Chapter 2
Hudson
This woman is moving fast. We matched, she messaged to ask if I was serious, and now she is on her way here to visit.
She is either brave, crazy or stupid. Well, I like a little bit of crazy.
Lots of people call me crazy. In my younger days I was a little wild.
But now I work fire & rescue, putting my crazy flying skills to good use.
I’m the guy who says we can do it when others won’t.
But now I’m ready to settle down. I see my friends finding love and having kids.
For a long time I’ve been thinking that I would like a wife and a couple of kids, that I want that to be my next crazy adventure.
Of course, it would have to be the right woman.
That’s why I finally caved and joined the Mountain Mates dating website.
But I thought we would talk online for a bit.
But maybe June will be perfect. Or maybe I get a weekend of crazy and a funny story to tell the guys at the next poker night. Still it won’t hurt to just let my brothers know that I have a stranger coming to stay. Just in case anything goes wrong.
I look around the cabin. I’ve got a spare bedroom, and I try to keep the place clean.
I’m big on being trapped indoors, so there isn’t too much to keep organized.
My mom likes to say each of her children are messier than the last one.
My older brother, Woodrow, has everything organized, belt buckles and boots shining.
I’m the middle child and I would say I’m the most normal.
I’m not obsessed like Woodrow and I’m not a total mess like my younger brother.
But, there is one man living on his own clean and then there is visitor clean. And crazy though she might be, I want this lady visitor to feel comfortable during her stay.
* * * * *
Waiting on the porch, it’s getting dark.
Inside the fire is going, the beds are made and there is a stew cooking on the stove.
I see the car pull in. Even from down the drive I can see that the paint is faded, the old thing is beat up and rusty.
Well, that gives me hope that this woman is okay with things being a little rough around the edges.
Through the windscreen I catch a glimpse of dark brown hair pulled up into a ponytail.
Oh, she’s pretty. Jumping down the few steps I’m there to open her door.
Taking her hand to help her out of the car.
She gives me a nervous little smile. And there is a look in her eyes. Hopefulness? A yearning for something?
It touches a part of my heart. She is short and curvy and just adorable. No make up. Jeans and an oversized sweater. Just a natural beauty with a nervous smile and that look of hope in her eyes. I can’t help grinning. I’m suddenly looking forward to getting to know this beautiful woman.
“Hudson?”
“And you must be June?” I give her my most charming smile as I take her one bag from her, noticing that it is quite an old suitcase, and showing her into the cabin.
I watch as she walks around the cabin. I try to see it through a stranger’s eyes.
Comfortable chairs pointed towards the stone fireplace.
The wooden floors, the wood beams I rescued from a junk yard.
The window seat I built in the bay window.
The kitchen is all new, a big wooden dining table that I never use.
I have a bookcase and I put some shelves up, but there isn’t a lot of stuff.
Definitely needs a woman’s touch in here.
“What do you think?” I ask
She looks at me with big blue eyes. “It’s just like Snow White’s cabin.” She sounds in awe of the place and it makes me feel proud.
I grin and then chuckle. “You like fairy tales?”
She really smiles for the first time. “I like the idea of running away and starting again.”
“I thought fairy tales were about the Prince Charming?”
She looks me up and down. “Well, you certainly fit that description. Oh!” She ends on a gasp. Her cheeks going red. She didn’t mean for that to slip out.
Again, I am struck by how adorable she is. I let out a laugh and she gives me a shy smile.
“Is that food cooking?” She asks, changing the subject.