Chapter 8
HUDSON
“Thank you all for coming,” I said and shook the hand of the last man to leave. “I look forward to seeing you next week.”
I closed the door to find Hux and Nat leaning against the front desk and watching me. “What?” I asked.
“I think it’s going to work well for us,” Hux said. “I like them. Most of them.”
“Me too,” Natalie said. “I like the old guy the best. I think he’s going to be good for us.”
I knew exactly who she was talking about. “He was part of one of the first teams into Iraq.”
“Really?” Natalie asked. “He’s military?”
“Ex-Army,” I said. “He’s had a rough go. I think he’ll help keep the other guys straight.”
“Good,” Hux said. “Now that all of that is done, I’m going home. I’m going to fall into bed and I’m not getting up until tomorrow morning. Do not call me. Don’t call me if the place burns down. Don’t call me if it blows up.”
He grabbed his keys, waved, and walked right out the door without saying another word. I was a little surprised by his abrupt departure. I looked to Natalie who burst into laughter. “I’m surprised he lasted as long as he did.”
“Really?” I asked. “He was that messed up?”
“I told you last night he isn’t big on drinking,” she said. “He drinks but we both do our very best not to mix things. I don’t think he ate much yesterday either.”
“You seem fine,” I commented.
“I didn’t drink as much as he did,” she said, shrugging.
She walked back into her office. I followed and sat in one of the two chairs on the other side of her desk. I propped my right ankle on my left knee and folded my hands in my lap. “What are you working on?”
“A boat,” she answered dryly.
“Very funny. Are you mad about the new hires?”
“No,” she said. “I think it’ll be good. I hope they are fast learners. I do have a lot of designs I would love to promote and sell, but right now we’re a year out.”
“I think they’ll be good,” I said. “I’m not going to claim they are all going to work out. I would be happy with about fifty percent making it.”
“Is it really that bad?” she asked.
“These guys have not had regular work in a while,” I said. “I know it seems hard for some people to believe, but sometimes it’s easier for them to live on the streets. They don’t have to live up to a standard. There are no expectations. They can just be them.”
“Wouldn’t they want to have an apartment?” she asked. “A steady paycheck to buy food?”
“That’s not everyone’s most important thing in life,” I replied.
“I’m sorry,” she said and shook her head. “I keep putting my foot in my mouth.”
“Don’t worry about it,” I said. “I know this is out of your wheelhouse. So, thank you. Seriously, thank you for letting me run my little experiment in your office.”
“What experiment?” she asked.
“I wanted to do this thing,” I said and tried to think of the right words. “I wanted to do something. I don’t know what exactly. This felt like a good jumping-off point.”
“What do you want to do?” she asked.
I shook my head. “I want to serve. I don’t want to kill people to serve my country.
Been there, done that. I want to help out the guys that need it.
I was thinking about a job agency of some sort.
There are plenty of people that need a little help finding a job.
They have talents that would benefit some other businesses around town. ”
“That’s a good idea,” she said.
“Thanks. I’m still working out the details. I don’t know if it will work. Might just be a liability. It could end up being a huge mistake. If I pick the wrong guy and he goes off the rails, it could ruin it for everyone else.”
“What do you mean?” she asked. She shut off her computer and gave me her full attention.
It was nice to be able to talk to someone about this.
I had my friends in the unit, but they lived a different life than I did now.
This was the in-between. Having someone like Natalie to hang out with and talk to would help pull me out of the in-between and into the land of the living.
The guys I was trying to help didn’t have that and that was why they were where they were.
“If they break the law, hurt someone, anything,” I said and gave the nagging fear in the back of my head words.
“I think that’s a risk that could happen with anyone,” she said. “I think you’ll need to pay close attention though. You will be responsible for the team here. I guess it will be good practice for you. Maybe you’ll pick up on warning signs and can stop the next guy from going off the rails.”
I smiled and nodded. “That does sound like a good idea. You’re sure you’re okay with all this?”
“I’m not going to lie and say I don’t have some reservations, but I’m counting on you to make sure none of those fears comes to life,” she said.
I didn’t want to go home yet. There was nothing there for me. “Hungry?” I asked. “I noticed you didn’t eat anything during the meeting.”
“Actually, I am a little hungry,” she said.
“Stay, I’ll get you something,” I said. “Too bad we didn’t have anything a little stronger than soda.”
She laughed and rolled her eyes. “After last night?”
“Shit, last night was an average day for me.”
I went to the table and grabbed one of the pieces of the sandwich, along with a chocolate donut and some chips.
I stuck a soda in one of my pockets and another one under my arm.
“Here you go,” I said and put the plate on her desk.
I gave her the soda from my pocket and kept the other one for myself.
“You’re not eating?” she asked.
I immediately picked up on her discomfort. Some women were like that. “I’m going to get a plate right now.”
I returned to the buffet and grabbed one of the sandwiches before returning. She was daintily eating, which made me smile. I’d seen her putting away the wings at the pub last night. I would pretend I hadn’t noticed.
“So, how are you doing?” she asked.
“Fine. Why?”
“I don’t want the canned response,” she said. “Pretend I’m not your brother.”
“My brother doesn’t have boobs, so that’s pretty easy to do,” I said.
“Very funny,” she said with a laugh. “I won’t pretend to know anything about what you’ve been through, but I can listen.
If you need any help getting back into the groove of things, I’m here.
I know there has always been a healthy competition between you and your brother.
That can make it awkward to really talk. I’m a?—”
“A neutral party?” I filled in the blanks.
“Yes. A neutral party. I’m here.”
“I appreciate that,” I said. “But I’m good. I’m home. I’ve got my family. I’ve got the water. I’ve even got my brother’s annoying little friend. What more could a man want?”
“Funny,” she said.
“Thank you for offering though,” I said. “Being in the company of a beautiful woman does make things a little easier.”
“Now, you’re just flattering me,” she said with a laugh.
“I am flattering you,” I said. “You deserve it.”
“That’s the smooth talker in you,” she said with a smile. “I remember those days. I used to watch you operate from afar. All the cheerleaders fawned all over you and you ate it up. You knew just what to say to get them to drop their panties.”
My brows shot up. “The little sprite has a dirty mouth.”
“I’m not a little kid anymore,” she said.
“No, you are not,” I said with a slow shake of my head. “Not even close.”
She stood and grabbed a napkin to wipe her fingers. “I think I’m going to go. I’m going to try and get an early start tomorrow.”
I made her nervous. That should have been a sign to back down.
But I wasn’t going to do it. No way. I was going to push her outside her comfort zone just a little more.
I was still trying to figure out if there was anything between her and Hux.
Their body language said no, but I couldn’t say for certain.
“I’ll walk you,” I said.
“Hudson, you don’t need to do that.”
“I don’t need to do a lot of things,” I said. “But I’m going to walk you home. It’s been a while, but I’m pretty sure that’s what a gentleman does. A beautiful woman should never walk home alone. What if someone accosted that gorgeous body?”
“Flattery will get you everywhere.” She winked.
“I’m hoping so.”
She grabbed her purse from inside her desk drawer and slung it over her shoulder. “Let’s go.”
I escorted her out of the office. It was a nice, warm night. It seemed like the smells always got a little stronger at night. I sucked in a deep breath. “God, I missed these nights.”
“I bet,” she said softly. “It’s weird, but it never gets old. I do the same thing every time I step outside. I don’t even realize I’m doing it.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t move to the city,” I said as we started to walk. “I always thought you said you wanted to live in New York. You were going to work for one of those big boat makers.”
“Things change,” she said. “I think I realized I had exactly what I wanted right here. I don’t need to go anywhere.
This is where I’m supposed to be. I did go to New York for a few weeks.
I thought I was going to go to school there.
It took me about five minutes to figure out I couldn’t do the city thing. Plus, my mom needed me.”
“Is this really where you want to be?” I asked.
“It is.” She nodded once. “Right where I want to be. I mean, eventually I would like to have a house and all that, but for now, this is fine. Is this where you want to be?”
“Yes,” I answered. “I think so. I guess I’ll find out.”
I wasn’t sure what I was waiting for. I expected there to be some sign. Something telling me this was what I was supposed to be doing with my life. At her door, she paused before opening it.
“Thank you for walking me home,” she said with a soft smile. “It was very gallant.”
“I’m not gallant,” I said. Once again, I found myself looking at her mouth.
Her lips parted with her tongue darting out and licking her lips.
That was a clear sign she wanted what I did.
I slid my hand to the back of her head and kissed her.
She leaned into the kiss. There was no resistance.
I leaned against her, my chest rubbing against her breasts.
She grabbed my bicep and squeezed. I wasn’t a saint.
I knew the signs of a woman ready and willing.
All I had to do was reach behind her and turn the doorknob.
I could push her inside, slam her against a wall, and fuck the shit out of her.
I knew that like I knew there was a moon in the sky.
Then she pulled back. “I should go inside,” she whispered.
I smirked and nodded. “Yes, you should. Goodnight, Sprite.”
I waited until she closed the door behind her before heading for my own apartment. That had been a hell of a kiss.
Damn, I really hoped I had not just made out with my brother’s woman.