to that.”
I rolled my eyes, fighting back a grin. “She said yes, by the way. To moving in. Thanks for asking.”
Nick raised his beer in a mock toast. “Congrats.”
“Thanks,” I deadpanned. “But as for the proposal, one thing at a time. There’s a lot going on right now.”
Tommy wasn’t ready to let it go, tilting his head from side to side. “It’s been pretty chill lately. Is this the part where to tell me it’s just so you can keep her safe again? Because if so… marriage doesn’t make her unsafe. ”
“Seems pretty safe to me,” Nick agreed. “No timeline for the big question, then?”
I smirked, taking a slow pull from my beer. “You’re assuming I’d tell you if there was.”
Jack barked a laugh. “Guess we’ll just have to wait and see if there’s a ring under the tree this year.”
“Guess you will,” I shot back, and my mind wandered to the box tucked away in my nightstand.
It wouldn’t be pulled out at Christmas, though. When I asked Sofia to marry me, it would be at the right time for us. I didn’t need to do it on Christmas morning as if we were following the script of one of the movies they filmed in the square.
I needed to solve the mystery that still kept me up at night—quiet or not. Because contrary to what Sofia assumed, I didn’t sleep much better in the bed than I had in the chair. Every creak of the floorboards or slamming of a neighbor’s door had me bracing for battle, and I knew it wouldn’t end until we got the guy who’d had her so scared.
Tommy raised an eyebrow at me, his mouth twitching in a way that said he knew what I was waiting for. “Well, whenever it happens, I want you to know I’m good with it.”
“He’s giving you his blessing,” Jack said with mock seriousness. “That’s big.”
Nick grabbed Tommy’s shoulder and gave him a shake. “Of course he is. You guys are good for each other, and her baby brother knows it.”
I didn’t argue. She wasn’t just good for me—she was the best thing to happen to me in years. In fact, I’d do whatever it took to keep her safe and happy, even if it meant sitting here getting ribbed by my friends or pretending to enjoy the game on the TV when every part of me wanted to be by her side.
Jack leaned back in his chair, signaling tonight’s bartender for another round, while Nick drummed his fingers on the table, his gaze drifting toward the door.
“You know,” Jamie said, his tone casual but with just enough edge to draw attention, “I could’ve sworn I saw that guy earlier. What was his name? Sofia’s ex?”
I stiffened, my grip tightening around my glass. “Dane?”
“What do you mean, you thought you saw him?” Tommy asked. “When? Where?”
“Relax. I don’t think it was him,” Jamie said. “Probably just someone with the same build and that same smug look, you know? For half a second, I was about to call one of you, but then the guy turned around, and… nope. I don’t think it was him.”
I exhaled slowly, sharing a look with Tommy. “It better not have been. I personally made sure Dane went back to Philly weeks ago, so if he’s back, he’d better have a good reason.”
“Agreed,” Tommy said, his tone firm. He and I weren’t always on the same page, but when it came to keeping Sofia safe, we were a united front.
Jamie, quiet as usual, shifted in his seat with a nod. I couldn’t help the way my gaze lingered on him, trying to read the expression on his face. Something was up with him tonight. He just wasn’t… the same.
Jack leaned forward, his voice low enough that only our table could hear. “Things are still quiet, though, right? Nothing new has happened?”
“It’s been too quiet,” I muttered before I could stop myself. The words—and my quiet fury that this was even a thing—hung in the air.
Tommy gave me a sharp look, his brows lifting in question. I shook my head slightly, a silent message to let it go. It was just me being me. He hesitated, then gave a subtle nod, understanding my meaning without me having to spell it out.
I appreciated that about Tommy. Over the past month, we’d developed a sort of unspoken shorthand. It was good. Especially since—when the timing was right and if she said yes—he would become my brother-in-law.
Nick broke the silence, trying to lighten things up. “Well, here’s hoping the quiet lasts, yeah? I’d hate for anything to mess with the Gingerbread Ball tomorrow night. Holly’s been talking about it nonstop.”
“Grace, too, since she’s never been,” Tommy added.
“Robin asked me to wear my dress blues,” Jack said, and we all groaned.
I knew he wouldn’t do it since he’d been out of the Marine Corps for years, but he probably didn’t blame his wife for trying. I sure wouldn’t.
I let the conversation about the ball flow around me, leaning back in my chair and taking a long sip of my beer. Outwardly, I was relaxed, just one of the guys. But my mind was still spinning. Despite Jamie’s assurances, the mention of Dane had put me on edge.
It wasn’t just Dane, though. It was the mess of cliches that my life had become. The calm before the storm. Not knowing when the other shoe would drop. Waiting for the rug to be pulled out from under me.
It was exhausting.
Something happened on the TV, and the guys broke out in a heated debate about who’d win the game on Christmas day. Exaggerated gestures and more than a little trash-talking whirled around me, and I leaned back in my chair so I wouldn’t get caught in the crossfire.
I glanced at Sofia. She was laughing at something Robin had said, her hand covering her mouth as her shoulders shook with mirth.
That laugh—it did something to me. I couldn’t hear it over the noise of the bar, but I didn’t need to. Just seeing her happy, her guard down, was enough to make the tightness in my chest ease.
She glanced up, catching my eye, and her laughter softened into a smile. I watched as she excused herself from the table with a quick word to Grace, grinning as she weaved through the bar to get to me.
I straightened as she approached, setting my beer on the table. Her steps were unhurried, but there was a purpose in the way she moved. When she reached me, she rested a hand where my shoulder met my neck, the touch of her skin causing my blood to run hot.
“Hi,” I said, tucking a strand of her dark hair behind her ear.
“Hi. Think they’d care if I stole you away for a second?”
I looked over my shoulder at the guys, smirking as they talked over each other, arguing their points. I turned back to Sofia. “I don’t think they’d notice.”
She chuckled as I stood, following her to a small alcove near the stone fireplace. The glow of the flames made the room feel cozy despite the buzz of the bar around us.
“Having a good night?” I asked, leaning a shoulder against the wall and taking her hand.
She nodded, taking up the same position and facing me. “Yeah. The girls are… Well, let’s just say there’s no shortage of teasing. You’re a popular topic.”
“Me?” I raised an eyebrow. “Should I be worried?”
“Not unless you’re afraid of being called my ‘perfect bodyguard boyfriend’ a few too many times.” She smirked, then tilted her head slightly. “Well, mostly perfect. Grace says you’re a jerk for not letting me see the house until Christmas morning. She’s on my side, in case you couldn’t tell.”
“So… the other day, I got in trouble for giving you a gift before Christmas. And now I’m in trouble for waiting for Christmas morning,” I said dryly.
“Is that a question?” she asked.
“Statement,” I replied, smiling down at her as we called up our first conversation. “The timing of the house reveal is non-negotiable. You’ll thank me later.”
Her eyes sparkled. “We’ll see.” Then, her expression softened, and she stepped a little closer. “Thank you, by the way. For keeping an eye out so I can relax with the girls tonight. I know I tease you about being overprotective?—”
“As do your friends.” I tilted my head. “And my friends,” I added.
“Har-har. We tease you, fine. But thank you. I’m trying to pretend there’s nothing to worry about, and I hope someday that’s actually true.”
“It will be.”
She nodded, then took a deep breath. “In the meantime, I really don’t mind having you watch my back.”
I searched her face, looking for any hint of doubt or discomfort, but all I saw was warmth. “I’m glad you don’t mind,” I said. “I’m happy to do it. Enjoy it, even.”
She leaned in a kissed me briefly, and then her gaze flicked back toward the girls’ table. “By the way, we were talking about Jamie earlier, and Robin mentioned something about him being super private about his past. Do you know anything about his son?”
I glanced at Jamie. He was leaning forward, laughing at something Jack had said. “He’s always kept to himself. I think something happened with the son… he lives out of state with family. That’s about all I’ve picked up.”
She frowned. “Yeah, Robin said she thinks there’s something more to his story. I don’t know… I feel bad for him. Like he’s going through a lot but doesn’t have anyone to talk to about it. Or help him through it. Ya know?”
I didn’t respond right away. It was almost like my brain was so occupied with the bigger mystery surrounding Sofia that I didn’t have room for more ill-fitting puzzles.
But Sofia seemed to sense my unease and reached out, brushing her fingers lightly against mine. “Anyway, just thought I’d mention it in case you want to try to talk to him. You know, since you’re both Snow Hill residents now and we look out for our own. Right?”
My lips twitched. “I’ll see what I can do.”
She glanced toward Jamie one more time, then back at me. Her expression turned thoughtful, and she tilted her head, studying me. “You know, I kind of miss your letters.”
My brows pulled together. “You do?”
“Yeah. They were sweet. And silly. And maybe a little over-the-top sometimes, but in a good way. You should write to me again. Just for fun.”
I chuckled, shaking my head. “Not sure I can live up to your expectations now. You know my secret identity, so you might not feel the same way.”
“Oh, please. If anything, maybe I’ll like the letters more now that I know they’re from you. Plus…”
The way she trailed off as she let her puppy dog eyes come out in full force had me fighting back a laugh as I waited for her to go on.
“It’s not like I can reread the ones you already sent.”
My head fell back with a groan, and I shut my eyes. “ Wow . Really?”
“What? Too much?”
Shaking my head, I wrapped my arms around her waist and squeezed her to me. “Sofia Sullivan, I have a feeling I’m going to spend the rest of my life giving you whatever you want.”
“You totally might—if you play your cards right.”
“Is that so?” I asked, leaning in for a quick kiss. “Fine. I’ll write you a letter. Maybe I’ll mail it to your new house. You should get it in a few business days.”
Her laugh was brighter this time, and she hugged me back, holding on like she didn’t plan to let go anytime soon. And honestly? I hoped she never would.