Chapter 15

Fisher

The weekend dragged by.I finished my business expansion plan—part of a larger proposal for entrepreneurship 301—using Dad's store as a basis for it. I'd done a crap ton of research using sales records from the store, comparing fuel vs in-store purchases, tourism numbers for the region, demographics such as the age and social class of those tourists, and more.

Even with all that, I'd had more than enough time to mope over Hudson's radio silence.

Silence until today, that was. When I'd already made plans to meet Scott for a drink and spend the night in with Mom. After all, I'd figured I'd need to fill my time with something since my dream guy was MIA.

So of course he texted right as I got to The Rusty Hook.

Get together tonight?

Just like that. As if nothing was wrong. Hell. Maybe nothing was wrong. I was so up in my head it was ridiculous.

I paused outside the pub to shoot him a quick text.

Fisher:

Sorry. I already made plans.

Hudson

I'm sorry for being so quiet lately. Let me know when you're free? I'd really like to see you again.

Damn, he was so genuine that I melted for him all over again.

And really wished I didn't already have plans.

I was curious what Scott had to say, though, and Mom had her heart set on some quality mother-son time.

Hudson would just have to wait, like he'd made me wait.

But not for too long. Another day, and nothing would keep me away.

I pocketed my phone and pushed through the doors to The Rusty Hook. It was late enough that most of the tables were full, but not so late that it was unreasonably packed.

Scott waved to me from a primo table with a great view of the lake.

"Hey, Fisher, thanks for coming out."

"No problem." I pulled out the tall chair and took a seat. "How'd you score this table? You must have been here early."

His cheeks reddened a bit. "Ah, well, I grabbed dinner earlier since we were just meeting for drinks. Figured I'd just stay put."

"Ah, okay."

"Unless you want to eat? I can order you something."

"No, it's fine. My mom is gonna ply me with popcorn and snacks all evening, so I'm good."

He chuckled. "Moms are great that way. What can I get you to drink?"

"Just whatever they have on tap."

He nodded. "You got it. Be right back."

Scott made his way to the bar, and it was only then that my eyes caught on Hudson and Declan, seated across the room. Hudson didn't look happy. At all.

My stomach flip-flopped, torn between excitement and worry.

I picked up my phone and texted him to set the record straight.

Stop glowering before you hurt yourself. This isn't a date.

A smile broke across his face, and my phone dinged with a reply. I couldn't resist teasing him a little. After all, he'd left me high and dry all weekend.

I got so immersed I almost didn't notice Scott returning with our beers.

"Thanks for agreeing to chat with me," Scott said, placing our beers on the table and retaking a seat. I set my phone aside and tried to focus on him even as Hudson's heavy gaze burned into me like a physical brand.

"Happy to do it, but I don't know how much help I can be. There's a lot of grumbling around town about what you might want to do with the resort."

He nodded. "Yeah, I've noticed, but I'm not sure why. Your town could use a boost, if you don't mind me saying. It's a charming little place, but there's a lot of wasted potential here. The Lake of the Ozarks has only gotten more popular in recent years, especially thanks to that TV series. Did you ever watch that? Damn good show."

I chuckled. "Yeah, though hopefully we have a bit less drug smuggling and money laundering than they portrayed."

He laughed. "No kidding. We don't need any cartels up in here."

"To answer your question, though, a lot of Swallowers are just protective of their way of life. They don't want to be overrun by tourists. They like a slower, quieter pace at this end of the lake."

He nodded. "Right, right, makes sense."

"But the town is struggling lately. The resort would be an injection of tourists and money that we need."

"You're a smart, level-headed guy," he said. "That's exactly what we think too."

"The key is to reassure the locals that this isn't going to change Swallow Cove. That you're going to take community input and create something that really meshes well with our way of life. We're not a party destination, you know?"

"Absolutely. I'm not sure they'll ever listen to us, though. Now, if you were to tell them…"

"What do you mean?"

He drummed the table with his fingertips. "Well, I'd need to run it by Leon first, but I really think he'd agree. We need a local point person, someone to be the spokesman for the project and get community input, because we absolutely want to create something the whole town can get behind."

"A local point person," I said slowly. "You mean, like a job? Because I already have one."

"At your father's store."

"Right."

He sat back with a frown. "Well, that's too bad. I think you'd be perfect, and Leon and I can't stay in town much longer. We've got other projects to oversee."

"You wouldn't just give up on this, would you?"

It would be a shame for the resort to continue to be nothing more than a deteriorating hunk of junk.

"I sure don't want to," he said. "But we might not have a choice."

"Damn," I muttered, feeling torn.

I loved Dad's store, and I had so many ideas for how it could expand and diversify in the future. But as long as Dad owned it, I was relegated to employee status, and it seemed like such a waste of my almost completed business degree.

Helping Hudson with the Dock Hop event had opened my eyes to how much I enjoyed turning my ideas into a reality. I wanted to help shape my future, not sit back and have it dictated to me.

Scott finished off his beer and pulled a business card from his wallet. He slid it across the table, and I read the embossed type: Lakeside Holdings Corp.

"We've still got a few more days to spare. Maybe we can put your advice to use. In the meantime, think it over, will you? I'm pretty confident you'd be the perfect man for the job."

I picked up the business card. "Yeah, I'll give it some thought. Thanks for considering me."

I'd never bail on Dad, but maybe if I could find a way to do both, I'd finally prove to him that I wasn't a kid anymore, but someone with ideas worth hearing.

Scott seemed to think so.

Hudson too.

Now I just had to the convince the most stubborn man in Swallow Cove.

Easy, right?

Hudson

I'd wallowed Saturday evening, regretting my decision to not see Fisher but knowing I needed some time to get my head right. On Sunday, I had dinner with Mom, and tonight I'd met Declan at The Rusty Hook to do the same, but neither of them could fill the Fisher-shaped void.

But apparently Fisher had help filling the Hudson void. Considering he was having drinks across the room with a slick-looking businessman.

"Hudson?" Declan snapped his fingers to regain my attention. "You're not going to ditch me again, are you?"

My eyes snapped to my disgruntled-looking friend seated across the table. Of course, Declan always looked disgruntled.

"What? Of course not."

"You say that like it hasn't happened before." He leaned in across the barrel table where we'd gotten halfway through our meals before Fisher stole my attention. "If you don't want Fisher to date other men, why haven't you made a move?"

"Who says I haven't?"

His eyes widened a touch, and I shook my head. "It's probably not a date." I hesitated. "Right?"

Declan shrugged, which wasn't much comfort. "I'm the last person who'd be able to recognize romance."

"Why do you say that?"

He smiled wryly. "Don't exactly have a lot of experience with it."

I tilted my head. "By choice, or…"

Declan was a good-looking man. He had a bit of a stuffy, sophisticated vibe for Ozark standards, always clean-shaven and well-dressed. Of course, you had to get past the perma-frown on his face to see just how attractive he was.

"We're not talking about me," he said, that frown deepening. "We're talking about your obsession with Fisher."

"It's not an obsession." My phone dinged on the tabletop, and I snatched it up so fast you'd think it held the answers to the universe. Maybe it did.

It was a message from Fisher.

Stop glowering before you hurt yourself. This isn't a date.

"Ha, I knew it!" I exclaimed, relief sweeping through me.

I hadn't screwed up and lost Fisher already. He hadn't moved on to a more emotionally available man. Not yet anyway.

I probably shouldn't be so dang happy about that, but I was. After my call with Karen, I'd taken the day to clear my head.

Being out on the water had worked its magic. Aboard the Bayline cruiser with the breeze in my hair and the fishy, loamy scent of the lake, I remembered that this was my home now.

I was no longer trapped in a job I hated and a marriage I was slowly destroying. Here, I was free to drive boats instead of managing the production of them; to be my own boss, instead of beholden to another man; to go to bed alone…

Or with Fisher.

I wasn't going to push him away, even if Karen's call had brought up some unresolved emotions about how I'd failed my marriage. What Fisher and I had was easy and fun, and I wasn't about to complicate it with all my baggage. But I owed it to him to be in the right headspace when we got together—so I'd waited until today to text.

He'd told me he already plans, though there'd been no mention of drinks with a good-looking man.

My phone dinged. Fisher again.

Maybe I should ask him if he'd like it to be a date? I've had to go to bed all alone for days.

Come to my bed tonight.

Sorry, can't. Maybe tomorrow. I promised Mom we'd have a movie night, and like you said, I don't want to raise questions.

He was giving me shit. I could see it even from here. He was enjoying throwing my words back at me, but I deserved it.

Tomorrow, then. Apparently I've got your overnight bag.

How convenient.

As if he hadn't left it on purpose, the little shit. I was going to have my hands full with him, and I couldn't wait.

I grinned at my phone, probably looking like a damn idiot.

Declan dropped his fork with a clank, then twisted in his seat to look Fisher's way. When he looked back at me, he shook his head.

"I guess you did make a move after all."

"I don't know what you mean."

He smiled wryly. "Sure, because you're not texting with Fisher as if he's your dinner date instead of me, right?"

I opened my mouth, unsure if I was about to deny it again or apologize for my rudeness, but he waved a hand. "Forget I asked. I don't really want to know."

"You don't?"

"I'd rather stay out of the crossfire when Boone gets wind of it."

"You mean if." At his confused look, I said, "If he gets wind of it."

"I said what I said."

He picked up his fork and speared a slice of cucumber from his garden salad, because he was that kind of eater. I glanced guiltily at my burger and fries. I really should start eating better, especially if I was going to keep up with Fisher.

Because after this weekend, I knew one thing.

I wanted more of him. A lot more. As much as he would give me.

Not forever, obviously. Fisher was too young and gorgeous to stick with me for long. Eventually, he'd meet someone like that slick businessman he was sharing drinks with, and he'd move on.

Until he did, I was going to appreciate each moment.

I was going to take the scenic route to giving him the sexual experiences he wanted, and if I was lucky, he wouldn't be in too much of a hurry to reach a different destination.

I paid for dinner. It was the least I could do after giving Declan only half my attention.

"Sorry," I said once we'd finished up and headed outside. "I was trying to be a better friend tonight, and I think I failed."

Declan snorted with amusement. "Oh, were you? Well, don't worry, Hud. My standards weren't that high to begin with. Mainly, I was hoping you wouldn't ditch me."

I groaned and dragged a hand down my face. "I'm never living that down, am I?"

"Nope." He grinned, which was almost unsettling, because he looked like an entirely different man than the grump I knew and loved. "Besides, it was fun making you squirm tonight. You really have a shit poker face."

The door opened, and Fisher stepped out.

Our eyes met and held.

"Yeah," Declan repeated. "I definitely do not want to be there when Boone finds out, because you two? Not subtle. At all."

He patted my shoulder, as if to say, nice knowing you, and headed down the road.

Fisher approached slowly, his expression more cautious than his teasing texts had been. "Hey. Long time no see."

I glanced around, then reached for his arm, tugging him around the corner of the pub, onto a dark patch of grass where the security lights didn't reach.

"Should I be worried?" he joked.

I threaded my fingers through his hair and used my grip to tip his head back. "Only if you don't want me to kiss you like I'll die without another taste."

He fisted my shirt, pulling me closer. "Why wouldn't I want that?"

That was all the answer I needed.

I crushed my mouth to his, pressing him back against the wall, sweeping my tongue in, kissing him so damn hard it hurt my mouth.

Our teeth clashed briefly, then our tongues met in a glorious slide, and Fisher hitched a leg around my hip. I grabbed his thighs, lifted, and the next thing I knew, I was holding him against the wall, grinding my cock against his as he clung to me with arms and legs.

"Fuck," I gasped into the hot, humid space between our lips, both of us panting for breath.

Crazy thoughts raced through my head. Thoughts of dropping to my knees and blowing him right there. Thoughts of hefting him back up and fucking him against the wall.

Not how his first time should go. Not at all.

"So you missed me then?" Fisher teased, but there was a hint of question in his tone.

"Yeah, baby. I missed you."

He pulled my head down for another kiss, this one gentler, and I got lost in the sweet taste of him before my senses returned to me.

"Did you really have plans with your mom or were you just punishing me for being stupid?"

Fisher gave a breathless laugh. "No, I really do. You're allowed to take a few days to yourself, if that's what you need. Because you're busy, or because…maybe you just need space?" It was dark, but I didn't need to see his face. I heard the sincerity in his voice. "I just worried maybe I'd fucked up somehow. Made you regret this. You were so reluctant to go down this road with me…"

"Because I was stupid."

His little laugh was everything. I hated that I'd made him worry, even for a moment, because of my personal shit.

"So no regrets?" he asked.

"No, none," I said. "I couldn't regret this, regret you, even if I tried. I just had to work through some shit from my past, with my ex. She called, and I wasn't in a good place."

"But you're okay now?"

"Much better with you in my arms," I said, not even caring how it might sound. "I didn't like seeing you with that other man."

"It wasn't a date," he reminded me.

"But it could have been," I grumbled. "I don't like it. As long we're doing this, then you're mine."

"Then I'm yours," Fisher said without a moment's hesitation. "Because I don't want to stop. I know it's just sex, but I need you to give me everything, Hud. I need you."

"You have me then," I promised, before pressing one more kiss to his mouth.

"See you tomorrow night?" he asked.

"I'll be waiting."