Falling for the Millionaire(20)

"We'll have a big board at the end of the rally, and the winners of  different categories will get to choose what they want. So it's not as  if the big winner will be stuck with something they don't like or can't  use."

"I'll need a list of the prizes to put in the advertising."

"I'll have it to you Monday."

"Good." Melody tried to relax. Did she dare? She feared letting down her  guard in any way would lead to liking this man too much. She couldn't  take a chance on a guy who liked to take chances. But she wouldn't think  about that today. Her thoughts would center on the road rally and the  fund-raising that went with it.

"You got your notebook ready?"

"Writing utensil." She held up her pen, then her notebook. "Paper."

During the morning, they worked out a seventy-mile course that would  take the participants through several small towns and the wooded  countryside south of Atlanta. Hudson took them down roads that Melody  had never traveled, much less heard of. Some of the unusual names lent  themselves to excellent clues for folks to decipher. Along the way they  talked with several merchants about the rally and got donations. They  found landmarks and historic markers to put on the list for photos.

After they finished planning, they stopped for a quick lunch. While they  ate they wrote out a set of instructions. Finally, they returned to the  church parking lot and drove the route again. This time Melody kept the  timer as they went through the instructions, which included having  someone take their picture in front of several landmarks. Melody  couldn't help thinking they made a good team.

Returning to the parking lot, Hudson pulled to a stop, then turned to her. "So what's our time?"

"Three hours and forty-one minutes." The quantity of time she'd spent  with this thrill-seeking man gave her pause because it had been one of  the most enjoyable days she'd had lately. In fact, if she looked back  over the weeks since she'd first gone out with Hudson, she had to admit  that he'd brightened her life. She shoved that thought away as she  looked at him. "Is that the official time?"

He nodded. "Record it somewhere, so we can make it official."

"Okay." Melody logged the time into her notes. "I'll give Adam a full  report, so he'll have the certified time to announce after everyone has  completed the course."

"Good. We're set." He smiled. "Thanks for your help. Today's been a productive day, and I enjoyed your company."

And I enjoyed yours. The words sat on the tip of her tongue, but she  wouldn't say them. She wouldn't give him the idea that they could have  some kind of relationship. Her conflicting emotions about Hudson were  tying her in knots. "I should be thanking you. After all, you're helping  The Village in so many ways."

"No thanks needed. Promoting the work you do has been good for me and made me realize I've been thinking too much about myself."

"It's a common malady. I often have the same problem."

"You? I'd never have guessed."

Melody knew her thoughts about Hudson were self-centered. If she let go  of them, would she find too much to like about him, even more than she  had today? She wasn't ready to admit she was wrong in ignoring her  growing attraction to this man. "Thanks again for the help. I guess we  should call it a day."

Hudson put his car in gear and drove out of the parking lot. "I've got  one more place I want to stop for a donation, and I thought we'd catch a  bite to eat there if you don't have plans."

Putting a smile in place, Melody glanced at him. Why was he always  making these invitations that bordered on asking her out, but were never  actually dates? "I don't have plans, so that sounds good."         

     



 

"Great. Have you ever eaten at McGurdy's Pizza?"

Melody chuckled. "More times than I can count. It seems to be the choice for everyone at The Village. Dine in and carryout."

"That should bode well for my donation request."

As the sun danced on the treetops, Hudson pulled his car into the  parking lot at McGurdy's. The place was crowded on a Saturday evening,  but he managed to snag a spot at the back of the lot. Lively  conversation and the smell of spices, garlic and baking bread greeted  them as they entered. Melody thought they'd have to wait for a table,  but the hostess appeared and led them to a booth that the busboy was  clearing.

She slid into the booth and wondered what she should talk about while  they ate. Surely he didn't want to discuss the fund-raiser after they'd  spent the whole day doing that. She certainly didn't want to discuss his  skydiving or car racing. "Should we order the same pizza I ordered when  you twisted your ankle?"

"That came from here?"

"You didn't recognize it?"

"I was a little out of it that night."

Hudson chuckled. "Maybe just a little."

"Did I thank you for being so kind?"

"You did. You don't remember?"

Melody shrugged. "You know, I was so sleepy. I kept drifting in and out of dreams. I wasn't sure what was reality."

"So you were dreaming about me?"

Melody hoped the dim light in the restaurant would camouflage the heated  blush that crept up her cheeks. Why had she even mentioned that night?  She couldn't lie. How could she get around his question? He didn't have a  clue that she'd been dreaming about kissing him, so why was she getting  all worked up about it? "Yeah, I guess I was."

"A good one, I hope."

"Definitely. You were my hero that day."

He gave her a thoughtful smile. "Thanks for saying that. I appreciate it."

"You're welcome." Melody hoped the whole conversation could end on that positive note.

Her wish came true as the waitress appeared.

After they ordered, Hudson leaned back in the booth as he looked at her.  "The work on the women's shelter is moving right along. I have a couple  of guys who stepped in to take over Carter's role. He's doing well,  too, and that's good news."

"It is." Melody realized she'd been so wrapped up with her work and  worries that she hadn't followed up with Carter and his family. That  would have to change.

"While we're waiting on the pizza, I'm going to talk to the manager  about that donation for a road-rally prize." Hudson stepped out of the  booth and strode down the aisle.

Melody wondered what the rest of the evening would bring. Did she dare  find out more about Hudson beyond his childhood dance lessons and the  less-than-perfect relationship with his father?

"We've got another donation," Hudson announced, sliding back into the booth.

"Wonderful. I know lots of people who love the food here, so that'll be a  good prize." Now, what was a safe topic of conversation? If she asked  about his time in the Middle East, it would dredge up memories of  Christopher. She didn't want to start crying like the day of Carter's  accident.

"I forgot to tell you that I asked my dad about the window in the  chapel. He confirmed that Maisy Conrick was my great-grandfather's  sister, who died when she was only twenty from diphtheria."

"That's so sad. Do you know a lot about your family history?"

Hudson laughed halfheartedly. "I know too much-most of it related to  Conrick Industries. My dad never fails to inform me that a Conrick son  has always taken over the family business."

Melody gazed at Hudson as a muscle worked in his jaw. "Are you saying  your father wants you to run Conrick Industries and you don't want to do  it?"

Hudson's mouth curved in a lopsided smile. "That about sums it up."

Did she dare ask him why he didn't want to take over from his father?  Was it any of her business? Maybe Hudson saw running the company as a  lot of work that he didn't want to tackle, but that thought didn't  square with the man she'd come to know. He'd had no trouble working  double duty since Carter's accident. Besides the work on the women's  shelter, he also had volunteered to take on this road rally. He didn't  try to get out of work. He undertook more. "May I ask why you don't want  to run the family business?"

That muscle worked in Hudson's jaw as he stared at her. Before he could  answer, the pizza arrived. He gave thanks, then helped himself to a  slice. The unanswered question hung there like an overripe piece of  fruit on a low-hanging branch-so tempting to pick but not necessarily  the right thing to do.

They ate in silence for several moments, each seemingly lost in their  own thoughts. Melody hoped her question hadn't ruined the evening.

Hudson put his half-eaten slice on his plate and took a big gulp of his  drink. Setting the glass down, he looked at her. "Do you actually want  to know why I don't want to take over the company?"         

     



 

"I wouldn't have asked if I didn't."

Hudson let out a heavy sigh. "Here's the deal. When I was in the army, I  didn't know whether I'd live to see another day. I realized I'd never  figured out who I am or what I wanted. I'd always done what someone told  me to do. Take this class. Go to this school or this church. I'd look  in the mirror and wonder who the guy was staring back at me. What did he  want? Did he know how to make a decision on his own, or did he always  have someone telling him what to do? I didn't want to live that way  anymore, but when I got out of the army, my dad immediately shipped me  off to work for the company overseas. He didn't ask me whether I wanted  to do it. He just told me. I promised myself when I got back that I  would finally take charge of my life and quit letting my father rule  me."