Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 30857 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 154(@200wpm)___ 123(@250wpm)___ 103(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30857 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 154(@200wpm)___ 123(@250wpm)___ 103(@300wpm)
His intense reaction at once frightened and thrilled me but I forged ahead. “The guy before him stole my money. We decided to open a catering company together, I handed over the start-up funds without any legal paperwork, and he took off with my money instead. There was nothing I could do unless I wanted a long and lengthy legal battle where a court full of people would hear how trusting and foolish I’d been. Before him, my boyfriend cheated with someone I thought was my friend. And before him was my first real boyfriend. He was older than me—looking back, much too old for me—and I learned too late I was one of many ‘young things’ he liked to ‘collect.’” My chest tightened at the anger in Hudson’s eyes, knowing that it was on my behalf. “I’m not saying I don’t trust people, trust men. I’ve proven time and time again that I wear my heart on my sleeve. And my brother is a prime example that good men exist. But the last guy was kind of the straw that broke the camel’s back.”
Hudson’s eyes flared and he gestured to me. “You can’t keep all that beauty from some lucky guy because of a couple of assholes.”
I smiled at his terse compliment. “I don’t intend to. I love being in a relationship too much. I’m an affectionate person. I need that in my life. But the timing is all wrong.” I squashed the hope flaring to life in his eyes. “It’s not just about what Darren did to me. It’s about me. I’m floundering. I came here to try to figure my life out and a guy just can’t factor into that.”
“Why not? I’m just asking for dinner, angel.”
“Exactly. But what if I end up wanting more?” I bit my lip, my heart pounding at putting my honesty out there. Usually I had no problem sharing my true feelings with anyone. But that’s how they’d gotten trampled in the past and I had a feeling Hudson could really, really hurt me.
His voice turned husky as he leaned even farther across the table. “Angel, I’m hoping you do.”
I shook my head, trying to ignore the heat between my thighs at the sexual promise in his gaze. “I mean more than that, too.”
I held my breath, waiting for him to flee.
Instead he studied my face with a sweet reverence that made me want to meet him across that table with my mouth. “Fuck me,” he muttered, “you’re right. Heart on your sleeve.”
He finally understood, which made me blush like an idiot.
That for some reason made his expression soften to a look of such tenderness I felt a little breathless. “You gotta know I think you’re the sweetest fucking woman I’ve ever met.”
I huffed, blushing harder. My goodness, I’d never blushed so much in my life. “You don’t know me.”
“I think I’m starting to. And what I do know, I really like.” Sudden determination hardened his features. “Have dinner with me tonight.”
Startled laughter burst out of me before I could stop it. “Didn’t you hear anything I said?”
“Yeah, I did. Every word. And I’m going to prove to you that there are men ready to treat you like the angel you are and I’m one of them.”
“It’s just physical attraction, Hudson.” Even I heard the panic in my voice.
It made him reach out and thread his callused fingers through mine and I couldn’t stop the flutters in my belly. “After what you just laid out, do you really think I’d keep on you if all I wanted to do was fuck you and walk away?”
I flushed hot at the thought. “Hudson.”
“Though”—his voice lowered—“you laid it out so I’m laying it out. I do want you in my bed.”
My breathing stuttered at the sudden flurry of images his words provoked. “Hudson.”
“Keep saying my name in that breathy voice, in that sexy accent, angel, and I’m going to haul you out of here and up to the condo I’ve rented across the way.”
My fingers tightened in his, unwittingly letting him know I wanted that, and Hudson groaned. “You’re killing me.”
I wrenched my hand out of his and sat back. “We can’t.”
He shook his head. “Not leaving here until you agree to dinner.”
My God, I’d thought Killian was the most stubborn man I’d ever known but Hudson Ward could give him a run for his money. I let out a shaky breath. “Fine. Dinner tonight. But on one condition.”
Triumph and something I thought might be anticipation smoldered in his gaze. “Anything.”
“If I decide that whatever this is between us ends at dinner tonight, you’ll respect that decision and leave me alone.”
He didn’t hide that he hated the idea but he held out his hand and offered, “Deal.”
I tentatively accepted his handshake, concerned by how delicious even that simple touch felt. Just as I went to release his hold, his tightened and he pulled me across the table. I let out a surprised gasp as he leaned in to whisper in my ear, “Just warning you: I’m going to make sure you want another date.”