Melody couldn't miss the determination in his eyes or the disapproval in his voice. She couldn't imagine not being able to make her own choices. "Have you told him this?"
"I've let him know I don't want to run the company. My sister Elizabeth wants the job, and I don't understand why he won't give it to her."
"Have you ever thought about taking the job and then handing it over to her?"
A slow smile brightened his features as he shrugged. "I've been so consumed with not wanting it that I never thought of that. It's something I'll consider discussing with my sister."
"I'm glad I could help."
"And I could kiss you, but I won't because that might be treading on territory I promised I wouldn't enter."
The thought of kissing Hudson sent little prickles up her spine. "And you wouldn't want to do that."
"I didn't say I wouldn't want to do it, but I make a habit of keeping my promises."
"That's something I'll remember." The promise she'd made to herself lingered at the back of her mind, but Hudson was slowly shredding it with his kindness and humor as he shared snippets of his life.
He raised his eyebrows and gave her a mischievous grin as if he knew her thoughts. "You know if you ever want to change the way things stand, you only have to tell me."
"I'll remember that, too." How could she forget? Did he sense with every passing day that he was tearing down her resistance?
"Good." He finished eating his pizza and didn't mention his promise again.
On the drive home, Hudson mentioned his plans to visit Carter after church. Melody wondered whether asking to go with him would constitute changing the way things stood between them. She wasn't ready to do that. Arriving at her house, Melody unlocked her door. "I'll see you tomorrow at church."
Hudson nodded. "Sweet dreams."
"Good night." Melody wondered whether he was referring to her admission that she'd dreamed about him. Trying to shake that question away, she watched him walk to his car, his stride confident. She'd failed to keep the promise she'd made to herself not to let this man into her heart. He'd found a place there. Now what was she going to do about it?
Chapter Eight
Red-and-white balloons and streamers hung from the ceiling in the senior center in anticipation of the Valentine banquet for the residents. Hudson placed the last of the pink baskets filled with red roses on one of the tables covered with white tablecloths, then joined a group of high school kids and other volunteers who were eating a quick bite before the banquet began.
He smiled when Melody sat next to him at a table in the kitchen. Despite her somewhat reluctant acceptance of his presence, he was making headway with her. The fact that she was sitting next to him without his urging her said a lot about her possible shift in attitude. He hoped tonight would bring a big change in her perception of him. He couldn't help smiling when she was around.
"You look very nice in your apron." Melody tried to hide a smile.
"Of course I do." He chuckled as he pointed to the front displaying numerous hearts and a printed message that said Kiss the Cook. "Are you going to follow the instructions?"
She made a face and shook her head. "The chef's wife might object."
Hudson laughed. "You don't believe I'm the cook."
"Hardly."
"Even though you won't kiss me, I'll still tell you what a perfect Valentine you make in your red sweater. You look good in red."
Melody looked down at her sweater, then back up at him as if she wasn't quite sure what to say, but a little smile lingered at the corners of her mouth. "Thank you, but flattery still won't get you a kiss."
"I tried, but it wasn't flattery. I meant it." Smiling, Hudson shrugged as he relished the little bit of flirting. She was definitely warming up to him.
As the seniors gathered in the dining hall, he took in the joy permeating through every corner of the room, not only with the residents who were gathered for the banquet but with those who were there to serve them. He looked over at Melody as she motioned for the volunteers to gather around her.
"Okay, everyone, do you know your assignments?" she said as she surveyed the group.
As the workers nodded, he couldn't help thinking that his task was to make this woman happy. He was growing fonder of her with every passing day. He wondered how he could ever have thought she might be like Nicole. Their "nondate" to plan the road rally had proved better than any real date he'd had in years. She deserved happiness, and somehow he wanted to fit into that picture. He hoped tonight's surprise would be only the beginning.
Melody showed the young waiters how to place the plates on the table. Hudson had a suspicion that at least a few of the high school boys had a crush on her. He couldn't blame them.
He spied Ian motioning to him from the kitchen doorway. Hudson tried to be nonchalant as he joined his friend. "Is everything ready?"
Ian nodded. "We're set. You've got a perfect night with above-average temperatures for your surprise."
Hudson stood with his back to where Melody was still giving instructions. "So the plan is to invite everyone outside after the meal's over?"
"Yes, and I still can't believe the Hudson Conrick I used to know has turned into such a romantic."
"Not necessarily a romantic. I just want to make her smile."
"You will." Ian clapped Hudson on the back. "Now we should get this dinner started."
"Yeah. I'm all for that." He turned back toward the preparation area as Ian went into the dining hall.
After Ian said a prayer, the servers brought salads to all the tables. Hudson worked alongside Melody, Kirsten, Brady and some of the other day-shift workers from the nursing home. They made quick work of getting the chicken Parmesan, angel-hair pasta and garlic bread on the plates. While the diners enjoyed the main course, Melody and her crew put the red-velvet cake on plates and set them out for the servers. During dessert, the praise band from the Chapel Church sang and played some romantic songs. Melody mouthed the words to "Close to You" originally sung by The Carpenters, a song he'd heard his mother listen to numerous times.
Hudson had to force himself not to stand next to her and put an arm around her shoulders. Despite all these romantic feelings about her, he had to caution himself against the tendency to jump into a romance like he jumped out of planes. He'd done that with Nicole because he'd thought she was perfect, but she'd been just the opposite. Although he knew with certainty that Melody was nothing like his ex, he still wondered whether he was taking a romantic leap he wasn't ready for.
Thankful for the ending of the song, he joined Ian, Brady and Adam as they sang a barbershop quartet rendition of the Beatles song "When I'm Sixty-Four." When they finished, the place exploded with applause. The four men took a bow, then Hudson returned to the kitchen for the cleanup.
Melody smiled at him. "I didn't know you could sing. You should do that more often."
Hudson shrugged. "It was kind of a last-minute thing that Adam decided we should do."
"It was very good."
"Thanks." He could hardly wait to see her face when she witnessed his surprise.
After the entertainment ended, Ian came to the microphone. "Ladies and gentlemen, we have a special event for everyone tonight if you'd like to join us on the quad. The evening is warm for February, but some of you may still want to grab a jacket before you venture out. Our barbershop quartet will sing another song while everyone gathers near the fountain."
A buzz of conversation filled the hall as folks got up from their chairs or moved their wheelchairs toward the door. Melody looked over at Hudson. "Do you know what this is about?"
"I do."
"Tell me what's going on."
"I can't. It's a surprise." He grinned, his heart pounding with excitement. "You'll find out along with everyone else. Do you need a jacket?"
"I've got one right here." She snagged one from the back of a nearby chair. "I'm eager to see what's happening."
"Join the crowd." He gestured for her to go ahead while he stepped behind her.
Stars sparkled in the darkened sky, and a sliver of a moon graced the treetops. He took a deep breath as he tried to calm himself. He didn't think he'd be this nervous. Surely, she would love this.
"It's a beautiful night."
"It is." He motioned toward the fountain, sporting silver balloons and flowing with red water. "I've got to join the quartet."
"Go ahead."
For the next few minutes the quartet performed "Somebody to Love." After the song ended, applause echoed across the quad, and Hudson took in Melody's smile with a happy heart. Did he dare trust that God had brought her into his life for a reason? His attendance at the Chapel Church had brought him closer to God and renewed his faith that had been dormant for the past few years. Working at The Village had showed him what putting faith into action was all about.