Falling for the Millionaire(24)

"Sure." Hudson helped Melody out of her jacket. "We've had such a mild  winter, but I hear a cold front's headed our way tomorrow."

"I'm afraid so." Susan grimaced.

As they made their way toward the sitting room, he wondered what Melody  was thinking. She'd already met his mother, but he was afraid the  tension with his father would spill over into the rest of the family.  But for now, laughter and lively conversation greeted them as they  approached the French doors that led to the room. True to his mother's  word, the children came running as soon as they spied him.

"It's Uncle Hud." His five-year-old nephew, Riley, raced toward them.

Hudson picked the boy up and tossed him over his shoulder. "I've got you captured now."

The boy squealed and wriggled to get down, and Hudson quickly set him on  the floor. In the next instant, the other kids surrounded him as he  hunkered down to greet the littlest ones. Then he stood and gave the  older kids a fist bump. "Hey, gang, I want you to meet someone."

"Is she your girlfriend?" Riley's older brother Jacob asked.

Hoping the warmth creeping up his neck wasn't a blush, Hudson shook his  head. "No, young man, she's my boss, and you'd better be nice to her."

The boy's eyes grew wide as he nodded vigorously. "I will, Uncle Hud."

A collective laugh rippled through the room as he took Melody's elbow  and guided her farther into the room. "Melody, let me introduce you to  my family."

She smiled at him, but he could read the uncertainty in her eyes. "I hope you won't test me on all the names."

Susan stepped forward. "You did a marvelous job remembering all my friends a few weeks ago. They were impressed."

Melody shrugged as she let out a seemingly self-conscious laugh. "It was nothing."

Hudson leaned closer to her and whispered, "You don't have to remember all these people."

She smiled up at him. "Thanks. I appreciate that, but I'll try."

"You can remember my name." Hudson's youngest niece, a sweet little girl  with curly dark hair, planted herself in front of Melody. "My name's  Madelyn. Uncle Hud calls me Maddie."

"Is it okay if I call you Maddie, too?" Melody asked.

His niece nodded. "I think it'll be okay since you're his boss."

"Thanks, Maddie," Melody replied as another ripple of laughter spread through the room.

Hudson looked at her. "Now that you've met my youngest sister's kids, are you ready for the full introductions?"         

     



 

Taking a deep breath, she nodded, that nervous little smile curving her mouth.

He motioned toward the chair where his father sat. "My father, H.P."

His dad stood and took one of Melody's hands in his. "It's nice to meet  you. I understand you're the little lady who's in charge of the project  my son's involved with."

"Yes, sir." Melody nodded. "Happy birthday."

"Thank you. I'm trying to be happy about being another year older."  H.P.'s voice boomed across the room. "Is that son of mine doing good  work?"

"The best." Melody took a step back when H.P. released her hand.

Hudson tried not to let Melody's approval go to his head. She was kind  enough not to say anything negative to his father. His dad, on the other  hand, wasn't so generous with his praise.

Hudson motioned to the rest of his family sitting or standing around the  room. "Now for the rest of this gang. My eldest sister, Elizabeth, and  her husband, Todd, and their two kids, Alex and Melissa."

"It's nice to meet you." Elizabeth flashed Hudson an irritated smile.  "Of course, he had to put in that bit about my being the eldest."

Hudson grinned. "She might as well know who has seniority."

"Seniority with what? I'd like to know," Elizabeth said.

"With everything. You know you've loved bossing me around since I was old enough to understand what you were saying."

"I can't deny that." Elizabeth winked at Melody.

He was thankful that Elizabeth had gone along with his joke. Sometimes  she could be like their father-too serious and unbending. Maybe that was  why his dad was reluctant to hand the reins over to her. The two of  them were too much alike. His two younger sisters took after their  mother, who was much more easygoing and quite flexible. He continued the  introductions with his middle sister, Julie, and her husband, Sean, and  their three children, Hannah, Shelby and Hunter. Moving on, he finished  with his youngest sister, Rebecca, and her husband, Justin.

Smiling, Susan stepped to the center of the room. "Now that we've  inundated Melody with names, let's go into the dining room for the  delicious dinner Sarah has prepared."

With Melody at his side, Hudson hung back while his family filed out of  the room. He wondered what she thought about the people he loved. "Was  that a little overwhelming?"

"I think I can remember all the names, but not which child belongs with which parent."

"I won't give you a test."

"That's good." She chuckled as she matched his stride. "You have a nice family."

"Until you really get to know them." Hudson stopped just outside the dining room.

Melody frowned at him. "Is that any way to talk about them?"

"I was only kidding, but I'll admit I don't always see eye to eye with them."

"Do any of us always agree with everything our families do?"

"You know that's the case with me, but I promise I won't mention it again this evening." He offered her his arm. "Let's go eat."

She slipped her arm through his, and like the night of the fund-raiser,  he felt like the luckiest man in the room. He was with the most  beautiful woman. He escorted her to the table and pulled out her chair,  then took the one next to her. They sat at the end by the head of the  table where his dad sat occupying his chair like a head of state. Before  the meal, H.P. asked Hudson to offer a prayer as everyone joined hands.  He glanced over at Melody as he held out his hand. This was one time  when he didn't mind bowing to his father's command. When she placed her  hand in his, memories of her spontaneous hug from the night of the  Valentine banquet poured into his mind. He took a deep breath as he  focused his thoughts on prayer, not on the soft, feminine hand holding  his.

As soon as Hudson finished, Sarah and her kitchen help brought out the first course, one of H.P.'s favorites, shrimp cocktail.

His dad took the first bite, then laid aside his fork. "Now, this is the way to start a birthday party."

Laughter spread around the table as everyone joined him. Everything from  the appetizer to the perfectly grilled steaks pleased his father. As he  finished off the last morsel of his steak, H.P. leaned toward Melody.  "A man should be allowed to have steak more than once a year on his  birthday."

Hudson took in Melody's deer-in-headlights expression and jumped in to  rescue her from his dad's complaints. "Dad, you know that's what the  doctor ordered."

H.P. frowned. "It's criminal with all the good steak in this world that I  can't enjoy it more often. The food police take the enjoyment out of  life."

Elizabeth patted her father's arm. "Now, Daddy, calm down. You don't  want to raise your blood pressure on your birthday. Think happy  thoughts."

H.P. harrumphed and crossed his arms. "My happy thoughts would include more steak."

"How about some birthday cake and ice cream," Sarah said as she wheeled  in a cart with a large cake covered with creamy frosting and walnuts.  "Carrot cake. Your favorite."         

     



 

While Sarah served, Hudson wondered what would make his dad happy  besides his favorite foods. Did he find joy in telling other people what  to do? Was that why he pushed his only son? Was his attitude what led  to his success?

What would happen if he slipped out from under his father's thumb? He  could do that if he put Elizabeth in charge, but would it be the right  thing to do? He'd thought Melody's suggestion was brilliant until he'd  had time to think it over. That solution would upset his dad and,  despite the desire to be his own man, a nagging thought plagued Hudson.  He didn't want to displease the most important man in his life.

Hudson warred with himself over his father's demands. He didn't want to  take over the company. If he wanted to be true to himself, he had to  stand up to him no matter what the consequences would be. Was that what  he wanted?

Susan tapped on her water goblet with a spoon, shaking Hudson from his troubling thoughts. "Let's sing ‘Happy Birthday'."

H.P. waved a hand and knit his eyebrows, but Hudson could tell that  underneath his father's objection there was a happy man. His mom had  always been able to bring out the best in her husband. Without a doubt,  his father loved and cherished the woman he'd married over forty years  ago. Hudson wondered whether he could find a love like that. He'd made a  wrong decision with Nicole. Was Melody a better choice? He wished she'd  let him find out.