Page 29 of That Time I Kissed My Beachfront Boss

Come on. Please?

OLIVIA

All I can say is never shop for lingerie at the Five and Dime.

Chapter Ten

Olivia

Monday morning, I arrive at the inn on time, but Hudson’s truck is already in the lot. As soon as I enter the lobby, I catch a delicious, nose-tingling scent. Pine and leather and something I can’t quite put a label on besides … manliness.

It’s got to be Hudson, even though he’s nowhere in sight. Still, the tempting smell of him fills the room. Which means he’s got powers of invisible attraction.

Stop sniffing, Liv.

Even as I think this, he emerges from the hallway carrying two empty coffee mugs. “Sorry I’m late,” I blurt.

He glances at the grandfather clock by the guest services podium. “You’re early.”

“Oh. Right.” I shift my weight, and he takes a quick survey of me from my head to my shoes. “I hope this outfit’s okay,” I say. “I don’t have a Beachfront polo.” But after noting his casual look yesterday—and reminding myself I’m in the Adirondacks, not a luxury resort—I wore cropped dark-wash jeans, a white knit top, and red wedge sandals today.

“I can order a couple shirts for you,” he says. “But nobody really cares what you wear here.”

See, Liv? You can relax a little. You’re not in Aspen anymore.

Not that we walked around like every day at Luxe was a red-carpet event. But Francine did expect her employees to dress in the height of fashion. In Abieville, nobody’s going to judge me. And Hudson doesn’t care either. About what I’m wearing or me. And that’s a good thing.

I promised Mac to keep it that way.

“What’s really important is coffee,” Hudson says, crossing to the self-service cart. Next to a pair of giant percolators, there’s an espresso machine, a grinder for beans, and containers I assume are for creamers and sweeteners. He fills both mugs, adding a splash of milk and three sugar cubes to one of them. Then he hands the mug to me.

“Wow.” I blink, surprised. “That’s exactly how I take my coffee.”

“Yeah.” He shrugs. “I’ve served you here before. At your cousin’s wedding.” He offers me a small smile. “Memorizing the orders of former customers is kind of my super-power.”

Customer. Right.

That’s all I was to Hudson when he used to work here. And now he’s my boss. So it doesn’t matter that he smells like the woods or knows how I take my coffee.

I’m just here to get experience and prove myself.

Four weeks, then I’m out of here and on to my real life.

“Thanks.” I take a sip, and give in to a moan of joy. “This coffee is perfect,” I say. “I mean, I love my mom and grandmother and all, but they’re tea drinkers.”

Hudson bites back a smile. “How do you survive living with a couple criminals like that?”

“Right?” I nod, my mouth slipping sideways. “Not to mention I have to sleep on a futon in Big Mama’s sewing room. I’m sharing space with a couple of dress dummies. It’s almost as bad as sharing a room with my sisters.”

“What are dress dummies?” Hudson sips his own coffee. “Like … mannequins?”

“Kind of. Except they have no faces. So it’s a little creepy when they’re next to the bed watching me.” I force out a chuckle, feeling suddenly shy.

Stop being awkward and chatty, Liv.

No more conjuring up images of you in bed.

You’re here to focus on work.

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