Chapter 23
“I thought we were getting a drink,” I say as Hudson pulls the Jeep off the side of the road, parking in an unmarked spot in front of a trailhead.
“I want to show you something first,” he says, letting his fingers linger against the bare skin of my thigh before unbuckling his seatbelt.
He didn’t stop touching me the entire ride.
While one hand stayed on the steering wheel, the other stretched over to play with my hair, or dance along my shoulder, or hold my hand.
Walking around the car, Hudson opens my door for me. He extends his hand, and I use it to support my weight as I drop the two feet down onto the ground.
“God, I hate being short,” I say, regaining my balance.
“I know what you mean,” Hudson replies, dragging a hand down his face, an insecurity tic I’ve grown to notice.
“What, you’re five ten? Five eleven.”
“Five nine according to my last physical.”
“That’s tall,” I argue.
“Is it?”
“Please,” I scoff. “I hate this idea that men have to be six feet tall to be attractive. Not that you’re short,” I ramble. “All I’m saying is, I bet you’ve never had to ask for help to reach the yogurt on the top shelf of the grocery store.”
“You got me there,” he laughs. It’s a genuine smile, and I want to capture it, print it out, and keep it in my wallet to look at whenever I need a pick-me-up.
Standing on my tiptoes, I reach into the backseat to grab my camera bag. I made Hudson double back for it before we left, and I’m aching to test it out.
“I got it,” Hudson says, grabbing the strap and hoisting it over his shoulders. “My dad told me about this place just below this ridge. It has breathtaking views if you’re up for a hike.”
“This isn’t going to be one of those nine-mile hikes, right? Because I would like to point out that I am injured and definitely not wearing the right shoes and . . .”
“It’s not,” Hudson replies, intertwining his fingers with mine, the motion distracting me from the fact he’s leading me to a trail. “But we can take breaks if you need.”
“If it’s so short, why would we need to take breaks?” I counter.
He flashes me a devious smile and I know that this is going to be the longest hike of my life.
“I promise it’ll be worth it.”
And because I’ve no reason to doubt him anymore, I follow him into the forest.
Hudson stays one step ahead of me, pointing out obstacles on the path.
We bypass a fallen tree, a handful of boulders, and with each one, he ensures I make it through safely, holding my hand and helping me over each one.
Through the woods, the shade of the treetops provides pockets of cooler air that offer a little refuge from the blistering heat of the day.
We take it slow, no rush to get anywhere, and I have to admit that it’s nice being away from the hustle and bustle of the ranch.
Here I don’t have to smile or entertain conversation.
I don’t have to worry about what I’m wearing or how I’m perceived. I can just be.
Hudson must feel that way too because he stops along the path several times to point out native plants and insects, or to admire a cluster of mushrooms growing on a mossy tree.
He’s smiling from ear to ear, teaching me about things I would have never thought to look up.
And I can tell that here, in nature, is where he truly thrives.
“If you love this stuff so much, why are you afraid to take over Elite?” I ask, recalling his words from last night.
Hudson sighs, the tension in his shoulders returning. “You remember that?”
I nod, recalling the words he spoke to me, the vulnerability behind them. “You’ve worked for your dad for what, a decade at least, right? I’m sure you’re more than qualified to run his company.”
“On paper, technically. But it’s a lot of pressure. My dad has this presence, you know. And I don’t think I can ever garner that level of respect, or if I even deserve it.”
“Think of it like Excalibur. You wouldn’t be able to wield the sword if you weren’t worthy of it,” I say, excited to see the reference light up his face.
“You watched Merlin?”
“I couldn’t sleep and you wouldn’t shut up about it,” I explain. “If I’m going to mock you I need the evidence to back it up.”
“Still. I’m no King Arthur,” he replies, sullen, and I hate that he thinks so low of himself.
“You’re ready for this,” I state, matter-of-factly.
“Tell that to my anxiety nightmares,” he jokes, extending a hand to help me over a tree stump. His grip is gentle as he guides me, keeping a steady hand on my waist.
“Think of this as an opportunity to make Elite your own. Sure, it was your father’s, but he’s passed it on to you. Is there anything you’d want to change about the company?”
Hudson stops in his tracks, as if he needs to use his entire concentration on the answer.
“I want to do more community engagement. Weekend programs and summer camps to teach about native plants and animals, all while creating space to inspire people to take on similar work in the future.”
“That sounds totally doable.”
“And I want to start a scholarship-based education camp for kids, to bolster interest in environmental studies and parks and recreation programs.”
“I’m surprised you don’t have one already.”
“My dad was more focused on expanding the brand, getting us in a good financial position,” Hudson explains. “We have programs that work with already established camps, but I’d love to create my own. The Elite Elevation Experience.”
“That sounds cool as hell. I only lasted two days at summer camp before I was calling my mom to come pick me up,” I admit, recalling my brief stint in Girl Scouts. “I don’t last long without my creature comforts.”
“I’ll remember that,” he says, as he guides us towards a clearing.
A glistening body of water lies ahead of us.
It’s crystal clear with colorful rocks embedded beneath the surface.
It feels as if we’ve traveled to another dimension.
The Tetons are reflected across the surface of the water, which glows a jade green—the same color as Hudson’s eyes.
“Why do I feel like I just stepped inside a Bob Ross painting?” I ask, hypnotized by its beauty.
“It’s gorgeous, right?” he says, taking a deep breath, letting the mountain air fill his lungs. “I’ve wanted to come here since I landed.”
“You had a car. You could have left anytime.”
“Yeah, but once I saw you, I knew I didn’t want to come here alone,” he says, taking my hand and leading me down to the lake. We find a spot along the water’s edge, and Hudson sets my camera bag down and takes a seat beside it. I follow suit, staring into the distance with awe.
I focus my attention on the landscape. The towering evergreens and the yellow-and-gold flowers growing between.
The lake holds a perfect reflection of the blue sky.
The sound of sloshing water mingles with birdsong and the chittering of insects to create a soothing song.
For the first time since I arrived, I’m thankful I said yes to Meredith.
To Hudson. To going outside my comfort zone.
And although I gravitate towards photos with moving subjects, I want to take this memory home.
Opening my camera bag, I click my lens into place and set up my shot, waiting for the clouds to cross along the skyline before I click the shutter.
“Can I see?” he asks. I hand him my camera.
He takes a moment to study the image. “This is amazing.”
“It’s just this place. I didn’t do anything.”
“Mira. I have to sort through photos from my colleagues all the time and this is better than anything we’ve ever done.”
I try not to let his words go to my head.
“Thank you, by the way. For the camera. I know it must have cost a fortune and I’m going to pay you back. My insurance should cover the old one and then—”
“Don’t worry about it,” he says, cutting me off.
“Hudson, I can’t accept thirty thousand dollars’ worth of camera equipment.”
“It’s a write-off.”
I stare at him incredulously. “I do taxes too you know, and I can’t let you start off your CEO career with embezzlement.”
“Trust me. No one will bat an eye about it, especially if you take a few photos we can use for socials.”
“A few photos is not worth that much.”
“We pay a thousand dollars an image for licensing rights. So, by my count you just need to take thirty photos.”
“That’s outrageous. I could never charge that.”
Asking clients to spend five to seven grand on their wedding already felt exorbitant, but paying that much for a single image, I couldn’t imagine it.
“You’re worth that,” he replies, his words ripe with affection, “if not more.”
The heat of the day is nothing compared to the way his eyes burn against me as I melt beneath his gaze. Sliding off my socks and shoes, I slip my feet into the chilly water to cool off.
“We’re actually looking for an in-house photographer,” he says, following suit, “someone to make our content more cohesive. We’ve hired a few different contractors over the years, but the quality is so inconsistent. I’d really love to have someone full-time, that I trust.”
“Why does this sound like a pitch?” I ask, wondering if this is an actual invitation or him just talking aloud.
“Do you want it to be?” he asks, with genuine interest.
I consider the offer. The idea of traveling the world. Of working together, of capturing images of beautiful places.
“As much as I’d love to have you on my team, I’d never want to take you away from weddings.”
“What if I want to get away from weddings,” I reply, saying the words I’ve yet to speak aloud.
Hudson raises an eyebrow. “Do you?”
“I’ve thought about doing something different for a while. Getting a real job. Finding stability. But who wants to hire a girl with no college degree whose only relevant job experience is wrangling drunken bridesmaids?”