“Where does ‘mum’s the word’ even come from?”
“It was an old style of hush. It became popular when Shakespeare used the phrase inHenry V. ‘Seal up your lips, and give no words but mum.’"
“There you go. Do as Shakespeare said.”
“Got it,” Shelly confirms, and I'm on my way to deliver the next invite. Candy doesn't know about the party either. I'll tell her at the last second. It's for the best. She's a terrible liar. Hollis and she both think we're having a girls' night.
I told her to dress up a little. I'm sure both she and Hollis think we're going to the Italian restaurant. There aren't a ton of restaurants in town, but there are a few. That is the only one you dress up a little for.
She may be pregnant, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get up to some things. It’s her last night of freedom, and I plan to make it memorable. I mean, within reason, that is. I might also be doing it to get a reaction out of Hudson. I never pass up an opportunity to do that.
I might even flirt with some tourists and let them buy me a few drinks. He’s been hanging out with his new sidekick. What if he brings her as a date? A small growl bubbles from me, and I clear my throat. What the hell was that?
He can’t date her. She’s prickly. You can’t have two prickly people together. Not sure if that’s true, but it sounds right. I pop into a few more places, getting my invites out. It's not all about poking at Hudson. Candy is still new to town and getting to know people. This will help her do that. I can tell how much she enjoys the closeness that everyone here has to each other.
I sneak over to the bar and check in with Travis that we’re a go and he’s pulling out that karaoke machine and holding several tables for us. It’s the busy time of year not only for tourists, but locals have families that come into town as well.
Travis gives me the keys to his truck so I can drive it to my place and not have to walk. I know Hudson said he’d take me home, but I need to get a few things for later.
“The hell?” I mutter when I pull up to my house to see that Hudson is there. I park on the curb. He turns toward me. The second he realizes I’m driving the truck, his eyes narrow, and he heads straight toward me.
Holy balls. The man is quick. He’s opening the driver’s side door before I can.
“Ha ha, sucker,” I say, staring down at Hudson for the first time ever. Travis’s truck is ridiculous. It’s got giant wheels and is lifted off the ground.
“What are you doing driving Travis’s truck?” Hudson asks, a little more pissed than usual. It’s as though he’s actually mad at me. Of all the shenanigans I pull when it comes to him, I can’t believe this is the one that has him so upset.
“He let me borrow it to run home. I’m taking it back.” Hudson shakes his head. “What’s the big deal?”
“The deal is you don’t listen.”
“I listen.” Hudson offers me his hand to help me down. It was no easy feat climbing up in it wearing heels, but I did it. "Sometimes," I add. "I mean, I hear what's said, so that's listening, but I might not follow instructions."
"I'll get the truck back to Travis." He's already taking the keys from my hand. That sneaky bastard.
"I have things to do," I tell him. "What are you even doing here?"
"I was checking the Bronco and your camera."
"Why?" What's there to check on the Bronco? The tire is flat, and we have to wait for another one to come in. As for the cameras, I forget they are there. I can't remember the last time there was a break-in here in New Hope.
"I wanted?—"
"Where is your sidekick?" I realize she's not around.
"At the station. She might have left for the day by now." He checks the time.
"You like her?"
"Like her to what?" Oh my God.
"Like she is nice or charming. I mean, no one is more charming than me." I state the obvious because I mean, it’s the truth.
"This is true, and I notice you didn't say you were nice."
"Shut up." I smack his chest and let my hand linger before I force myself to pull it back.
“I don’t know her.” Why can’t he just say she’s annoying? That she chews with her mouth open? He should know; he had lunch with her. This man is really getting around.
