Falling for the Millionaire(27)

As Hudson and Melody said their good-nights, she wondered whether she  should act on his sister's urging to give him a chance. Since  Christopher's death, she had wrapped her emotions in a cocoon, hoping to  avoid more pain. But every time she interacted with Hudson, his  kindness, sense of humor and dedication to The Village worked to unravel  the protective barrier. Christopher would want her to be happy. He had  always told her to reach for her dreams.

Did she have enough fortitude to tell Hudson that she wanted to go out  with him again and find out what the future might hold? Would she  finally be brave enough to put her fears behind her?         

     



 





Chapter Ten

The headlights beamed into the darkness as Hudson drove down the  blacktop road that led away from his parents' house. He turned on the  radio to fill the silence. Melody had said few words since she'd gotten  into the car. He didn't know whether to ask if something was wrong or  keep quiet. After his conversation with Elizabeth, he feared she'd  spoken with Melody, as well.

Anger at his sister stewed inside him until it was ready to bubble over.  She had no evidence that Melody was after his money like Nicole, but  nothing he'd said would convince his overbearing sister that Melody was  the kindest, most generous and giving woman he'd ever known.

His anger cemented the notion that trying to convince his dad that  Elizabeth should take over the company was a mistake. That meant he  would become the company head. He'd been resisting the idea for years.  Was he prepared to take on that task?

More than ever, he wanted to toss aside that stupid promise not to ask  Melody for another date. But if he broke that promise, would she believe  he could keep his word going forward? He was stuck between two rotten  choices concerning Melody and his role with the company.

Why had he thought his presence alone would change Melody's mind about  going out with him? Had he been too confident that he could win her over  just by being around her?

"You're awfully quiet." Hudson looked her way as he pulled his car to a  stop at a traffic light. Had someone-Elizabeth to be exact-said  something unkind to Melody?

"I was remembering how much your dad enjoyed that game of Uno." Melody chuckled. "He was like a big kid."

"Don't let him fool you. It's his competitive nature that brings on his game face. He'll never let you see him sweat."

"Are you competitive, too?"

"It depends on the event." Competitive when trying to win Melody's  favor. Or was that actually true? Had he used that promise as an excuse  not to go after what he wanted because he feared she might turn out like  Nicole? Elizabeth and her accusations about Melody had made him angry,  but what could he do about it? Some of the same doubts plagued him.

"Uno must not be the kind of event that brings out your competitive nature."

Hudson shrugged as he pulled onto the highway. "We kind of let Dad win on his birthday."

"Does he know this?"

"Maybe, but it's all in good fun. And what he doesn't know won't hurt him."

"Are you sure?"

"It's just a game."

"What about stuff that isn't a game?"

Hudson frowned. "What are you getting at?"

"After meeting your family, I'm rethinking what I told you about letting  Elizabeth run your family company." Melody paused, but took a deep  breath and continued before Hudson could respond. "I know you'd prefer  to be out on your own, but it wouldn't be right for you to take control,  then hand the company over to your sister. It would be a deception."

"Great minds think alike."

"Are you saying you had the same thought?"

Hudson nodded. "As much as my dad grates on me, I wouldn't want him to think I was betraying his trust."

Melody hung her head. "I'm sorry I even suggested it. I feel terrible about it, but I wanted to help."

Hudson's heart thudded as he glanced at her downcast posture. He reached  across the console and gently squeezed her arm. "There's nothing to be  sorry about. Sometimes a certain path looks good until you take a second  look. I've taken several wrong turns in my life."

She looked up. "Thanks for being so kind in light of my error in judgment."

"Honestly, you don't have anything to apologize for." Hudson wanted so  much to make her feel better, but he was at a loss. When it came to  Melody, he couldn't quite get it right. As hard as he tried, he couldn't  get that idiotic promise off his mind. He wanted to wish it away-go  back in time and undo it. But he was stuck with it. He'd fallen into a  trap of his own making.

Melody fell silent again as Hudson turned onto the road that led to her  subdivision. What was she thinking? He was afraid to ask her what she  thought of his family, especially if Elizabeth had cornered Melody and  warned her away from him. If Elizabeth hadn't talked to Melody, he would  make things worse by mentioning it.

Hudson pulled into her driveway and turned off the engine, but he made  no move to get out of the car. Was there any chance she would invite him  in and extend the evening? So much wishful thinking plowed through his  brain that it made his head hurt and his heart ache.

"Thanks for sharing my dad's birthday. I liked having you there. It made the whole affair much brighter."

She shrugged. "I didn't do anything."

"You gave everyone things to think about, but your presence made everything better."

Melody stared at him in the dimly lit interior of the car. Licking her  lips, she looked as though she wanted to say something, but uncertainty  radiated from her eyes. "You're too kind. I guess I'd better go in."         

     



 

"Sure. I'll walk you to the door." As Hudson jumped out of the car and  raced around to open the car door for her, he wished he could come up  with a reason to linger longer, but nothing came to mind. Maybe he  should tell her he wasn't going to keep his promise and see what she  said. It couldn't be any worse than waiting around for her to make a  move.

When they reached her front porch, she already had her keys in her hand.  Not a very promising sign for prolonging their time together. She  unlocked the door and let it swing open as she turned back to him. He  couldn't read her expression as she stood there silhouetted against the  light she'd left on inside. His heart thundered, and he swallowed hard.  How he'd love to kiss her right now.

"I..." They both spoke at once, then laughed.

"Ladies first."

She turned just enough for the light inside to expose the uncertainty  still in her expression. "I'd like to talk to you about something if you  have time."

"My time is yours."

"Good. Come in."

"Sure." Despite Melody's invitation, her voice projected that same doubt  he'd seen in her eyes. What did she want to talk about that made her so  tentative? Whatever it was, it must not be good. He followed her into  the house and stood there in her front hall, a sick feeling in his gut.

She gave him a reluctant smile. "You're welcome to make yourself comfortable in the living room. I'll be back in a minute."

Her minute seemed like forever while he paced back and forth, his mind  whirling with all kinds of trouble. Could something be wrong with his  project? Surely not after she'd praised everything about it tonight. It  couldn't be about the road rally. That was going well, too. The only  thing left was his biggest fear. Elizabeth. Maybe he'd been right and  his sister had confronted Melody, and she wanted to discuss it. That  would explain her hesitancy about this meeting.

"Would you like something to drink?"

Hudson stopped pacing at her return. He wanted to get this conversation  over with. "No, thanks. I've already had enough to eat and drink  tonight."

"Okay. Me, too, actually." She let out a nervous little laugh as she scurried to the couch and sat down. "Please have a seat."

Hudson glanced around the room. He opted for the chair, so he could face  her while he heard what she had to say. "What's this about?"

She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She was killing him with this waiting.

"Don't be so nervous. Just tell me what's on your mind. I'm a big boy. I can handle whatever you've got to say."

Melody's worried expression morphed into a little smile. "I've changed my mind."

"About what?" A dozen thoughts zipped through his brain-none of them good.

She licked her lips again. "You said if I ever changed my mind about  going out with you again to let you know. Well, I'm letting you know."

Hudson closed the gap between his chair and the couch in a nanosecond.  He took her hands and pulled her to her feet. He couldn't help grinning  from ear to ear. "That's the best news I've heard all day, all week, all  year. There's only one thing I want to do. Kiss you."

She looked up at him as she put her arms around his neck. "I can't think of anything better."

With his heart pounding, Hudson leaned closer. Their lips met, and he  wondered how he'd managed to wait this long for this moment. He wanted  this relationship to work. She made his life brighter in so many ways,  and he wanted to do the same for her.