He chalked them up to his protective instincts kicking in and ignored the little voice in the back of his mind calling him a liar.With all the drama going on around his family and the ranch, he figured his emotions were on high alert.Caffeine.He needed a cup of coffee and, at this point, hunger pangs reminded him that he’d given away his meal.
Heading into the kitchen, his phone vibrated.He fished it out and checked the screen.The billionaire needed to cancel today’s visit.Said his mare wasn’t on her feed, and he didn’t want to take any chances.Cool.For once, timing seemed to be working in Hudson’s favor instead of conspiring against him.
After responding to the text to reschedule, he moved into the kitchen.His first order of business was to wash off any remaining blood from the wounded animal.As he finished, a text from Marcus arrived, warning Hudson to remain cautious.The mountain lion was still at large.Turned out, good luck didn’t hang around Hudson for long.He made the necessary arrangements to have Best picked up rather than leave Cassie alone in a stranger’s home,hishome.Those beautiful eyes of hers carried dark circles, and he suspected she hadn’t had a good night’s sleep in longer than she would admit.
Hudson finished fixing a sandwich and then sat down at the bar-height counter to eat.His cabin was simple and clean, much the way he liked to run his life.The thought caused him to crack a smile, considering the woman he’d just brought into his house.
By the time he polished off the sandwich, Cassie emerged from the bathroom.Beads of water dripped from her still-wet hair, running down a long neck as she joined him at the table.
“Thank you for everything,” she said.When she lifted her gaze to meet his, a knot formed in the center of his chest, and his throat suddenly dried up.What the hell?He wasn’t seventeen again.And yet, that was exactly how old he felt at this moment.Like he was seventeen, raging with hormones, and had just met the love of his life.
He coughed to clear his throat.“You’re welcome.I owed you that much after you saved my skin.”
The quirk to her eyebrow said she somehow doubted him, but she didn’t comment.“I’ll be okay if you need to go.”
The sounds of gravel crunching beneath tires caused her face to turn as white as a bleached sheet.
Hudson was on his feet in two seconds flat.“I called for someone to pick up Best so I wouldn’t have to leave you here alone.Figured you would be on pins and needles until I came back, if that was the case, and you’ve been through enough.”
Eyes wide, Cassie nodded.Her pulse visibly pounded at the base of her throat.
“I’ll double-check.”He moved to the front door, opened it, and then waved at his brother Conrad.At twenty-nine years old, he was one year younger than Hudson.Guilt that the two hadn’t been exactly close growing up nailed Hudson as his brother waved back before giving a thumbs-up sign.
“Key is in the truck,” Hudson shouted to his brother, who came jogging up to hand over the key to his own vehicle.
“Easier if we trade.Okay?”Conrad asked after a bear hug.The two might not have been close as kids, but they were finding their way now.Beaumont had embraced the “divide and conquer” philosophy.He’d done his level best to pit his kids against each other when he hadn’t had them working until they were bone tired.Everyone had reacted by keeping to themselves rather than giving Beaumont ammunition, except for the twins.Thirty-two-year-old Owen and Archer had been joined at the hip since birth.Not much had changed there.Hudson envied them in a way.They’d always had each other.But then, they’d shared a womb.That would create an unbreakable bond.
“Sounds good,” Hudson said.“I appreciate the help.”
“Not a problem.”Conrad’s gaze dropped to the pair of women’s sneakers that had been placed inside the door.He cracked a smile and then winked.“Anytime.”
Hudson gave his brother a playful shove.“Get out of here.”
Being back at the family ranch had brought on a whole heap of mixed feelings when Hudson had first arrived.More and more, he warmed to the idea of sticking around and building a life here.
“Send updates on the group chat,” Conrad said before taking the driver’s seat, starting the engine, and disappearing down the lane.Hudson took note of the fact that his brother had taken off before a response could be issued.He shook his head.At least Conrad hadn’t tried the line about there being something in the well water, causing seemingly everyone on the ranch to find their person.
“Who was that?”Cassie asked, sitting there, chewing on her nails and still looking more beautiful than any person had a right to.His robe looked good on her.Then again, it would be next to impossible to find something that didn’t.
“My brother Conrad,” Hudson said.
She shifted her head to one side.“What’s it like?”
“What do you mean?”
“Having a sibling?”She leaned her elbows onto the table.“I always wondered what it would be like to have a sister or brother growing up—someone around to have your back.But I once had a friend who had a younger brother who drove her crazy, so I decided that I had enough problems and was better off without more drama.But you like your family, so what’s it like as adults?”
He laughed.“We’re still feeling our way as grown ass people, to be honest.”
Cassie smiled, and the knot in his chest tightened.His gaze dropped down to her full, pink lips—lips that he had no business staring at.
When her tongue slicked across her bottom lip, a bomb detonated inside his chest.
Hudson knew when he was in over his head, yet nothing inside him wanted to bail.Could he?
4
Cassie forced her gaze from Hudson, placed her palms against the thick oak table, and pushed to her feet.“Do you mind if I conk out for a while?”She bit back a yawn at the thought of real rest.