“Let’s just say I needed to stop for my own safety,” she said after taking a bite.
“Did you pick up stalkers?”
Her hesitation in answering might be a dead giveaway.“Not exactly.”She involuntarily shivered at the memory of Jarek threatening her if she didn’t stop working.She’d learned the hard way that people who wanted to control you could be incredibly charming when you first met.Their attention, and even jealousy, came across as caring in the beginning.Then they found ways to slowly chip away at your self-confidence.They began to isolate you from your friends, which hadn’t taken much with Cassie.She’d known people online more so than in real life.The computer screen had always made her feel like she kept a safe distance while still being connected to the world.It hadn’t taken as long as it should have for Jarek to break her down.She’d lowered her guard too much with him and had paid a dear price the last couple of years.
“I get the feeling you don’t want to talk about any of this,” Hudson finally said after clearing his plate.
“No, I don’t.”
“Then, let’s clear the table so we can watch a movie.”
They did, working side-by-side in silence.Being with Hudson like this felt like the most natural thing.
Could it last without bringing down Jarek’s vengeance?
Dishes were rinsedand in the dishwasher.Showers were complete.An oversized T-shirt was on loan to give Cassie something to sleep in besides the clothes she’d had on her back.
Hudson picked up the remote and waited, remembering to plug in his cell to charge the battery.He couldn’t imagine a life where his income depended on being online.He craved fresh air, starry nights, and being out alone on the land with no one around for miles.Being glued to a device would be his worst nightmare, especially when he was as bad at keeping his phone charged as he was.Part of the appeal of being out on the land was not being connected.The best way to unplug was to be out of cell range.His family agreed.Or, at least, they used to before a recent spate of crimes had them rethinking safety measures.They’d talked about using satellite phones so no one would be stranded again.Growing up on Sturgess property, he’d never once feared an outsider would try to hurt him.Inside the family home, it had been a different story.Beaumont had been the real monster underneath the bed.Aside from Hudson’s father, he’d had nothing else to worry about.
Hudson’s questions about Cassie mounted.He wished she felt comfortable enough to open up.Thinking back to when he was a kid and under threat, he hadn’t told anyone about the abuse he’d suffered, either.So, he couldn’t fault Cassie.More than anything, he wished there was something he could say or do to ease her pain.Despite having lived in a full house, he recalled the isolation that he’d felt under Beaumont’s rule.
Cassie didn’t have to go through any of this alone.He intended to tell her as much when the timing was right.Besides, what kind of human being would he be if he let her fend for herself?
When she returned to the living room wearing his faded Luke Combs concert T-shirt, the knot in his chest pulled taut.His throat dried up, so he did the only thing he could…picked up the remote and patted the seat beside him.
She walked over, grabbed the blanket off the back of the sofa, and then curled up, tucking her feet underneath her bottom—a sweet, round bottom that he didn’t need to be thinking about right now.
The kiss from earlier branded his thoughts as he breathed in her clean, citrus and spring flower scent.Companies could make a fortune if they bottled and sold it.
“What sounds good?”he asked.
“Something light,” she said.“My body can’t take any more adrenaline rushes.I’ve had enough thrills to last a lifetime.”The hint of sarcasm wasn’t lost on him.He wanted to give her a quiet night in.Give her a break from whatever was going on that had made her camp in unfamiliar woods with a rifle.Of course, he had her to thank for saving his backside from the mountain lion.Speaking of that…
“It’s still out there,” he said to Cassie as he flipped through options.“The mountain lion.”
“It is?Poor thing.”
“Marcus said there’s a high probability that it’s doing okay since they can’t locate it.”Part of him hoped she would realize just how dangerous camping alone could be and change her mind about leaving in the morning.
“Does he believe it’s still in the area?”
“No one knows for certain,” he said.
“Should we help look for it?”she asked with concern.“I am the reason it’s injured in the first place.”She exhaled.“I’m the reason it might not be able to defend itself.Maybe I should have fired a warning shot instead.”
“You did the right thing.Plus, you saved my hide,” he said.“I’m not sure what would’ve happened if you hadn’t been there to step in.”
This time, she smiled.His heart skipped a few beats.
He returned his focus to the TV.“What do you think?See anything you like?”
“How do you feel about watching a comedy—maybe the one with Will Ferrell that just passed by?”
He found it.“Looks good to me.”He tapped the remote and then tossed it onto the coffee table.
“Hudson?”
“Yes.”