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“Fair enough. I’ll take you there.”
“Hudson, please don’t get ahead of yourself. You told me you have only been in one relationship before and decided being with a woman long-term wasn’t for you.”
“It wasn’t. She was the wrong woman. I want more, much more with you.”
“We come from different worlds. I’m not sure I’m the right person for you.”
“Let me be the judge of what is right or wrong for me.”
We finished our dinner, and I polished off the last of the wine in my glass. The food and wine were exceptional, and the place was worthy of its reputation.
“Is there anything else I can get for either of you?” Pierre asked.
Hudson glanced at me, and I shook my head.
“Just the bill thanks, Pierre.”
Pierre returned with a folder, waited for Hudson to sign off and hand over his credit card, and then left to finalise the account. When he returned, he handed both the credit card, a receipt, and Hudson’s jacket to him.
After we thanked him for the delicious meal and I said it had been a pleasure meeting him, Hudson walked me outside to where Devon waited with the car.
I looked at Hudson in confusion, wondering how his driver had known we were ready since I hadn’t seen my date make a call.
“Pierre texts him while he’s putting the credit card through. Devon never goes far,” Hudson answered my unasked question.
We both slipped into the back seat, and far too soon, Devon pulled up in front of my home. The evening was over.
Hudson walked me to the door like the gentleman he was, and when we reached the stoop, he turned me into his arms, lowered his head, and captured my lips in a spine-tingling kiss. I’d been kissed before by holiday flings, but I’d never been kissed by a man. And there was no doubt in my mind that Hudson was all man.
After he stepped back, arrangements were made for him to pick me up at nine the following morning. He refused to say where we were going and only asked I wear shorts, a top, a swimsuit, sneakers, and bring a light jacket and hat. The destination he had in his mind had me intrigued.
***
I dressed in a rather skimpy red bikini since it was the only swimsuit I owned, a pair of white shorts that hit mid-thigh, a blue top, and white sneakers. When I heard a car pull up out front, I made my way to the door. Harper and Ellie had left earlier as they both had basketball training before their game in the afternoon. Their Sydney University team was sitting in third on the competition ladder. Nevertheless, I’d promised I would watch them play the following week.
Grabbing the blue and white lightweight jacket I’d left on the small table; I opened the door to find Devon’s arm raised to knock. I peered over his shoulder, wondering where Hudson was before realising the thought was ridiculous. If he’d come, Devon wouldn’t be the person attempting to knock at the door.
“Mr Jackson is at home getting everything ready for the day,” he explained without me asking.
I nodded, locked the front door, followed Devon to the car, and slid into the back seat, hoping the driver didn’t turn out to be an axe murderer. I chuckled to myself. I’d been reading too many murder mysteries and my imagination was off with the fairies.
The drive took about ten minutes before Devon turned into a long downhill driveway. The huge house had a backdrop of Elizabeth Bay after which the suburb was named, and it was fronted by what looked like an excavation zone.
“Mr Jackson purchased the house six months ago and has been having the home and gardens renovated,” Devon explained as he led me to the front door. He pushed it open, standing back as I entered before following me inside.
Hudson strode towards us, and we met in a sunny living room. “Thanks, Devon. I won’t need you again until late this afternoon.”
The driver turned and left as Hudson swept me into his arms for a bruising kiss. We fit together perfectly despite our height difference, and I melted against him. When our tongues finished duelling, we moved apart and our eyes locked. The smile he gave me sent tingles dancing down my spine.
“Hi,” I murmured before dropping my eyes to see he was wearing a pair of blue Okanui board shorts, a white polo shirt, and blue boat shoes. Owen, Dolly, and two other men stood behind him, all with their eyebrows raised.
“Dol…, Linda, what are you doing here?”
“It’s okay; Owen knows my real name. We’ve been seeing each other. It seems we both have secrets we didn’t mention when we talked on the phone.”
I hugged Dolly, said hi to Owen, who was holding her hand and was introduced to a married couple—Lewis and Tony, who owned the company that made my favourite ice cream.
“Mr Jackson, the boat is ready.”
