Page 119 of Georgia-Blue & Hudson

“Are you mad with Gray?”

He shakes his head. “I could never be. I drove like a maniac, that’s on me.”

“Don’t say that.”

“It’s true, I also saw you as I passed out, just like the time I fell off Bucko.”

I look up at him. “What?”

“I never told you this; but when I had my accident, I saw you. When he knocked me off, I could hear and see things going on around me, but it was your face I saw. I’ll never forget it. It made no sense at the time, now it does.”

“Oh, Huds.” Tears well in my eyes.

“You said; You’re gonna be alright, you’ll see, GP. I believed it, you got me through the darkest time in my life.”

“I never knew that. That means so much to me.”

“I guess it was always meant to be with the two of us. We just didn’t know it.”

“That’s true. And you’re gonna get through this just like you did the last time, you big old doofus. But promise me, no more racing around like a maniac. Dirt bikes. Bulls. Anything that could hurt you.”

He chuckles, then coughs again and I wince. “No bikes, no bulls. You’re my lucky charm, always have been.”

“You mean to tell me we could’ve been doing this years ago?” I snuggle into his side.

One side of his mouth tips up. “I know. I’m a little old school; took me a while to see the light, but I’m so glad I did.”

I press a kiss to his cheek. “I love you.”

His lips part, his eyes on mine. “I love you, too, baby.”

I lean down and press my lips to his. “Don’t ever do that to me again.”

He chuckles lightly. “I’ll try not to.”

I pepper his entire face with kisses. The nurse clears her throat as she moves toward us.

“I’m right outside. I’ll be back when you’ve had some rest,” I tell him.

“Stay.”

I look to the nurse in desperation. She rolls her eyes. “I’ll make up the cot, but you’ve got to be super quiet and let the man recover.”

I smile gratefully. “Thank you.”

Hudson chuckles again. “My girl,” he whispers, his eyes closing once more. “She’s always been able to get her own way. My heart… it belongs to you. Only you.”

I press my lips to his once more. “And mine is yours. Always and forever.”

31

Georgia

Four weeks later….

The cheering and hooting of the crowd do everything to spur me on as I get ready for my moose-riding debut in the packed bar tonight.

Little does Hudson know, I’ve been practicing these past few weeks when the bar is closed, getting my moves down pat. Wanting to challenge him on the moose all started before I fell in love with him of course, but there’s no harm in following through. And it sure is going to be fun for a laugh.

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