Georgia-Blue & Hudson (Stoney Creek #5)

Chapter 3

3

Georgia

“You know I am married to one of those brothers you mentioned.” Autumn pops a shoulder.

“And you deserve a medal,” I state, just as Hudson’s dad brings over our coffee and places it on the counter. “Thank you, Huck,” Autumn and I chime at the same time.

“You’re welcome, darlin’s.”

“So, how are you and this supposed date of yours getting to Florida?” Hudson asks, piquing one eyebrow.

“Umm, flying like all normal people, I’m not about to walk there!” I give him a cheesy grin as I skim the top of the foam with my teaspoon.

“Wise ass.” He narrows his eyes. “I meant, have you booked flights or anything yet?”

“Not yet.”

“Aren’t you both leavin’ it a little late?” Huck frowns.

“Plenty of time,” Hudson replies. “I’m a last minute man.”

I snort. “So you haven’t booked flights yet, either?”

“Nope, but I’m planning on it this weekend.”

“Hey, I’ve got an idea, you two should go together!” Autumn jumps in, raising the coffee mug to her lips to take a sip.

I feel Hudson side-eye me as I stare at Autumn for a moment too long, trying to convey to her that she should quit while she’s ahead.

“Sounds like a great idea, as long as your date doesn’t mind?” Hudson smirks toward me.

Ugh, he’s so annoying.

Then it hits me. Either way we look at it, I’m going out of town with Hudson Nash. Why does that send a little thrill through me?

I glance up at him as he leans on the counter looking oh-so-mischievous. He knows he’s all that, it’s written on that smirk he so often wears on that annoyingly attractive face of his. And today is no different.

He seems to be enjoying watching me squirm a little too much. I also think he likes teasing me as much as I do to him.

“I’ll have to give you a raincheck on that one. Besides, won’t your date mind if I’m tagging along?” I quietly praise myself at that snappy comeback.

He pops a shoulder like he has no cares in the world, and knowing Hudson, he probably doesn’t. “Don’t you worry that pretty little head of yours, Blue Belle. ”

I humph a little because I don’t know if he’s lying about the date or not. Surely I’d know if he was seeing someone? There was that whole Dolly Simpson debacle some time ago; it’s widely rumored they hooked up. Dolly works at the local beauty salon and is always trying to sink her claws into any available fresh meat in town.

Word is she got those talons hooked into Hudson, and she liked it. Of course, he’s a handsome, eligible bachelor, and don’t all the single women in town know it. Thinking about it now; I haven’t heard or seen Hudson hooking up with anyone for ages, and we all know he doesn’t date. Maybe he thinks he’s too good for any of the women in town. Asshat.

I clear my throat at his Blue Belle nickname. It always sends flutters through me when he uses my nickname. I should be used to it by now, but his deep monotone rattles my insides each and every time. “I’ll check out some flights later.”

“So, you’re stayin’ for a few days afterward?” he prompts.

“I was thinking about it. A mini vacay. Beau suggested it.”

“Sounds good, you’ve worked hard all summer.” He moves over to the coffee machine where Huck is finishing their coffees.

I quickly glance at Autumn and try to get attention by discreetly tugging on her sleeve. My eyes are wider than saucers at the concept of traveling with Hudson.

She rolls her lips as she looks at me, and I know she’s reading my mind.

I mean, I believe in fate and the stars lining up and all of that, but this is something else. I didn’t ask for this, yet, am I meant to embrace it? I mean, it’s Hudson Nash.

No big deal. My brother’s best friend and my biggest pain in the ass. He probably trumps all of my brothers combined.

And that date he’s supposedly bringing? I can’t wait to see who it is or if he’s bringing his blow up doll. I laugh at my own joke until Hudson’s eyes meet mine and I stop.

I guess I’ll find out soon enough.

??

“Do you think Hudson really has a date for the wedding?” I ask Autumn as we walk the grounds of the Cotton Farm. Aut is trying to find the best angles and background scenery for Celeste and Callan’s wedding. Of course it all depends on the weather, but I love the fact that they wanted to get some snapshots over here while the cotton is in full bloom.

“I haven’t heard he’s seeing anyone.” Autumn crouches down on one knee, holding her camera, with a huge wide-angle lens attached, and taking some shots down low of the beautiful blooms. It’s just stunning out here with the sun shining on us and a slight breeze moving its way through the fields. “But you know Hudson, he always keeps things to himself.”

“That’s true.”

“Plus, you made up the fact you might have a date too, right?”

My lips press together in a temporary line as I wonder why the hell I even did that in the first place. There’s nothing wrong with going by myself. I don’t need a plus one anyway, certainly not for Hudson’s benefit. “I had to say something, you saw that smirky look on his face.”

“I think he’s just misunderstood.”

I guffaw at that idea. “Just because you’re all loved up from your honeymoon and looking at everything through rose-tinted glasses, doesn’t mean everything is romantic.”

“Maybe.” She giggles as she gives me an eyebrow waggle. “Can you really blame me?”

“No, I guess not.” I glance back toward the house. Hudson and his dad are doing something with the huge green tractor sitting in the middle of the field opposite us. They have a hundred acres, plus all the processing sheds way down toward the back of the property that you can’t see from here. The cotton fields go on and on, the white bobble shaped flowers with tinges of pink swaying in the breeze. They’re so happy looking, lined up in long rows that stretch for miles. It makes me miss seeing Hudson’s mom whenever I come over.

Doris was always in the thick of it for the harvest, nothing would stop her. In her spare time, she would bake, and there was always a tasty treat whenever you would stop by. She was always happy to see you.

She was just as sweet a person as his dad is. I think his mom always had a little soft spot for me, at least I like to think so.

“You know you told Huds he smelled really good out loud, right?” Autumn says, not looking at me. She keeps snapping away with her camera and changing angles slightly to get a beautiful shot; the gorgeous soft edges of the blue sky behind us meeting the clouds.

“Yes, there is that.” I sigh. “It’s like when I smell that manly fragrance of his, my mind goes into a spin and I involuntarily project verbal diarrhea.”

This time, she looks up at me. “Uh, huh.”

I right myself, shifting my weight onto my other leg. “I mean, you know when a guy smells really great and your mind starts to wander… I haven’t got a thing for Hudson. Even if your husband seems to think otherwise.”

“Beau said that?”

“Just this morning,” I say. “And it’s totally absurd.”

“What’s absurd?” Hudson’s deep voice sounds behind me. When I spin around, my eyes hit the tattoos laced up his arm and the leather cuffs that he always wears.

I hold my hand to my heart as my eyes meet his. “Do you mind not sneaking up on people like that?” I huff. Lord knows how much he just heard. How long has he been behind us? He was just over by the tractor a minute ago.

Autumn laughs as she stands and walks a couple of feet away to take some vertical shots of the fields spreading to the back of the farm.

“I was just going to see if you girls wanted a ride down to The Hundred Acre Woods. There’s some great spots where the cotton fields meet the trees. Trust me, the backdrop will be amazing for Callan and Celeste’s photos.”

“Sounds good,” I say. “You drivin’, Cowboy ?”

He pops a shoulder and offers a grin. “Of course. I’m the best driver in Stoney Creek.” We walk on over to the work utility truck parked by the side of Huck’s place. “What were you girls talking about just now?” He keeps his body facing forward. I knew he must’ve heard something.

Shit .

“Beau and his failed attempt at giving women advice,” I say.

He folds his arms over his chest while he thinks about it. “Failed? Didn’t he just get married after dating Autumn for a few weeks?”

“Not the point.”

We stop by the truck as we wait for Autumn to catch up.

“Do you really have a plus one?” He tilts his head, watching me. Then his eyes dip and I flinch as his fingers brush my shoulder, but when I look down, he’s flicking off a bee.

“Thanks,” I stammer.

His deep brown eyes meet mine again. “So, out with it. Who is this mystery man?”

My teeth bite into my lip as I try to think of a witty comeback, or even something that seems viable. “Fine, you got me. I don’t have a date yet,” I say. “But I’m working on it.”

For some reason, this seems to please him; if his smirk is anything to go by. Is me being dateless that amusing? Maybe he’s suddenly taken to reveling in my disastrous love life. Not that I even have one.

“What about you?” I toss right back. What’s good for the goose is certainly good for the gander in my book.

He seems to contemplate this for a moment as he opens the passenger door for me, and I climb up into his truck. He stays there in the doorway for a second, taking up all the room with his giant form. “Workin’ on it.”

He gives me a wink and closes the door, making his way around to the driver's side as I try to hide my smile.

??

“Do you think Gray and Hart are going to set a date?” Celeste asks when I’m back at the distillery. I’m helping her pack up shop for the day because frankly, I need some best friend time. Her baby bump is growing nicely, it looks so cute. They were going to put off the wedding until the baby was born, but Callan didn’t want to wait any longer before making my bestie his wife.

It’s so sweet. They spent so many years apart when she was in California making a new life for herself and Callan was here working on the farm, neither knowing they’d find their way back to one another. I know having a family is something they’ve both wanted and I secretly knew they would get back together one day. I have an intuition for these things.

I knew when my second eldest brother, Gabriel, met the nanny, Skye, that sparks would fly. She just had this aura about her that I’d never seen before, and I knew she was someone who had Gabe’s back and would never do him dirty like his ex-wife. She adores his six-year-old daughter, Trinity, too. I also knew Beau and Autumn would wind up together long before they actually did. And as for Brooklyn and Eden? Old news. I never gave up on them.

“I think Gray wants her name inked on his skin.” I roll my eyes.

Her eyes grow wide. “You think he’s got a tattoo?”

I snort. “Nope, but there’s something going on. Gray is always trying to keep Hartley all to himself, so inviting us all over screams some big news like ‘save the date’.” I clap my hands at the idea of planning their wedding.

“You could be right.”

“Gray has always been a romantic at heart.” He had a bitter divorce, which was how he met Hartley when she inadvertently became his divorce lawyer and the two fell in love. They are absolutely perfect for each other and I’ve never seen Gray so happy as he is with her. They just got the keys to their new place, Coyote Run , which is Gray’s nickname for the patch of land on the south side of the property that Mom and Dad gifted him many years ago. It’s always been his dream to build a ranch-style house and that’s what he’s spent the last year doing, as well as increasing the bourbon exports at the distillery. That’s his main job here now, when he and Gabriel aren’t going at it like little kids.

“I’m looking forward to seeing Coyote Run, they’ve been working on it for so long,” she says..

“Me too. Did you end up calling Hart?”

“I tried, but she was at work by then. She sent a text and said she’d call me back later.”

“We definitely need a girls’ night. Will you pleassse let me organize dinner for your last night of being Cece Brooks? You’re going to be a Bassett soon enough, God help you.”

She strokes her belly affectionately. For the past few months, Celeste has been telling me she’s not up for a bachelorette party or anything too extreme. She’s been feeling extra tired lately and Callan doesn’t want her doing too much as the baby grows.

“I can’t wait to officially be a Bassett.” She smiles. “And yes, let’s have a girls’ night, it’ll be fun.”

I clap my hands together. “We need to have drinks soon, and I need to knock Hudson off his moose riding perch.”

“I think I would definitely be up for that. Seeing your name up in lights would be epic.”

“I know!” Honestly, I’ve been wanting to try and beat Hudson for as long as I’ve been riding horses. Not that any of them have ever bucked me off, thank God. But it would be a night to remember.

“You gotta do it, GB. It’ll be the talk of the town.” Celeste turns off the lights in the main shop and we walk up the stairs to the tasting room and through the back to my office.

“I think I’m at my best when I’m mingling.” Some would say meddling, but I don’t think that’s true.

“Just a little. Hey, how was today over at Hudson’s?”

“OMG. I’ve been meaning to tell you, he took us down to the Hundred Acre Woods.”

Celeste bursts out laughing. “What?”

“I know, isn’t it cute? He’s called it that since we were kids. I had no idea he was a Winnie the Pooh fan.”

“Did you see Pooh Bear and Tigger?” she jokes.

“Nope, but there’s this beautiful clearing where the edge of the cotton field meets the forest. I’m telling you now, Celeste, the backdrop at dusk would make such a beautiful bridal shot.”

“Uh, huh.”

I glance at her. “What’s uh, huh? ”

She shrugs. “Nothing.” But I see the smile on her lips.

“I went to assist Autumn. She’s been wanting to get out there for ages to grab some shots for her portfolio. I think she’s entering some competition coming up for landscape photography. But we thought it would be a good way to scope out some spots for your big day.”

“Well, that’s very sweet of both of you.”

“What are friends for? Anyway, it’s gorgeous out there.”

“I bet.” She winks.

I roll my eyes as I round my desk and grab my purse from underneath. “What is that look for?”

“Two words. Hudson Nash.”

“And a giant pain in my ass. How many words is that?”

Cece giggles. “A lot. And you can say whatever you want to anyone else, but I know you think he’s hot.”

“I had a crush on him years ago, when I was kid. I mean, I admit he’s not exactly horrible to look at. But he’s thirteen years older than me, and need I remind you, a giant pain in my ass. ”

“He only got hotter with age,” Celeste says.

“Hey, you’re taken, missy.”

“To the best man on the planet. But I still have eyes.”

“You wanna hear the other crazy news?”

She claps her hands together. “Always.”

“He’s going to Liz and James’ wedding in Florida. Apparently, he was good buddies with the groom back in the day.”

Celeste’s mouth drops open as she gapes at me. “Wow, George. That’s one hell of a coincidence.”

“Tell me about it.”

“So, are you planning on traveling together?”

I laugh a little into my hand and then round it off with a huge sigh. “I kind of made up that I may be bringing a date.”

“But you don’t have a date for the wedding.”

“I know, but the words just flew out of my mouth.”

She looks at me with an amused expression, her features soft and her eyes dancing with delight. Cece knows what’s at the heart of me; she knows I’ve been holding out for the big one. I haven’t dated in so long, or that well, if my track record is anything to go by. And I’ve never slept with a man. Yep, I’m still a virgin. At twenty-five. Maybe I’m just a late bloomer, I don’t know. I have had a few close encounters, but it just didn’t feel right. I want it to be with the one and I want it to be special.

“Well, at least you’ll know one person there, other than the bride.”

“That’s true.” I like her logic.

“And Huds will look out for you. Make sure you stay out of mischief.”

I laugh. “Chance would be a fine thing.”

“Look at it this way, you get out of Stoney Creek for a weekend. And, what happens in Florida, stays in Florida.” I don’t miss the waggling of her eyebrows.

“Nothing is happening in Florida.” I sling my purse over my shoulder, flicking out the lights behind us. “But you never know, I could meet a handsome stranger and come home all loved up.”

“Never say never,” she chimes. “It happens to the best of us, and you know as well as I do; you never know when the love wand is going to strike.”