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I laugh and roll my eyes, dumping the drink into the sink. “I don’t know what your angle is, but I don’t have time for games. Stop following me.”
I walk past him and open the front door, letting the cold breeze in much longer than I’d like.
Hudson catches the drift and readjusts the hat on his head before making his way toward me. That one single move has me tempted to slam the door, mount him like a mustang, and ride into the sunset… but I hold strong.
“Thank you for the visit. You know where to find me if you need help.”
I nod and watch as he creaks down the porch steps, disappearing into the dark night, crunching over snow and past the line of trees.
When he’s too far to see, I close the door and lock it tight, making my way to the fireplace to warm up before bed.
My hand goes to my stomach and my heart slams against my chest. Am I really craving touch this desperately that I’d get the hots for the creepy, aggressive, stalkery Alaskan everyone hates?
Apparently so.
I scrub my hands together next to the fire before I head back to the bedroom with a giant lie rattling around in my head.
You know, the one where I tell myself I’m not going to rub one out thinking about the goliath that just left, when we all know I will.
Chapter Four
Hudson
“Where the fuck have you been?” My brother Atlas hits my shoulder as he leans back on the couch. “Dad is pissed!”
“He’ll get over it.”
“No, he won’t. We missed another day of hunting. He’s fed up.”
I sit on the couch, avoiding the spring that pokes me in the ass on the far left. “The maps will help. We’ll go over them in the morning.”
“Right.” Atlas tugs at his beard. “Did you meet someone?”
I glance toward him, then back at the television. There’s a black and white sitcom on from the old days but I don’t know which one. Something about a small-town kid and a dog. “No.”
“Then where are you going every day? If you’re not careful, you’ll end up like Rowan, married off and destined for a life of hell.” Rowan is our brother, and while I appreciate that he fell in love and married a girl in a shotgun wedding, that’s not for me.
“I’m not that guy. You know that.”
Atlas laughs. “Yeah, well, there’s a version of you back in Alaska that wouldn’t have missed a strategy meeting to save his life.”
“And there’s a version of you that wouldn’t be offering your services to single moms, but I saw you talking to that woman at the market yesterday.”
“I’m a contractor. We’re here for an indefinite amount of time. I’m trying to make some extra money.”
“You’re giving her a discount. Was that part of the plan, too?”
He bites back a smile. “Whatever, man. Just watch yourself. Dad doesn’t look good. I don’t know what’s going on with him. He was rattling off something last night about this being the last big hunt with his boys.”
“What?”
“You know dad. Could’ve been a guilt trip. Who knows? I’m just saying we need you here.” Knowing my father, I wouldn’t doubt that he’s amped up the melodrama. He’s old school, so applying guilt to get your kids to do something is definitely a tool he likes to use.
Wind whips against the side of the cabin and the scent of stew from dinner is still in the air. I should eat, but it’s been a long ass night and I’m ready for bed. I stand from the couch, tell Atlas good night, and make my way upstairs to my room at the end of the hall.
The cabin we’re occupying is large but run down. The floorboards groan and ache with every step, there’s a draft in every room, and there are a few rodents that have made their way into the food supply. That said, this place is still a luxury. On most hunts, we sleep in the bush without running water, no heat, and the closest bathroom is a nearby tree.
I pass by my father’s room and listen to his cough. Part of me wants to question him about his dramatics and put him in his place. The other part of me wants to ignore the drama for tonight and head back up to bed and find a way to text Ruby. When I notice the light off in his room, I give myself permission to skip the lecture.
