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“Thirty-two.”
I guessed he couldn’t have been much older.
I shrugged. “It’s easy for you to say that when you already have your dream.”
“It wasn’t easy, and it’s still not. I work seven days a week. Today would be the third day I’ve been off since it opened last year.” The flames reflected off his light hazel orbs as he studied me. “Tomorrow will be the fourth.”
I looked at the fire to avoid his direct gaze. “Today doesn’t count as a day off. You chopped up a tree, checked on your restaurant, and fed us. It’s not a day off when you have no choice. And don’t take off tomorrow. My brother has already agreed to help.”
“They already know I won’t be there.”
“I can’t take that day from you. What if you wanted to take off time this summer but used your fourth day to help me. I can’t let you.” I shook my head vehemently.
“Red…” There was a hint of a smile in his voice, but I didn’t look his way to confirm it. “I could take more days off if I wanted. I’m the boss, remember? I choose to work so much because I want to see it succeed.”
Since I was curious, I asked, “And you’re doing good?”
His lips stretched from ear to ear, crinkling the edges of his eyes was answer enough, but he still said, “Oh, yeah.”
Shit, the man was gorgeous when he smiled and laughed.
“Wow. Don’t you know you should remain humble despite your success?”
“Answering your question doesn’t mean that I’m not.”
“No, but your cocky grin says otherwise.”
His home was enough proof that he was doing great. Why would he want me to know? I felt silly for even asking.
Of course, he would be proud of himself. I would if I achieved what he did. But meeting him when he was at his best while knowing I was at my lowest…
Tomorrow would be a major embarrassment for me. The reality tied my stomach in knots.
From the beginning, I figured he had a different upbringing than I did. I’d even found our differences amusing, but after a few days, it wasn’t anymore. I wasn’t sure why.
We were very different people.
My stomach cramped. I stood quickly before I accidentally passed gas and died from humiliation. “I’m going to the bathroom.”
SIXTEEN
HUDSON
What happened? One minute we were talking, but when Eugene returned from the bathroom, everything changed. She clammed up and pulled out that reading tablet of hers. Why did she choose the couch instead of where we had been sitting in front of the fire? I shouldn’t care where she sat, but… Was it something I did or said? I wasn’t an easy person to get along with, but I truly didn’t mind my house guest. Maybe she didn’t feel the same when it came to me.
Shit. I didn’t care.
She even turned down a sandwich. I knew she hadn’t eaten since I cooked the steak. She had to be hungry, but I didn’t press her about it. I should have. She needed more than one meal.
Although I told myself I didn’t care, I didn’t sleep well. From all of Eugene’s tossing and turning on the couch, she didn’t either. I ended up browsing the news on my phone, hunting for Eugene’s former boss. I didn’t have to search in the western part of Kentucky. The man-made headlines here, too.
Danny Hopkins was a prick who conned an entire group of men out of their black lung settlement money. He was also under investigation for his wife’s death. I found a bunch of unsettling comments from people trying to include the secretary in the act. People loved trying to solve mysteries. The comments ranged from,She’s his mistress… Of course, she knows he planned this all…To,how could she not have known when she worked for him?
I turned off my phone. I was fucking pissed. It was as I thought. Eugene was a mess who got herself into trouble. She couldn’t take care of herself. Even her fucking feet couldn’t do the correct thing. I was surprised she was allowed out of the county during the investigation. Wait. She did check before leaving. Right? Sure, she did. I groaned and tried to get comfortable. Sleep was fitful, and I jumped out of the recliner once to check on Eugene on the couch. Max had watched my every move, so I mouthed, “I’m just making sure she’s all right,” as if he understood. He huffed and laid his head down. Honestly, I didn’t know what was wrong with me either. I fell asleep again.
The sound of the fridge and things rumbling to life woke us up around seven. Eugene said nothing as she scrambled up the stairs. I sighed and took Max out for a bathroom break. The snow hadn’t melted at all. My dark mood increased by the minute as I recalled the things, I’d discovered the night before. My last relationship had me questioning whether I cared about anything. Yet, the clumsy red head in my home had me out of my mind with worry. Fuck, I cared a lot—too much about the idea of her seeing those negative words online. I didn’t like the idea of her being in such a messy situation either. The people in the comments were furious and needed someone to take it out on. Her being out of that town might be a good thing after all.
In fact, it seemed like fate that she ended up staying with me. I’d be the person she could rely on. Picturing her reading by the fire, happily eating the food I prepared didn’t sound bad. It sounded much better than her suffering from our past workplace. When they found the lawyer, I wanted to give him a piece of my mind. I didn’t know Eugene long at all, but it was clear she wasn’t a con woman. I’d be shocked as hell if she could insult me or anyone without turning red in the face or averting her gaze.
