It’s the first time Hudson has mentioned me staying here. My smile drops as I nervously bite my lip. But on the inside a feeling of happiness starts to bubble up in my chest.
Hudson sits back in his chair. “What I mean is that it is a big, wide world out there. I think it’s brave that you are willing to step away from what you know to find out what makes you happy.”
Right now. This is the moment I fall in love with Hudson St.John. And I am going to do everything I can for him to let me stay here with him.
Chapter 4
Hudson
After a fitful night thinking about her I am up later than usual. Walking out the first thing I see is her ass as she is on her knees with her head in a cupboard. Making a back and forth motion I almost groan audibly at the picture she presents and my immediate thoughts of how I’d like to get my hands on her body.
As she withdraws her head from the cupboard I realize that she is cleaning. In fact, my kitchen looks sparkling clean. The bookshelves have been dusted and do the pillows on the lounge look fluffier?
“June. Stop. You don’t have to clean. I mean, I’m sorry it’s a bit of a mess. If it’s not up to your standards?....” I trail off.
She stands up and brushes off her pants. “It’s just a nervous thing. And it's a habit.” She shrugs her shoulders looking around. “I cooked you breakfast.”
“You cooked us breakfast?” I repeat, feeling useless. I’ve never had a woman clean and cook me breakfast before.
“Well, it’s all here for you. I’ve already eaten.”
I shake my head. “Sit down with me. Have a coffee or a piece of toast. I will feel crazy sitting here eating alone.”
She looks to think it over. And then another shrug and she puts down a plate of bacon and eggs for me and fixes herself a coffee from my espresso machine. I never know what to spend my money on and that’s why I have a brand new kitchen with all the latest gadgets. I do like gadgets that make life easier.
“Do you like cleaning?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “No. I just…wanted to be helpful.”
Reaching over, I take her hand in mine. “If I have a woman live here then we both share the cleaning. That’s how that goes. If we share the space then we are both responsible. I’m looking for someone I can share my life with. Someone I can have adventures with. Face challenges together. I’m not looking for a cleaner.”
June looks at me with big blue eyes that are a bit watery. I give her hand a little squeeze. “We just have to find what youdolike doing. Do you like cooking?”
She lets out a little sigh. “I can cook, but I don’t really like it. I do like to bake cakes though.”
“That works out a treat. Because I love to cook and I love cake.” I grin at her while thinking how strange it is that I am already thinking of her staying here. Of what our life together could be.
And when she smiles it’s like there is a warm feeling in my chest. I want to see her smile more. I have a feeling that it’s not a common occurrence in her life. Maybe that’s why she came here. God damn, if she is in trouble. If someone has hurt her. I feel my muscles tense. Ready for action. I just wish she would open up to me. But I have to wait till she is ready.
A part of her feeling comfortable here is knowing that she will have something to fill up her time. Something she enjoys. I know what I would like to have her doing. And it would mean notleaving the bed and it would be something we could both enjoy. But I have to get my mind out of the bedroom. I want to see her smile and laugh. I want her to find her passion.
“You know what I do when I have a decision to make or I need to figure out how I feel about something?”
“What’s that? She asks.
I smile slowly. “I take to the skies. Trust me, it makes everything seem…smaller. More manageable. So what do you say? Want to come fly with me?”
Chapter 5
June
I’ve never been on an airplane. I certainly have never been in a helicopter. But there is something about Hudson’s easy smile that gives me confidence. And that’s how I find myself at the helicopter pad taking his hand to help me into the cockpit of his helicopter.
It feels like a glass bubble and I’m surprised at the lack of controls and the fact that my feet are so close to the front of this flying machine. Hudson jumps into the driver's side, gets himself settled and flicks a few switches.
“Feeling okay?” He asks.
I nod. But really I have no idea what I am feeling. I can’t believe I’m doing this. I can’t believe that just a week ago I was cooking, cleaning, feeling like a slave to my father, with no hope, and now I’m next to a sexy fire and rescue hero in a helicopter of all things!
