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“Me too. Day-old beard is my new favorite since you like it.” He winks at me.
Winks. Who knew winking could be such a turn on? I have to look away for a minute and I see a seagull flying overhead surveying what he can steal from the table. He’s out of luck though. We’ve both cleaned our plates.
“How long have you owned the Bean and Bagel?”
This I could talk about all day long. I love my little business. “I’ve owned it since I graduated from college. Started it and never looked back. What about you? What station did you work at before moving to the one you’re at now?”
“I’ve been with the department for years. I was based out west, mostly.”
The waitress comes over, “Can I get you any desserts?”
Hudson looks at me, “Want any desserts?”
The way he’s looking at me, I can’t help but think he may be asking something more, and I blush and shake my head. “No, thank you.”
“Okay.” The waitress places the check on the table. “I’ll take that whenever you’re ready.”
Faster than a lightning bolt, Hudson whips out his credit card and places it on the table. “Here you go.”
“I’ll be right back with this.” She says and walks away from our table.
“Can I give you some money for this? It’s been so long since I’ve been on a first date. Do guys still pay or can I pay my share?”
“My mother raised me right. I’ve got it. Thank you for offering, though.”
The waitress drops the receipt off. Hudson signs it and then closes the little black folder. “Ready?”
“Yep. Thank you for lunch. That was delicious.”
“My pleasure.” Hudson places his hand in the small of my back, like he did earlier, and my skin tingles. I really like the way he touches me.
We climb into the truck, and he starts it up to cool it off. The Florida summer is heating up. “So, where to next? Have any plans?”
I’m taken off guard, “Um, well. I was planning to go to the garden store to get a few tomato plants after this.”
“Great. How about we go do that and then get some ice cream? I love me some Twisty Treats.”
“Oh, I love Twisty Treats!” I smile at him.
Hudson stares at me. “You have the most beautiful smile. You know that? I could look at it all day.”
I don’t know what to say to that. “Thank you. I grew it myself.” I joke.
He shakes his head smiling and steers the truck out of the parking lot.
So far today, we’ve been to the hardware store where Hudson bought a bunch of pipes and supplies for some drainage trench project, he was telling me about at his property. The garden store where I got some tomato plants and some green pepper seedlings. Hudson bought a truckload of dirt to be delivered to his house next week. Then we went to Twisty Treats for ice cream. I got strawberry and he got peanut butter flavor. He put a spoonful in my mouth to try. Not only is peanut butter my new flavor, but I have a new favorite delivery system. Hudson.
He then took me to the grocery store where he bought some things for him and then the pet store for food for Pepper. While we were there, I got some treats for Wilbur to make up for being out all day today. It’s been quite a day of errands and normalcy. But we’ve talked and laughed and the longer I’m with Hudson, the more I want to be with him. He’s addictive.
“Well, I’ve delayed taking you back to your shop as long as I could.” Hudson pulls the truck into the empty parking lot of my shop. It’s weird. The pizza shop should be busy by now, but the place looks vacant.
I laugh, “You’ve delayed?”
He puts the truck in park. “Yep. I didn’t want our date to end, but I have no more errands to drag you to.”
“I’m glad. You should have saved some of these errands for our second date.” I tease and immediately wish I hadn’t said that. What if he doesn’t want a second date?
Hudson is quiet for a minute as he’s looking out over the parking lot. “Kate, I had a great time with you today.”
