Chapter 15
15
Hudson
H udson couldn’t contain himself. If he’d stayed in that truck with her, he would have told her everything he’d been feeling since last night. In just over twelve hours, Hudson had come to a terrifying realization.
Rachel meant more to him than he’d thought possible. He didn’t know when it had happened—probably because, like a poison, it seeped by unnoticed until his feelings for her were no longer small and inconsequential.
It might have been realizing how much danger she was in that triggered it. Or it could have been the way Mateo so easily flirted with her. But that wasn’t Mateo’s fault—it was just who he was.
If Hudson hadn’t been in complete control of his faculties, he might have made a scene right there on Mateo’s property.
Now, Rachel was talking about the guy like he was God’s gift to women. Sure, the guy was handsome and charming, but did Rachel have to say so?
Hudson’s chest couldn’t have been tighter. He felt like he’d been put into a vise, and he didn’t have any control over how much oxygen was coming into his lungs. He had no time for these feelings. He couldn’t allow himself to fall for a girl who didn’t belong here. She was everything he hated about what Copper Creek was turning into. She was a stranger who would ultimately leave.
Except there was one problem with that reasoning.
Rachel had bought a place. She’d moved in. The woman had no intention of ever leaving this place, especially once she got the horses here. That meant she’d be here for the long haul.
The way she’d looked at him when she’d asked to sleep in his room had torn a hole right through his heart… or maybe it melted it. He wasn’t sure what was going on with his heart these days. Then, that look she’d given him when he told her he wanted her to have a puppy to keep her company, had done even more damage.
How could a woman cause so much chaos with just one set of blue eyes?
“Hudson!”
He spun around and nearly bumped into her, causing her to jump back a little with a startled expression. Hudson fought the urge to scowl at her. His feelings weren’t her fault either. She hadn’t asked him to fall for her. He scoffed at himself. If she knew what was brewing inside him, she probably would run the other way. At least that would solve one problem. He wasn’t the type to go chasing after a girl.
Then again, he’d never had an interest in a girl like her before.
Hudson stared at her expectantly. “What?” he demanded.
She put the squirming puppy on the ground next to Odin, then crossed her arms. “Will you tell me what’s wrong?”
“Nothing is wrong,” he said.
“That’s a lie, and you know it.”
“Nothing. Is. Wrong.” Hudson repeated as he turned away from her.
Rachel grasped onto his forearm and forced him to face her once more. “I get that we don’t know each other all that well, but I’d say we know one another better than most. You can’t stay on the same property and work together for a couple weeks without discovering at least a little bit about the other person. And since you’re not exactly forthcoming with information, all I have to go off of are your expressions. And there’s a wide range of them, believe me.”
His eyes narrowed. “Nothing. Is. Going. On.” He emphasized each word again. “I want to get to work, and part of that requires me to get Odin familiar with the place. You heard Mateo. We need to make sure these dogs understand what their jobs are.”
She shook her head. “I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what I did between this morning and right now that’s so awful.” She stamped one foot.
He hated how adorable that was.
But even more than that, he hated how his reservations were crumbling. It would be so much easier for him to give in and tell her everything. Then he wouldn’t have to feel weird about keeping his distance.
The problem was that if he told her, anything could happen. And he hated surprises even more.
“Well?” she demanded. “Are you going to tell me what I did? Or do I have to play twenty questions?”
Hudson worked his jaw until it ached. Not a word. Not a single word would he give her.
“ Fine . I’ll guess. You still don’t like me. And you resent that you’re here having to protect a piece of land that I didn’t prepare enough to protect. That’s my first guess.”
He tightened his jaw further.
“You think I’m an idiot for spending the money on this place and for not having a plan. You think someone who was born and raised here would be better suited for it. Well, guess what? Maybe you’re right.”
His brows lifted, but he didn’t get a chance to speak because she continued throwing out reasons she shouldn’t be here.
“I jumped on this property after our conversation that first night because I could tell how much you loved it, and I wanted to save it.” She let out a frantic laugh. “I thought that it was a good idea to save the place from those nasty developers, and I had just read an article about Colorado passing that law about wild horses. The whole thing clicked, and I made a rash decision to buy a stupid piece of property without realizing just how closed off this town really is. Apparently, you’re not the only one who hates outsiders. Maybe I should just find a local buyer?—”
“Don’t you dare,” he growled.
She blinked at him, the color draining from her face.
“You’re not an idiot. You’re a dreamer. And you’re not an outsider any more than Shane Owens and his country club. Shoot, I’d say you’re more of a member of this community than he will ever be. I’ll not have you tearing yourself down when you’re probably one of the most genuine people I’ve met in my life.”
The color slowly rose back into her face, but she still seemed too stunned to speak.
He probably should have stopped there, but the floodgates had been released and he didn’t have any control over what he was going to spill next. “You want to know why I’ve been hot one second and cold the next? You want to know the agony you’ve put me through?”
Her head reared back, and the coloring in her face intensified. “I didn’t?—”
Hudson took a step toward her, but there hadn’t been much space between them to begin with. Now they were nearly touching. Rachel, being the confident person she was, didn’t even step back. She lifted her chin, and her blue eyes flashed. Hudson lowered his voice to a growl once more. “Do you know how hard it’s been to keep things professional between us? I’ve had to tell myself that you’re not my type, that you’re not worth the trouble, or that you wouldn’t return these feelings that I can’t control any longer. But guess what? It’s a losing battle. You want to know the real reason I’m in a bad mood? It’s because I want you more than anything and I can’t have you.”
His words came out on the end of heavy breaths. There. He’d said it. He’d told her how he felt. And the fact that she wasn’t saying anything only confirmed his statement. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m taking Odin on a walk.” He pushed past her, his shoulder bumping up against hers. Hudson let out a shrill whistle and barked out the dog’s name. Odin obediently followed, and they darted from the barn.
It was almost dark when Hudson returned. He stared at the house from the lawn, terrified at what waited for him inside. Hours away did nothing to put his day into perspective. He’d called Henry the second he’d left, and his brother’s truck was still there. Chances were high that both Henry and Athena were inside right now. Hudson had only given Henry a vague reason for needing his help, but that meant Athena would probably hate him for leaving her sister alone for even a moment.
Furthermore, everyone in that house might have disdain for him if Rachel told them what had transpired before Hudson took off.
It was time to face the music. Hudson looked down at where Odin sat like a great, white statue. His tongue hung from his mouth as he panted, but otherwise, he was just as stoic as ever. Hudson patted the animal’s head. True to Mateo’s word, the dog was well-trained. He’d make a good guardian for the property.
“Let’s go. I’ll get you some supper.”
He headed toward the house and the door opened. Henry was there with Athena by his side. Henry’s eyes held a degree of judgment, but Athena’s didn’t. Rachel’s sister treated Hudson no different than she usually did.
“Hey, Hudson. I gave Rachel the wedding invite. Make sure to save the date.” She slipped her hand into Henry’s and the two of them headed down the steps. Hudson motioned for the dog to head inside, and then he followed.
Rachel wasn’t in the front room, but the smell of supper lingered in the air, so Hudson found his way to the kitchen. There were dirty dishes in the sink, and Rachel sat at the kitchen table with a cup in her hands. She glanced up at him, not a drop of surprise in her gaze. “I made you a plate. It’s staying warm in the oven.” She got to her feet and took her cup to the sink.
There was no screaming. No arguing. No demanding that he quit. He’d expected her to berate him for what he’d done, for what he’d said. But she didn’t, and for some reason, that only infuriated him more.
Before she could move past him, he blocked her. “Aren’t you going to say something?”
“Why bother?” she asked quietly. “Apparently, you think you know everything.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
Rachel frowned. “I’m really tired and just want to head to bed.” She moved to get past him, but he sidestepped and blocked her again.
He hated the way she looked at him. He could see the blame in her eyes, and he just wanted her to put him out of his misery. “What do you want from me? To tell you I’m sorry? Because I’m not sorry.” His words even surprised himself. “I’m not sorry that I finally got it off my chest. At least now you won’t have to ask me why I’m in a rotten mood.”
She huffed. “I’m not mad at you because you told me you have feelings for me. That would be lame. I’m mad at you because you threw your confession at me and ran away like a coward. You didn’t even give me a chance to respond.”
“You have one now,” he shot back. “So do your worst. Tell me that I’m not good enough for you and that we come from two different worlds. Go ahead. I’ve already come to terms with it. I just need to hear you say it.”
Rachel shook her head. “You really are an idiot.”
“There. Does that make you feel better?” It surely didn’t make anything better for him. He couldn’t breathe. As much as he thought he’d prepared for this, he hadn’t been fully ready for the pain of her dismissal.
“No, you’re an idiot because you can’t see what’s right in front of you.” She threw her hands into the air. “You want to know the most ironic part of this? I thought you hated me . I thought that a relationship between us would never work because you wouldn’t lower yourself to dating an outsider. Well, guess the joke’s on you. Because I’ve started to fall for you. I don’t know what you think is so impossible about a relationship between us working out, but I can tell you right now that it’s not because of me.”
Hudson stared at her like she’d just told him that she’d decided to purchase the entire United States of America and bring back the monarchy. He didn’t have a chance to react before she took a page out of his book and marched off.