Chapter 6
ANGELA
Ihadn't expected Hudson to stop by this afternoon. He hadn't been in the store all week, so when Wynter suggested using my space as the backdrop for the photo shoot, I'd readily agreed.
She moved the velvet chaise lounge out of the storage room and set it up in front of a wall I'd decorated with empty white frames.
It was a simple backdrop that she swore would be perfect for the website. I thought I'd stand in most of the pictures with a hand on my hip. But I wasn't a model or a photographer.
Wynter had a vision for the home page that included me posed on the chaise looking every inch the confident boss lady.
I'd seen some of the pictures, and I could see how they would be nice additions to the site. Then we did more basic shots of me in bra-and-panty sets. It was tedious work but necessary if I wanted to sell them online.
Wynter came up with the idea of doing similar poses for each product so that the shop was consistent and customers knew what to expect.
I was hanging up the items we'd used for the photo shoot when I heard Hudson's heavy tread on the wood planks. He paused in the doorway as if he was afraid of what he might see.
"Sorry you had to walk in on that. I didn't know you were coming by." If I had, I certainly wouldn't have scheduled a photo shoot here.
"Are you done with it?"
"You walked in on the image we're using for the home page, which is the most important, at least according to Wynter. Then we took pictures of me in the bra-and-panty sets. That part takes longer because we're doing the same five poses for each. We're not done with those pictures yet."
Something flashed across his face when I said bra-and-panty sets. I was probably making him uncomfortable. I forgot that not everyone spent the day talking about lingerie.
"If you give me your schedule, I won't stop by on those days."
"That's probably a good idea." And something I should have considered.
I hung the original red outfit on a hanger, stepping back to admire it. I'd need to wash it, and it would become part of my collection. I wouldn't sell any of the things I wore today.
He cleared his throat, and I wondered if seeing me touching the lingerie made him nervous. "You want to see what progress I made in the back?"
"Sure," I said as I followed him into the break room. "Wow. The carpet is gone."
"I'll take it to my truck before I leave. There was linoleum underneath and another layer under that. I haven't made it to the subfloor yet."
"I didn't realize you'd planned to do any work today."
"I was just going to check on the progress, but the carpet was holding that mildew smell. I had to get rid of it." There was a restless energy coming off Hudson I couldn't quite place.
I was mortified that he'd seen me wearing practically nothing for that photo shoot. Originally, I thought I'd bring my stock to Wynter's shop, and she'd take pictures in her private studio. Instead, she'd insisted on doing it at my store.
I'd pulled the blinds down and locked the door, but I hadn’t thought about the fact that Eve would have given Hudson a key so he could get in, and make repairs.
When I returned from the dressing room, I hadn't even realized Hudson was there at first. When I saw him kneeling, my heart dropped through the floor.
I should have been embarrassed to be seen in that state of undress. It was, at the very least, unprofessional.
But I'd felt his gaze on me, and it made me feel desirable in a way I hadn't in a long time. I was sexy, or at least that's what Wynter had been telling me all afternoon when she snapped picture after picture.
I wasn't sure I should be the face of the shop, but I was the cheapest model I could find. Wynter assured me that customers would like the personal touch. "It looks like you got a lot done."
"Thought I'd get a head start."
Had he realized I still had his sweatshirt and slept in it every night because it was so comfortable and smelled like him? It made me feel like I had a high-school boyfriend all over again.
But we were adults. I shouldn't be thinking about any of those things. I was attracted to Hudson, but nothing could ever come from it. I'd gone on a few dates since my divorce from Gus, but I hadn't connected with anyone. No one was worth getting to know better or introducing to Ayla.
My focus had to be on the business and her. I wouldn't let anything pull me away from my responsibilities.
"I'll take another look at the wood floors to see what we can salvage and what need to be replaced. Once the materials are in, I can replace the pipes. I'm getting a crew together now, so the work shouldn't take long."
"That sounds good." Every time he was near, my blood simmered, and I was hyperaware of his every move.
But at the same time, I couldn't reopen my shop until the pipes were replaced. I knew it wouldn't happen before Christmas, and it sucked that I was missing out on the busy shopping season.
I'd done a few pop-ups during the day at the malls this week, but those weren't as successful as they'd been in the past. No one knew that I was doing them again, and the malls were busier in the evenings and weekends when I had Ayla.
I didn't like taking her to those because I was selling underwear and some people frowned on a child being around. I couldn't forget Bill's sneer whenever he saw me.
The front door of the store opened.
Hudson raised a brow. "Are you expecting someone?"
"It's Ayla. She just got off the bus and probably wants a hot chocolate or a pastry from Sweet Dreams."
"I'll get back to work then."
Ayla yelled, "Mom! Where are you?"
"In the back with Mr. Sterling," I called.
Ayla came running around the corner, throwing her backpack on the floor, dropping her hat and mittens on it. She skidded to a stop in the doorway. "Where's the carpet?"
"I had to remove it," Hudson said.
Ayla nodded sympathetically. "It was stinky."
"Unsightly too," he added.
Ayla giggled at his characterization.
"Do you have homework?"
"A little." Then she rolled her eyes. "Math."
"Why don't you get started, and then we'll grab dinner?" She struggled with math.
"But I want to go to the bakery," she whined.
"Homework. Then dinner." It was no fun being the sole parent sometimes. I had to enforce my rules while Gus refused to enforce any.
"Ugh. Fine. But then we can go to the light trail." She moved down the hall, opening the zipper to her bag.
I frowned. "Oh, I don't think so. I don't want to be out late on a school night."
"How would we be out late? It's right there." She pointed toward the front of the building.
"What are you talking about?" I asked, looking at Hudson to see if he knew.
"Eve created a light display for the season with the fire department. I think it opens at dusk."
Ayla folded her hands under her chin. "Can we go? Please, Mom?"
I didn't want to spend much money with the shop being closed down, but I could afford dinner and a light trail. I hadn't wanted to drive anywhere, but if there was one here, that was convenient. "Okay."
Ayla turned to Hudson. "You should come with us."
He looked startled, placing a hand on his chest. "Me?"
She laughed. "Yes. You."
"Ayla, be polite," I chided her.
She rolled her eyes. "You should come to the diner with us, and then we can see the lights. Aren't you hungry?"
"I didn't eat lunch," he said, almost to himself.
Ayla grinned. "You have to eat."
"We're just going to Merry's Diner across the street." I wasn't a fan of going there, but she didn't criticize me much in front of Ayla. I knew she didn't like my store either. She was just as cranky as Bill.
"I suppose I could come."
"Yes!" Ayla said as she pulled out her homework folder and sat at the break room table that Hudson had moved into the hallway so he could remove the carpet.
I stepped into the room so she wouldn't hear us. "You don't have to come with us."
He raised a brow. "You don't want me there?"
"What? No. That's not what I meant. I just didn't want you to feel pressured to go with us. You're single. I'm sure you have other things to do than hang out with a mother and her daughter."
His eyes flashed as if I'd given him a challenge he couldn't walk away from. "I want to come."
"Okay."
Then he paused. "Unless you have a problem with me being there?"
"Of course not." I did have a problem with him being there. There was something about watching him interact with my daughter. He was always kind and respectful to her. It was nice, and it only made him more attractive.
A slow smile spread over his face. "Like I said, I'm hungry."
"As soon as she's done with her homework, we can walk over."
"Sounds good," he said, and I moved away, wondering how I was going to survive an evening with Hudson. He was so big and imposing; he took up every square inch of space in that break room. I couldn't breathe deeply. I felt like I was still wearing that corset from earlier.
The one that pushed my breasts up.
Did he like seeing me in that outfit? There had been a weird energy between us since the afternoon. I couldn't help but think it had something to do with his grumpy mood.
I was positive he had plenty of single women throwing themselves at him whenever he went out. He wouldn't be interested in a single mom with a fledging business.
It was easier if I thought of him as a coworker or a partner. Not the attractive single guy I wanted to touch me.
I sat across from Ayla as she worked through her math problems. When she got frustrated, I tried to help her, but math wasn't my strongest subject in school.
Hudson came out of the break room. "Is everything okay?"
Ayla dropped her head onto the table. "I hate math."
"She's having trouble with this math problem."
He paused by our table. "Let me take a look."
Ayla sighed and handed him the paper. "It's the last one."
He looked at it for a few seconds and then crouched by the table. "You did this part right. You just forgot the second step." He turned the paper over and showed her how to work the problem.
Relief flooded her face. "I always forget that part."
"Keep practicing," Hudson said easily.
Ayla stood and gave him a little bow. "Thank you. Thank you."
"I'm happy to help." He waved a thumb over his shoulder. "I'm going to take everything outside. Want to head over after I lock the back door?"
"That sounds good," I said, suddenly nervous to be going to dinner with him. Would anyone think something was going on between us? Surely not with Ayla there. But you never knew with small town gossip.
Even if Christmas Town wasn't a real town, the shop owners had formed their own small-town feel, along with gossip and rumors.
I'd have to tell everyone it was purely business. I surely wasn't going to tell anyone about him walking in on my photo shoot. Bill would have me closed up for good.
I had a flash of regret over creating a website that was so sexy, but Wynter had insisted that it was classy. Exactly what women wanted to see. I wouldn't let Bill cheapen the shop or my brand.
Hudson disappeared into the break room.
"Let's finish up so we can eat," I prodded Ayla.
Her tongue darted out in concentration as she followed the steps that Hudson had shown her. I was grateful he'd stopped to help. Homework issues could cause a tantrum that would have derailed our dinner plans.
I never had someone to step in and offer help. It was nice.
Gus always said that homework was my job since I had custody. I didn't understand why he didn't want to be her dad and do the things that dads did.
We finished her work, placing it in her folder for the next day, and went outside to meet Hudson. He was just putting the carpet in the bed of the truck.
He nodded toward the diner. "Let's head over. I already locked the back door."
"Wouldn't want anyone walking in on something," I said lightly as Ayla ran ahead of us, excited to eat out.
Hudson leaned close, lowering his voice. "Did you forget that I had one?"
"Yes. I’ll let you know the next time we’re doing a photo shoot."
He stuffed his hands into his pockets. "I can't say I have any regrets."