Falling for the Millionaire(14)

She laughed as he helped her into the car. "No, they're not that hard to use. I'm not an invalid, you know."

"I know that for sure." Hudson put the crutches in the back, then hopped  into the driver's seat. "I'm ready to get this project started, and I'm  thankful for another sunny day, despite the cool temperature. February  has started out colder than January this year."

"I hope for the best and live for spring." Laughing, she buckled her seat belt.

When they arrived at The Village, Hudson drove his SUV as close to the  administration building as he could so Melody wouldn't have to walk very  far. He retrieved her crutches from the backseat and brought them  around to her. "You know you could've called Jeremy to drive you right  up to the door."

"He's got his rounds to make, and I wouldn't want to disrupt his  schedule. Besides, I can get where I want to go quite easily. Another  day, and I won't even have to use these things."

"Don't start putting weight on that ankle before it's ready."

She frowned at him. "Are you a doctor now?"

"No, I just know about sprained ankles. I've had a few. Take it easy." He waved as Melody disappeared through the side door.

After Hudson parked in the nearest lot, he meandered back toward the  administration building for his meeting with Ian. As he approached the  reception area, he noticed Lovie was busy typing something, the keys  clicking as her fingers flew over the keyboard. He stopped for a moment  in front of the desk. "Good morning, Lovie."

She glanced up, a smile forming on her lips. "Just the man I wanted to see."

Hudson knit his eyebrows. "Why?"

"Because I just figured out why I know your name."

Hudson's radar went up. Did she know his family or the family business? "How's that?"

"I heard Mr. Ian talking about you and Ms. Melody. You were the one who  took her to the fund-raiser." Lovie shook a finger at him. "You two make  a pretty good pair. And I have a marvelous record on knowing when  people match up well. So you two are next on my list."

Hudson's laughter echoed in the reception area. "This could be interesting. Does Melody know about your list?"

"She knows, but she doesn't know I've finally put her on it and paired her with you."

Hudson laughed again. "So what does being on this list of yours mean?"

"That you'll be the next bride and groom here at The Village."

Not sure how to respond, Hudson rolled that information around in his  mind. Melody fascinated him, and he wanted to get to know her better, go  out on a few more dates, but marriage? That was a leap. Eyeing Lovie,  he shook his head. "That's getting a little ahead of where I'm at."

Lovie nodded. "I know, but you'll eventually come around, and so will Ms. Melody. I've got you two in my sights."         

     



 

"Then, maybe I'd better stay out of range."

Chuckling, Lovie shook her head. "Once you get there, you can't get out of range. Just saying."

"Guess we'll see what happens." Shaking his head again, he headed toward  Ian's office. "Take care, and don't do too much matchmaking."

"Never too much." Her laughter followed Hudson as he turned the corner.

He knocked on Ian's door and hoped this upcoming conversation would give him the information he needed.

"Come on in." Ian clapped Hudson on the back. "Congratulations again on  winning the bid to complete our women's shelter expansion."

Hudson smiled. "Yeah, the work's beginning as we speak. I'm out here to  make sure we get things moving. And to find out where you can use me for  the Valentine banquet, since we never discussed it after Melody twisted  her ankle."

"Yeah, that's been rough on her. As soon as you told me about her  accident, I knew it would cramp her style." Ian chuckled. "It's killing  her, but I told her it was a chance to stop and smell the roses."

"You've talked to her already this morning?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"Because I just dropped her off, and she didn't look very slow to me."

Curiosity flashed across Ian's expression. "You drove her over?"

"I did. I gave her a ride home after she got her ankle wrapped, too. I  ordered her a pizza and played nursemaid until I had worn out my  welcome." Hudson didn't miss the surprise that wiped out Ian's curious  look.

"Interesting. Is something going on that I should know about?"

Hudson wondered what he should tell Ian. After all, he'd arranged their  blind date, but that was about the fund-raising, not romance. "Even if  something is, I'm not sure you should know about it."

Shaking his head, Ian let out a halfhearted laugh. "Are you telling me to mind my own business?"

"Not really. There isn't anything to tell."

"Would you like there to be?"

"Good question." Hudson shrugged. "Let's talk about the Valentine  banquet, then we can discuss Melody and sponsoring the fountain."

"What's the occasion?"

"I'm not sure yet."

Ian nodded and motioned toward the black leather chairs in front of his  desk. "I was surprised when Adam invited you to participate, but I think  he has his reasons."

"What would those be?"

"It might have to do with one Melody Hammond. She seems to be the topic  of the hour." A slow smile crossed Ian's face. "I think Adam's trying to  do a little matchmaking."

"Him, too?"

Ian chuckled. "Maybe. The matchmaking bug seems to be contagious around this place."

Hudson joined the laughter. "I've met Lovie, and she already has me on her list. Do you suppose she shared her list with Adam?"

"Wouldn't surprise me."

Hudson nodded and changed the subject. "So what am I doing for this banquet?"

"How's your skill in the kitchen?"

"As in cooking?" Hudson raised his eyebrows.

"No, preparing the plates."

"Sounds like something I can handle."

"Then, that'll be your assignment."

"Now I'd like to discuss the fountain."

Ian eyed him. "Does this have anything to do with Melody?"

"It does." Hudson held his breath as he waited for Ian's reaction.

"If you were thinking of Valentine's Day, that day's been taken for months."

"I'm not interested in Valentine's Day." Hudson rested his elbows on the  armrests. "I don't have a specific day picked out yet. But I also have  another idea I want to run by you before I do the fountain."

"Sure. What's on your mind?"

"Before Melody sprained her ankle, she took me up in the bell tower of  the chapel and told me that the bell can't be rung anymore because the  mechanism is broken. I'd like to have our company fix-"

"We've decided not to fix it because we can make better use of our money."

"Hear me out before you dismiss the idea. There'll be no charge to you.  I'm paying for it as a gift to The Village. I'd like this to be a  surprise, and I want to sponsor the fountain on the day the bell is  ready to ring."

Ian sat back in his chair and laced his fingers behind his head as he raised his eyebrows. "So you want to surprise Melody?"

Hudson wished he could explain his thoughts about her, but he wasn't  sure of them himself. "Yes, and I want to get to know her better."

"Then, take her out again."

Frowning, Hudson sighed. If he wanted to talk about Melody, he would  have to admit that she wouldn't go out with him again. "I know she had a  good time with me at the fund-raiser, and we had an enjoyable evening  last night, but she won't go on another date with me."

"Did she say why?"         

     



 

"Yeah, she says we come from different worlds. I like to live on the edge and she likes to play it safe. And the two don't mix."

Ian shrugged. "She could be right. She has a good reason."

"What?"

"First, her father died in a plane crash when she was young. Then three  years ago her fiancé was killed by a roadside bomb while he was  delivering aid to people in Afghanistan. She begged him not to go  because of the danger, but he went anyway because he wanted to help."

The air sucked out of Hudson's lungs. No wonder she'd turned pale when  he'd mentioned stepping into a minefield during the dinner dance.  "That's tough. Are you saying she's never gotten over the death of her  fiancé?"

"She doesn't talk about it. Everyone believes she throws herself into  her work so she doesn't have to think about it." Ian shook his head.  "For a long time, no one could convince her to go on a date at all, but  lately, she's agreed to some. You were one of them."

"Have any of the others resulted in a second?"

"Not that I know of, but I'm not the dating coordinator around here." Ian chuckled. "Ask Annie about that."

Hudson scooted forward in his seat. "But didn't you arrange my night with her?"

"I mentioned you to Annie, and she took over." Ian got up and walked  over to the window and made a sweeping gesture toward the view of the  quad outside. "Melody is interested in only one thing-her work here."