AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Because you’re so careless. And when you walk—”
“You’re bringing up the way I walk again?” Her tone became accusatory.
I should have kept it to myself when I noticed the crease in her brows and the pain quivering her chin. But I didn’t because I felt likesomeoneneeded to tell her to be more aware. Three days around her, and she turned my insides upside down.
“You’re clumsy, Red. You’re not mindful of your surroundings.”
“God, so I’m clumsy. Big deal. It doesn’t make me helpless. And if I let fear control me, I’d never do anything. There’s not much in this world that doesn’t scare me!”
She twisted her body toward the door and looked out the window.
My stomach sank to my boots. I understood my words came off as rude sometimes, but I didn’t mean them to be. I was terrified by her, but I couldn’t explain why. The only thing I was certain of was that I could warn her to be cautious.
THIRTEEN
EUGENE
I wasn’t sure what to anticipate. Maybe I assumed he would have leased a structure in the Senkins city area, a location that squeezed in between other businesses, all in the same building. Not a restaurant with a unique layout, décor, and setting. After driving up a short hill, we arrived at a parking lot where his was the only business visible. The area was blanketed in snow, but I could still tell that it was large enough to accommodate numerous customers.
Homestylewas in cursive letters hanging on an oval wooden sign over the double doors. The windows were painted over with pictures of landscapes—hills on one, a giant mountain on another, an ocean, and a gushing waterfall all woven through them. The deep red roof matched the building’s brick finish. It was beautiful. I would have told him that if I hadn’t been pissed off.
I’d been clumsy all of my life. It took me a while, but I’d embraced my awkwardness. There were always jokes growing up from my brother and my gran about how often I got bruises. They were teasing me, though. I didn’t know why Hudson looked so upset. I was the clumsy one, not him.
“This is my restaurant.” Hudson said, breaking the quiet tension between us as he shut off the engine.
“It’s nice,” I said, but my tone was icy.
I should have stayed in his cabin. If I had stayed put, I could have avoided the hurtful conversation.Damn, my curiosity sometimes.The fireplace and my Kindle sounded far nicer than Hudson’s company in that moment.
“Red…” The soft way he spoke the nickname made my stomach heat.
I hopped out of the truck quickly to escape the feeling.
I looked at him. “Don’t you need to check on everything?”
With a sigh, Hudson got out on the other side and shut his door. I followed him, letting the quietness swallow us whole. It was still freezing, and inside the restaurant was no different. I rubbed my ears as they began to ache. Earmuffs would have been great. My ears were sensitive and hurt so bad in the cold.
Hudson must have noticed me rubbing them because he said, “I just need to check the generators. Make sure they’re working properly.”
As soon as he said that the rumbling of a heat pump started, and a few lights came on.
Wow. The place was the real deal. Gorgeous wooden booths lined the perimeter of the room, with breathtaking nature pictures hung at each. Black tables scattered across the large room. In the center of the restaurant was a rectangular liquor bar with stools wrapped around it. Toward the back, I saw another set of metal-looking doors and guessed it was the kitchen since a window was right beside it.
“Well, that makes everything ten times easier,” he muttered. “Let me check the food.”
“Do you think you have power at your place now?” I couldn’t help but ask. The idea of a hot shower sounded amazing.
“I doubt it. The power company will focus on business areas first, and then work their way into the rural spots.”
Not what I wanted to hear.
He rubbed his jaw before letting his fingers slide into his hair. “Do you like steak?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Come to the kitchen. It will warm faster.”
I arched a brow and tagged along behind him. He picked up a stool on his way past the bar and carried it with him. Once inside the kitchen, he set the stool down and patted it. “Sit. I’m going to check on everything, and then I’ll cook us something.”
