Falling for the Millionaire(16)

Melody smiled as she raised her hand halfway and gave a little wave. "What are y'all looking at?"

Kirsten pulled her into the group. "You've got to see this. Hudson skydives. So cool."

Melody tried to smile at Kirsten, who obviously had no idea that Melody  wasn't excited about Hudson's skydiving or even the fact that he was  here. "I'm not a fan."

Brady came up and put his arm around his fiancée's shoulders as he  looked at Melody. "You'd think Kirsten would say the same thing since  she's the woman who doesn't like to ride on cable cars dangling above  the ground, but here she is saying how cool skydiving is."

Kirsten gave him an irritated look. "I've never known anyone who has  actually jumped from a plane. I didn't say I was going to skydive.  Hot-air balloon rides are as adventuresome as I want to get."

"I'm not sure I'd even like a balloon ride." Melody grimaced.

"Maybe you should see for yourself what we're talking about." Hudson grinned as he held out the iPad. "Take a look."

"Okay." Melody figured everyone would think she was unsociable if she  didn't. She watched the video of Hudson jumping out of a plane, his  parachute opening in a colorful display. After soaring over the forested  hills in the Atlanta area, he made a pinpoint landing in an open field.  She wanted to ask how he did it, but she decided not to engage him in  conversation. He had enough attention from the others. Was she the only  one who found the idea completely horrifying?

Closing the cover on the tablet, Hudson looked at her. "So was it as bad as you thought?"

Melody raised her eyebrows. "You really don't want me to answer that question."

Hudson pressed his lips together in a grim line. "So I didn't change your mind?"

"I'd rather not talk about it. The thought of it turns my stomach."  Melody tried to smile to take the edge off her statement. "Let's discuss  something else."

"Sure." He gave her a pointed look. "Did my mother call you about talking to her ladies' group?"

"She did, and she's set up a luncheon at her home." Melody stared back,  wondering why Hudson was so interested in her project beyond the  construction. Was he still trying to win the brownie points he'd joked  about the day she'd sprained her ankle? She shouldn't doubt his  sincerity. Was her attitude the result of fear-fear of letting this  handsome, danger-loving man get too close?

"I'm sure that made her happy. She loves those kinds of events."

"Thanks for mentioning The Village to her. I always appreciate an  opportunity to share the work we do." Melody hoped she sounded sincere.  She really did love sharing the ministry, though standing up in front of  a group of wealthy women wasn't something she was looking forward to.  It was her least favorite part of the job.

"I have another fund-raising idea that I mentioned to Ian this evening.  He seemed to like it, so I thought I'd run it by you." Hudson picked up  the tablet from the end table and scrolled through the screen as he  studied it. He held up the device for her to take a look. "Have you ever  heard of a road-rally fund-raiser?"

Melody shook her head as she looked at the screen. "What is it?"

"Folks pay a fee to drive their cars along a predetermined route with  clues that guide them to the end point. The team car coming closest to  the course time set by the sponsors wins a prize. It's something an  individual or a whole family can do." Hudson handed her the tablet. "You  can read about it more in depth here."

Melody took it, her heart pounding at the thought of racing cars. How  could that be a family event? She tried to focus on the screen, but the  words swam before her eyes. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly  as the words became clear. As she read, her fears began to subside.

Melody stared up at him, but before she could respond, Travis Hoffman,  Kirsten Bailey's friend who had recently moved to Atlanta, approached.

"Melody, I wanted to congratulate you on the great fund-raiser." Travis smiled.

"Thanks, Travis." Why didn't he interest her? He fit the sedan model.  Maybe that was the problem. Her head said "sedan," but her heart told  her to go for the sports car. "Have you met Hudson?"

"Yes, we were talking about cars before you arrived." Travis motioned  toward the front of the house. "I admit to being envious of his vehicle  out there."

"We should find a time to do some racing." Hudson nodded. "If I set something up, would you participate?"

"Sure. That's something I've always wanted to do."

Oh, great! Hudson was going to get all these guys racing cars, even Travis, who didn't seem the type.         

     



 

"Has Hudson told you about his road-rally idea?"

Travis shook his head as he looked over at Hudson. "I did one of those  when I was in college for our fraternity. Are you doing one to raise  money for The Village?"

"That's the thought." Hudson pointed to the tablet. "I was showing Melody what they're all about."

"That would be fun," Travis said.

"What do you think, Melody?" Hudson asked. "I'd help you set it up."

Melody tried to smile. That would mean another meeting with Hudson. Was  he doing this on purpose? He wouldn't ask her for another date, but he  would find every opportunity to be in each other's company. "I'll think  about."

"Talk to Ian." Hudson nodded toward the other side of the room. "He's on board."

"I will." Melody wanted to get away. Could she escape now that Travis  was here? "I'll see if Annie needs help in the kitchen and let you guys  talk about cars or football or whatever."

"Yeah, the game will be starting soon. You don't want to miss the  kickoff." Hudson's expression told Melody that he knew she was running  away, but he didn't try to stop her. As she hurried across the room, she  could hear the guys start their plans for a race. Maybe she should cut  Hudson some slack. After all, Travis seemed interested in cars, too.

Did all men like to live on the edge or just certain men? Christopher  hadn't been one to live like that. He'd only wanted to help people in  need. Why had God allowed Christopher to die? She didn't have the  answer. She had to quit thinking about it or the negativity would ruin  her evening.

Melody found Annie working in the kitchen. "Need some help?"

Her friend lifted a lid and stirred something in a big pot. "You should be spending time with Hudson."

"Was it your idea to invite him?"

"I don't remember. Ian and I made the guest list together." Annie shrugged and stirred some more. "Why?"

Melody frowned. "So I can tell you to stop pushing us together."

"What do you have against him?"

Melody let the question rattle around in her mind. Could she explain her  reservations? The man had endeared himself to everyone here and at The  Village. "Nothing. He's not my type."

"What's not to like about a handsome rich guy?"

Melody shrugged. "Do we have to discuss him?"

Annie raised her eyebrows as she gave Melody a skeptical look. "So he really is your type. You just don't want to admit it."

Melody huffed. "There's nothing to admit. You're trying to make something out of nothing."

"I remember when you were giving me advice about Ian, and I wasn't sure I wanted to listen-"

"But that was different. You and Ian had a history. I've only known Hudson for a few weeks, and we don't have much in common."

"Kirsten told me that was how Brady felt when they met. Look at what happened with them."

Melody pressed her lips together as she contemplated an argument to refute Annie's reasoning. "You don't understand."

"Then, explain it." Annie opened the oven and extracted a casserole dish and set it on a trivet.

"Another time. Is that your delicious buffalo chicken dip?"

"Well, it's Ian's mom's recipe." Annie chuckled. "She supplied me with most of the instructions for tonight's dishes."

"Can I help you serve the food?"

"You can, but that doesn't mean you'll get out of telling me why you're  not interested in Hudson." Annie took off the oven mitts and laid them  on the counter.

"I can try."

"But you won't succeed." Annie grinned as she handed Melody a bag of  chips and a jar of salsa. "You can replenish the snacks in the den. I'm  going to put some of the stuff on the breakfast bar and leave the rest  in here."

Welcoming the diversion, Melody hurried to replenish the bowls on the  coffee table. She glanced up at the TV. The game was already in  progress. Folks had found seats on the sofa, on chairs or on the floor.  She surveyed the room and spied Hudson standing near the breakfast bar,  where Annie was putting more food.

He motioned to the empty bar stool next to him. "You can sit here, and I'll keep you company."

Waving the empty chip bag in the air, she made a move toward the  kitchen. "I have to throw this away and put away the salsa jar."