“Are the East Coast and Pelican Bay much different from San Francisco?” I ask. The East Coast is depicted as a lot of preppy people in movies and the media, but I’ve never been myself.
Hudson laughs another full hearty chuckle. “No, the two are nothing alike. The apartment building you live in has more people than the entire town of Pelican Bay.”
“Wow,” I say, thinking out loud. I wouldn’t say I’m necessarily a city girl, but I’ve never lived in a place as small as Hudson describes Pelican Bay. I love the city, but there’s something to be said for the small-town atmosphere.
He describes a small town and the cute short road named Main Street where the shops are located, and my mind fills with images. I can’t imagine only having to walk a few feet to see every single store in town. San Francisco has a shopping district in every neighborhood. But as he talks longer about Pelican Bay and how much he enjoys the people and the town, my ideas of the East Coast change. The small plot of land becomes a quaint little town full of people who get along. Even the town gossip, Pearl, comes out as a sweet little grandma who makes cookies in her free time.
The bus pulls up to a large wooden sign with the words Muir Woods stenciled across the front, and I swear Hudson jumps in his seat. The ride was made shorter by the two of us sharing information about family and hometowns back and forth. I understand him a little better now, and it’s possible he gets me too.
Hudson waits on the edge of the seat for the bus to come to a stop as it makes its way down a long winding road into the park. I laugh quietly and it draws attention. His eyes align with mine, and he puts his hand on my knee, squeezing gently. The area of skin heats at his touch even though a thick layer of jeans separates us. He’s only here because of the trouble I’ve gotten myself into, but for the first time in a long while my heart yearns to have a Hudson touch me like this all the time. What would it be like to know there’s always someone who has my back?
“Look, I know I’ve been a hassle at times, but it’s because I take my job seriously regardless of the threat level. I promised you, Ben, and my boss I would keep you absolutely safe and secure.”
My brain doesn’t miss him referring to me as a job, but my heart wants to overlook it. I smile hesitantly. It’s the first comment he’s made that has me worried. Is there a reason he believes I wouldn’t be safe when he’s here?
Funny how the one time he’s not yelling at me for being stupid about my security I take him seriously. “Thanks,” I say when it’s obvious Hudson’s waiting for a response. “Being here during the holidays and watching me must be difficult, but at least we got to do this. It will be fun.”
“This is great.” Hudson springs up from his seat so we’re first off the bus when the driver opens the door. “See you in a few hours, Derek,” he says and then grabs my hands as I follow him off the bus steps. When we get to the bottom, I expect him to let go when he sees I’m following, but he doesn’t. Hudson, my hand still in his, starts us out on the pathway circling through the woods as he points out various trees and tells a story involving John Muir and his quest to save the Sequoias.
It’s all a little surreal. Who would think I, Amanda Amrose, would find myself walking the woods the day after Christmas with a muscled hottie? Yet, this might be the best Christmas I’ve ever had.
Merry Christmas to me.
5
Hudson stops walking in the front of the big picture window of Cosmo’s Comics and Café. He looks to the window, looks up the street, looks at me, and then sighs. His sighs are never a good sign.
“Let me get this straight. Every Sunday a group of millionaires get together in this comic shop,” he says pointing at the window. “And you sit in front of this big ass window right out front?”
“Yup.” I’ve learned it’s no use fighting him when he uses hisreally, Amandatone. And technically what he said is correct. The couches our group occupies set further back in the building so we aren’t right next to the window, but I’ve learned Hudson is not one you want to argue with when it comes to security. Last night he spent over an hour explaining why you should never hire a phone or cable company to provide your alarm system. I’m still confused, quite honestly. I mean, they call the police for you and isn’t that what a security company does? What’s the big deal? But after spending an awesome day together on our bus tour, I promised him I’d listen to him regarding my safety. I just didn’t realize the lessons would start so soon.
All in all, his ongoing rant made the fact he’s sleeping on my couch a little less intimidating. I’ve never shared a space with a man besides my brothers and I didn’t drool over them the way I do Hudson. I must get these hormones in check. Turns out even though Hudson is totally hot, he gets as passionate about home security as I do video games or a good book.
I leave Hudson on the sidewalk mumbling to himself about upstarts and delusional megalomaniacs. I figure it’s his job to follow me around so he’ll come in sooner or later. And he does. Before I make it to the big orange couch at the back of the room, the bell above the door dings. Hudson gives every customer in the store his patented “I’m a big bad ass who will hurt you” expression. Hopefully having him around scaring the nerds away won’t affect the café’s business too much.
“The big guy is still here?” Simone asks, leaning closer on the couch so as not to be heard. It doesn’t work.
She doesn’t understand Hudson’s super hearing abilities, so I whisper back much lower when I answer. “Yes.”
“You’re in trouble? Shouldn’t he be home by now?” Simone stares at him and then turns her head when he looks in our direction. “I thought he was installing a security alarm, and you were fine?”
“Ben left out important details about his duties.” Like all of them.
Simone smiles shaking her head back and forth. “At least he’s nice to look at.”
My cheeks turn red and I drop my attention to the floor so I don’t give away my feelings.
“What are you guys whispering over there?” Marissa yells from the coffee counter. Never one for subtle.
Simone and I jerk back, acting like we weren’t whispering about Hudson.
“Here, I got everyone’s drinks ordered. Aspen bought trays to make eating on our laps easier. No matter how dumb they are, tell her it’s a great idea.” Marissa leans over making sure we hear the last part.
“Trays?” I ask.
Marissa shrugs. “Aspen’s bored and spending tons of time on Pinterest. Be supportive.”
“Okay,” Aspen says walking out from the small back room behind the coffee counter. “I can only carry two at a time but here’s breakfast.” She steps around the counter indeed holding two metal trays, one in each hand, like she’s a waitress. The trays are tiny and a shiny metal like you would eat on if you were in the army…. Well at least on a movie set about being in the army. She passes one to Simone and the second to me before heading back behind the counter.
