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“I’m fine. I don’t read the comments online,” she whispered.
Which meant she likely read every fucking one.
“Those people don’t know what they’re talking about.” I rubbed my thumb over the back of her hand.
“I’d be upset too in their case. Danny stole so much money from them.”
“Yeah, but that’s not your fault.”
“They don’t know that.”
“Eugene,”I said. “Fuck those people. They don’t know, which is why they shouldn’t be slandering you. Stop empathizing with bullies on the internet.”
She bit her bottom lip, and my heart felt like it might pop right out of my chest. Jesus Christ. She was gorgeous. I kept rubbing her hand. I loved touching her. She was soft, but too softhearted. People like Eugene were swallowed up whole if no one looked out for them.
“Yeah. Fuck those people.” She nodded, but she had the enthusiasm of a man trying to prepare himself for a prostate exam.
“Red,” I said sternly.
“Blue,” she said in a serious voice, pinching her brows together.
Fuck. She even looked beautiful, pretending to put up a stern face.
Her mask slipped, and the corners of her mouth lifted before she burst out laughing.
“It’s not funny,” I said, but I realized she might be trying to change the subject. While she might be cracking up, it might very well be a show for me.
“What?” she asked. “I thought we were calling out colors.”
“Mm-hmm. Are you enjoying yourself, Red?”
She pulled her hands from mine, and I immediately missed the contact.
Eugene wiped her eye. “Man, I crack myself up.”
I shook my head. Max made a puffing sound. I turned toward him, lying beside my recliner, and pointed at him. “Even Max grunted at you.”
When she continued giggling, I gently touched her chin. “Really, how are you? Are you good? Because I need you to be.”
She pulled away again. “I’m good, thanks to you.” Her sweet expression was soft as her gaze fell to my lips. My throat suddenly felt dry. “Thanks for letting me stay here, Hudson.”
I rubbed the back of my neck as my skin heated. “You’ll tell me if and when anyone contacts you again about Danny’s case? I want to be with you if something comes out of it.”
No way would I let Eugene get thrown any further into that mess.
“Sure, but I think I’ll be okay.”
Slowly, I grabbed one of her feet and rubbed the top. “So, you’re happy here then?”
“Of course! I feel like I’m on vacation. Your cabin is so homey.”
I felt my ears heat, and I didn’t understand why such a simple answer from her made my body warm. Maybe because it meant I might stand a chance with her.
“Why are you rubbing my feet?” She snickered. “You’re so fancy that it’s odd to see you touching someone’s foot.”
“This is not someone’s foot. It’s yours.”
Her laughter died, and she slowly tucked her feet underneath her ass, away from me. “I suppose it’s bedtime.” She peeked through her lashes at me, and desire rolled through me.
