Operation Valentine (Hazel Oaks Resort Book 1)
Page 21
“How could I not?” Her heart was beating so loudly, she felt he could hear it. Was he using this as an elaborate way to say goodbye? It would be the most beautiful goodbye she’d ever had. Maybe that was why he did it, to give her one more special moment for them to share. If that was the case, she’d cherish it.
“Really, I wasn’t sure if you would. Here, let me take your coat.”
She shrugged out of her jacket and accessories, but with them she also felt like she was somehow giving him her armor. Like she was stripping away any kind of wall she’d put up trying to brace her heart for the end. But she still turned them over, ready, deciding in that moment that whatever would happen, she’d handle it with grace and try to hold on to a smidgen of her dignity no matter how much it hurt.
Hudson draped her things over one of the two white wrought iron chairs framed a small table she hadn’t noticed before. There were covered dishes that reminded her of their salsa evening, and she knew Terry had a hand in whatever was going on.
“Hudson, what am I doing here?” she dared to ask.
When he didn’t immediately respond, Nat feared she’d made a grave mistake.
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Hudson
Hudson didn’t like the tone of her voice. She sounded wary, nervous and flighty. It was completely unlike the confident Nat he hoped would meet him there. But he supposed he couldn’t blame her too much, since he had been an absolute wreck waiting to hear the gentle roar of the engine coming up the mountain. Though, he had a feeling Terry would’ve gotten Nat up the mountain if she’d had to carry her. Still, Nat was always the collected one and here she was, all raw emotion. It unnerved him.
He bridged the gap between them in three short steps and took her hands in his. Despite the chill outside, they were warm inside the greenhouse. He loved seeing her surrounded by roses. They brought out the pink in her cheeks and the streaks of red in her hair. If she let him, he would bring her here all the time.
“Natalie, I wanted to talk to you about California.”
Her hazel eyes widened, and she tried to pull away from him. “I accept your two weeks’ notice.”
“That’s too bad, because I’m not giving it. I’ve made a decision, and it’s really important to me that you’re the first one here to know exactly what it is.” He bit the inside of his cheek as she blinked away unshed tears. He had never been great with words, but this was getting completely out of hand. “Nat, I talked to Mr. Sutton today. I didn’t take that job. I’m not moving to a new resort. I’m staying at Hazel Oaks.”
Her lips parted in surprise. “But…but why? I thought you really wanted that job.”
“I did, but Nat, I want you more,” he admitted, pulling her closer. “I couldn’t imagine myself being so far away from you. The job in California is just that, a job. I have one here. I’m paying my bills and get to do what a love. I’ve been given a lot of freedom here, and I feel like I’m not done yet. California isn’t right for me.”
“But, Hudson, you might not have that opportunity again.”
“Why? Do you think I couldn’t get an amazing job in California in the future if I wanted to?”
“No, of course you can, that’s not what I mean. I just—”
“Nat, listen to me. I called my buddies in California with the gym and set myself up to be a distance partner. I’ll fly out there every few weeks or so for large events, but that’s it for now. And then I called Mr. Sutton and made a new deal.”
“What is it?” she asked in a breathless tone.
“I told him I wanted to stay here at Hazel Oaks and expand the outdoor obstacle course and bring in a new type of guest, the kind of Spartan athletes I get at the gym. Then I’m going to be consulting on the other resorts’ adventure programs if the courses pan out like I think they will. I can’t leave you. I just feel in my gut that this is right.”
She pulled her hands free of his and threw her arms around his neck. He followed suit, holding her close around her middle as the deepening sunset poured into the greenhouse. She hadn’t said anything about his announcement, but he didn’t care. All he knew was that she was in his arms and that’s where he longed for her to stay.
Finally, Nat looked up at him, a smile finally on her face. “Do you mean it, Hudson? Are you really staying?”
“I am. Are you happy about it?”
“How can I not be? It takes so long to train new adventure coordinators.”
“Haha, very funny.” He cupped her cheek, silencing her with a kiss. “We did just start, and I’m not ready to end it. I got a taste of what it was like having you in my life and I didn’t want to give that up.”
“But you gave up California.”
Snow fell against the panes of glass, a gentle flurry that glittered behind the roses. “I didn’t, not really. I thought I constantly needed to keep moving. If I kept moving, then it meant I wasn’t tied down and I was free. And then I realized, what’s the point of being free if you feel required to move? No, I’m free because I’m choosing to stay. I’m choosing you.”
“I choose you too, Hudson.”
The End
Want more? Check out another Sarah and Kelsey sweet romance, Falling in Puppy Love!
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If you enjoyed Operation Valentine, you’ll love the next book in the….
Hazel Oaks Resort series
Book 1: Operation Valentine
View the series here!
Book 2: Coming soon!
If you enjoyed Operation Valentine, you’ll love Sarah Fischer and Kelsey McKnight’s other sweet romances!
Royally Abandoned
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Cupid Claus
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Falling in Puppy Love
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The What Happens series
Book 1: What Happens in the Highlands
by Kelsey McKnight
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Book 2: What Happens in the Ruins
by Kelsey McKnight
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Book 3: What Happens in the Castle
by Kelsey McKnight
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About Sarah Fischer
Sarah Fischer works hard fighting the good fight in personnel security. She graduated with a degree in criminal justice and married the calm to her crazy. Then Sarah had a health scare and needed heart surgery. While recovering, she finally had the time to write the stories playing out in her mind.
Her college romantic suspense series, Elton Hall Chronicles, is now available in its entirety on Amazon. First Semester, Second Snowfall, and Third Wheel remind you what you loved about college, show you what you missed, and make you yearn for what could have been. Sarah also has a contemporary short story in the Craving Bad anthology.
In her spare time, you’ll find her with a book in her hand, at the movies, or watching just one more episode of reality tv.
Follow Sarah on Twitter @SarhAlexander7
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About Kelsey McKnight
From Scottish lairds to billionaire businessmen, Kelsey McKnight will ignite your soul, no matter what century it lives in.
Kelsey is a university-educated historian from southern New Jersey. She has married her great loves of romance, history, and literature to create her own tales of dashing heroes, sultry bad boys,
and lovable heroines who have their own stories to tell. They will take you through the ballrooms of Victorian London, the hills of the Scottish Highlands, New York City penthouses, and into small towns with big hearts, all at the flip of a page.
When she’s not writing, Kelsey can be found reading, drinking too much coffee, spending time with her family, and working for a nonprofit organization.
Follow Kelsey on Twitter @KelseyMMcK
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