Chapter 27

HUDSON

Iwanted a drink. This was the first time since I arrived in Cold Springs that I really wanted a drink. I was pissed at Richard, but I was pissed at myself for not standing up to him. Pissed for possibly causing a problem between Diana and her father. I didn't want to get between them.

Needing to do something to keep myself from going for the bottle, I went back to the house and changed into swim trunks. I dove into the pool, letting the coolness wash over me and soothe my frayed nerves. The water washed away some of the tension but not all of it. I couldn't shake the feeling of dread that had settled in my stomach ever since Richard's warning. Diana's father's words echoed in my head, his accusations ringing loud and clear. I knew he didn't approve of me, but I never expected him to go behind Diana's back like that.

I swam back and forth in the pool, and Richard's words lingered in my mind. I didn't want to let Diana go. Was I being selfish? If I stuck around Cold Springs, she was going to find a way to see me, and I didn't have the willpower to tell her to stay away. I wanted her.

"Hudson."

I heard my name when I came up for air. I ran my hand over my face and saw Diana standing at the edge of the pool. She didn't look happy. I hoisted myself out of the water and walked toward her.

"You're here," I said.

"I'm here."

"Are you okay?" I asked. I reached for a towel hanging on the rack. I dried my face and chest before quickly running the towel over my hair.

"I'm fine," she said. "Damn, do you know how sexy you are?"

I grinned. "No."

"Well, you are and you're distracting me. I was all pissed off and now I'm just turned on."

"What happened?" I asked her.

As much as I would love to pull her into my arms and have my way with her, there was the other matter we needed to discuss. I needed to know if she was going to dump me or if we were going to hide this thing from her parents.

"I talked to my father," she said, her shoulders drooping slightly. "He made it clear that he doesn't want me anywhere near you, Hudson. He thinks you're bad news, that I'm making a mistake by being with you."

"I know," I said.

"I told him he doesn't get to make those decisions for me," she said. "I'm sorry that he talked to you at all. It was way out of line."

I shrugged. "It's not a big deal. I've been told a lot worse. And honestly, I don't really care what your father thinks of me. I only care what you think about me."

"I happen to like you."

"Good." I smiled. "I'm sorry for the position he put you in. For the position I put you in by spending time with you."

"It's not your fault, Hudson," she replied. "I just wish my dad could see things from my perspective for once."

I nodded in understanding. "I don't understand why he's so determined to control your life. You're more than capable of making your own choices, Diana. He should trust you to know what's best for you. You seem to have a pretty good head on your shoulders. You're not out there partying and sleeping around."

"I know," Diana sighed. "But my father has always been like this. He thinks he knows what's best for me, even when it's clear he doesn't understand me at all." She paused, her gaze meeting mine. "I don't want to keep sneaking around, Hudson. I want us to be able to be together without constantly looking over our shoulders."

I reached out and took her hand, feeling the warmth of her skin against mine. "I want that too, Diana. I want us to have a chance to explore whatever this is between us without all the secrecy and guilt."

"So, what do we do now?" she asked softly, her eyes searching mine for an answer. "Did my dad scare you off? Are you going to dump me?"

"We can't change how your father feels about me," I began, "but we can change how we deal with it. We don't have to hide anymore. We can be honest with your parents about us and show them that we're serious about each other. I have to say, I don't really like being told what I can and can't do. But I will be respectful. If you don't want to see me anymore because it's causing too much trouble with your family, I get it. I'll understand. I don't want to make things harder for you."

She went up on her toes and kissed me. "I can't believe we've only known each other for a couple of weeks, and I feel like you already get me more than my own flesh and blood," she said.

I chuckled at her words. "Well, it's just one of my many talents," I joked, flashing her a playful grin. "I want to keep seeing you, but I don't want to cause you any drama."

"You're not the cause of the drama."

"If we're going to be rebels and defy your father's wishes, there's something I wanted to talk to you about," I said.

"What?"

"It's a little gift I arranged."

"A gift?"

"Let's go inside." I took her hand and led her into the kitchen. "Do you want to get away?"

"Get away?" she asked.

"You have the month off, right?"

"Yes."

"You have no other obligations?"

She shook her head. "Nope."

"I got my family's jet," I said. "I've booked an itinerary of travel for the next two weeks."

"Your family's jet?" she repeated.

I nodded, figuring we could get into the details about who my family was at a later time. "We're going to Cambodia, Egypt, Scotland, and New York. I want to take you to see all the top destinations on your bucket list."

Diana's eyes widened in disbelief, her breath catching in her throat. "Are you serious?"

"Yes, I'm serious," I replied. "I want us to have an adventure together, to experience all these amazing places side by side. You deserve to get out of here. You deserve to check off a few of those places on your bucket list."

Diana set her water bottle down on the kitchen counter and turned to face me, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Hudson, this is incredible. I don't even know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything," I said softly, reaching out to brush a stray lock of hair from her face. "Just say you'll come with me. Let me take you around the world."

"You did all that for me?" she whispered.

I nodded, feeling proud. "Of course," I replied earnestly, my heart swelling with affection for her.

"Of course I want to go!" she exclaimed. "Are you kidding? This is the trip of a lifetime! I don't have money to repay you back in one lump sum, but I can make payments."

"I'm glad you're excited," I said, reaching out to gently wipe away a tear that had escaped down her cheek. "And as for repaying me, there's nothing you need to do. Just seeing you happy is enough for me. This is a gift. I want to see all those places you mentioned, and I think it would be even better if I could see them with you."

Diana's smile widened at my words, her eyes shining with gratitude. "Thank you, Hudson," she said softly. "I don't know what I did to deserve you."

"You don't have to do anything to deserve me, Diana," I replied earnestly. "Just keep being you."

She grabbed me and kissed me. "I don't even know what to say," she said. "I'm speechless."

I couldn't help but tease her a little. "You do have a passport, right?" I asked playfully, knowing that such spontaneity might catch her off guard.

Diana laughed. "I might be a small-town girl, but yes, I have a passport," she replied. "I wanted to be ready in case I won a cruise or something like that."

I grinned at her response, relieved. "Good, because we leave the day after tomorrow," I informed her, watching as her eyes widened in surprise.

"I think this is just what I need," she exclaimed. "A chance to get out of town, take some space from my dad, do my own thing, and maybe do you."

I laughed at her boldness, shaking my head. "Well, I certainly look forward to being done," I said, smirking at her. "I think you'll find New York particularly invigorating in that respect."

She raised an eyebrow at me, leaning back against the counter. "Is that so?" she asked.

"Oh yes," I responded warmly, stepping closer to her. "The city lights of Manhattan set quite a romantic scene."

"I can almost picture them, and I've never actually seen them."

I nodded. "It's impressive."

"So, I've never asked, but you said your family jet," she said. "Who are you?"

"Hudson Bancroft," I said. "Pleasure to meet you."

"And I'm going to assume you have money," she said, prompting me to fill in the blanks.

I chuckled, rubbing the back of my neck sheepishly. "More than a little, yes," I confessed. "My family is wealthy. But I assure you it doesn't change who I am."

"It doesn't matter to me, Hudson. I've known you for who you are, not what you have," she said softly.

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I was hoping that would be your reaction, Diana," I admitted, reaching out to take her hand.

"Do you work?" she asked. "Own a business?"

"I don't own a business and I don't work," I confessed. "I'm a spoiled rich kid. I was born into money and got an inheritance. I invested that money, and it just keeps making me richer."

She laughed. "You make it sound easy."

"I'm really going to sound like a dick, but it is easy for me," I admitted. "I have a guy that manages my money. He invests in stocks or whatever and makes me more money. I don't really question it. I just know there's money."

A chuckle bubbled from her lips. She suddenly looked concerned. "That must be nice," she laughed. "But doesn't it get boring? Having nothing to do all day?"

I shrugged, unsure of how to respond. "It can be," I admitted. "I guess you could say that's kind of how I found myself in the trouble I'm in now."

"You're in trouble?"

"Not trouble, but what I told you about my past," I said. "I had no worries, no schedule, no anything. I just showed up to one party after another. I can't even begin to imagine how much money I blew."

"Did you blow money taking your friends on lavish vacations?" she asked, her eyebrows raised in a teasing manner.

"No, but I don't consider taking a beautiful woman on vacation a waste of money," I said. "It's probably one of the better things I've spent my money on."

Diana laughed, her eyes bright with amusement. "Well, let's hope this trip isn't a waste then."

"I assure you, it won't be," I said, pulling her closer. Her laughter faded and her gaze met mine. For a moment, everything was quiet. The only sound was the ticking of the clock on the wall and our shallow breaths. "I cannot wait to see the world with you. I know it's going to be good. This will be good for both of us."