“You’re sure this hasnothingto do with the girl?”
Jed flashed him a cheeky grin. “It always has something to do with a girl, doesn’t it?”
“Can’t argue with you there.” Hudson’s phone buzzed in his pocket and he nearly fumbled it into the dirty hay to check who was calling.Not Reese.He looked pointedly at Jed before answering. “If you want to continue working here this summer, you’re going to have a conversation with your dad. One where youbothlisten.” Before Jed could object, Hudson answered the call.
“Hudson Ross?”
“Sheriff Brady, what can I do for you?”
“I wanted to pass some news along. Maybe give you some peace of mind.”
“About the fire?”
“Urgent care checked in a patient last night with a badly burned hand. The truck of said patient was also reported leaving the scene shortly after the fire broke out. Fire marshal is calling it an arson. You know I can’t tell you who it was at this stage of the investigation, but it’s a pretty safe bet to say he won’t bother you again.”
It was what Sheriff Bradydidn’tsay that confirmed it.Paul Whitfield. “Thanks, Sheriff.” Hudson ended the call, catching Jed staring at him expectantly. “That stall is not going to clean itself.”
“Was that about the fire?” he asked.
“Depends. Are you going to call your dad?”
“Fine, I’ll call him.”
“Today.”
“Okay.”
Hudson filled Jed in on what the sheriff told him regarding the fire. Because he hoped Jed would continue working for him for a while, he decided to treat him like the adult he was. To be honest about the lease with Joe and the challenges with Paul and the hunting pressure.
“You still thinking about boarding horses?” Jed asked. “I know someone who might need to board one, that’s all.”
“I’ll let you know.”
They worked in silence for all of two minutes before Jed piped up again. “Did she ever name that puppy?” he asked. “Just wondering. Because I’ve been thinking of some names if you need them.”
“The puppy.” Hudson hopped out of the stall and closed the door, the solution hitting him square in the chest. To his surprise, Jeddidhave the answer. He rubbed Lucy softly on the neck the way she liked. “Sorry girl, Jed’ll brush you soon. I promise.”
“You don’t have to pick any of my names,” Jed said, confused at Hudson’s haste.
“You’re brilliant, Jed. If Reese doesn’t want to name him, I promise you can.” He raced toward his truck, pulling out his phone as he ran. Time was against him, but he hoped he had enough of it to pull off one last stunt. One that wasn’t mentioned anywhere on that stupid itinerary.
Chapter 18
Reese
There wasn’t enough coffee or chocolate-covered strawberries in all of Starlight to help digest everything Ronnie told her this morning. Her best friend confessed that the plot to bring Reese to Starlight for an entire week was hers, and hers alone. One she devised after Hudson confessed why all his dating efforts were going nowhere. Ronnie took full responsibility for forcing Hudson to use that itinerary.
Though the brunt of Reese’s anger had disappeared, she still didn’t know how to feel.
She loved Hudson.
He’d obviously been hung up on her if he was willing to entertain Ronnie’s plot, if not partially afraid of his seven-month pregnant sister’s wrath if he refused.
Reese snorted a laugh.
But if she was going to leave behind everything she knew and take a chance on him, he had to be honest with her from now on. They needed to be a team or it would never work.
After her fourth cup of coffee of the day, one she sipped in her car outside The Starlight Wine and Gift Shoppe—she could single-handedly keep that place in business—she decided it was time to face Hudson. She’d hear him out, as she promised Ronnie, but then she had a major decision to make on her own.
