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For some reason, he felt compelled to guard her non-work hours, despite not feeling the same way about his own time. He wanted her to be able to have a break from work.
When his phone rang a few minutes later, Hudson abandoned the view to go pick up his phone from the table. He sighed when he saw Alexander’s name on his screen.
“Hudson speaking,” he said as he answered the call.
“Hudson, it’s Alexander,” the man said. “How has your weekend been?”
“Quiet. How about yours?” Hudson only asked out of politeness, but he knew it would mean he’d have to listen to a recitation of everything Alexander had done with Candace and the kids.
He wasn’t sure why Alexander thought he’d be interested in hearing about something that he wasn’t a part of. But without fail, Hudson got a report of Alexander’s personal life.
“Xander is asking when you’re coming to see us again,” Alexander said once he was done telling Hudson about all the family adventures.
“Not sure when that will be,” Hudson said. “As long as I need to be here, I probably won’t be back in New York for any length of time.”
“But you will be here for Candace’s birthday next month, right?”
Hudson wanted to say no, but instead, he said, “As long as nothing else comes up.”
“I’m sure that you could make adjustments as needed to accommodate a quick trip to New York.”
“I’ll try, but if you want me to continue to come to these events, please make sure that Candace doesn’t have women there she intends to set me up with. I’m not interested.”
“Why aren’t you?” Alexander asked. “By the time I was your age, I’d already been married twice.”
Hudson didn’t think that the statement was the incentive that Alexander thought it was. Plus, the man had cheated on at least one wife already by that point, so as far as Hudson was concerned, Alexander’s example wasn’t one to follow.
“I’d prefer to wait and only get married once.”
“Well, good luck with that.”
Hudson wasn’t sure that he needed luck, but perhaps with Alexander’s genes, he did.
“So, will you clarify that with Candace?” Hudson asked. “Because if I show up, and she introduces me to even one woman, it’ll be the last event I attend.”
There was silence for a moment, then Alexander said, “Fine. I’ll tell her, but I can’t control what she does.”
“Just make sure she knows that I won’t attend anything again if she doesn’t leave me alone when it comes to women.”
“I will.”
It was definitely a reluctant agreement, but Hudson would take it.
“I’m going to send you some information from our property in Baton Rouge. Let me know what you think.”
That sounded like another trip was in his future. At least it wouldn’t be as hot as it would have been if he’d had to make the trip in the summer.
After saying goodnight, Hudson returned to the table and his laptop. Within a minute, the email showed up. Now that he had something else to focus on, Hudson was able to push Kayleigh from his thoughts… mostly.
The next morning, Hudson woke up earlier than usual. From what he’d seen, Kayleigh started her workout way before his arrival at six. Thinking she might be there around five-thirty, he got up at five-fifteen, even knowing it would mean he’d need a couple of extra cups of coffee that morning to make up for the sleep he’d lost.
All because he wanted to spend a bit more time with Kayleigh outside of working hours.
Sure enough, she walked in just minutes after he’d arrived at the gym.
“Good morning,” he said.
Kayleigh paused for a moment just inside the doorway, then gave him a smile. “Good morning. How are you?”
