Falling for the Millionaire(15)

Joining Ian at the window, Hudson contemplated the new information about  Melody's fiancé. Add that to the deaths of her brother and father, and  Hudson could see why she wanted to stay away from men who took chances  on anything. And he wasn't willing to give up his adventures for a woman  he didn't know all that well, even though she fascinated him. "So  you're saying my chances of getting a second date are slim?"

Ian nodded. "I would venture to say almost impossible."

"Thanks for the ego boost and encouragement."

"Always glad to be of service." Ian chuckled.

"Could I ask you a personal question?"

Smiling wryly, Ian leaned against the windowsill. "That all depends."

Hudson shook his head. "I know that's a loaded question. Let me ask it,  and if you don't want to answer, feel free to ignore it."

"Okay."

"Am I remembering correctly that you were divorced while we were in law  school?" Hudson watched for signs that he might have offended Ian.

Ian looked out the window again as if he was trying to find an answer. "Yeah, Annie and I divorced while I was in law school."

Hudson smiled. He'd always loved happy endings-maybe the result of growing up with three older sisters. "So you remarried?"

Ian lowered his gaze, then looked back at Hudson. "Yeah. We're both in  recovery for substance abuse. We had a lot of forgiving to do, but with  God's help we're going to do it right this time."

Ian went on to tell Hudson about their reconciliation and remarriage  after Annie had come to The Village for help in regaining custody of her  daughter and son. No wonder Melody hadn't wanted to discuss the details  and had suggested that he ask Ian about it.

Hudson clapped Ian on the back. "Hey, thanks for explaining everything. I'm glad things worked out for you and Annie."

"Yeah, me, too." Ian nodded.

"Will Melody be hands-on with the women's shelter project?"

Ian smiled. "Are you hoping she is?"

"I thought maybe if-"

"If you're around her enough, she'll warm up to your reckless ways?"

Hudson shook his head. "I'm not sure I know what I'm hoping for. Maybe just a chance."

"Well, she and Adam are the ones keeping track of the new construction,  so you'll probably see a lot of her. On the other hand, she's one busy  woman with a lot of irons in the fire. No telling how much time she'll  spend there." Ian gave Hudson a curious look. "Even after you helped  Melody with her sprained ankle, she's giving you the cold shoulder?"

Hudson laughed halfheartedly. "I'd say it's lukewarm."

Ian clapped Hudson on the back. "Hudson, you're my friend, but I'm also  Melody's friend, and I'm warning you to tread lightly with her. I'd like  to see her find someone who can make her happy. She's not a woman you  can take out a few times and toss aside. She's been through a lot of  tragedy, and she has a tender heart. I won't stand by and let you hurt  her."

Hudson didn't know what to make of his friend's warning. How was he  supposed to know whether to pursue a serious relationship with her  unless they went out again-got to know each other better? "I have no  intention of hurting her."

"I know you wouldn't mean to, but I remembered how you operated when we  were in law school. You went through women faster than you went through  legal pads." Ian gave him a cautionary look. "You can't do that with  Melody."         

     



 

Hudson took a deep breath, remembering the way he'd tried to bury his  hurt over Nicole. "I'm not the same guy you knew in law school. Being in  the army gave me a different perspective about life. And in my defense,  most of those women I dated back then were more interested in my bank  account than they were in me."

Ian nodded. "I'll give you that, but I wanted you to know you can't toy with Melody's heart."

"She won't go out with me anyway, so maybe it's a moot point."

"You know." Smiling, Ian rubbed a hand over his jawline. "We're having a  Super Bowl party, and Melody will be there. You're welcome to come.  Then you can get to know some of our group better, and maybe Melody will  see you in a different light."

"Thanks for the invitation. I'll be there." Hudson extended his hand to  Ian. "Thanks for seeing me, and I won't forget what you've told me. Now  I'll let you get back to the important stuff."

"Reconnecting with an old friend is always important." Ian shook Hudson's hand.

Hudson walked into the hallway and stood there a moment, trying to  resist the urge to knock on Melody's door. For now, he had to be  satisfied that he'd seen her this morning on the drive over. Now he had  to get to work.

While Hudson walked across the quad to the construction site, he thought  about his conversation with Ian and Lovie. People everywhere were  trying to tell him what to do and how to act. Did he appear  directionless to those around him? Was that why his father had planned  to run his life?

Hudson glanced over at the chapel and remembered Melody's invitation to  attend church there. Did God have a plan for him? Hudson wanted to break  away from the family business and not have to answer to his father for  everything. He hadn't considered that his ideas might not be God's  chosen path.

Although he'd gone to church with his family whenever he was home  because his father had expected it, Hudson had to admit his faith wasn't  what it should be. He'd pretty much drifted through the whole church  thing. Had he come in contact with Ian again for a reason? How did a  person know God's will for his life?

Hudson shook the questions away. He had his own vision for where he  wanted to be and what he wanted to do, and he was sticking to it.





Chapter Six

The sight of the red Ferrari parked in front of Ian and Annie's house  jumbled Melody's insides. There was only one person that car could  belong to. How had she guessed that Hudson was a Ferrari? She should  have known he'd be in the mix when Annie had invited her over for a  Super Bowl party, something she wasn't that excited about.

A little get-together with a few friends. Were Ian and Annie trying to act as matchmakers?

Melody wondered how she should deal with Hudson. Why was he pursuing a  poor girl from rural Georgia? Maybe she was a challenge he couldn't  resist. If she fell all over him, would he turn and run the other way as  fast as he could? If she put that plan into action and it didn't work,  she could be in big trouble.

Even though he'd told her that he wasn't going to ask her for another  date, his presence always put her on edge. He seemed to be around every  corner on The Village campus-at the construction site, the  administration building or at the cafeteria. His appeal had her running  scared. She'd even considered packing her lunch and eating in her  office, but she refused to let any man intimidate her into hiding.

She couldn't forget that in their interactions he'd been masquerading as  a sedan with his down-home stories and good-old-boy persona, but in  truth he was a sports car. There was only one thing she could do. She  had to manufacture a smile and make the best of the evening. It couldn't  be all bad with other people to act as a buffer between Hudson and her.

Melody took a deep breath as she made her way to the front door. She was  thankful to have hung up her crutches a few days ago. Although she  could feel a twinge of pain once in a while and she had to wear flats  instead of heels, her ankle was nearly as good as new. Every time she  felt a small ache, she thought of Hudson and the way he'd insisted on  helping her that day. She didn't want to think nice things about him  because they undermined her resistance.

She rang the doorbell. Annie opened the door. "Melody, come in." Annie leaned a little closer. "Hudson's here."

"Yeah, I figured that when I saw the Ferrari. Not too many of our acquaintances own one of those."

Annie laughed as she hung Melody's jacket in the coat closet.  "Everyone's in the den. While we're waiting for the game to start,  Hudson's entertaining us with some video."

Melody's nervousness increased but she tried to pretend he was any other  guy, not someone who put her heart on a racetrack like one of his cars.  She had to be friendly, but not too friendly. Walking a tightrope of  emotions wouldn't make for a great evening.

When Melody entered the room, everyone was gathered around Hudson. Just  as Annie had said, they were looking at something on the tablet he was  holding. As she watched him, her heart bumped against her rib cage. If  it could be possible, he was more handsome in a pair of blue jeans and a  blue-and-white-plaid shirt than he was in a tuxedo or even the khakis  and dress shirts he wore when he came to the campus.         

     



 

"Hey, everyone, Melody's here." Annie propelled Melody toward the group.

Hudson looked up from the iPad. His intense scrutiny sent her heart into  overdrive. She could handle this. No need to let his presence tie her  in knots.