Page 109 of That Time I Kissed My Beachfront Boss

Except I never kissed her like that.

Before I can say the words out loud, Liv clears her throat and says, “Well, I don’t know if I deserve congratulations. But I do have some bad news.”

Jacqueline blinks at her. “Nothing too terrible, I hope?”

“It’s just that”—Olivia winces—“Link and Hadley left hours ago.”

“Oh, noooo!” Jaqueline lets out a long slow groan. “Did you get to meet them?”

“I did.” Liv inclines her head to indicate me. “They were wonderful, weren’t they, Hudson?”

Jacqueline’s lower-lip pout returns. “Some people have all the luck.”

“It’s a shame you missed them.” Liv hitches her shoulders. “Then again, we didn’t know you were coming, so.”

I bite back a smirk. Liv could be letting Jacqueline get to her, but she’s totally holding her own. Giving as good as she gets. No, even better.

“In any case,” Jacqueline says, “the trip out here was worth getting to see this beautiful place.” She spreads her arms wide enough to include the entire property. “I underestimated what Hudson could accomplish when he sets his mind to it.” She turns toward me and does a little curtsy. “Well done, Hud.”

“Thanks,” I say through half-clenched teeth.

Being near Jacqueline again makes my stomach churn. Not because she’s an awful person—I’ll save the judgment for someone better equipped. The truth is, she’s exactly who she’s always been. I’m the one who acted like a chameleon, molding myself into what I thought she wanted in a man. What I thought my dad wanted in a son.

Working at Blaine & Co. and dating Jacqueline was simply me taking the path of least resistance. Staying for two years—trying to be someone I wasn’t interested in being—was unfair.

To her.

To my dad.

So I’m at least partially to blame for our breakup, and pretending it was all her fault only makes a bad ending worse. I don’t want to be that guy anymore. The one who surrenders control of my situation to the past. My mom isn’t responsible for the bad parts. Neither is Jacqueline. And I can’t give credit to the Johnsons or Olivia for the good parts yet to come. I get to decide my future.

The big, beautiful, hard, mess of it all.

Without another thought, I reach for Olivia’s hand. I half expect her to pull away, but she lets me take it. And her soft palm presses against my calloused one. Her touch is warm. And even in this moment of awkward uncertainty, she’s a rock.

She’s my rock.

“So I hope traffic won’t be too bad on your drive back,” I tell Jacqueline, nodding across the property toward the parking lot. “This time on a Friday night, everyone who’s heading to the city should already be there.”

“We can get you some coffee for the ride if you want,” Liv offers. “Or some leftover pizza?”

“Oh.” Jacqueline startles, shifting her jaw. “But I didn’t drive myself.”

My brow drops. “How did you get here?”

She flinches. “I … took a cab?”

“From Manhattan?”

“Whoa.” Olivia puffs out a breath. “That must’ve cost a fortune.”

“It wasn’t cheap.” A grimace twists Jacqueline’s face. “But I wanted to meet Lincoln James,” she says. “And check on Hud.” She turns to me, wrinkling her nose. “And honestly, I was afraid I’d chicken out unless I’d committed to the fare.” She hikes the strap of her overnight bag higher on her shoulder. “I came prepared to stay here. But Link and Hadley are gone. And you’re—” She darts her eyes at Liv. “Entangled. So I guess I’ll just get an Uber home.”

At this, both Liv and I choke out a laugh.

Jaqueline presses her lips together. “What’s so funny?”

“I’m sorry,” Liv says, quickly recovering. “We shouldn’t laugh. It’s just …”

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