Page 106 of That Time I Kissed My Beachfront Boss

“Yeah.” Her shoulders pitch up. “It’s pretty much a chance to step right back into my old life.”

We both stand facing each other now, eyes pinned together. “So you’re going to Aspen?” I clear my throat, like my lungs are on fire, and every breath is turning to ash.

“I’m going to Aspen. Yes.” She lowers her lids. “Francine went to bat for me this time, and I owe her that much. And I’d like to treat her the way I’d hope to be treated.”

“So. That’s what you want.” A gust of summer air floats over us, and Olivia’s cocoa butter scent just about brings me to my knees. “You want to move back to Aspen and work at Luxe?”

“I didn’t say that.” Her voice catches. “What I really want is you.”

Chapter Forty-Two

Olivia

Hudson draws in an audible breath, and goose bumps dance along my arms. When he finally exhales, I can almost feel the weight drifting off his shoulders.

“I want you too, Liv.” His voice is a low rumble I feel in my soul. I lay a hand to my chest, trying to calm the racetrack of my nerves.

“But that doesn’t change the fact that I won’t ask the Johnsons to pay another full-time salary. They’re just trying to get this place profitable again after years of struggle.”

“See what I mean?” His mouth goes crooked. “You really are the most generous woman ever. Scratch that. The most generous person ever.”

A small smile teases my lips. “I am not.”

“Sorry, Liv. This is a non-negotiable fact,” he says. “But we’ll figure something out. Maybe we can be like Cathy and Heathcliff, and chuck all the obstacles between us and be madly in love.”

I cringe and a chuckle slips out of me. “You do know they’re practically brother and sister in that book, right?”

“Stop!” He throws up a hand to protest. “You’re ruining the first classic I ever liked.”

My shoulders pitch. “I’m just saying. Solutions aren’t always that easy.”

“Okay.” He pushes his hands into his pockets. “So maybe you go to Aspen and we try long distance for a while. Or maybe Francine Tomlin will let you work remotely and you can stay here. Or maybe some other dream job will magically appear in Abieville. Or maybe I’ll blow everything off and move with you to Colorado.”

“You can’t do that,” I rush to say. “You made a commitment. To the Johnsons. You promised yourself. Your dad.” I shake my head. “I won’t take that away from you.”

“I don’t care.” He swallows hard, his Adam’s apple dipping.

“You do, though.” I reach up and brush a hand along his granite jawline. “You care the most.”

He presses his chin into my palm. “Mostly about you.” He reaches up to collect both my hands in his. “If you stay here tonight—in the room you used Saturday—we can talk more after Teller and Winnie get settled. And I promise not to keep you up too late, or end up in your bed again.” He squeezes my fingers. One brief pulse. “Unless you have another nightmare, of course.” One brow hikes up. “Then all bets are off.” His tone is rumbly, but not gruff. He sounds warm. Hopeful.

“You’re so patient with me,” I say.

His eyes go soft, both lids hooded. “You’re so worth the wait.”

I blink up at him. “Really?”

“So much really.”

A breeze rustles the trees along the porch, blowing strands of my hair across my face. Hudson reaches out to tenderly brush the tendrils away. When he slips his hand around the nape of my neck, his palm glides up until he’s cradling my head. Then he draws me nearer to him.

Closer, closer. So close.

Only a breath away.

“I’m dying to kiss you right now,” he says. His voice is an avalanche of gravel. “Please let me kiss you, Liv.”

I bite my lip. I’m so ready, my teeth practically break skin. Since that night at The Launch Pad, I’ve dreamed of tasting Hudson’s lips again. I convinced myself another kiss from him was just that—a dream. But a low groan sounds in the back of his throat, reminding me this is real.

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