AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Liz, is everything okay?”
“I’m fine, Andy.”
He reached for the reins which I handed over. “I’ll take care of Cappy so you can talk.”
I was done talking but I let him take the horse and headed for the house. Hudson matched me step for step, staying by my side, but when we stepped onto the porch, he took my arm and pulled me down onto the loveseat beside him. When I wrenched my arm free and attempted to stand, he pulled me back down. I was beginning to get angry and spun to face Hudson.
“I’m tired and need to change. There is nothing you have to say that I want to hear.”
Hudson shook his head and took my hand. “You are going to stay there and listen.”
“Who the fuck do you think you are? I’m not interested in what you have to say.”
“Elizabeth,” Hudson growled. “I don’t like to be forceful, but you are going to stay there and let me explain. What you do after you hear me out is your decision.”
It was obvious he wasn’t going to leave until he’d said his piece, so I slumped back and crossed my legs. “Go ahead.”
“The name of the woman you saw me hugging is Kathy. She comes to me whenever she needs something—namely money. Her nickname in the family is Baby because she’s so young.”
“Family?” Who was this woman who was so familiar with Hudson’s family that they gave her an endearing nickname?
“Yes, she is family. Kathy, or Baby, as she is referred to more commonly, is my aunt.”
I was rendered almost speechless by his declaration but managed to find my tongue. “Aunt?”
“She is my mother’s youngest sister and only four years older than me so we’re more like brother and sister than aunt and nephew. She asked to meet with me because she needed financial help.”
“Oh, I thought…”
“I know what you thought, it was exactly what Colin hoped you would think. He planted your doubts, didn’t he?”
I nodded, feeling like a fool. “Colin didn’t know who she was, but he was trying to cause trouble by showing me you had another woman in your office, wasn’t he? He’s such a fucking arsehole.”
“Yes, he is, and as of last night, he’s also unemployed.”
I dropped my eyes as tears fell. How could I have been so wrong? “I’m so very sorry I jumped to the wrong conclusion.”
“Your parents said you have a tendency to do so when you’re upset.”
“I should have trusted you wouldn’t betray me with another woman. I knew in my heart you weren’t that kind of man.”
“Yes, you should have, but I understand.” Hudson shimmied closer, hauled me onto his lap, and brushed away the tears. When our lips met, everything in my world righted.
After much hugging and kissing, we parted to catch our breath.
“I can’t believe you came after me, how did you get here?”
“I hired a plane.”
“Oh. I heard one coming in and going out but thought it was the Fitzpatrick’s—their property is on the other side of town. How long are you staying?”
“A week if that’s okay with you. Your parents offered me the guest room.”
“Did they know you were coming?”
“Yes, I sent a message to your father via the post office because I couldn’t get an answer on the phone. Your brothers met me at the plane. They weren’t particularly happy. Last night I had your friends warning me they would extract my balls from my body, then today, I have been threatened with being thrown back on the plane, having to walk into town if you refused to have me here, although your brothers did offer to gather my bones after a few days, and reminded by Jake that there are a lot of places out here that a body can be hidden. They are all rather protective of you.”
I laughed when Hudson laughed. “Oh, dear. I’ll tell them none of my upset was your fault and I should have stayed and given you an opportunity to explain.”
