“Well, maybe she’s interested in something temporary.”
I shook my head. “No, not this woman. She’s…different.”
“Oh, I see. Those are the ones you need to watch out for.”
Smiling, I asked, “Why’s that?”
Dad cleared his throat and then sighed. I could picture him settling down into his chair in the living room, ready to dish out some worldly advice. “A woman who makes you feel things you’ve never felt before is like a rare jewel, Hudson. Where other jewels are shiny and offer temptations, rare jewels are harder to discover. But once you do, they’re nearly impossible to let go of.”
“Was Mom a rare jewel?” I asked, already knowing the answer.
“The rarest of them all.”
I didn’t say anything for a few moments before it was my turn to clear my throat. “We’re friends, but I won’t deny there’s an attraction there that I think she feels as well.”
“Son, in my experience, when a guy has to keep repeating that he’s only friends with a woman, he’s far from wanting to be just her friend. Don’t put pressure on it. Hell, you’ve got enough on your shoulders now as it is. Let it run its course naturally.”
“Do you think it’s wise to start a relationship with someone when I’m only here for a month or so?”
He exhaled loudly. “Ah, that’s what you have to decide, not me. Whatever you do, just be upfront and honest with her. I’ve always taught you to respect women. You want to sleep with her and scratch an itch, fine. But let her know where you stand first. She might want the same thing, or she might be looking for something—or someone—long term. But, like you’ve said time and time again, you don’t have to live in New York City.”
I nodded even though he couldn’t see me. “I’m going to take your advice and not put any pressure on it either way. We’re having dinner tomorrow night at her house, so maybe I’ll have a better feel for things then.”
“Sounds like a solid plan. Now, get some sleep and your mom will get in touch with you about coming up this weekend. I’d love to bring my camera and take some shots.”
“I’ll try to get in some writing before then, so I can spend time with you guys.”
“Sounds good, Hudson. This old man is going to bed.”
I smiled and felt a strange sense of sadness come over me. New York wasn’t terribly far from my folks in Boston, but I had hardly seen them the last few years. They were getting older, and I knew someday I would want these moments back with them.
“Goodnight, Dad. Kiss Mom for me. Love you both.”
“Will do. ’Night, and love you right back.”
Dad ended the call and I found myself staring at a painting of a mountain with a small river running in front of it on the opposite wall. A small cabin sat by the river. I frowned as I stared at it. I had seen that cabin before, but where?
Suddenly, I stood. “Out the window, earlier.” I thought of the idea that had come to me when I’d looked out the bedroom window when Greer first showed me the place. I had pictured this very scene for the book. A lone cabin by the river with a man standing back in the shadows. Had I glanced at the picture before we’d headed upstairs? Surely I must have.
Without another thought, I grabbed my laptop bag, ran up the steps, and quickly set up a writing station in the room with the large window. I opened my manuscript and started typing. It didn’t take long before I was completely submerged in the story, my fingers tapping quicker than ever as I wrote out the scenes that played in my mind.
Greer
Candace stared at me with a stunned expression. I had just asked Lynn, one of my part-time employees, if she could cover for me this evening since I had to leave a little early.
“Why are you staring at me like that?” I asked after I hung up the phone.
“You’re leaving early again? Since you’ve owned this bookstore, you’ve never once left early, and now it’s two nights in a row. What are you doing tonight?”
I gave a nonchalant shrug. “Nothing, really. I invited a friend over for dinner.”
“A friend? Okay, you’re going to have to explain because I’m pretty much your only friend, and I know I’m not coming over for dinner tonight.”
Tossing her a glare, I replied, “You are not my only friend, thank you very much.”
“Fine, Willa and Arabella are friends as well. Who is it, Greer?”
Slowly, I drew in a breath. “Hudson.”
Candace started to speak but then quickly shut her mouth. She repeated the motion two more times before she gawked at me with a stunned expression.
“Okay, don’t stare at me like that,” I said. “It’s only dinner. It means nothing. We’re just friends.”