“You know what I like.” The way he said it, all low and rough, brought me back to a night years ago when he’d used that same voice while he’d been inside me. Eyes locked with mine, hips rocking together, breath comingling between us…
My breathing quickened, my eyes never straying from his, and it felt like we were the only two people in the room.
At least until my sister squeaked and then tried to cover it up with a loud cough. Then Lilah said, “Ew…is that your sex voice? For the love, Hud, don’t do that around me.”
That, of course, caused everyone else to break into laughter. Everyone except me.
I pressed my lips together in a bland smile, strangling my libido through sheer force of will. “Not sure I know what you like anymore.”
The thing with having spent a lifetime as best friends before Hudson had left meant he could read me, even after all this time. He stared at me for a long, tense moment, his eyes darting between mine, head cocked to the side. Studying. Assessing.
And God, I didn’t want him to read me. Didn’t want him to see how torn up I was about, well, everything. My life, my lack of accomplishments. Hell, my lack ofambition. My dismal love life and the fact that I still ached—physically ached—for his touch.
Worst of all, I didn’t want him to see how badly his leaving still hurt me. How deeply the wound had cut.
And apparently, all that was written on my face because he didn’t press.
With a tip of his head toward Caleb, Hudson said, “I’ll have what he’s having.”
I nodded and turned away, still able to feel his eyes on me as I filled a mug with the beer, but I didn’t dare meet his gaze. Once I dropped off his glass, I did another round, occupying myself by getting refills, clearing plates, and wiping down the bar top after a few people had cleared out.
I needed to make my way back to where the four of them sat to take their orders, but I didn’t really want to. And by the time I’d psyched myself up enough to do so, I was dragged into an argument between Atticus and Darcy, two Havenbrook residents with businesses in the Square.
“All I’m sayin’, Atticus, is to put your garbage cans where they belong and not in front of my coffee shop.”
“Your coffee shop doesn’t extend to the alley, which is exactly where the cans are.”
Darcy huffed. “But that alley is the perfect place for a couple outdoor tables, and my customers would like to enjoy their mornin’ coffee without smellin’ your nasty garbage!”
Atticus’s face had turned an obnoxious shade of red. “How about we go on over to town hall and talk to the mayor about what kind of permit you’d need for outdoor seatin’, ’cause I bet you didn’t get one.”
“Are you suggestin’ I’m not runnin’ my business on the up-and-up?” Darcy all but shouted.
“Hey now,” I cut in. “I’m sure we can come to an agreement that makes everyone happy.”
“The only thing that’ll make me happy is if she quits harpin’ on me to move my garbage cans. Where else am I supposed to put ’em? That’s exactly what the alley is for!”
Darcy slammed her hand down on the bar top. “Not anymore! Didn’t you notice the potted plants and decorations back there? Or, I don’t know, the lovely wrought-iron tables and chairs?”
Atticus shrugged. “Just figured it was more trash from your place.”
Darcy’s mouth dropped open.
Before either of them could go on, I held up a hand. “Take it easy, y’all. Atticus, do you think maybe your clients would like to enjoy a cup of coffee and read the paper while waitin’ for their furry loved ones to finish their grooming appointments with you?”
“I—” Atticus cut off and scowled. “A few customers may have mentioned something about going over there once or twice.”
“Mhmm. And Darcy, wouldn’t it be nice to bring in a steady stream of extra customers who would’ve maybe skipped it instead?”
Darcy crossed her arms. “I guess so.”
“So then wouldn’t you both agree that the shared alley could be a mutually beneficial space? Y’all can do an exchange—Darcy, you can offer his grooming clients their first cup of coffee for free if they’re waitin’ for their pets. And Atticus, you can offer five dollars off a grooming with receipt from Jitterbug.”
It took a bit more finesse and convincing, but by the time I walked away, Darcy and Atticus were all smiles, their heads close as they outlined their new mutual referral program.
“You’re good at that.” Hudson’s voice startled me as I walked back toward where the foursome had been sitting.
Except he’d left the group and sat completely apart from them now. Will had taken up his previous spot, chatting with Lilah and Caleb, though I wasn’t fooled. My sister had ears like a fucking hawk, and I had no doubt she was eavesdropping.
