Chapter 13

Hudson

We floppedinto my bed freshly showered—for the second time. Never had I resented a small-ass shower so much as when we had to clean up separately.

But it was probably a good thing. This whole evening had been too intimate. I didn't usually bring hookups to my place, opting to go to their hotel room instead. It kept things simple.

But this situation with Fisher would never be the same, and I'd always known that. It's why I'd resisted for as long as I had.

"That was fun," Fisher said. "Again."

"I think you mean payback was fun."

He tried to look innocent. "I was just appreciating each moment. Like you said to do, Hud."

I snorted. The little shit had taken the first opportunity to tease me, exploring my body slowly and thoroughly, delighting over each little sound of need I made. He was still inexperienced, and in the end, he wasn't quite patient enough to really drive me mad, but he was a quick learner.

"I guess my next lesson will be how to get off quickly," I joked.

He grinned. "That's probably a lesson I don't need."

I wanted to kiss that grin, taste the joy emanating from him. But no, kissing him like this, out of sheer affection, would be a terrible idea.

Fisher rolled onto his side and put his head on my shoulder. He rested his right hand directly over my heart. I hoped he didn't notice the beat it skipped.

It felt good to have him in my arms again. Too good.

"I have to tell you something," he said softly.

Uh-oh.

"You want to praise me for my amazing cornbread?" I joked, hoping to divert that serious tone.

He snickered. "No, although it was really good. Better after sex than before, if I'm being honest."

"Most things are."

"No, I just thought I should tell you…I sort of let the cat out of the bag." He combed his fingers through my chest hair, gently petting me. "About us."

I stilled. "To who?"

Fisher raised himself on one arm to look at me. "My friend Poppy. She sort of guessed the truth."

I relaxed. "Ah, I don't know her well. But she's a close friend, isn't she?"

"She is. She's not a gossip. Even if we weren't friends, that's not really in her nature."

I nodded. "That's okay, then. It's not like I care if you tell a friend, Fisher. This doesn't have to be a secret. Word just has a way of spreading in a small town, and your dad…"

"I know." Fisher looked pained. "But Poppy sort of isn't the only one who knows."

"Who else?"

"Well, Sawyer was there."

Okay, so that wasn't great. Sawyer worked for me, and I'd rather keep my professional and personal lives separate. On the other hand, I was pretty sure he'd already had suspicions after seeing me and Fisher meet up a few days ago.

"Sawyer's a good guy," I said.

"Yeah," Fisher agreed. "Um, but also…" He spoke as if the words were being dragged out of him reluctantly. "Cash."

My eyes went wide. "Fisher."

I'd heard plenty about Cash from Declan. Every other night, he had a new complaint about the guy rolling through his BB like he lived there. Then again, he practically did with the frequency that he bedded guests.

The guy got around, among locals and tourists alike, and if he shared this little tidbit in pillow talk and it got back to Boone, there'd be hell to pay.

"I know," Fisher moaned. "I'm sorry. But that's everyone. Brooks was out of earshot. He said he didn't want to know, which means…."

"He also knows."

"Apparently I have a guileless face."

"Okay?"

"It means I can't lie for crap, according to that new rich guy in town, Skylar."

"Skylar Addison?" I said, startled. "Does he know too?"

"No! No. Just my closest friends, but we can trust them. They won't spill my personal tea. They know the problems it'd cause with my dad."

I frowned. "You're sure?"

"I'm sure." Fisher leaned in and kissed me softly. "Are you mad?"

"No." I exhaled and stole another kiss even though I shouldn't. "You should tell whoever you want, Fish. Sorry I freaked out about Cash. It's just that he's a little…"

"Mouthy?" Fisher said with a laugh. "It's mostly for show. He's a good friend. I'd trust him to have my back anytime I needed him."

My lips quirked. I'd have to give Declan that ringing endorsement. He was convinced Cash was a devil sent to torment him. Why he tormented him quite so much, Declan would never admit, but Cash was very easy on the eyes.

"You haven't ever…"

Fisher raised his eyebrows in question.

"With Cash," I said. "You haven't…"

He spluttered a laugh. "Hudson, don't be ridiculous."

"Why is that ridiculous? I know he hooks up with men and women."

"I was a virgin until the other night. You know that."

"Oh. Well." My face heated. "That doesn't mean you never…you know, dated or made out or crushed on him."

Fisher continued to laugh at me, and I couldn't really blame him. Here I was, a man nearly twenty years older than him, behaving like an insecure adolescent.

When I had no claim to his affections, no right to be jealous of anyone Fisher might want to be with when he decided he had enough experience.

The thought hit me that he might be learning with me so he could be confident and experienced enough for a guy like Cash, and my stomach turned over.

Fisher must have read something in my expression, because his smile slipped.

"No, Hudson. I've never been into Cash like that. The only crush I've ever had was on you."

"The only one?" I asked, surprised.

"Well, unless you count celeb crushes. Thor is hella hot."

"Can't argue there."

"Wait." Fisher looked disturbed. "You haven't ever hooked up with Cash either, have you?"

"No. Believe it or not, I don't make a habit of seducing young men."

Fisher's eyes twinkled. "So I'm special, huh?"

"You're an exception to the rule, that's for sure."

This whole conversation had gotten too serious. I reached for the switch on the bedside lamp and plunged the room into darkness. "We should probably get some sleep before it gets any later."

"Okay." Fisher made himself comfortable, using me as a pillow once more.

I didn't hate it.

I closed my eyes, letting his warm weight anchor me, and just before I drifted off to sleep, a stray thought crept in: Would it really be so badif I could have this all the time?

But I already knew the answer to that. It was there waiting for me when I woke to find a terse text message from my ex-wife on my phone.

What will it take for you to return a freaking phone call? I know I'm not a priority anymore, if I ever was, but Jesus, Hudson, grow up.

If my relationship with Fisher went too far, it'd eventually end up just like this. And that would break my heart far more than watching him find happiness with another man.

Fisher

I'd hoped to experience my first sleepy morning sex, but Hudson was already dressed and in the kitchen by the time I woke. The sheets were still warm, so I knew he hadn't been gone long. I sighed, contented, when I remembered the way he'd held me the night before.

At least, until the heat became oppressive and we moved apart so that we wouldn't suffocate. Winter was going to be awesome.

If we're still—

No. Nope. Nuh-uh. Not even going there. Things would work out how they worked out. No use borrowing trouble.

It was clear Hudson wasn't returning to bed, no matter how much I wished he would, so I pulled on a pair of shorts and went to join him.

"You going to feed me again?" I teased. "Maybe you should have become a chef instead of a boat captain."

He cast me a glance, gaze lingering on my chest, before he looked back to the saucepan where a creamy sausage gravy bubbled, setting my mouth to watering.

"Breakfast is the least I can do. Especially since I have to kick you out."

I glanced out the window overlooking the calm dark blue water. "Not sure I can swim that far, Hudson."

His smile was weak at best, setting off alarms in my head. "I'll give you a ride."

"Hell yeah, you will," I said, sidling close and running my hand down his back.

He kissed my cheek before stepping away. "Unfortunately, I've got a busy morning. We probably shouldn't get sidetracked."

"Okay." Something wasn't quite right about his tone, but I wasn't sure what to make of it. "Everything's good though?"

"Yeah, of course." He flicked off the burner and finally looked me in the eye. "Last night was fun."

I nodded, trying to ignore the flash of disappointment. Fun was good. Fun was the point. "Awesome. So when should we have fun again? Tonight?"

Hudson opened the oven to pull out piping hot biscuits. I appreciated he made time to feed me so well, even if it wasn't food I'd truly craved this morning.

My stomach rumbled, clearly in agreement with Hudson's priorities, and I remembered that I hadn't eaten anything but cornbread for dinner.

"I'm gonna be wiped out tonight. Raincheck?"

"Yeah, okay."

He hesitated. "It might be best to pace ourselves. I'm sure if you miss too many nights at home, your parents will start asking questions."

"I guess that's true."

Hudson had told me I didn't have to keep secrets, but my parents would not approve for a lot of reasons. Starting with Hudson getting on Dad's wrong side when he moved to town and ending with our age difference.

I didn't know why people got so worked up about shit like that. If I was going to be with a man, wasn't it better to be with one who had his shit together?

"Okay, so tonight is a bust. What about tomorrow? No, wait. I've got to finish up a project for business school. It's due Monday."

Hudson handed me a plate topped with biscuits smothered in that delicious gravy, and I carried it to the table. I burned the roof of my mouth on the first bite, suddenly too hungry to wait.

"You could have canceled last night," Hudson said, with a worried frown. "School should come first."

"No way." I cut another bite. "I have plenty of time."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah."

"You've got a lot on your plate, Fisher. The job and school, plus helping me with the Dock Hop."

I scraped up the last of the gravy, because yes, I'd eaten way too fast, but I was now pleasantly full and ready to tackle anything. I just wished it could be Hudson.

"Oh yeah, I've got to talk to Grandma Rosie about a food festival component. Sorry I haven't gotten to that yet."

Rosie wasn't really my grandmother, but everyone called her that since she ran Tastes Like Grandma and treated everyone like they were family.

"You've done enough already. Maybe we should just table that idea for another time."

"I've got time, especially now that I've got an extra night free for studying. I can chat up some people." I stood and patted my full stomach with a groan. "Although Grandma might have to wait until lunch. I'm stuffed."

Hudson grinned, and the tightness in my chest loosened at the sight. When we rinsed the dishes, I flicked water at him, and he retaliated by hip-checking me—and then catching me when I went flying.

"You're trouble," he said before kissing me, and all felt right with the world again.

I held on to him when he tried to pull back, drawing him into a longer kiss. "You always knew I was trouble, Hud. It's why you made me work so hard for it. But now you just need to give in to my evil seductions and accept your fate."

"Evil? You?" He chuckled. "Nah, you're trouble, but the sweetest trouble I've ever tasted."

He kissed me again, and I met his tongue with mine, reveling in the connection I'd missed since waking alone in his bed. I was in too deep. I knew that already. My heart swelled with each kiss. My hope grew with each meal he insisted I eat.

I could feel him trying to pull away this morning, and it scared the shit out of me, so I held on to him, appreciated each moment the way he'd taught me, and hoped it wouldn't be the last.

It wasn't until he'd dropped me off behind The Rusty Hook, which was deserted at this early hour, that I realized he'd never agreed to another date.