Chapter 7

HUDSON

Iglanced down at the can of soda in my hand, wishing it were something stronger. But then again, it could be worse. At least I wasn't alone. Instead, I found myself in the company of a beautiful stranger, who somehow managed to look even better in my oversized sweats than she did in her tight blouse and jeans. Who would have thought?

"Have a seat." I gestured to the bed. "Do you want me to call someone?" I laughed when I heard myself. "Sorry, I'm sure you can call someone yourself."

"My purse is in my car. Along with my phone. I tried to get it, but I think it ended up somewhere in the back."

"Do you remember any numbers?"

She took a deep breath. "I do. But is it okay if I wait a minute? They are going to freak out."

"Of course," I said.

Her hand was shaking as she took a sip of her Coke.

I was worried about her. I was playing it cool with the accident, but honestly, when I saw the car in the ditch with the wheels up, adrenaline pumped through me. No one else was around, so it was up to me to jump into action.

I was quietly proud of myself for keeping calm enough to help her. It was difficult for anyone to know how they would act in an emergency until they were in one, and I hadn't frozen up or hesitated. This little town was already showing me a side of myself I didn't think I had.

"I bought a bunch of candy stuff," I said and laid them out on the table. "I've got a Snickers, Twix, or some peanut M&M's. It's not a five-course meal, but you're welcome to take your pick."

"I'm okay," she said with a little shake of her head. "I just left my parents' house. We had dinner. Well, most of dinner."

"You have dinner with your family?" I asked. Nothing about the Bancroft clan was normal, so I was always interested in seeing how other families got along.

"My mom likes us to get together at least once a week for a family dinner," she explained. "It's something of a tradition."

"My dad has recently started doing that with his new girlfriend." I wrinkled my nose. "And that sounds really weird. My dad's girlfriend."

I didn't want to get into that long, complicated story. I didn't know why I told her about my dad at all. It just came out.

She laughed and then covered her mouth. "Sorry. It's not funny."

"It is pretty funny. I'll tell you the funniest part. She's my aunt."

"Your dad's girlfriend is your aunt?" Her eyebrows knitted together. "Like Game of Thrones? He's dating his sister?"

I barked out a laugh. "No, thank heavens, she was his sister-in-law. His brother's wife. My uncle is dead. So is my mother. So, they have just recently gotten together. It's a really long story. It would probably take, like, sixteen books to explain it."

She looked at me with a big smile. "Someone's got a history."

"You have no idea," I said.

Her curly hair had doubled in size now that it was drying. It was downright adorable. She was a far cry from the city girls I usually went for, but there was something about her that captivated me in a way I couldn't explain. There was a warmth to her smile and a kindness in her eyes I was drawn to like a magnet.

"This was probably not the relaxing getaway you were planning," she said with a dry chuckle. "I'm guessing rescuing a damsel in distress wasn't on your bingo card."

"It hasn't been relaxing, no, but it's kind of nice to feel like a hero for a change," I said. Everyone back home thought I was a fuck-up. No one ever looked at me the way she did.

I wanted to be the man she thought I was.

"I know it's hard to believe, but the weather is usually beautiful," she said. "The end of summer is my favorite time of year. It's so pretty and there is a lot of other stuff to do. Other than saving silly women that drive off the side of the road."

I smiled and shook my head. "You weren't silly. The only reason you were out there was because you saved this silly man from catching pneumonia after his car broke down."

She nodded. "I'll definitely remember this little adventure for a while. My brother is never going to let me live this down."

As I listened to her talk, I fell deeper under her spell, mesmerized. The way she talked with her hands and the easy laugh. The smile. The excitement. I knew a lot of other women that would have been freaking out right then. Even if it was a minor accident, it could have been so much worse. She was taking it all in stride. Here I was a perfect stranger and she was making me feel like we were old friends.

Thank God Zayn won that coin flip.

"Tell your brother you were run off the road," I offered.

She grinned. "I'm not sure that would fly. It's not exactly a common occurrence around here. I imagine in your neck of the woods it's a daily thing."

"Accidents and aggressive driving are just part of living in the city." I shrugged. "It's a trade-off."

She took another drink. "Hudson," she said, and I loved the way my name rolled off her lips. "You said you're from Canada. Where does that name come from?"

I didn't need her going home and googling me later. No good ever came when people dug too deep into my past. The less she knew about me, the better.

"I couldn't say where the name from." I shrugged. "That was up to my parents."

She laughed again. "Good point. My mom and dad named me Diana. Not exactly a cool, trendy name."

I nodded. "Diana. Classic. Beautiful. Feminine."

A rush of pink bloomed across her cheeks, a sight that only served to heighten my attraction to her. It was clear that I had an effect on her, just as she did on me. I couldn't explain what the draw was. Obviously, she was beautiful, but there was so much more. In the five minutes I'd been sitting with her, it felt like she was someone I could sit and talk to for hours.

Outside, the rain continued to patter against the window. The dim lighting in the hotel room, caused by a handful of burnt-out bulbs that needed replacing, only served to heighten the mood. I had a feeling the dim lighting was intentional, although not to make the place more romantic. The owners probably didn't want anyone to see what the room looked like in the bright light of an LED.

She reached between us, her hand brushing my thigh. "I'll pay you back for this," she said, taking the Hershey bar.

"You're not going to pay me back for a candy bar."

She wouldn't be offering to pay me for a candy bar if she knew who I was and the money I had.

I sat beside her and watched her take a bite. She closed her eyes as she savored the chocolate. I inhaled the scent of her. She smelled like citrus and honey, a heady combination that made my head swim as we sat close together on the bed.

"I should probably call someone," she whispered.

I nodded. "Okay."

I stayed where I was, listening to her talk to someone on the phone. She hung up and came back to sit on the bed once again. "I'm really sorry to be crashing your vacay. My sister is on her way to pick me up."

"You're not crashing anything," I said. "It's not like I have anything going on. I'm guessing this place doesn't have any good channels."

"I don't know," she said. "I haven't been here before." She took another bite of the chocolate. "I can't believe I ruined my car."

"It might not be that bad," I offered.

She sighed. "I'm guessing it's going to be bad. I'm not sure I want to get a rental from the same place you did."

I grinned. "I can't say I'm very confident in their inventory."

She blew out a breath. "What a day."

"No kidding," I agreed.

When I headed out to this middle of nowhere place, I was expecting to be bored out of my mind. I was actually looking forward to the boredom. And then I met this woman.

She shook her head. "This was not the kind of day I was expecting when I woke up this morning."

"I guess I can check off save a woman from certain death from my bucket list." I laughed.

"You said I wasn't going to die."

"Well, that's how I'm telling the story to my friends," I countered.

She turned to look at me and smiled. I was taken by her beauty. I couldn't look away. She was just so beautiful. And natural. My gaze dropped to her mouth. Those perfect plump lips were begging to be kissed.

She leaned in closer, her breath warm against my cheek. I could feel the tension crackling in the air between us, a magnetic pull drawing us together. Without another word, I closed the distance between us. The taste of chocolate mingled with the sweetness of her lips, sending a shiver down my spine.

As we kissed, time seemed to stand still. The rain outside faded into the background, leaving only the two of us enveloped in our own world. Her fingers tangled in my hair, pulling me closer as if afraid to let go.

Her lips parted just enough to let my tongue dance against hers, a silent invitation that I eagerly accepted. The kiss deepened, growing more passionate with each passing moment. It was as if we were both starving for this connection, this moment of intimacy and desire that crackled between us like electricity.

I could feel her heart racing against my chest, matching the frantic beat of my own. The taste of her was intoxicating, a heady mix of chocolate and something uniquely her. In that moment, nothing else mattered but the feeling of her in my arms, the softness of her lips moving against mine.

When we finally broke apart, we were both breathless, our eyes locked in a silent understanding.

At first, she stayed perfectly still, like she was in shock. I held my breath, wondering if I had just made a huge mistake. This wasn't a Manhattan club. Diana was not the kind of girl that went to bars looking for a little action. She was a good, wholesome lady.

And I crossed the line.

My mind started whirring, trying to think of the right thing to say. Did I apologize? That was admitting fault. I had done enough time to know you never admitted to anything. I worried that I might have misread her signals, that perhaps she didn't want this. But then she softened against me and leaned in for another kiss.

Our second kiss was even more intense, a confirmation of the connection that had sparked between us. It was like a dam had broken and we were both swept away in the passion. Diana's hands roamed over my back, pulling me closer as if she couldn't get enough.

As we finally pulled apart, breathless and dazed, I searched her eyes for any sign of regret or uncertainty. But all I found was a spark of desire, a hint of something more that mirrored my own feelings.

She smiled at me, a dazzling and genuine smile that reached her eyes. "I never expected my day to turn out like this," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath.

"Me neither," I admitted, feeling a rush of emotions swirling inside me.

I was going to ask her if she'd like to stay, but she got to her feet and started looking around. She put on her sandals and picked up her wet clothes. "I'll bring your clothes back tomorrow when I get off work, around three."

She didn't give me a chance to protest, moving quickly to leave the room before I could gather my thoughts.

"Thanks again," she said and shut the door behind her.

I sat there in a daze, still able to taste the sweetness of her lips on mine. Diana had left so suddenly, leaving me reeling with a mix of confusion and desire.

I stood up slowly, my mind racing with questions and doubts. What had just happened between us? Was it real, or just a fleeting moment of connection in the midst of chaos? Should I have stopped her from leaving, asked her to stay?

I walked to the window to peek out. She was just getting into a car. I watched the car drive away and started laughing. I had a way of finding trouble wherever I went.

So much for peace and quiet.