Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
Carina
“Hudson seems to be into you, huh, sis?” Lucian asked me as soon as I walked back into the garden center.
“Trying to take the heat off yourself and transfer it to me, I see, huh, bro?” I mimicked his teasing and stuck out my tongue at him. No matter how old we got, that move always felt satisfying.
Lucian rolled his eyes and followed me as I headed back to my plants to finish watering the thirsty babies. The sun was extra warm today, and I wanted to give them a nice drink. “No one ever gives you any shit because you’re the baby of the family.”
“You sound whiny. Want some cheese to go with it?” I smirked at my stupid joke, loving that I knew my way under his skin.
“Who even says that anymore?” Lucian threw his hands in the air and walked in the opposite direction.
I let it roll off my shoulders with a laugh and shake of my head like I did every time my siblings and I got on each other’s nerves.
It was bound to happen. We grew up together, and now, as adults, we worked and ran a family business together.
We’d bicker, separate, and move on. Yet there was so much love. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
After watering the plants, I filled orders and took a break for lunch, sharing salad and sandwiches with my mom and sister, Journey. We’d all trade off on lunches, with needing coverage for the store, and today it happened to be with the two of them.
“A little birdie told me you’ve been flirting with a certain handsome customer,” Journey said between bites of salad. Mom’s gaze was steady on me.
“A little birdie named Lucian? He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” I finished off my ham and cheese sandwich.
“I’ve seen you flirting with him. He’s pretty hot. Wouldn’t you say, Mom?” Journey smirked, and I wanted to kick her beneath the table.
Mom’s cheeks flushed bright pink. “There are a lot of handsome men around here, dear. I only have eyes for one.”
Journey rolled her eyes, and I covered my mouth and tried to swallow down my laugh. We knew she checked out the eye candy, but she’d never admit it.
“When a customer only wants you to wait on him, it makes me wonder.” Journey grinned before popping a crouton in her mouth. I narrowed my eyes at her, but she only smiled more.
“Okay, says the girl who went home with one.”
Mom coughed, nearly choking on her salad.
Journey blanched, her eyes wide, and mouthed, “What the actual fuck, Carina?” I was used to reading her lips since she loved to swear at me like that when we were younger. Our parents never realized it.
“The one you met at the grocery store, not here,” I lie smoothly, Mom’s face relaxing slightly.
In reality, Journey hooked up with one guy who stopped in the store a few times, but he was only passing through town.
Not that my parents have a problem with us meeting someone at the store.
It’s kind of hard not to when you spent countless hours there.
But nothing should compromise the family business.
“Anyway,” I quickly diverted the subject off her. “Hudson is a nice guy, that’s all. He buys a lot from us.”
“Indeed, he does,” Mom said, her voice hiding an undercurrent of warning. “Be careful.”
“Be careful? Why?”
“It’s never good to mix business with pleasure, my dear.” She tapped my hand and smiled. “Both you girls remember that.”
I shrugged, yet inside, my stomach sank.
Was Hudson really out of the question?
I refused to believe it.
“Unless it’s the right person,” I spoke loud and clear.
Mom looked skeptical. She wanted the best for her kids. But we needed to make our own decisions. Even if that meant falling flat on our asses a few times.
I cleared my throat. “Anyway, who watched the newest episode of 90 Day Fiancée?” I shifted the subject once again, and both of them dived into gossip about the newest episode. My mind had already checked out onto the only thing I seemed to think about lately—Hudson.
My soft spot for the quiet, handsome, rugged mountain man was only getting softer despite my mother’s warning.
“Back for more mulch already?” I asked him when he walked through the door of my family’s garden center for the second time today. “Of course, you can’t resist seeing me again.” I clapped my hands and bounced on my feet.
Hudson grinned, his expressions showing more than his words ever said, and warmth filled me from head to toe. His eyes lit up bright like a clear night sky full of endless stars. “Yup. And of course, to see you.” He winked, and my stomach dipped.
“You’re such a flirt,” I teased. “Same mulch as last time?”
Hudson shook his head. “Red mulch this time, same amount. I’ll pull my truck up. Gruff is in the cab, and he’s a little antsy.”
“I’ll send my brother out, then.” As much as I wanted to be around Hudson, his large dog was a different story. His big size intimidated me, as big dogs always have. I’m more of a cat person. Like my cute orange-and-white calico, Sunny, waiting at home for me.
He took a step closer, and my heart took flight. “I don’t want your brother. I want you.”
My mouth went dry. “But your dog…”
“He’s a harmless doof. But I don’t want to make you uncomfortable. Send Lucian out with the mulch.”
“Thank you.”
We stared at each other in silence, and I desperately wanted to understand his unspoken words, hoped he’d ask for a date or kiss me or something. Anything.
“See you around, Carina.” With a wink and another grin, he left leaving me wanting more.
Lucian appeared with Hudson’s order, and I jumped, not expecting him to come up beside me. “Was that a wink I saw?”
I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms over my chest. “Just go bring him his order.”
“And why aren’t you going?”
“His dog is in his truck.”
Lucian threw his head back in laughter. “He’s in his truck. What do you think, he’s going to jump out and get you?”
I shot him daggers. “Really? Don’t be an ass.”
“Sorry, sis. I just thought you’d be over this fear by now.”
“Like you’re over your fear of snakes?”
Lucian visibly shuddered. “Shh.”
Suddenly, yelling and shouting came from the direction of the parking lot, and both Lucian and I exchanged panicked looks. I ran out the front door, Lucian following close, to find Hudson chasing his dog, Gruff.
The dog looked even bigger than I remembered the last time seeing him in Hudson’s truck, and drool flew out of both sides of his mouth as he ran, not paying one ounce of attention to his owner.
“Can someone please help me get him? He took off after a bunny!” Hudson looked directly at me as he ran by, but I was frozen to the spot.
I looked at my brother, and he sighed loudly. “Fuck. You owe me, sis.” He sprinted in the direction of Hudson and Gruff while I stood there, feeling helpless.
Without another thought, I took off after all of them.