She suspected that was the secret, so she didn’t ask what they were making. Hudson wasn’t known for his cooking, but maybe Jed was teaching him a thing or two. “You know I don’t relax, right?”
“Then put yourself to work trying out that new sofa. Make sure it works as advertised.” Hudson winked. “We’ll join you once dinner’s in the oven.”
Reese could deny there were butterflies frolicking inside her tummy, but for once, she didn’t want to pretend Hudson had no effect on her. Saturday morning, she’d board a plane and go back to reality. But would it be so bad to enjoy a few more of those kisses before that happened?
After retrieving her tablet, Reese settled into the super cushy gray sofa. They’d gone furniture shopping first thing this morning, and it had all been delivered when they were returning the calf to the Holbrook ranch. The living room need a few final touches—wall décor, an area rug, and throw pillows—and her job would be done.
She only wished she could stick around longer to tackle another room.
Too bad I don’t have a whole year off.
Reese’s finger hovered above her email app, mostly because the numeric value in a red bubble above it drove her nuts. But she was in too good a mood to let needy Vanessa spoil it. She swiped to the next screen and opened an internet browser instead.
On the ride back from the Holbrooks’, she’d asked Hudson what his plans were for the barn. He mentioned boarding horses again, but without the staff he didn’t think it was feasible in the foreseeable future. The conversation made Reese more than a little curious what all was involved in boarding horses. Maybe she could find something to help Hudson offer that service sooner rather than later.
Reese read every article and blog she could find, jotting down phone numbers and emails for later. Reading up on it gave her a baseline of knowledge. But if she wanted real answers, she could only find those by talking to people who lived it.
Occasionally she heard a clattering or a light arguing from the kitchen. Only when the smoke alarm went off did she call to them. “Do you boys need help in there?”
“We’re fine,” Hudson said, poking his head out the doorway. “Everything’s fine.”
A dusting of white along Hudson’s chin made her smile. “You have something in your beard. Sure you’re doing okay?”
“Yep. Dinner might be longer than we expected. Did you want something to snack on?”
“If there’s any more of those chocolate-covered strawberries, I wouldn’t turn those down.”
“Right.” Hudson disappeared, then poked his head back out. “Give me two minutes.”
She was halfway through typing an email to a local boarder when Hudson appeared with a small bowl and half-filled glass of white wine. There was less flour in his beard now, but up close, she could see every grain he missed.
When she reached for the bowl, he pulled it back. “You only get these if you’re actually relaxing. Which is code for not checking work emails.”
“It’s not a work email,” she said. “Promise.”
Hudson raised a skeptical eyebrow, which only made her giggle. She enjoyed her time with him so much more when she let her guard down a few notches. If Jed wasn’t a short distance away in the kitchen, she’d pull him down by the shirt collar for a kiss. “Looks like an email to me.”
“I’m doing research on boarding horses,” she admitted. She hadn’t planned to say anything, but the more she learned, the more her excitement grew. She’d never mastered tamping down her enthusiasm. “I know it’s not in your immediate plans, but I’m hooked. Hazard of getting excited about something new.”
Hudson took a seat beside her. “Jed, don’t let the sauce burn again,” he called toward the kitchen.
“Got it under control,” Jed called back.
“Later, I have secret information to share,” Reese said in a whisper, nodding toward the kitchen.
“Good stuff?”
“Let’s just say that if you stay out here too long, he’ll definitely burn the sauce because he’ll be too distracted.” Reese stared into Hudson’s eyes a moment longer than was wise, but she loved the deep brown color speckled with gold flakes. “Why are you making sauce?”
“I see what you’re trying to do,” he said, shaking his head. “You’re not getting any top-secret information out of me, though.” He scooted closer until their thighs touched, and leaned over her tablet. “What have you discovered about boarding horses?”
Reese bit down on her bottom lip until she couldn’t contain herself any longer. She talked quickly and eagerly about everything she’d learned, from cost, maintenance, and what clients expected. Despite her best efforts not to ramble about horse care—something Hudson obviously knew a great deal about—she did anyway.
“You’re glowing,” Hudson said, his voice low as he leaned a little closer. “I love seeing you this happy.”
Reese swallowed hard at the wordlove. It didn’t matter that he didn’t say he lovedher. That word still made her jittery and a flight risk. But she couldn’t have escaped his penetrating gaze if she tried.
“You never once glowed like this when you mentioned your promotion,” he said, their lips hardly two inches apart now.
