“See ya.” Liam waved to Hudson and finished his milk. He put the glass on the small table by the door, hopped down the steps, and headed to the garage. That was pretty much when all pretense of being polite vanished from her face. “Hudson, you can’t just show up here.”
“Why not?” He leaned on the ladder.
“Because it makes no sense.” She blew a strand of hair off her face. “I don’t need a man to clean my eaves. I don’t need a man to shovel my driveway or salt it when it freezes. I don’t need a man to take out my garbage or tell me when the water bill is due or rake the lawn or change the fuses in the fuse box. I’ve got all of that covered, thank you very much.”
“But the eaves—”
“I planned on doing them tomorrow.” She was lying, he could tell. That little tic near her right temple started to throb.
“Becca.”
“Seriously, Hudson. People are going to talk, and I don’t need that either.”
“There’s nothing for them to talk about,” he said, smiling widely and winking. “We’re just friends.”
“I don’t know what we are, but it’s not even eight in the morning, Hudson. I can’t deal with this right now.”
“Don’t worry about me. Liam’s gonna be late for his game if you don’t get your ass moving.”
She swore under her breath, but his hearing was spot-on, and he knew she’d just come up with a new way to tell him to go screw himself. “You better not be here when I get back.”
“Well, that depends now, doesn’t it?”
“On what?” she snapped, stomping down the steps. She paused on the last one and glared up at him.
“On how long it takes me to rake your lawn when I’m done with your eaves.” He hid a grin, because he was pretty damn sure Rebecca was going to lose it on him.
“Hey,” he said as she clenched her purse in her hands, those baby blues of hers narrowed on him like lasers. “I don’t know why your panties are in such a knot. Seems to me this whole friends thing is a little tougher on me than it is on you.”
She opened her mouth to reply—no doubt tear a strip off him if she could—but he didn’t let her get a word in.
“I don’t mind though, Becs. I really don’t. And don’t worry. I won’t ask you to take it to the next level.” He was teasing and loved how her cheeks blushed.
“Next level?” she asked through clenched teeth.
“Yeah.” He reached inside the eave trough and scooped out a bunch of wet leaves and debris. “The benefits level. We’re not there yet.” The devil had him by the balls, and Hudson was okay with that. He hadn’t had this much fun in ages.
Rebecca’s mouth dropped open.
“It’s cold as hell in this morning, darlin’, but you could still catch flies in your mouth if you don’t watch out.”
“I’d forgotten,” she muttered, turning from him and heading toward the car.
“What was that?” he shouted after her.
She gave him one last look. “I’d forgotten how incredibly arrogant you are.”
“I’ve been called worse.”
“I know.” She yanked the door open. “By me.”
Liam chucked his hockey bag in the trunk and hopped into the car. Hudson watched them until the car disappeared down the road and chuckled. He could do this. This friend thing. The benefits thing would be nice, but for now, the friend thing worked. He inhaled a big gulp of fresh Michigan air, gave a wave to the neighbor who’d watched their entire exchange, and got to work.
Chapter 20
The hockey game was a nail-biter. They gave the number one team in their division a run for the money and nearly pulled out a win, but ended up with a loss. With only one goal to break a two-period tie, the boys should have been happy. But it was a long line of glum faces that emerged from the changing room, and Rebecca was only too happy to agree to brunch as a cheer up.
But brunch only lasted an hour. After a trip to the hardware store to pick up sandpaper, a stop at the grocery store to grab fresh buns to go with her chilli, she was out of ideas and Liam was begging to go home. She had no choice and drove across the bridge, her fingers gripping the wheel a little too tightly. She was anxious. On edge. And still pissed at Hudson for showing up at her place and throwing a wrench into the whole let’s-be-friends thing.
Who the hell was she kidding? With her and Hudson? It was all in or nothing. She didn’t see how a happy medium would work.
A red light caught her a few blocks from home, and she relaxed a bit, fiddling with the radio, trying to find an upbeat song to calm her nerves.
“Is Hudson your boyfriend?”
Surprised, she turned to her son, only to find Liam watching, his expressive green eyes curious.
“Why would you ask me that?”
“I don’t care if he is.” There was something in his expression that tugged on her heart. “Addie Taylor’s mom has a boyfriend, and she even likes him. Says he’s kind of cool, like for a boyfriend.”
A honk from the vehicle behind her made her start, and she accelerated through the intersection. “He’s not my boyfriend, Liam.”
“Why not?”
She glanced at him again with a small frown. “Where is this coming from?”
Liam shrugged and looked down. “You’re so pretty. The prettiest mom in Crystal Lake.”
Again, her heart melted a little bit.
“All the guys think so. And then Addie said…” He glanced up suddenly, just as they turned into their driveway. “Well, Addie said her mom didn’t want a boyfriend for a long time because she thought it would make Addie mad. But she didn’t care.” Liam’s chin jutted out. “And she even likes her dad.”
“Liam.”
“What?” he said, a hint of belligerence in his voice. “I don’t like my dad, and you can’t make me. No one can.”
She slowly brought the car to a halt, noting Hudson’s truck was still in the driveway. With a small sigh, she cut the engine and turned to her son. They hadn’t talked about his father in a long time, and while she supposed they were way overdue, she wasn’t so sure the time to have that conversation was this exact moment.
“Liam,” she began.
“I just wanted you to know that I wouldn’t care if he was your boyfriend.”
Just then, Hudson rounded the corner, ladder in one hand, a hammer in the other. He hadn’t bothered to shave, and the old ripped jeans and faded black T-shirt only made him that much more masculine. She scowled. As if Hudson Blackwell needed any help when it came to that.
“But if you don’t like him, Zach told me his dad thinks you’re hot. You could go out with him if you want.”
Wait. What?
“Liam.” She leaned across the car and dropped a kiss to his cheek. She supposed there would come a day when he wouldn’t like such displays of affection, but right now he did, and she’d take it.
“I want you to know that I’m perfectly, amazingly, one hundred percent…” She shook her head. “No. I’m one hundred and fifty percent happy with our life here. With just the two of us. You’re all I need right now, got that?”
Even as she said the words and smiled at her son, there was an emptiness that rocked her to her core. She was happy. She’d finally moved in the right direction, gotten away from an unhealthy situation. She loved her home. Her job. Her friends and her family.
But she was lonely.
Liam climbed out of the car, and she looked up to find Hudson’s gaze on her. As always, her body reacted on an organic, basic level. Her heart sped up. She felt the heat flush her cheeks.
He didn’t take his eyes from her until Liam walked up to him. It was then that she got it. Really got it.
There would be no one else for her. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ten or twenty years from now. He still had her heart and soul. Still owned every piece of her, even the ones she kept hidden.
It was a depressing thought—knowing she would never have that kind of love again—and it meant a lifetime of b
eing alone. Because she would never settle again. Not for anything less than what she’d had. And what she’d had wasn’t sticking around Crystal Lake.
She grabbed her bags and slid from the car, feeling the weight of her future settle on her shoulders. As she approached Hudson and her son, she heard Liam excitedly replay one of his assists. Her boy had Hudson’s full attention and she was able to watch the two of them unnoticed.
That is until Hudson glanced up, and she almost stumbled over her feet. She collected herself, straightened her shoulders, and tried to keep an even keel. She took the last few steps until she reached them and ran her hand through Liam’s tousled blond locks.
“You’re still here,” she said after a few seconds.
“I am.” He set the ladder down and nodded toward the house. “I got your eaves done and raked the backyard for you. The old oak tree, the one close to the house, needs to be trimmed. There’s a couple of limbs that will land on the roof if a good wind takes hold.”
Damn. Something else she’d noticed but had done nothing about.
“I was on my way to Nash’s to grab his chain saw. That’s if you don’t mind.”
Rebecca was silent for a few moments. This was her chance. She could turn him away. Thank him for all the work he’d done. Tell him she was good with everything else and she’d like him to leave. A smart woman bent on self-preservation would do that. Hell, that woman wouldn’t even think twice.
But thing of it was, as she stood there looking up at a face she’d never forgotten, she wasn’t so smart. She knew it was all kinds of wrong to play this friend game with Hudson. Who the hell were they kidding? They could never just be friends.
No way in hell would that work.
So the fact she was contemplating what it was she was contemplating told her just how far left she’d strayed. No longer was she on the road called self-preservation. She’d hopped the median and was headed in the other direction.
“I don’t mind,” she replied softly. “That would be great.”
She headed into the house, very aware that he followed her movements until she disappeared inside.
“I’m going to regret this,” she whispered to herself, trudging down to the kitchen. Her chilli was just starting to bubble in the Crock-Pot. She set the buns aside and changed into her work clothes. Mackenzie had put up the drywall in her front room and she’d done a damn good job mudding the seams. She had the afternoon to sand them and get cleaned up before Violet and Adam came for dinner and a movie.
Exciting times for Rebecca.
Liam headed outside to play road hockey while she changed into a pair of old jeans and a U2 T-shirt that had seen better days. She grabbed her earbuds, set her phone on the pile of leftover drywall, and got to work.
For a girl who’d grown up working at the local Dairy Queen, it was a surprise for Rebecca to find out how much she enjoyed working with her hands. She loved doing renovations, and as she got into a groove, she began to relax and enjoy the physicality of it.
She cranked the tunes, and the hours flew past. She forgot about everything but the job at hand, and as she finished the last seam, the ache across her shoulders tightened. She tossed the sandpaper to the floor and groaned, stepping back so that she could admire her work.
Beyoncé was up next, and she sang along, walking the room and inspecting each seam. It was important to get the surface smooth for when she painted them. She ripped out her earbuds, checked her watch, and realized she had less than an hour to vacuum the dust and grab a shower.
“I’m impressed.”
Whirling around, she spied Hudson leaning against the doorframe.
“You’re still here.”
“Just finished piling the wood behind your shed.” He glanced around the room. “Not many women I know would spend an entire afternoon sanding down drywall.”
“I guess you know the wrong kind of women.”
“You’re probably right.”
Suddenly hot, Rebecca yanked on the edge of her T-shirt, which only managed to draw his gaze from her face to her breasts. The problem? The T-shirt was an oldie, and the thin material stretched tightly across her breasts.
Hudson’s eyes darkened, and the temperature ramped up even more.
“I should…” she began, voice cracking a bit. “I need to vacuum before Violet and Adam get here. And I still need to shower.”
“I can run your shop vac. Go shower, and I’ll get this cleaned up for you.”
“No.” She shook her head. “You’ve done a lot, Hudson.”
“I don’t mind.” There was that smile again. That wicked. Sensual. Knowing smile. “It’s all part of that—”
“Friend thing. I know.” She blew out a hot breath, not believing she was going to say what it was that was currently sitting on the tip of her tongue, but why stop now?
“I’ve got chilli in the slow cooker, fresh buns, and Caesar salad. If you want to join us for dinner.” Did she really just invite him to stay longer?
He seemed as surprised as she. “Are you sure?”
She found her backbone and nodded. “Don’t read anything into this, Hudson. I just… I made a lot of food,” she said in a rush.
Hudson walked toward her, each stride long and measured. By the time he crossed the room, she felt faint because her heart was pounding like a crazed drum machine, and she was pretty damn sure he knew it.
He stopped a few inches from Rebecca, and silence slid around them. She noticed the pulse at the base of his neck—knew he was just as affected by their close quarters as she was.
“Sounds good.” Hudson reached for her, and she froze, her breath caught in her throat, her eyes as wide as saucers. She might have squeaked or groaned or something when his fingers grazed the side of her cheek.
“You’ve got some dirt here.” He carefully rubbed just beneath her earlobe, and by the time his hand dropped away, she ached for more.
“I’m going to shower,” she managed to say.
“You do that.” Hudson paused. “Friend.”
Rebecca practically ran to her room. She closed the door behind her and locked it. Silly, really, because it didn’t keep him out. As she climbed into the shower and let the hot water roll over her, he was right there with her. Her eyes slammed shut, but she could still see him. Feel him. Smell him.
Her friend. Her buddy. Rebecca swore. She was so screwed.
So. Damn. Screwed.
Chapter 21
“Dinner was great.”
Adam and Violet had just left, their boisterous twins in tow, while Liam had gone up to bed. It wasn’t late—just past ten—but the kid had spent most of the day outdoors, and the fresh Michigan air had pretty much done him in.
“Thanks for inviting me,” Hudson continued, taking a step toward the front of the house where his boots and coat were.
“You’re leaving already?” Rebecca seemed surprised, and truth be told, so was Hudson. They’d reached that awkward post-dinner and pre…something. He’d been thinking about this moment since before dessert and wasn’t sure what that something was. Hence the awkwardness.
“It’s been a long day, Becs.”
“Jesus, Hudson. What are you, like ninety?”
“Hey, I’m just trying to be polite here.” His smile slowly widened. “Don’t want to overstay my welcome.”
“Trust me. If I wanted you gone, you’d know it.”
“I don’t doubt it.” She was full of fire. He kind of liked that.
She set aside the folded tea towel she’d been holding. “What about a movie?”
He’d been trying to read her all night and still wasn’t sure where they were headed. The only thing he did know was that wherever they were going, it was down a road called Complicated. He wasn’t so sure either one of them was ready for that.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” he asked, watching her closely.
“I’m not sure about anything.” She waited a heartbeat as if considering her words. “But it’s
just a movie, Huds.” She cleared her throat and looked as jumpy as a jackrabbit. “We’re friends, remember? We can do a movie.”
Hearing his name come from her mouth like that did some crazy things to his insides. He resisted the urge to grab her and show her how it’s just a movie didn’t mean much where they were concerned.
“I think I can do that.” As soon as the words came out of his mouth, he felt like taking them back. How the hell was he going to make it through an entire evening of being just friends? But he’d already given in, so he’d have to take it like a man.
She laughed. “Didn’t take much to get you to cave.”
Just five foot six inches of you.
He followed Rebecca to her dining room. With the renovations still underway in the front, she’d converted this space into a temporary entertainment area. The only problem was there wasn’t a whole lot of room. Just enough for the television, a coffee table, and the sofa.
Hudson grabbed the right corner of the faded blue sofa and settled in while Rebecca dimmed the lights and searched for the remote.
“Steel Magnolias?” she asked in a tone that wasn’t really asking, so he was guessing he had no say in the matter.
“Sure. That a superhero deal?”
“You’re kidding me, right?” She gave him a look that told Hudson he was definitely wrong. “It’s an old Julia Roberts movie.”
Well, shit. “Does anyone die?”
“Not in a hail of bullets.”
A guy could hope.
“No explosions?”
“Not the kind you like.”
She was killing him.
“So it’s a chick flick.”
“One hundred and fifty percent.” She bent over and grabbed a blanket from beside the coffee table. Hudson had just enough time to drag his eyes from her butt before she sat down beside him. “I can look for something else if you really don’t want to watch it.”
“Nah. This is good.” Hell, he’d endure a chick-flick marathon if that was what it took to spend the night with her.
Rebecca relaxed and snuggled into the sofa, though he noticed she kept a few inches between them. It was probably for the best, and after a while, Hudson put his feet up and began to watch the movie—which wasn’t as bad as he thought it would be. That is, the hour or so he managed to watch. His stomach was full. He was warm and content and more relaxed than he’d been in days. He wasn’t exactly sure when he fell asleep, but he obviously dozed off, because when he woke up, the television was off, the room was full of shadow and silent as a graveyard.
You Make Me Weak (The Blackwells of Crystal Lake Book 1) Page 14