“I’ll pay those for a month or two to keep the home fires burning as they say. In the meantime, you stay with me.”
“Hudson…”
“I love having you here, Willa. Waking up with you and knowing you were the one making the coffee this morning made me happier than I’ve been in, well, ever.”
She’s giving this thought. I can see her mind working. “If I say yes, I insist on paying you back. For everything.”
“I know.” She’ll try, anyway. “I won’t even try to stop you from doing it.” I’ll just turn around and buy her something with it, or maybe I’ll invest it in her name. Something like that.
“All right.” She sighs. “Fine. I’ll stay. For a little while.”
I can’t tell her how relieved I am. The weight of the world just dropped from my shoulders. The smile on my face is so big it hurts. “So, steak?”
She laughs. “Sure. Steak sounds great.”
ChapterThirty-One
WILLA
I wokeup Monday morning to an empty house. Hudson must have gotten up at the crack of dawn for work. I was dead to the world after another night of mind-blowing sex. The man is a machine, plus he is very creative when need-be. I’d only had sex with one guy before Hudson and let me tell you, I’ve been missing out.
Once I had my morning coffee, I showered and dressed in a pair of clean leggings and a top I hadn’t worn for a while. Sitting in his office, I started a new job search and was about to apply for something in Omaha, Nebraska when there was a knock on the door.
Worried it was his mother again, I pushed myself up onto my tiptoes and peeked out the security peephole. “Yes?”
“Delivery for Willa Clariday.”
Delivery?For me?
Opening the door, I sign for a small box. One with the logo of the latest model of the fanciest phone I’d ever seen. I know who sent it.
Hudson.
“There’s a note too.” The guy hands me an envelope and then he’s gone. Back in the apartment, I set the box on the kitchen island and open the envelope and read:
Willa,
Before you toss this phone back in my face, you need to know it was free when I added a new line to my account. So, please don’t calculate that cost to what you feel you owe me. This will come in handy as you job hunt, plus you’ll be able to send me lots of sexy messages throughout the day. See? It’s going to be great for both of us.
See you tonight. I’ll bring home something for dinner. Text me with a list of things that sound good to you.
Yours, Hud.
I clicked on contacts. Hudson’s number was the only one programmed, so I quickly sent him a text. It would have been rude not to.
Me:Thank you for the phone. I’ll use it for my job search. And other things.
I smile as I send one more.
Me:Ask me what I’m wearing.
I giggle at my silly text. That’s about as sexy as I’ll ever get. I only have to wait a second.
Hudson:What are you wearing? If you say nothing, I’ll be in a taxi on my way home in about three seconds.
I crack up at his reply.
Me: I’m wearing clean clothes, silly. LOL.
