Chapter 5
The rest of our dinner conversation was balanced between heavy and light.
I told him about Skylar being homeless in Glasgow, about helping her start a homeless shelter charity now that she was healthy and happy again.
I spoke more about Killian and how overprotective he was (which didn’t even faze Hudson).
Hudson talked about his parents and brother, and his cousins and their families.
We learned about each other’s food, music, movie likes and dislikes, and he made me laugh. A lot.
We moved to the bar after our meal and time flew. I was disappointed when I realized we had to say goodnight. However, Hudson kept his word. In fact, he didn’t even kiss me goodnight. Well, not a real kiss… but what he did was almost better.
Somehow he managed to give me the most spine-tingling kiss goodnight with a mere brush of his mouth against the corner of mine.
Seriously, I almost melted into a puddle at his feet as his head pulled back from the kiss.
He caressed my cheekbone with the pad of his thumb and then stepped back, wishing me goodnight.
With the promise of seeing him tomorrow in the air, I’d fled into my suite before I did something I’d regret—like throw myself at him when he was trying so hard to be a gentleman.
He was booked for morning ski lessons, something I knew he now regretted, but he’d promised Deke he’d help him out and it would seem Hudson didn’t back out of a promise. I liked that. I liked that a lot.
To be fair, I liked everything about him.
“Oh my God, you are so cute,” Catie teased at breakfast the next morning.
I made a face at both her and her grinning husband. “I am not.”
“You are, too. You’re sitting there gazing dreamily out at the snowy mountains wondering if your Prince Charming is one of those moving dots in the powder.”
I rolled my eyes to hide the fact that she was right. “Am not.”
“Are too. We can safely assume the date went well?”
I glanced between Catie and Kyle, wondering if I told them the truth if they’d think I was crazy.
Catie frowned, sensing my concern. “What is it?”
I lowered my cup of tea. “You’ll both think I’m insane.”
“Why? What is it?”
I exhaled slowly. “I think he… okay, I know this sounds nuts and I would think it was nuts if it wasn’t happening to me but… I think he might be… well… the one.” I flinched, bracing for their reaction.
When all I got was silence, I slumped in my seat. “You think I’m nuts.”
“I don’t.” Kyle shrugged. “I knew Catie was it for me the moment we met.”
I smiled as Catie stared adoringly at her husband. “You did?”
“Aye.” He grinned back at her. “I felt like you’d slammed into me the moment I saw you because I couldn’t catch my breath. And I knew. I just knew you were it.”
“You’ve never told me that before.” She smacked his shoulder.
He winced while I laughed. “Well, I didn’t want to sound like a total Muppet. But Autumn’s being honest and I don’t want her to feel like an idiot. This shite can happen.” He turned to me. “But beware. Next thing you know you’re married at twenty-two.”
I chuckled. “I’m twenty-five.”
“You know what I mean. Catie and I met at twenty-one and less than a year later we got married.”
“I knew I loved him right away, too,” Catie said to me before turning back to Kyle, “but I didn’t know you felt the same way. You didn’t even say that in your vows!”
“I think getting engaged after six months and then getting married five months later pretty much says it all, babe.”
She snorted. “True.”
Not wanting to interrupt the warm moment between them but needing reassurance, I asked, “So you don’t think I’m nuts?”
“No,” they said in unison.
Catie continued, “However, men haven’t always treated you the way you deserve. One of them not too long ago. Be careful.”
I stiffened at the reminder I hadn’t been very good at choosing men. “I know that. But have I ever said any of them were the one? Hudson… Hudson would never hurt me. I don’t know how I know that. I just do.”
My friends contemplated me in silence for a while again until I was squirming with the need to bolt out of my seat. Then Catie reached across the table for my hand, like Hudson had done last night, and squeezed it in hers. “You want to know what I think?”
No, I’m scared. “Yes?”
“I think after everything you’ve been through, the fact that you still have the biggest, most open heart of anyone I know, makes you the bravest person I know.
Christ, Autumn, it is so much easier to hide from love than it is to give in to it.
You’re such a special person and if you think this guy is the one then go for it. We’ll be here no matter what happens.”
Tears glistened in my eyes. “You’re the best friend ever.”
She grinned. “I know.”
I laughed but my amusement faded when I whispered, “Killian won’t be so understanding.”
“This isn’t his life. Who knows whether this connection with Hudson will go anywhere… but you’ll never know if you don’t take a shot at it. However, if you need me to say it, I’ll say it: I trust you, Autumn. Trust yourself.”
Before I could stop them, the tears spilled over. “Best. Friend. Ever.”
Now that Catie and Kyle emotionally had my back, I felt even more antsy to see Hudson so we could further explore the immense connection between us.
Which meant, without any spa appointments booked that day, I was bored and impatient as I lounged around the lodge.
Eventually I found myself snuggled up in the corner of one of the couches in the reception area, my back to the fire, my knees drawn up with a notepad on them.
My boots lay scattered beside me on the floor and there was a glass of warm cider on the window ledge by the couch.
I stared at the piece of paper I’d torn free from the notepad braced on my knee, chewing the end of my pen in thought.
POSSIBLE CAREER OPTIONS
1. Small catering company (on my own this time!!)
2. Bakery? Or catering company focused on baked goods only
3. Stylist to the stars (not realistic but I did a good job with Skylar)
4. Event organizer/wedding planner
5. PA at Killian’s new label—job is ready and waiting
6. Interior designer. No experience! Would be fun though!
7. AHHHH!
8. I suck
9. HOLD ME :(
I felt the heat of him at my back before he said, “What are you doing?”
I tilted my head back to find Hudson leaning over me, looking down at my notebook. He was upside down to me but I could still see his eyes scanning the paper. I clamped a hand over it. “Nothing.”
Hudson rounded the couch. He was dressed in dark jeans, winter boots, a navy knit sweater with a roll neck, and a winter jacket.
His face was flushed from the cold and he vibrated with an air of masculine energy that created a shot of tingles between my legs.
He smiled at me before leaning down to brush his lips against my cheek.
My eyes fluttered closed at the sensation, which was why it was so easy for him to slide the bit of paper out from under my hand.
“Hey!” I cried belatedly, throwing my legs off the couch to stand up and reach for it.
But I was in socks and now significantly shorter than I had been the night before so he held the list high above him and out of reach.
“Give me,” I huffed, jumping for it.
Hudson laughed and wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me against him so suddenly that I was distracted by the feel of his hard chest beneath my hands.
He looked down into my face and his arm tightened around me. “You feel good here, angel.”
I frowned because I felt amazing against him but he still had my bit of paper. “Give me my notes.”
Instead he kissed me. Properly. Tongue and all.
It was such a deep, luscious, hungry kiss, I curled my fingers into his sweater just to hold on.
I swear my legs were trembling when he finally let me up for air.
Hudson released me with another soft caress of his lips and then snuggled me into his side as he brought the paper down to his eye level.
He was already reading it before I fully recovered from his kiss.
“Okay,” he said after a few seconds perusal. “Our plans for today just changed.”
“Our plans? What were our plans?”
“Honestly?”
I nodded, lost in his gaze.
He grinned, seemingly totally aware of how much he affected me. “Me fighting hard not to drag you to the nearest bedroom like a caveman.”
I gave a huff of laughter. “I’m sure.”
“But now I need to put those thoughts on hold.” He squeezed me again.
“I think I’ve got a way to test your options.
” He waved the bit of paper in the air. “Five birds, one stone. If you’re up for doing that while you’re here?
Say you got the opportunity to cater, organize an event, style someone, and redecorate a room this week?
See which one you enjoyed or succeeded at most? ”
Bemused, I nodded. “I would do it. I don’t know how I can possibly do it here though.”
“Boots and jacket on. I’ll show you.”
As soon as I did as asked, Hudson took over pulling my hat down over my hair as I tugged on gloves.
He pressed a sweet kiss to the tip of my nose before he let me go.
“Come on.” He slid his arm along my shoulder and pulled me into his side, so I put my arm around his waist to make it easier for us as we walked.
It was amazing how natural it felt to be in his arms as he led us across the car park toward the building that housed the holiday apartments.
As we approached the outer staircase of the building I remembered Hudson said he was staying in one of the condos. “I thought you said you weren’t going to drag me to the nearest bed?”
He chuckled. “I’m not.”
“Oh.” It came out sounding way more disappointed than I meant it to and Hudson threw his head back in deep, rumbling, attractive laughter. I found myself staring at him as he did so, loving that I made him laugh like that.