7. Moody

7

MOODY

M y common cold came with a side serving of a sinus infection that knocked me flat on my booty for the entire first week of December. If I hadn’t been groggy and congested with a runny nose and a general feeling of malaise, I might not have minded that my illness had taken me out of circulation just as holiday festivities were getting underway in town. I’d missed the Elf on a Shelf competition, the candy cane making demonstration, and the church boutique.

Boo-hoo.

Okay, fine. Do not tell a soul, but I’d secretly always enjoyed the candy cane demo. Vicki held it at the café every year as the Christmas Candy Emporium wasn’t large enough to hold the throngs of peppermint lovers who swarmed into town for the event. She took the opportunity to test new holiday scones and drink concoctions, like orange cranberry with eggnog glaze and peppermint hot chocolate.

Like any wise salesperson, Vicki anticipated that her treats would be a hit and sold them prepackaged by the dozens. Of course, all that extra activity next door meant a big boost in sales for me, so I couldn’t complain. But I was me…so I usually did.

Not this year.

This year I was home recuperating from the blergh.

I hardly remembered the first two days. I’d drifted in and out of sleep, vaguely aware that I wasn’t alone. For some reason, I liked that. I’d figured it was Vicki, but that didn’t explain the hum of sports commentary in the background. Touchdown, wide receivers, and end zone penetration? Nope, those words did not compute.

On day three, Vicki had dragged me to the doctor, who’d given me antibiotics and strict instructions to rest. I’d been too miserable to argue. I’d just wanted to be home with my remote control…and no visitors. Except whoever was supplying me with endless tissues and cups of peppermint tea.

By the fourth day, the fog had cleared.

“Oh. It’s you,” I rasped. Blinking awake, I shielded my eyes from the sunlight streaming through my living room window and zeroed in on the man sitting in the armchair next to the sofa, watching television.

The cowboy twisted to face me. “Hey, there. How’re you feeling?”

Good question. I sat up, licking my dry lips. “Better…I think. What are you doing here? Is it January?”

Hudson smiled and shook his head. “Not yet. I told Vicki I’d drop off your soup and make sure you took your medicine. Hang tight. I’ll get that for you now.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“No, but I volunteered, and I don’t mind at all.” He returned with a glass of water and a bottle of prescription pills.

I took the antibiotics, swallowing around the razor blade scraping my throat.

“ Ugh . That hurts.”

“Poor guy.” Hudson patted my knee gently. “Sinus infections are the worst. I’ve had a couple, and I remember feeling achy all over. The important thing is to keep hydrated and get a lot of rest.”

“I didn’t know you were a doctor,” I snarked.

His grin was instantaneous, spreading across his handsome features like wildfire. “I’ve missed that sassy mouth of yours.”

“I’m sorry. That was rude and—no, wait. It’s still December, so…I’m not sorry at all. I’m sick and I’m mad about it, and…and…you shouldn’t be here. Sure, I saw your penis once, but let’s face it, I don’t know you and you don’t know me, so…skedaddle.”

Hudson cocked his head as he perched on the coffee table. “You’re right, but you were the one who asked me to stay.”

“I didn’t!”

“You did. You said, and I quote, ‘I like your peppermint tea. Do you want to watch The Price is Right tomorrow?’ So here I am.”

I gasped. “I didn’t say that. I wouldn’t.”

“You did,” he insisted.

I frowned, pointing at the flat-screen. “That’s not The Price is Right .”

“Nope, we’re watching sports highlights. We’ve got NBA, NFL, NHL, and of course, it’s college bowl game time, so?—”

“Halt. I don’t understand those words.”

“That’s okay. My teams aren’t doing so hot this year, so it’s a little painful to explain.” Hudson turned the station to the Game Show Network. “Are you hungry?”

“Not really.”

“You should eat something. How do you feel about lentil soup?”

“It sucks dragon balls,” I huffed around a cough.

He chuckled. “What about chicken noodle?”

“It’s the devil’s dander.”

“Tomato soup?”

“ Meh .”

“ Meh ? That’s it?”

“I sort of don’t hate it.”

Hudson clutched his chest in mock surprise. “Alert the press! We found something Moody doesn’t hate in the month of December.”

I pursed my lips to hide my smile. “I like some things in December.”

“Name three…that aren’t fifty-year-old game shows.”

“Warm blankets, birds, and chocolate-covered pretzels.”

“Oh, good ones.” Hudson pointed to the television. “ The Joker’s Wild okay?”

“Lovely. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

He pulled his cell from his pocket and scrolled through messages, seemingly in no hurry to leave. I wasn’t sure why he hadn’t moved on yet. I was an expert at scaring off eligible bachelors…and friends. And looking and feeling the way I currently did, I couldn’t believe this one was still lurking about. Hudson was either a masochist or a weirdo or both or?—

Or maybe he was lonely.

I frowned. So? It wasn’t my problem he’d moved to a new state and started a new job. Did I have to be nice because he was being nice to me? Was that a rule? If so, I didn’t like it. I’d warned him that I was no good till January. No good at all.

“Are you staying?” I asked testily.

He glanced up from his phone. “I don’t have anywhere else to be, so…sure, if you’d like the company.”

“Why?” I winced.

Contrary to my sassy mouth, ungracious behavior didn’t come naturally to me. It was hard work being a full-time turd. But I truly couldn’t understand what this handsome hunk of a cowboy was doing here playing babysitter to my sick downtrodden self. If I had a choice, I wouldn’t hang out with me.

Hudson snickered. “Because you’re so pleasant.”

A smidge of decency surfaced out of the blue. “Sorry, I’ll try to be less…”

“Of a dick?”

“Yeah, that.” I brushed my forearm across my nose and sniffed. “I just thought you’d want to explore the area before you settle into your new job. This doesn’t seem very fun.”

“This, my friend, is a good time,” he quipped, flashing a sexy grin my way.

I rolled my eyes. “I’m serious.”

“I know. The truth is, I did my share of exploring a couple of months ago. I was up and down the coast and saw San Francisco, Yosemite, and Moro Bay. I spent a day in Monterrey, drove through Carmel, and even went to that Hearst mansion.” Hudson snapped his fingers. “What’s it called?”

“Hearst Castle.”

“Yeah, that was cool. But for now, my focus is getting to know everyone and the animals at the ranch without stepping on toes. Tanner and the other owners have been welcoming, but I’m not officially part of the crew till January.”

“I hate to sound like a broken record, but why did you come to California early if you knew they didn’t need you till—oh, no!” I gasped, furrowing my brow. “Oh, no.”

“What’s wrong?”

I wrinkled my brow, embarrassed yet determined to proceed. “Did you fall in lust with me? Is this a sexual conquest excursion waylaid by an inconvenient malady?”

Hudson’s mouth fell open. He closed it quickly and choked. A bubble of laughter escaped through his nose like fizzy champagne he was attempting to stuff into a bottle. He finally gave in, threw his head back, and guffawed.

“You are really something, Moody.”

I slipped under the blanket, intending to ride out the wave of mortification in peace, but that wave never materialized. I knew without verbal assurance that Hudson wasn’t making fun of me. Just as I knew that for reasons unknown, he liked me…quirks and all.

Ugh . Fine, I liked him too.

I kicked the blanket aside and sat up to straighten my Halloween-themed flannel pajama bottoms. “Okay, wise guy. Pipe down and control your hilarity. It’s a valid inquiry, and you know it. Most people wouldn’t choose to make a big move in December, especially if it requires a return journey to visit with family for Christmas Day.”

Hudson licked his upper lip, his eyes still crinkled with humor. “True, but I’m not going home for Christmas. Thanksgiving was my last hoorah.”

“But you like Christmas. I’m rather certain you said so.”

“I do.”

“Oh…bad memories?” I guessed, cocking my head curiously.

“Not at all. I just want to get an early start on the next chapter.”

“Commendable.”

“Thanks. Don’t get me wrong. Part of me hates the pitying looks I still get and constantly having to reassure everyone I’m doing well.”

I regarded him thoughtfully. “I see. I know a thing or two about hiding out. You can stay.”

“I’m not hiding out,” Hudson scoffed, adjusting the volume during a commercial for baby shampoo. “I’m taking a month-long hiatus and spending a little time with my new friend, the only guy who might be less enthusiastic about the holidays than me this year. Scratch that. I love Christmas, and being here gives me a chance to enjoy the season without my mom repeating over and over that I’ll find the right person someday. Not gonna happen.”

“You don’t want to fall in love again?”

“Pardon my French, but…fuck, no. I’m a thousand times more likely to fall in lust”—he paused to wink at me—“than love.”

“ Hmm . Well, me too.” I nodded briskly, then stared at the television. “Bah humbug.”

Hudson snickered. “Bah humbug.”

I wasn’t sure how long he stayed. Another hour…maybe two? I drifted in and out of sleep, sipping tea and watching shows my dad had introduced me to years ago.

And you know, it was a perfectly pleasant afternoon.

In December.