Page 13 of Georgia-Blue & Hudson

And thatdatehe’s supposedly bringing? I can’t wait to see who it is or if he’s bringing his blow up doll. I laugh at my own joke until Hudson’s eyes meet mine and I stop.

I guess I’ll find out soon enough.

??

“Do you think Hudson really has a date for the wedding?” I ask Autumn as we walk the grounds of the Cotton Farm. Aut is trying to find the best angles and background scenery for Celeste and Callan’s wedding. Of course it all depends on the weather, but I love the fact that they wanted to get some snapshots over here while the cotton is in full bloom.

“I haven’t heard he’s seeing anyone.” Autumn crouches down on one knee, holding her camera, with a huge wide-angle lens attached, and taking some shots down low of the beautiful blooms. It’s just stunning out here with the sun shining on us and a slight breeze moving its way through the fields. “But you know Hudson, he always keeps things to himself.”

“That’s true.”

“Plus, you made up the fact you might have a date too, right?”

My lips press together in a temporary line as I wonder why the hell I even did that in the first place. There’s nothing wrong with going by myself. I don’t need a plus one anyway, certainly not for Hudson’s benefit. “I had to say something, you saw that smirky look on his face.”

“I think he’s just misunderstood.”

I guffaw at that idea. “Just because you’re all loved up from your honeymoon and looking at everything through rose-tinted glasses, doesn’t mean everything is romantic.”

“Maybe.” She giggles as she gives me an eyebrow waggle. “Can you really blame me?”

“No, I guess not.” I glance back toward the house. Hudson and his dad are doing something with the huge green tractor sitting in the middle of the field opposite us. They have a hundred acres, plus all the processing sheds way down toward the back of the property that you can’t see from here. The cotton fields go on and on, the white bobble shaped flowers with tinges of pink swaying in the breeze. They’re so happy looking, linedup in long rows that stretch for miles. It makes me miss seeing Hudson’s mom whenever I come over.

Doris was always in the thick of it for the harvest, nothing would stop her. In her spare time, she would bake, and there was always a tasty treat whenever you would stop by. She was always happy to see you.

She was just as sweet a person as his dad is. I think his mom always had a little soft spot for me, at least I like to think so.

“You know you told Huds he smelled really good out loud, right?” Autumn says, not looking at me. She keeps snapping away with her camera and changing angles slightly to get a beautiful shot; the gorgeous soft edges of the blue sky behind us meeting the clouds.

“Yes, there is that.” I sigh. “It’s like when I smell that manly fragrance of his, my mind goes into a spin and I involuntarily project verbal diarrhea.”

This time, she looks up at me. “Uh, huh.”

I right myself, shifting my weight onto my other leg. “I mean, you know when a guy smells really great and your mind starts to wander… I haven’t got a thing for Hudson. Even if your husband seems to think otherwise.”

“Beau said that?”

“Just this morning,” I say. “And it’s totally absurd.”

“What’s absurd?” Hudson’s deep voice sounds behind me. When I spin around, my eyes hit the tattoos laced up his arm and the leather cuffs that he always wears.

I hold my hand to my heart as my eyes meet his. “Do you mind not sneaking up on people like that?” I huff. Lord knows how much he just heard. How long has he been behind us? He was just over by the tractor a minute ago.

Autumn laughs as she stands and walks a couple of feet away to take some vertical shots of the fields spreading to the back of the farm.

“I was just going to see if you girls wanted a ride down to The Hundred Acre Woods. There’s some great spots where the cotton fields meet the trees. Trust me, the backdrop will be amazing for Callan and Celeste’s photos.”

“Sounds good,” I say. “You drivin’,Cowboy?”

He pops a shoulder and offers a grin. “Of course. I’m the best driver in Stoney Creek.” We walk on over to the work utility truck parked by the side of Huck’s place. “What were you girls talking about just now?” He keeps his body facing forward. I knew he must’ve heard something.

Shit.

“Beau and his failed attempt at giving women advice,” I say.

He folds his arms over his chest while he thinks about it. “Failed? Didn’t he just get married after dating Autumn for a few weeks?”

“Not the point.”

---