His Curvy Fantasy, page 9
One day, she was going to make me snap.
Wednesday afternoon, I was in my office when someone knocked on the door. It was open, but when I looked up, I was surprised to see Anna there. And not looking like she was going to murder me.
“Hi,” she said. “Can I come in?”
“Yeah, of course. What can I do for you?” Being civil felt awkward.
She walked in and took a seat across from me in a visitor’s chair. She slid an envelope toward me. “I wanted to thank you.”
“For what?”
She looked up, her gaze colliding with mine. There was vulnerability there, a look I didn’t see from her often. “For paying Joey. I know I was…a bitch to you about it. And I am sorry for that.”
“You don’t need to apologize. I messed up the checks and paying was the right thing to do.”
“Yeah, but—”
“Anna, it was my fault. I appreciate you paying me back. But all I did was correct an error I made.”
She closed her mouth and nodded. Her hands were in her lap. She twisted them together, fiddling with the strap on her purse.
I waited. I wanted to ask what else she wanted to say, but I had to tread carefully with her. Having her there and not yelling at me was a nice change. Almost as nice as pressing her against my wall and kissing the hell out of her.
No, that wasn’t true. Kissing the hell out of her was definitely better.
She finally looked up at me. The vulnerability was more obvious now. I adjusted my position, preparing for whatever she was going to say.
“Thank you for giving Joey this job. And for letting Matty stay here after school. I know you didn’t have to do either, but I’m not sure how we would have gotten through the last year without your help.”
Something inside me shifted at her words. Joey was a great employee and hiring him was a good business decision. And Matty was no problem at all. For her to be so appreciative told me just how many people in her life had been kind to her. And why she was always on edge with me. From the day I hired Joey, she was looking for something she could use to get him away from me, but she wasn’t going to find anything. I think she was finally seeing it.
“They’re amazing kids. And that’s all because of you. I know their lives, and yours, haven’t been easy, but neither of them have allowed that to make them bitter or angry. They are smart boys who work hard and smile often. You’re an amazing mother.”
To complete and utter shock, she burst into tears.
After a second of not knowing what to do, I got up and closed the office door. Then I grabbed tissues from the bathroom and offered them to her. She took the box, and I sat in the chair next to her.
“Thank you. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be sitting here crying.”
“It’s okay,” I said, even as every inch of me said it wasn’t. I hated when people cried. It pulled hard on me to fix whatever was causing that much emotion to bubble out of a person. And with Anna, that pull was even stronger than normal.
“It’s not okay, but thank you. No one’s ever said I’m a good mom.”
“I didn’t say that, Anna. I said you’re amazing. You are. You don’t see it because you’re in the middle of it, but your sons are great people. You’re the only one who had anything to do with that.”
She sniffed and nodded. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
She looked up at me. We were leaning toward each other and so close it wouldn’t have taken much to kiss her again. Her eyes widened, then dropped to my lips. She licked hers, readying them.
Everything slowed down, like time was standing still so I could enjoy the moment. She leaned closer, her body stretching toward mine.
I reached for her, my hand going up to cup the side of her face. She nuzzled against it, just enough to let me know she was on board with whatever was happening.
Then she closed the last bit of distance between us.
Our lips touched, and she gasped. I froze, not knowing if that gasp was for more or to stop.
She grabbed the front of my shirt and tugged me closer, and it snapped something in me.
I hauled her out of her chair and into mine. Her thighs parted so she could settle on my lap. I was hard in an instant, thumping against her warm center as our lips parted and our tongues tangled together.
I groaned, or maybe she did. My hand went into her hair to twist her head where I wanted it to go. She sighed happily, sinking against me and knocking off my baseball hat to run her fingers over my shaved head.
My other hand went to her thigh, then slid to her hip, drawing her body closer. I couldn’t remember the last time I felt so out of control. But I wasn’t. I knew exactly what I was doing. I just needed it all to happen now.
She gasped again and sat back. She looked beyond me, then scrambled off my body.
My brain took a little longer to realize someone was at the door. Knocking.
“Hudson? Are you in there?”
Joey. Of all people.
“Oh, my God,” Anna hissed. She wiped her lips and dragged her fingers through her hair. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes shiny with pleasure.
I wanted to give her more of that.
“Hudson?”
“That was a mistake,” Anna hissed.
“Don’t you dare say that,” I snarled.
She looked at me, her eyes wide with defiance and desire. She turned away, grabbing her purse and taking hurried steps toward the door. She opened it just as Joey was starting to walk away.
“Mom?”
“I was giving Hudson the money we owed him. We were talking.”
Joey looked around her to where I was standing, arms crossed, in front of my desk. I prayed the kid couldn’t see the erection I was sporting thanks to his mom.
“Um, hey. I was just going to let you know I was heading out.”
I nodded. “Thanks.”
He looked between us again and settled on his mom. “Are you ready to go?”
“Yes. I’m ready,” she said. She glanced back at me, her gaze unreadable. Then she left.
Fucking hell. What was that?
10
I did my best to push that kiss with Anna, and her insistence it was a mistake, out of my mind the rest of the week. Instead, I focused on O’Kelley’s and finding a business manager.
Unfortunately, that was a lot harder than I expected it to be.
I spoke to Jonathan first. As a bartender, I’d worked most closely with him. He was intelligent and capable. And not even a little interested.
“Thanks, boss, but honestly, I love that I don’t have to think about this place when I leave. Harry works odd hours just like I do, and we’re buying a house, and changing my job just doesn’t feel like the right move for us right now. Maybe when we have kids, but we’re not there yet.”
“I get it,” I told him. Family was important. And having time to spend with the people you love was more important than a job, even one that paid better and had what most people would say were better hours. The hours definitely wouldn’t be better for Jonathan.
“Are we okay?” he asked after the conversation.
I nodded. “Of course. I would never hold anything like that against you. Being there for your family and spending time with your husband is the best choice you can make. I didn’t realize his hours were as crazy as ours.”
Jonathan laughed. “Maybe not as crazy, but they’re definitely not regular. He and I both like working afternoons and evenings and having our days off.”
“If you were interested in the job, we could work out something like that,” I said, feeling a little hopeful.
Jonathan shook his head. “I know we would try, but I’m not sure how. You talk to suppliers and receive orders early in the morning. If that was part of my job, and I would imagine it would be, it would mean being here day shift.”
I sighed. He was right. I couldn’t force him to fit into the job that wasn’t quite suited for him. “I know. Thanks for at least considering it. Obviously, you gave it some thought.”
“I did. And I’m sorry.”
“No need for that. You’ve saved my ass many times behind the bar. I appreciate it.”
Jonathan nodded and got back to work.
The next day, I spoke to Danielle, who had a similar answer. Then Charlie, Pat, Neve, and Rodney. None of them were interested in the hours or the responsibility.
Which meant I was stuck. Sure, I could keep going down my list, but the other servers, bartenders, and cooks I had were people who’d been with me for less time and not people I thought were ready for a job like that.
I was back to zero.
And Anna was avoiding me again.
I tried hard not to let that get to me, but when a solid week passed without seeing her even once, it was hard not to take it personally. Again.
But I was getting more regular messages from MyFriendsMadeMeDoThis on Book Boyfriends Wanted. She was funny and sarcastic and made the days go by faster when we chatted.
MyFriendsMadeMeDoThis: Why do men always think they’re right?
HereByForce: Because we are.
MFMMDT: Really? That’s your answer? I guess that is the answer. Men are cocky, overbearing jerks who have no sense of boundaries.
HBF: How do you really feel?
MFMMDT: LOL! Sorry! No, not really.
HBF: Who made you feel that way?
MFMMDT: Someone I have to deal with far too often.
HBF: Is he creating a problem for you?
I couldn’t explain the protective instinct I had for this woman. I’d never met her and I didn’t know much about her, but over the last few weeks, we’d developed a friendship of sorts. One that told me she was just as scared of getting hurt again as I was, but for different reasons. And she had kids to worry about.
MFMMDT: No, he’s just one of those people I can’t figure out. Most of the time he makes me crazy, but then he’ll do something out of character and I think he’s a good person.
HBF: If you’re not sure, you should keep your distance.
MFMMDT: I know. And I am.
HBF: Good plan.
MFMMDT: So, what drives you crazy about women? We’re not easy to deal with.
I barked a laugh and thought about Anna. She definitely wasn’t easy to deal with.
HBF: Hot and cold.
MFMMDT: You mean changing her mind?
HBF: No. Never. But getting wrapped up in the moment, then getting pissed off. Or letting your guard down, then retreating. It can really mess with a person’s mind.
MFMMDT: I agree with that one. Completely. Be consistent. Be who you are. Don’t change because you think it’s what someone wants to see.
HBF: Exactly. It’s hard to let people in, but it’s better that way. I’m dyslexic, and when people find out, they think I’m stupid, but it just means my brain works differently. Sometimes it means I need more help with things or take longer to do something, but a lot of people aren’t willing to hear that.
MFMMDT: I get that. I’ve seen it with others. Thank you for telling me.
HBF: Thank you for not running.
It had been a long time since I admitted I struggled to anyone. It was easier with her since I didn’t know her name and wasn’t seeing her reaction live, but I definitely felt better being honest with her.
Another week went by without seeing Anna. Joey would come to work and leave on time and acted like nothing weird was going on, but Anna was no longer walking into O’Kelley’s, and she hadn’t been to book club all month from what I could tell.
“What are you doing for thanksgiving?” Finley asked a few days before the holiday.
She hadn’t been sending Anna over to pick up lunches either. She was coming herself or not ordering from me. It was starting to piss me off.
“Where’s Anna?” I asked her.
“Working. Why? Did something happen?”
Finley watched me closely while I tried to figure out how to answer the question. If I told her the truth, she’d never let go of the idea of us together. If I lied, she’d probably see right through me. Either way, just asking about Anna tipped my hand, and I was screwed.
“I haven’t seen her in a few weeks. Joey’s coming to work, and Matty comes after school, but Anna’s been absent. Just wondering if she’s okay.”
Finley snorted. “I thought you hated her.”
“I never said that.”
“No, you just act like you can’t wait for her to leave when she’s here and you’re short with her.”
“Did she tell you that?”
“Hud, I’ve seen it. I adore you, but she thinks you’re an ass.”
“Fuck,” I groaned. I was an ass to Anna. For a long time. Old habits and all that. But damn if there hadn’t been a shift inside me. One that I wasn’t sure I wanted to happen, but one that happened anyway.
I fucking missed sparring with her. And kissing her. And seeing her.
My dick was getting sore from the number of times I’d taken myself in hand thinking about Anna in the last few months. And I was running out of memories to draw from.
“You like her, don’t you?” Finley asked. Her voice held more amazement than anything else. Her eyes sparkled with excitement. The edges of her lips curled up.
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t say you didn’t, either. I thought you two hated each other.”
I shook my head. “I’m pretty sure that’s a one-sided thing.”
“Wow. You really like her. What did you do that she won’t step foot in here anymore?”
“Did she say that?”
“Not in so many words, but when I ask where she wants to order food from, she never wants to order from here. She says last time you didn’t have our order and it cost her extra time to go to a second place.”
“Maybe it’s better if things stay that way. I’m not used to anything like this.”
“Are you talking about Hillary?”
I wiped down the counter and leaned on the edge. “Yes and no. Things between us were easy. Once I got over my anger at needing a tutor and accepted that she was just trying to help, Hillary and I just clicked. We were inseparable after that. We didn’t fight or disagree or have issues. Not very often. But with Anna? That’s all we do.”
“All relationships are different,” Finley said. She sipped her water and shrugged. “I never thought I’d end up married to someone like Trent. There are times he intimidates me because of his money. I know that sounds bad, but I’m used to scraping by and working hard for everything. Living without worry is new, and it’s an adjustment. I’m trying to balance Trent’s life and mine to give George an upbringing that doesn’t allow him to think he owns the world, even though he sort of does.”
“George is not going to end up a spoiled ass like Trent was,” I growled. Trent used to show up at O’Kelley’s and act like he was a tourist. I knew who he was, and the night he and Finley hooked up, I didn’t say anything to her. I regretted it once she found out she was pregnant and he refused to step up and help. He came around eventually, but it took him far longer than it should have.
“I know. And Trent’s getting better.”
I snorted. Finley knew the score on her husband.
“All I’m saying is your relationship with Hillary is different from any other relationship you’re going to have. And that’s okay.”
I nodded slowly. “I guess.”
Finley was quiet for a minute. “So, thanksgiving? Do you have plans?”
“Working. You know how it is.”
“I do. We were thinking of having lunch at the estate. Xavier’s going to open the theater that night, so he won’t be around late either. Want to join us?”
Alone for holidays had been my norm for years. It was time for family to be together, and since I didn’t have any, it was time for me to be alone. My parents died years ago, and without siblings and no extended family around, I was used to spending the day alone and working at night and giving the locals a place to relax after a long day of family time.
But alone didn’t sound as appealing as it usually did. Time with Fin, George, and Trent would be good.
“Yeah, I would. Thanks,” I told her, smiling back when she beamed at me. “What can I bring?”
“Nothing. You know how Trent is. He’ll have everything taken care of. Come at eleven?”
“I’ll be there. Thanks, Fin.”
“You’re welcome. I’m glad you’re going to come. It’ll be a full house, but it’ll be fun.”
“Yes, it will be.”
The little snaked tricked me. As soon as I walked in, I knew it. The first person I saw was Matty, and the second one was George, who was shoved into my arms by Finley with a whispered, “You can’t get mad when there’s a baby in your arms.”
“You’re cruel,” I hissed at her, then hauled the baby over my shoulder and refused to give him back.
“I want you two to get along. And neither of you had anywhere to go for thanksgiving, so I invited both of you here. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
I scowled at her, even though I knew she was right. There was nothing I could say about Finley inviting whoever the hell she wanted to her own damn house for her own damn holiday celebration.
But I sure as hell wasn’t going to be happy about it.
Finley walked away, knowing she needed to before I actually did say something. A few minutes later, Karissa joined me.
“You look good with a baby,” she said with a smile and a wistful look in her eyes.
“You would, too.”
She shook her head, still staring at George. “My chance for that has passed. I’ve made my peace with it.”
“There are always kids who need to be loved, Rissa. You and Xavier should consider adopting or fostering.”
She shrugged. “Maybe when McJenna is in college. Right now, she has to be the focus.”
“I get that.”
“But you should think about it.”
I laughed. “Not with my lifestyle. I work too many nights and weekends to even think about bringing a kid into it. A baby. And not having a partner would make it impossible.”
