Page 64 of That Time I Kissed My Beachfront Boss

His brow dips. “Never.”

“Come on, bossman.” I scoff, but my cheeks warm. “I can’t be the first.”

“Yep. Only you.” He ducks his head, almost shyly. “I just meant this isn’t the first time I’ve gone swimming fully clothed,” he says. “I had to do that a lot during lifeguard training.”

“Right. I forgot you were a lifeguard.”

“Yeah.” He clears his throat. “I’ve been a lot of things over the years,” he says. “In fact, if you ask my dad, I’ve tried on a few too many hats in this lifetime. If he had his way, I would’ve stuck to one goal. One job. One career. Preferably at Blaine & Co. That’s his firm. But I never wanted to settle. And I didn’t want a job he just handed to me.”

“I totally relate.” I bob my head. “I had the same issue with Mac offering to hire me at McCoy Construction. But there’s nothing wrong with searching for what makes you happy on your own, and not giving up until you find it.”

“That’s what I used to think.” His shoulders hitch. “But now … I just wonder.”

“Wonder what?”

“If you’re always hunting around for something better, maybe you’ll miss the fact that what’s right in front of you is already pretty great.”

I bob my head, thinking back to Francine Tomlin reminding me I had a bird in the hand at Luxe. And I quit anyway. “So. Do you think you’ll be happy at the inn long-term now?” My question slips out softly, and I’m not sure what answer I’m hoping for. Of course I want him to be happy. But any future here wouldn’t include me.

“Maybe it’s not about thinking I’ll be happy,” he says. “Maybe I’ll just choose to be.” His gaze sweeps along the shore, and I follow his sightline taking in the lake, the inn, and the pub. “In any case, I told myself I was done looking,” he continues. “And I promised my dad this would be my last stop, too. That I’d make things work at The Beachfront no matter what.”

My insides twinge. And there’s my answer.

Hudson’s life is here. He’s already committed to this future, and I won’t interfere with his promise. Not to himself or to his father. But there isn’t room enough for both of us at the inn, and there’s no other path to success in Abieville for me.

At least not doing what I’m good at.

You’ve always known this job was temporary, Liv. Just a brief stop on the way to something more.

So why is my stomach sinking and dragging the rest of my internal organs along with it?

“Speaking of work.” I swallow against the lump clogging my throat. “I should probably get back to those kayaks.”

“I’ll come with you,” he says.

A shudder takes over my upper body. “You don’t have to help. Honestly. I can manage on my own.” Hudson meets my gaze and his eyes soften. He reaches out and slowly runs a calloused thumb along my chin. A trail of fire follows its path.

“What if I want to help you, hotshot?”

His face moves toward mine, and a wave of attraction pulses through me. The air between us feels charged now, crackling with chemistry. Whether I mean to or not, I’m drawn to him, moving closer, even as he edges forward.

He’s not actually going to kiss me, is he?

And if he did, would I kiss him back?

The fact that I’m even questioning this is dangerous. Still, I draw in a long breath and tip my chin up, making the angle easier on him. I’m right here. Ready and waiting. His mouth probably tastes like sunshine. Like lake water and warm salt.

My lips part. “Hudson.”

“Liv,” he says on the exhale.

From up by the boathouse, a groundskeeper calls out, “Hudson! The chef is looking for you!”

So Hudson leaves to meet the chef, and I end up finishing the photoshoot alone. The task is right in my skill set, so it’s not difficult to complete. But I feel his absence for the rest of the day. Like when you’ve got a missing tooth, and your tongue keeps returning to the hole and worrying the spot. I find myself wanting to show him the pictures and ask his advice. Confirm his approval.

Which is weird.

All along, I’d planned to work by myself. My projects have always been solo, and I pride myself on independence. I never checked with Francine Tomlin when I was in the middle of a campaign.

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