Chapter 5 #3
Paige looked over her shoulder toward the entrance to Cruisers. “There’s some issue with his job. Truthfully, it’s my fault for going out with him again. I told myself after the last date, we were through. But then he called and apologized and—”
Hudson growled. “Apologized for what?”
Paige studied his scowl, but rather than shy away, she looked amused. “Down, tiger. I’m good to fight my own battles.”
“That doesn’t answer my question, Princess,” he said, his arms crossed.
“He made some insulting, misogynistic comment about the wisdom of a single woman buying a house on her own.”
Hudson was now torn between chasing down Ronnie or her date. Sounded like they both needed to be taught a lesson.
“He called a few days later, said he realized how bad his words sounded, and he swore to me that wasn’t his intent. He apologized and I accepted it. I kind of thought that would be it, but…” Paige sighed.
“But?”
“He kept calling, then he sent flowers to the restaurant. He golfs with my dad, and apparently, he confessed to Dad what he said. Dad called me and suggested I give him another chance.”
“So this guy has the Daddy seal of approval,” he muttered darkly.
Paige narrowed her eyes, just like she always did whenever the subject of Judge Sparks came up. Probably because he was still using that damn tone. Paige straightened her back and stared him down. “Yeah, he does.” Then she sighed. “He’s the first guy my dad’s ever approved of.”
“So that’s it? You only plan to go out with guys your dad green-lights?”
Paige frowned. “Of course not.”
“Good. Dance with me.”
If she’d resisted or said no, he would have relented, but Paige’s hand was in his before he finished his request. They’d just reached the dance floor when the deejay slowed things down, Jason Mraz’s “I Won’t Give Up” playing.
Hudson pulled her into his arms, not bothering to keep a polite distance. Now that he was holding her, he felt the need to keep her close and never, ever let her go. Those were foreign desires to him—completely foreign.
Yet, he took comfort from them because he’d lived his entire life, certain there was something broken inside him. He’d never been in love. Not once. Hudson chalked it up to his Ryan genes, telling himself that the men in his family weren’t made to fall in love or be loved in return.
He realized most guys felt first love along with puberty, but he’d been one angry, miserable bastard during the teen years, too blinded by fury to feel anything soft or sweet.
Paige had broken through whatever hard shell had been surrounding his heart like she was wielding a jackhammer.
Hudson’s hands grasped her waist, and it took everything he had not to slip them beneath her silky blouse, desperate to touch her bare skin.
Paige’s arms slid upwards, her fingers toying with the hair at the nape of his neck, and she looked up as he gazed down. Neither of them spoke, just shared that long glance that seemed to say volumes.
“You look pretty tonight,” he murmured.
Paige smiled. “Thanks. I didn’t realize you would be here.”
“Didn’t intend to be. Like I said, Ronnie called and I stupidly answered. I won’t make that mistake again.”
“The two of you used to be good friends.”
Hudson shook his head. “Not sure I’d describe us as friends. We fed off the other’s bad attitude. We were both really terrible to you.”
“You do remember I was a nerd in high school, right? I got picked on by a lot of kids, more than just you and Ronnie. Besides, I don’t want to talk about that anymore,” she said. “You apologized and I forgave you. It’s ancient history.”
God, she was sweet.
Hudson wanted her, even though he sure as shit didn’t deserve her. Not that that mattered. Because from this day forward, he was going to do everything in his power to be the man who did deserve her.
“Thank you, Princess,” he said, touched by her kindness.
Paige giggled. “That’s the first time you’ve called me that and I haven’t wanted to kick you in the nuts for it.”
Hudson laughed.
After that, they swayed to the music, letting their hands speak instead. Hudson’s slid around her back, then lower, just glancing the top of her ass. Paige was wearing painted-on blue jeans and a low-cut silky blouse that showcased her figure to perfection.
Paige pressed her breasts more tightly against his chest, and for the first time, he realized this attraction wasn’t one-sided.
He had to hand it to the woman; she knew how to play it cool.
Or perhaps, like him, she’d been giving herself the same lectures…
about them being opposites, about them working together, about that damned past of theirs casting shadows on the present.
Maybe not the last one for her, since Paige just reiterated the fact she’d forgiven him.
It appeared he was the only one holding on to that excuse, because the more time he spent with her, the better he got to know her and discover just how incredible she was, the worse his guilt became.
One of Paige’s hands drifted from the nape of his neck to his jawline, cupping it. He’d been clean shaven when he first arrived in Maris, but since then, he’d been growing a beard, liking the look of it. The way Paige’s fingers toyed with it told him she did too.
“The beard is hot,” she whispered.
“Then I’m keeping it.”
Her eyes widened briefly, then she bit her lower lip. “Am I misreading…” she started, then stopped, shaking her head as if aware she was about to say more than she wanted.
“No. You’re not.”
“This is crazy,” she said, her words more breath than sound, her comment more to herself than him. “You and me…”
Hudson was just about to kiss her when two things happened simultaneously. The song ended and someone cleared their throat behind them.
“Paige?”
Hudson and Paige released each other, both turning to face her date, who’d returned to the bar. Now he was facing them.
“Sorry about the phone call,” her date said to her, though his gaze was locked on Hudson.
Paige was visibly uncomfortable—and when she offered the introductions, Hudson understood why.
“Beck, this is Hudson Ryan. Hudson, this is Beck Reed.”
Jesus. Her date was Beck Reed.
Hudson had only been in town a month, and not once during that time had his path crossed Beck’s.
Probably because the only places Hudson went were to Paige’s house, the construction jobs, and Sparks Barbeque.
He kept his social circle fairly small, not venturing beyond those parameters until tonight with Ronnie.
A fast song began, a rush of people stepping onto the floor, jostling the three of them back toward Paige and Beck’s table.
Hudson was taken aback when Beck crossed his arms, anger radiating from him. “So you’re not just content to steal my jobs, now you think it’s okay to steal my girl?”
A light went on as Hudson recalled Paige’s remark about Beck’s trouble at work. No doubt he’d gotten the call this afternoon that he hadn’t landed the courthouse project.
And while Hudson was offended by Beck’s accusation that he stole it, he was more pissed about the second part of his comment.
As was Paige. Because Hudson didn’t have two seconds to form a reply before she lit into the guy.
“Your girl?” she seethed. “I’m not your anything, Beck.”
Beck had been so focused on Hudson, Paige’s fury caught him off guard.
“Don’t overreact. You know what I mean, Paige,” he started, trying to placate her with a tone Hudson knew was only going to set her off more.
She was an independent, strong-minded woman, and Beck’s tone was the verbal equivalent to a pat on the head.
“Overreact?!” she whisper-screamed.
“If anyone should be upset, it’s me,” Beck continued, digging himself deeper and deeper into his own grave, as he waved a finger between Paige and Hudson. “You’re out with me tonight, remember?”
“I remember,” Paige said, through gritted teeth. “Do you? Because so far, you’ve taken three phone calls and stared at your text messages like they were the second coming of Christ.”
“I told you,” Beck said. “I had an issue with work.” Which reminded him that Hudson was that issue. “The mayor and I play golf together. I had a verbal agreement with him about that job, so I wouldn’t get too comfortable with the idea that project is yours.”
Hudson crossed his arms. “I’m pretty sure the contract I signed this afternoon is more binding than your verbal agreement with a golf buddy.” Beck clearly ran his business with a “good old boys” mentality, schmoozing key players rather than putting in the work on bids.
Beck’s jaw clenched so tightly, Hudson was surprised the man wasn’t breaking teeth. He could also tell from his expression that Beck knew the deal was done.
And he didn’t handle losing well.
“We’ll see about that,” Beck said, because honestly, what else could he say? He turned to Paige, oozing charm and contrition in equal parts. “I’m sorry about tonight, Paige. Why don’t we go somewhere quieter for a cup of coffee? Let me make things up to you.”
Dear God, this man was as transparent as glass. Beck might have lost the courthouse deal, but he hadn’t given up hope on landing the Sparks Barbeque job.
Paige had obviously come to the same conclusion. “Nope. Three strikes, you’re out.”
Beck’s cheeks grew ruddy. “What’s that mean?”
“It means this is our third official shitty date. I don’t want to go out with you again. Lose my number.”
“But your dad— I mean, I…” The man was flustered, scrambling to save lost ground.
Paige didn’t give him the chance. She turned to Hudson instead. “Give me a ride home?”
Hudson grinned. “Always.”
Paige pulled a twenty out of her pocket and slapped it in Beck’s hand. “For the beer.” Then she slipped her hand in Hudson’s and the two of them walked out of Cruisers together.
The drive home was made in silence, as they listened to a country music station. Paige had looked tense when she’d walked into the bar with Beck, but now she was the picture of relaxed, softly humming along to the song, a smile on her lips.
When they pulled into her driveway, Hudson turned to her, intent on kissing her good night.
He pulled up short when her hand landed on his shoulder, holding him back.
Hudson sighed, bracing himself for the letdown.
It never came.
Instead, Paige smiled. “Come inside.”