Chapter 6 #2
Scarlett Blair never got scared. She could stand up to anyone, including Ronin and her father.
But she had broken down in my arms at one point because of those men. And she had nearly done it again. Yes, I would’ve killed him. I still didn’t know why I hadn’t. Because of my own restraint or due to Scarlett being right behind me.
Either way, I had stayed on my own property since then, not bothering to come to town. I had promised to go to this damn party after the St. Patrick’s Day parade when I had stormed off, and now I regretted every single moment I had ever spoken to Isabella.
“Be there at five and wear something nice. Maybe don’t scowl the whole time. You’re welcome to scowl most of the time. Weston will because I’m dragging him.”
That made me smile. “So he’ll be in hell as well?
“It’s a dance. There’ll be punch. And alcohol. And food.”
“And flowers. Because it’s spring, and we like to plant flowers in the beds at each street corner, as if we’re not going to get snow.”
“They’re the spring flowers that are hardy through bouts of snow. The summer flowers we get in will do just as well. Be part of the community, Hudson.”
I heard the worry in her tone and pushed it back. I didn’t need a mirror shoved into my face. “I’ve been part of this community longer than you.”
“No, you haven’t. And we both know it.”
I cursed. “I really don’t like that you don’t back down.”
She laughed into the phone. “Of course I don’t. I’m the eldest daughter. It’s a thing.”
“I wouldn’t know. I didn’t grow up with you girls.”
“All the more reason for you to get annoyed by us now. And if you don’t show up, Weston will have to drag you down, and then he’ll be grumpy. And while I love my grumpy husband some days, grumpy because you annoy him won’t be my favorite thing.”
“As long as I don’t make Weston grumpy, that’s the most important thing,” I said dryly.
Isabella chuckled and sounded far too pleased with herself. “At least you’ve learned. Now go shower, because I know you’ve been working on the cabin and the old Ackerson place all day.”
I paused. “And how do you know that?”
“Because I stopped by your place earlier and you weren’t there. I have my ways.”
“Well then. Glad to know that if I ever die and am rotting alone on my carpet, I won’t be rotting for too long.”
My sister clucked her tongue. “This is why you need a pet. That way they can bark and let the neighbors know.”
I thought of Scarlett being alone for so many hours in the day.
She might be safe at the resort, but at home?
Maybe she was the one who needed a dog. Or a cat.
Then I couldn’t help but think of a cat in my place.
I may love animals, but I was always afraid they’d get out in this damn forest since I liked to leave my doors open on the way to the studio, and I’d never see them again.
“Sure, let me get a pet and then the cat or whatever can eat my dead body. No, thank you.”
“And on that note, I’ll see you at five. Don’t be late.” Then she hung up, always getting the last word.
I let my head fall back as I put my phone in my back pocket. There was no escaping this family, no matter how hard I tried. I let out a breath and got back to work. I could at least get another hour in before I had to shower and get ready. And deal with this dance.
Of course, I couldn’t help but remember one of the last dances I had gone to.
Michelle had been dressed in blue with glitter, and had smiled up at me, all sweet and happy.
I hadn’t known that she had been cheating on me with Jefferson at that point.
Or that she would marry him by the time I got back from my deployment.
We had gone all through high school at each other’s sides, and I had been a different person back then.
When I had gotten back from my second deployment, there hadn’t been any dancing or smiles.
I push those thoughts from my head, knowing this dance would be different. I wasn’t a kid anymore, and I didn’t have a date. I would go and make my sister happy and not step foot on the dance floor. I knew the rules.
By the time I was showered and decently ready to go, I already wanted the night to end.
However, I didn’t really have much of a choice when it came to the rest of my evening.
So I parked in front of the old barn that had been renovated a few times over the years and could fit most of the town locals.
A few tourists would come as well, since the entry fee would go to helping restore some of the older buildings and the town bridge.
And I figured that was a decent reason to have a dance.
After all, the last time the town bridge had gone out, tragedy had struck, and the town would never have that happen again.
I could hear the music from outside, a country tune where people seemed to be line dancing, and I held back a groan.
I was officially entering one of my worst nightmares.
At least I wouldn’t end up covered in blood in this one.
Unless this was going to be a recreation of that old Stephen King book.
We did have a farm nearby with pigs. You just never knew.
“You’re here!” Harper said as she moved forward and wrapped her arms around my waist. I immediately hugged my future sister-in-law back and lifted my chin at Dorian.
“I see you’ve been forced to come here too.”
Dorian just beamed, his eyes bright. It was a damn fine thing to see considering the state he had been in last year. I hadn’t blamed him for the darkness and had sat next to him through it since I understood, but being with Harper had truly changed him for the better, and it was good to see.
“Are you kidding me? I get to see my fiancée in a sexy dress as we slow dance? Of course I’m the one who had to come.”
“I donated some baked goods, but really this was all Dorian’s idea,” Harper agreed.
I rolled my eyes. “Well. At least you’re consistent.”
Isabella and Weston came over next, and I said my hellos, until I was forced to speak to resident after resident, who were just excited that I was out in public.
I didn’t always hermit up in my cabin, but apparently going so far as to not leaving for nearly a month was too much for this town.
Isabella gave me a knowing look, and I nearly flipped her off but thought better of it since the local pastor was speaking to me.
“There you are, darling,” Ms. Patty said, and I counted to ten so I wouldn’t scream or run away.
“Hello, Ms. Patty.” I leaned down and brushed my lips against her cheek. She giggled like a schoolgirl and waved me off.
“It’s so good to see you out and about. I know you’ve been busy up in those woods of yours, and you’re taking such good care of the area.
You also must be painting up a storm. I can’t wait to see more of what you do.
Mr. Mayor and I were just talking about the old Johnson place.
And how there used to be a mural there years ago before weather took over.
We should have you do it. A Cage working on Cage property would just be perfect, don’t you think? ”
I was pretty sure Ms. Patty didn’t take a single breath during that entire speech, and the fact that she squeezed her husband’s forearm as she spoke, and called him Mr. Mayor, always made me pause.
But the two were in love, you could tell from just the way that he looked down at her, and I couldn’t really say a damn thing.
Ms. Patty might love her gossip, but she would fight for anybody in this room.
She’s somebody you wanted on your side, even if I didn’t want her in my business.
“We can talk about it in a bit. How about that?” I hedged.
The mayor just grinned at me. “You do know that it’s going to happen anyway, don’t you, son?” the man said slowly, and I held back a laugh.
Oh yes. Because once Ms. Patty wanted something, she got it. A few other townspeople came over, including a few older residents with their younger and single daughters, and soon I was surrounded.
I glared over their heads at Isabella, who looked at me wide-eyed. When she mouthed the words I’m sorry, I figured she hadn’t expected this part.
Because I was the only single Cage here. In fact, I was one of the only single men here.
I had been conned. Bamboozled. And I needed to get out of here. However, from the way that Ms. Patty was looking at me, I was going to need to get on the damn dance floor at some point.
“Oh Hudson, you’re here. I have a question for you,” a familiar voice said, and I immediately turned and grabbed Scarlett’s hand.
“I’m all yours,” I growled, and her eyes widened.
“Okay, then. Let’s talk while we dance.”
I found myself on the dance floor, Scarlett fitting in my arms far too comfortably, as the rest of the town looked on. Others joined us on the dance floor as a slow song began to drift from the speakers, and I let out a groan.
“Should I thank you?
“For saving you? Let’s just call it tit for tat.” I raised a brow, and her cheeks pinked. “Not in a dirty way, you freak.”
“Is there something you really wanted to talk about?” I asked, ignoring the way she felt against me. I could feel her nipples pressing against my chest, and it was all I could do not to lean down and lick her lips. Or inhale the sweet and spicy scent of hers. There’s something wrong with me.
We swayed back and forth, and I continued to ignore the knowing looks as well as the interested ones.
“I didn’t have a question, only wanted to get you out of Ms. Patty’s clutches. But now I’m regretting all of this.”
I grunted. “Can’t be seen dancing with me?”
“You’re my boss and everyone will talk.”
I shook my head and then twirled her around. She snorted, considering this was a slow dance, and I brought her back to my chest. Where she belonged. No, I wasn’t going to think that last thought.
“I’m not your boss.”
“I work for your family. And this town loves gossip. I was just getting you out of that awkward predicament since it didn’t seem that Harper or Isabella was going to do it.”
“Traitors,” I grumbled.
She laughed against me, and we continued to dance.
I didn’t like this feeling, the odd warmth spreading through my chest. I didn’t like how she felt right against me. There was something wrong with this, but there was no easy way out of it.
“Thank you,” I ground out.
“You sound thankful,” she whispered.
“Now that I had this dance though, I can leave. I did my duty.”
She looked up at me and studied my face. “So this is all duty?”
“What do you want me to say, Scar?” Because I had no idea what I was supposed to be thinking in that moment.
The song ended, and I took a step back, letting my hands fall.
“Thank you for the rescue.”
Then I turned on my heel and practically ran from the building. I was a coward, and we both knew it.
“Hudson!”
I turned as Scarlett ran up to me. She held out my phone, and I frowned. “I dropped my phone? Hell. I’m sorry.”
“It must’ve been hanging out of your pocket earlier, or maybe Ms. Patty was trying to steal it. You know, to check your schedule.”
“I wouldn’t put it past her.” I slid it in my back pocket, wondering how exactly that had happened, and shook my head. “I guess it’s the night I should be thanking you.”
She stood in front of me, as I swallowed hard. She was so damn close. What the hell was wrong with me?
I looked down at her, my breath quickening, and I licked my lips. Her gaze went right to the gesture, or maybe I was just seeing things. But I reached out, doing the unthinkable, and pushed a strand of her hair back from her face and tucked it behind her ear.
“I like your dress by the way. I didn’t really say that before.”
And I did like her dress. She wore red that faded into a pale pink and matched her name perfectly.
It was one of those older-type dresses that flared around her knees and had a heart neckline.
Or at least that’s what I thought it was called.
Either way, it made her breasts stand out, and I really needed to stop thinking about her breasts.
“Thanks. I don’t get to wear dresses like these often. I’m usually in more business attire.”
“You look good then too.” I nearly bit off my tongue wondering what the hell I was saying.
“Oh. Well you look good now too. I mean, last time I saw you, you weren’t wearing a shirt, so you looked good then as well, but… well, I’m just going to stop thinking or talking. Or whatever.”
I let out a curse and lowered my head. “This is a damn mistake.”
“Totally.”
And then my mouth was on hers, my hand sliding through the back of her hair, and I stepped off that precipice that told me that this was going to end badly.
She tasted of sweetness, and Scarlett, and it was everything I could do not to press her up against the side of the barn and take her right then.
Instead, I just deepened the kiss and let my hand fall to her waist. Her hands went to my back, her fingernails digging in, and when I tilted my head, our tongues colliding, I finally tore myself away, trying to catch my breath.
“Mistake,” she blurted.
I nodded, not knowing if either one of us was telling the truth. “Mistake.”
And with that, I stormed to my truck, grateful that nobody had seen. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Scarlett join the others, so I knew she was safe.
Safe from anyone who wanted to hurt her, and sure as hell safe from me.