AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Later.”
There was a pause.
“Did he take you?”
“Bye, Holly.”
I heard her chuckle before I ended the call.
“We still have an hour out, but I can take us to the restaurant to eat. If you want something right now, there’s an exit up here…”
“Your place is fine,” I blurted.
Honestly, I’d rather not eat his food at all. I didn’t think he’d like me paying, and I was feeling uncomfortable with all the free meals.
“Okay. I can pop in the kitchen and—”
“No, I meant your cabin. If you want food, we can stop, but I’m not hungry,” I lied. I’d had enough for one day. I would go out and buy my own meal when we got back.
“I can make us something at home, too.” Hudson’s hand moved to the scruff on his jaw. That was the first day I saw him with any sort of facial hair. The man seemed immaculate when it came to his appearance. Someone should tell him he looked perfect either way.
Something about his words made my heart ache, though.
He must truly like cooking for people because he kept trying to feed me. There wasn’t a person who cared about my eating habits since Gran. I didn’t think he cared. It was just a common courtesy to feed your guests. Or at least not eat without asking them if they were hungry.
I didn’t respond. I simply leaned near the door and watched the vehicles go by.
EIGHTEEN
HUDSON
My thoughts were jumbled, I had a headache, and I was tired after driving all damn day. As I stood at the stove, frying two burgers, I groaned. I recalled the mold infestation in that apartment—herapartment. How her mouth gaped as she stood there, shaking from what I guessed might have been disbelief or shock at the state of the rooms. She seemed so tiny beside me as I walked her to the truck. I had trouble imagininganyone, especially her, living in that hovel. Her red eyes and face were evidence of her crying while I threatened her former landlord.
Eugene Quillen was trouble, I reminded myself for the umpteenth time. Still, I pulled out my phone and scrolled through the pictures I took. I shouldn’t do what I was thinking about doing.
Eugene had nothing to do with me. How she lived, breathed, and took care of herself wasn’t my problem. But everything I wanted to do for her proved different. I was trying hard to make her my business.Fuck.What was wrong with me? I thought I liked peace, wanted it. It seemed I liked chaos a lot more.
I grinned.
It was settled. The flaming-haired creature lived with me. It made sense that I should help her. I wasn’t crazy about her or anything… But it would make sense if she didn’t leave the cabin. I liked the idea of her being nearby. How could I help her out if she left? It wasn’t because I liked watching her read by the fire, although that itself was no hardship. And Max had grown attached, too, so I’d feel bad if she left. Eugene couldn’t go to her brother’s. I had to get her to stay. She was practically a woman in distress, so I could work with that.
One thing at a time, though.
Pulling up Gran’s number, I sent all the photos to her with a single text.
Hudson: I know you’re going to meddle, so help me find all these books.
When I heard the front door open and close, I walked to the window. Eugene was hopping into her car. Before I could make it to the door, she was out of the driveway. I leaned against the door jamb as the cold air chilled my bare arms. At least, the snow had melted, or her little vehicle wouldn’t have made it.
Noticing the spatula still in my hand, I frowned. She knew I was making food, but she left. My confusion intensified my headache.
When I smelled smoke, I ran to the kitchen. My fucking burgers were burning. I never burned my burgers. Since it was just me eating, I suffered through the burned meat. Max plopped down at my feet as I ate at the table. I should have sat in my recliner, put on a movie, andrelaxed.Instead, I thought about Eugene going to her brother’s house if I couldn’t convince her to stay. Would she end up in another unfit apartment in the future?
The answer was no. I wouldn’t let it happen.
The job Eugene took at Subway wasn’t going to work either. I should hire her at Homestyle. It would be beneficial for both of us. I needed more help. Plus, I’d pay her more than whatever Subway offered.
I sighed and put down my burger. Eugene had refused breakfast and left before she could eat, which meant she hadn’t eaten anything. Was she embarrassed? She was trying to survive. I understood that. But she didn’t have to try to survive. She could live instead.
