Operation Valentine (Hazel Oaks Resort Book 1)

by Kelsey McKnight

  “That was Terry,” Nat explained as she put the phone back into her purse. “She was just warning me that they were coming with dinner.”

  “Is this the part where I get my pastelitos?” He tried to sound jovial, but he was a little annoyed that the call had ruined the moment they had been sharing.

  “I guess we’ll see. I’ll have to ask Terry.”

  “Good thing I’m her favorite then.”

  Nat rolled her eyes. “You wish.” Then she shouldered her purse and edged out the study to slip out the doors with Hudson close behind. It seemed like Marco was wrapping up the lessons, which was fine, since as soon as they stepped out of the study, they were surrounded with delicious scents he couldn’t even place.

  Terry was standing in the hall with a rolling cart with a number of silver domed plates. “How are the two lovebirds?”

  “I think it’s going really well,” Nat said eagerly. “Hudson and I watched from the corner and they haven’t fought or given each other nasty looks all night.”

  “Well, what is it they say about music, it soothes all?”

  “They also say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach so between your food and the dance, they should leave even more in love.” Nat reached out to lift one of the lids.

  Terry slapped Nat’s hand away. “I did not spend hours slaving over a hot stove to prepare this immaculate meal only for you to serve it. I will be the only one touching these dishes tonight.”

  “Fine, that’s fair enough.”

  “Hey, Terry, Nat said you might have a little something for me?” Hudson said, trying to put on a charming smile.

  “I have a lot of some things for you, but nothing on this cart right now.”

  “That’s okay, I’m willing to take a walk down to the kitchen.”

  “Wrong direction,” Terry said. “I set up a few plates in the cafe. It closed at seven thirty, so you’ll be nice and out of the way.” Then she winked at Hudson at an angle Nat couldn’t have possibly seen. “Well, I should get in there and start serving. Now go eat the food I made you two before it gets cold.”

  Nat looked worried. “But what about the Kents? I can’t just leave them.”

  “They are grown adults, not untrained puppies. Have a nice night.” Then Terry slipped through the open study doors and promptly shut them behind her.

  Nat paused for only a moment before grabbing Hudson’s arm. “Come on, we can go in the back way.”

  Hudson planted his feet. “Terry just said she made me a lot of some things. Do you really think I’m going to go watch those people eat when I could be sampling some of her delicious cooking? You really don’t know me at all, do you?”

  “This is important.”

  “Really, things are going so smoothly. We can go get some well-deserved dinner, then swing past the study again later to see if they’re still there. Best-case scenario they were too busy staring into each other’s eyes over a candlelit dessert to even notice our existence.”

  “Well, I guess you’re right.”

  “Let’s go before you change your mind.”

  Hudson instinctively took her hand and was pleased when her fingers slipped through his. From the outside, they were a well-dressed couple, maybe guests at the lodge who had just come back from a romantic night out. They fit the role of newlyweds on a honeymoon or maybe a couple celebrating an anniversary. He could see it in the smiles of guests as they passed, who probably didn’t recognize Nat outside her suits, and probably didn’t know Hudson at all. The looks they gave them made Hudson’s chest swell with pride. He liked having a beautiful, smart woman like Nat on his arm. And if the dinner was anything like the one Terry had sorted for the Kents, Hudson would owe her big-time. And maybe not just for the food.

  *

  Nat

  Nat still felt like she was dancing. When she woke up that morning, the last place she thought she would be that night was walking through the halls of Hazel Oaks, holding Hudson’s hand, on their way to a surprise dinner. When she had talked to Terry earlier, all she asked was maybe that she put aside a few snacks for them, not a full meal. But by the look Terry had given her as she left her office, it was clear her friend had some tricks up the sleeve of her chef’s coat that Nat couldn’t even dream of.

  The lights inside the cafe were off, and a sign in the glass store read closed. But there was still a glow emanating from within. Hudson pushed the door experimentally and then opened it all the way when he realized it wasn’t locked.

  The cafe was a fairly new installation, once a smaller restaurant, now a cozy place for couples and families to enjoy cups of hot chocolate and coffee and decadent baked goods like macaroons and gooey chocolate chip cookies. Meant to keep the same feel of the lodge, the walls were exposed wood and the love seats that had been set out for Valentine’s Day were nearly antiques with plush velvet seating and ornate legs.

  It was done up for the holiday with tasteful decor like fresh flowers that were exchanged every three days and vintage Valentine’s Day cards strung up above a single small fireplace that now had a fire roaring in the hearth. The holiday may have been a few days off but Nat thought it was important to decorate in advance to get guests in the mood for the holiday.

  It didn’t take that long to see why Terry had seemed so pleased. A table had been brought into the cafe and set before the wall of windows overlooking the darkened lake. It was not as formal as the white cloth one in the study for the Kents, but still a lovely setup with the gold-rimmed dishes usually reserved for the guests and a crystal vase with a dozen red roses. At each setting was a silver dome covering whatever delicacies Terry had cooked for them. It was thoughtful and romantic. Nat wasn’t sure what to say. She usually planned things like this for others. But she’d never experienced something as perfect as this.

  So far, she had been having a wonderful night with Hudson; she was beginning to see a new, truly romantic side to him that she hadn’t thought someone like him would possess. He wasn’t some fabulous dancer, but he’d sent chills down her spine every time his fingers grazed her arm, or he held her a little closer. There were certainly sparks.

  “Wow, Terry really outdid herself,” Hudson said as he pulled out Nat’s seat for her.

  “She always goes above and beyond. Around Christmas last year, I invited her over to watch a few movies. She said she was going to bring us a few snacks, and three hours later, she arrived with a complete holiday dinner. I’m talking turkey, mashed potatoes, corn, rolls, the works.”

  “It sounds like I need to be invited to your parties.” Hudson sat down and removed the domes on their plates. Arroz con pollo, yuca, croquetas, and pastelitos had been carefully set on the large dishes. Beside them were two smaller plates with the flan.

  “This looks so delicious.”

  “Aren’t you glad I forced you to tear yourself away from the Kents?”

  “Maybe just a little,” she admitted as she unfolded her napkin and draped it across her lap.

  They began eating, and a silence fell over them. Nat wasn’t sure what to make of it. Of course the food was spectacular as always, but they weren’t just sharing a regular meal like they had before in the employee cafeteria. This time there was candlelight and the memory of music and dancing. It was like a real date. She was in a beautiful dress and he was in a button-up shirt, and they were looking at one another over the tops of long-stemmed roses.

  It made her think of the failure of a date she’d gone on with Chris from the online dating company. She had expected a night like this with him, but he’d delivered scolding and judgment. Hudson never seemed to do that. He was never harsh with her, at least not in the way that hurt. He challenged her and made her truly think about her choices and her place in everything.

  “We make a good team,” she said suddenly.

  Hudson looked up, his fork halfway to his mouth. “Nat, I can only take so many compliments in one night before I start getting nervous you’re about to tell me something
terrible.”

  “Don’t be silly. I’m just saying you and I are working really well together. I probably would have never figured out this dance thing without you.”

  He smiled, a soft smile that was so different than his usual impish grin. “Maybe you wouldn’t but I’m sure you would’ve figured out something almost as good as my idea,” he said.

  Nat chucked a little piece of bread at him and scrunched her face up, glaring at him dramatically.

  Hudson laughed and picked up the bread. “If we leave food on the floor, I have a very distinct feeling Terry will absolutely have a fit, and I have no interest in angering the lady who feeds me on a regular basis.”

  “Yeah, you’re probably right.”

  “But in all seriousness, Nat, I think we make a good team too.” He reached his hand out and took hers, rubbings circles on the back of it with his thumb. It was such a natural thing, so warm and familiar. “This has actually been a lot of fun. I didn’t think it would be at first.”

  “I hope it wasn’t because I gave you such a hard time at the beginning. I just…this job is important to me. Sometimes, I worry that I take it too seriously and one day it’ll be all I have.” As soon as the words came out Nat wanted to take them back. She pulled her hand back, then dropped her eyes and focused on her food. The thought was real, but she usually didn’t think about it outside her bedroom in the middle of the night when sleep eluded her. She wanted more. She wanted someone to grow old with and to raise children with and go through all of life’s joys and disasters with.

  “Hey,” Hudson said. “Look at me.”

  Nat tried to reassemble her face so the sadness she felt wouldn’t be plain to see. After a few moments, she glanced up at him. His eyes were soft, but she didn’t see pity. Hudson, ever the optimist, always the clown, had a bright smile that warmed her, despite the concerns regarding what she’d said. It just made her think about their hike when she’d started sharing details about her past. Something about him made her feel like she could talk to him about anything.

  “Nat, you’ll find it.”

  “How do you know?” she whispered as if she was talking to herself.

  “Because I’m the romance expert here.”

  Nat rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t keep the smile off her face either.

  “Come on,” Hudson said, wiping his mouth and then his hands on a napkin. He reached out a hand to her and said, “Let’s dance.”

  “You seriously want to dance after all that food?” Nat wasn’t used to eating so much, but Terry’s cooking was hard to resist, and she put away much more than she thought possible.

  “It’s because of all the food that I want to dance. If I don’t get moving, I will fall asleep right here on one of those love seats. Besides, our last dance was interrupted.” He stood up and held his hand to her like he did in the study. “Don’t tell me you already forgot everything Marco taught you tonight.”

  “Don’t you go questioning my abilities.”

  “Then maybe I just want to dance with you again.”

  “But there’s no music.” She looked around trying to spot the speaker. Had Terry set one up maybe? She couldn’t help but wonder if she and Hudson were in cahoots. Though, if they were, she owed her friend a car or something like that.

  “Have a little faith.” He slipped his phone from his back pocket, scrolled through some things, then set it on the table.

  A slow song began—something classic and memorable, though Nat couldn’t quite place it. Still, she and Hudson came together almost immediately, a hand on his shoulder, her fingers clasping his, his palm leaving a searing heat on her waist. She wouldn’t call their dance salsa, but something a little easier, something meant for someone like her who had musical talent but whose body lacked a little in the physical rhythm department. Her two left feet wouldn’t allow for anything too challenging.

  She wondered if the Kents had nearly as nice a night as she had. And then she decided to stop thinking about them. This moment wasn’t about the Kents. She needed to realize they would be alright, and no matter what she and Hudson did, the only people who could save their marriage was them. She needed to try and see everything else going on around her…or perhaps what was going on right in front of her.

  Nat looked up into Hudson’s eyes and inched a little closer to him. It’d been so long since she’d gone on a good date that left her filled with butterflies and the delicious sensation of hope. And while the night didn’t start as a date, it sure felt like one. It was one of the most enjoyable evenings she’d had in a very long time. He wasn’t some immature jokester…well, he was, but he was also a complicated man with deeper thoughts and emotions than she expected. That made her feel immature that she had judged him so harshly. In reality he used his infectious moods for the power of good, often making her smile even when she didn’t think she could.

  After the fourth song in a row, with her head now resting on his shoulder, the music stopped altogether, and their footsteps stilled. Her heart was beating so loudly, she wondered if Hudson could hear it. Although they were no longer dancing, he was still holding her tight. She lifted her head from his shoulder and looked up at him. Hudson was draped in candle and firelight, his angular features had been softened, and his pale eyes glowed in the dark. He was just as handsome as she’d been fantasizing.

  Nat instinctively tilted her chin upward as he leaned in, and her eyes closed just as his lips found hers in the softest of kisses. It was a fleeting moment, but her entire body flickered with the excitement of a first kiss. It had been gentle and unexpected, though not unwelcome, and Nat nearly pulled him back down for another as his mouth left hers.

  “It’s nearly eleven,” Hudson said in a low voice, his face inches from hers.

  “Oh, I suppose it is rather late. I have an early start in the morning.”

  “Me too, although I won’t be at work. It’s my day off.”

  Nat felt a pang of disappointment, because she wouldn’t see Hudson the next day. “I guess I should have noticed your name wasn’t on the schedule for tomorrow.”

  “What a very un-Natalie type thing of you.” He placed a hand on her forehead. “You feel okay? You don’t have a fever.”

  She laughed and turned her face away. “I’ve had a lot on my mind.”

  “Anything I can help you with? I’m quite the listener. Ask Marvin. He can vouch for me.”

  Nat didn’t know what to say. There were so many feelings swirling around in her head, especially now that they kissed. But as she considered saying something to him, expressing some of these feelings, she decided not to. She needed to stop thinking and overanalyzing everything, and just bask in this moment.

  “No, not now. Let’s just start a song over and have one last dance.”

  Hudson walked over to his phone and fiddled with it. “Well, my phone is dead. Where’s yours?”

  “In my office.”

  “Then I guess we’re done for the night.”

  “Should we bring these dishes to the kitchen?”

  “No, Terry told me housekeeping would take care of it.”

  “So efficient.”

  “She’s the best.”

  A silent, awkward feeling settled over them like a cloud, hazy and cold. Nat wasn’t sure what to do with the new sensation. A few moments ago, they’d shared a kiss, and now there was a sort of stilted politeness between them. She wanted to slip back into the easy comfort they had shared over dinner, but she was too shy to make the first move. She had always known Hudson was braver than she ever would be. But just this once, she was going to do something. Nat reached out and took his hand as they left the cafe.

  It was quiet as Nat and Hudson walked down the hall toward the employee exit. Hudson didn’t even give her a hard time when she turned left instead of right, merely followed her down the hall. It was almost strange interacting with Hudson without the constant teasing, but she was enjoying this new side of him where she didn’t have to constantly have a
sharp retort on the tip of her tongue. She just wished they could recapture the sparks they felt when they kissed.

  He went so far as to walk her to her office, where she grabbed her things, and then to the car. As they stood outside her car, with her keys in her hand, she still wasn’t ready to get in it. Once she did, the night was over. Nat wanted to say something to him, something to make him laugh, maybe for him to kiss her again.

  “Hudson, I had a really good time tonight,” she said.

  “I did too.” He reached a hand out and touched her cheek, then slid it behind her neck gently, pulling her to him as he kissed her again. He leaned back, taking her breath with him. “I guess I’ll see you later,” he said and then turned to head back to the resort.

  He seemed almost distracted, like there was something he’d forgotten to do. She’d never seen him like that, and she wasn’t sure if it was a good thing or a bad thing where she was involved. Did he not mean to kiss her again? Did he already regret whatever closeness they shared?

  She dug her keys out of her purse not entirely sure what to make of everything. He walked off without a look back. He had kissed her and then ran back inside, leaving her a confused mess. Instead of his soft kiss on her lips, she had questions. That whole basking in the moment thing didn’t work. Nat tried to brush off how the night ended and focus on the good parts. She turned the music on in the car, finding a slow song to reminisce.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Hudson

  Hudson barely got any sleep that night. The kiss was imprinted in his mind. The spark he’d felt threatening to burn him alive. He’d felt something for her. Something right. He just had no idea how to act. He dated girls, took them out for nights on the town, to movies and dinner. But she was different. He wouldn’t take her out three times and then decide they’d be better as friends or tell her after two dates that there was a spark missing.