Falling for the Millionaire(5)

"It might be fun to find out."

Melody let out an exasperated sigh. "You don't give up, do you?"

"Not when I want something." Hudson's look could cut steel. "I won't  press you anymore tonight, but you haven't heard the last of me, Ms.  Hammond."

"I'll take that as a warning, Mr. Conrick."

"James, I'll be walking Ms. Hammond to the door."

Again the driver seemed to materialize out of thin air. He opened the  door. Hudson stepped out and extended his hand to Melody. She braced  herself against her reaction to his touch as she took his hand. She  didn't want to like the way her hand felt in his, but she did. She  didn't want to like anything about tonight, but she did. She didn't want  to think about Hudson kissing her good-night, but she did. She couldn't  let that kiss happen, no matter what she wanted.

When they stepped onto her porch, Melody quickly snatched her keys from  her purse and unlocked her door. She turned to look up at him, another  lump forming in her throat. Her head was telling her to run and run  fast, but her heart told her to take a chance. She couldn't listen to  her heart. "I can't thank you enough for being my escort and for your  support."

That lazy smile reappeared. "Sure you can. You can go out with me again."

Melody clenched her fist around her purse strap. She would not give in.  She would stand her ground no matter how captivating his smile was. She  would not take a chance on another man determined to pursue something  dangerous, especially when it had no redeeming value. "I'm sorry,  Hudson. The answer is no. Please don't ask me again."

"I'm not going to make promises I can't keep." Hudson leaned closer, almost close enough to kiss her.

"Thanks again. Good night." Her heart pounding, she ducked inside as his good-night was lost in the closing of her door.

Melody watched through the sidelight window while Hudson strode away  without a backward glance. Her wobbly legs failed to move an inch. She  put her fingertips to her lips where he'd almost planted a kiss. Her  pulse raced as she stood there until the taillights of the limousine  faded from her view. She couldn't let his persuasive words, his handsome  face or his generous nature change her determination not to go out with  him again.

* * *

The redbrick buildings of the former college gave a stately air to The  Village of Hope campus. Even the grays of winter didn't take away from  the beauty as Hudson parked his car near the administration offices. How  would Melody react when she saw him? He'd spent the past four days  trying not to think about her, but her image plagued his thoughts.

Maybe his ego had taken a hit when she'd refused to go out with him  again. He wasn't used to women turning him down. But he was wary of  female motives no matter the circumstances. Too often they were looking  at his bank account and not at him. Melody certainly had reason to see  him as a dollar sign even if her interest wasn't personal.

He wanted another date with her, and he would find a way to get one. But  first, he had other things to accomplish. After a little research, he'd  discovered that they were still taking bids for the women's shelter  project. Winning that bid was his goal.

Hudson and Carter Duncan, the general manager and numbers guy from the  construction division of Conrick Industries, walked into the impressive  reception area with its shiny marble floor and the two-story ceiling. A  smiling silver-haired woman sat behind the massive reception desk. "Good  morning. May I help you?"

"Good morning, Lovie. I'm Hudson Conrick, and this is my colleague,  Carter Duncan." Hudson motioned toward the short stocky man with the  thinning brown hair who stood nearby. "We have an appointment with Adam  Bailey and Melody Hammond."

Lovie's brow wrinkled. "How do you know my name?"

Hudson pointed toward the little gold bar pinned to her jacket. "It says so right there on your name tag."

Lovie shook her head. "You can't fool me. You said my name before you were close enough to read it."

"Okay. You've got me." Hudson chuckled. "I heard about you and your quilt the other night at the fund-raiser."

Clapping her hands together, Lovie beamed. "So wonderful what the Lord can do with a little bit of nothing."

"I saw your quilt. That wasn't a little bit of nothing. It was a lot of  work. A true work of art and love." Hudson leaned on the raised counter  of the reception desk.

"Thank you. I am proud of it and so happy I was able to help The  Village." Lovie blushed as she reached for the phone. "I'll let Adam  know you're on your way to his office, which is down the hallway to the  left."

"Thanks." Hudson nodded, then fell into step with Carter as they made their way around the corner.         

     



 

"I sure hope you know what you're doing. I wouldn't want to make your  father unhappy with this venture." Carter frowned as he slowed his step  and turned to Hudson.

Hudson stopped, taking in the worry in Carter's eyes. "I told you this  project will be mine. I'm prepared to take this whole endeavor on my  shoulders. You don't have to be concerned about a thing."

"I'll hold you to that."

"Your part is to help me get the numbers I need. I want to be armed with  as much information as possible when I confront my father."

Carter shook his head as they continued on their way. "Better you than  me. Besides, I'd sure like it if this project saved my job."

Their footsteps sounded loud in the quiet hallway as Hudson tried not to  think about his dad's reaction to this undertaking. He had heard rumors  that the construction side of the business wasn't doing well. Carter's  statement made it a certainty. Hudson would like nothing better than to  save the jobs of all those involved. Before they reached their  destination, Adam stepped into the hallway. "Good to see you again, Mr.  Conrick."

Hudson shook hands, then made introductions. Adam ushered them into his  office. Hudson glanced around the Spartan space until his gaze rested on  Melody. Although she smiled as she greeted them, she didn't look happy  to be there. Was she still wishing to avoid him?

Adam motioned for them to sit on the black leather chairs near his desk.  "I understand you want to see the blueprints for the new project and  tour the area. Is that correct?"

Hudson nodded as he shrugged out of his jacket and hung it over the back  of the chair. "Carter here is my numbers man. He'll want to see what  you've got so Conrick Construction can give you a bid."

"We're close to making a decision, so you'll have to give us your  proposal by Monday." Adam pushed the rolls of blueprints and another  folder across the desk.

"That won't be a problem." Despite the statement, Hudson's dry mouth and  racing pulse gave him no peace. So much of what he wanted to prove to  his father was riding on this proposal. For years he'd walked the path  his father had set before him. Those dance lessons, law school and the  army had been his father's command. Hudson was determined not to jump to  his dad's wishes anymore. Staring death in the face on the battlefield  made him realize he'd been living a life that had been chosen for him.  He didn't know who he was or what he wanted because he'd let someone  else plan his life. Not anymore.

Could he make his case? No time for doubts. He would finally stand up  for himself and make his own mark in this world. That included his  interest in one very reluctant woman. Melody Hammond was a challenge he  couldn't resist.

While thoughts of standing up to his father rolled through Hudson's  mind, Carter studied the blueprints and the information Adam had  provided. Finally, he closed the folder and glanced at Hudson. "I'd like  to take these blueprints to the construction site."

Adam waved a hand in Melody's direction. "Melody will give you a tour. I  have another meeting this morning, so I'll meet you in the senior  center after you finish."

Melody produced another uncomfortable smile as she led Hudson and Carter  into the hallway. "Let me stop by my office and grab my coat."

"Sure." Hudson nodded as he walked beside her. "It's a little chilly out there today, unlike the night of the fund-raiser."

She nodded, still trying to hold her smile in place as she scurried into  her office and out of sight. Had he made a mistake in mentioning their  date? He had to quit second-guessing himself. Women didn't usually  intimidate him, but Melody did. He'd never met a woman like her.

"I can see why you're eager to do this project. She's quite a looker."

Annoyed at Carter's description of Melody, Hudson glared at the other  man. "She might be good-looking, but this isn't about her. This is about  business."

"If you say so." Grinning, Carter shrugged.

Hudson balled and unballed his hand. The urge to wipe that smile off  Carter's face passed through Hudson's thoughts. Not wise. Not  productive. Not Christian.

He took a deep breath as Melody reappeared wearing a dark gray trench  coat. With a nod, she led them out the side door. The bright sunshine  belied the temperature outside. Hudson liked the way sunlight sparkled  in her blond hair as it lay on the jacket's dark material. He wished he  could say something to brighten her mood, but it was obvious his  presence didn't make her happy. Much the same as the night of the  fund-raiser, Melody charged ahead at a fast clip as she made her way  across the quad. She walked with determination. He liked that about her,  too. When she reached the fountain, she stopped and turned. "I'll show  you our current women's facility so you can see what's been done before  with an existing building."