Page 7 of Georgia-Blue & Hudson

“Keep telling yourself that,Blue Belle.” He mimics Hudson's deep, gravely voice.

I roll my eyes. “Is that supposed to be funny?”

“Itisfunny. You just don’t have a sense of humor when it’s about him.”

“Whatever.” I shake my head. “Now, if you don’t mind, I have to get going. I think I’ll grab my smudge stick before I go and sage out your office before you come up with any other crazy ideas about Hudson.”

“Mark my words. And don’t you touch my office with that weird smelling shit,” he calls. “It’ll smell for days!”

“Sage is therapeutic!” I holler behind me.

“Yeah, so is admitting your feelings!”

Well, he should know. He married his best friend in secret and kept it from the entire family.

I’m the intuitive one in the family, not Beau. He’s so damned aloof with his head in the clouds half the time that he wouldn’t know what was going on with me and Hudson, even if it hit him square in the face. So his theory is ridiculous.

I mean, there could be some truth in it, a miniscule amount, but there’s no way I’m going to admit that to anyone. It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a while now, but I’ve been trying to put it out of my mind.

Maybe Autumn is rubbing off on him and bringing out his soft side. Then again, Beau’s always been easy to talk to. I just don’t like where his suggestions are going.

I sigh and fish my car keys out of my purse as I make my way to the parking lot to meet Aut before I run into any other family members.

I take a breath when I jump into my SUV and start the engine. Running my hand over the heart shaped rose quartz around my neck to ground me, I breathe for a few seconds. People think I’m nuts, but breathing slowly and taking a beat can do wonders for your nerves. I do a quick check over my reflection in the mirror.

I can’t help but notice again the little quiver in my stomach resembling butterflies… Why is my heart jumping at the thought of seeing Hudson?

It must be all the love floating around the distillery lately with my brothers all finding their lady loves and Beau getting married. The idea may have subliminally rubbed off onto me. I’ve been single for so long now that I’ve put finding a guy on the back burner. I’m not on the lookout for anything new. I’ve been too busy to date anyway, with work being so hectic and the family schedule out of control.

I’ve always said the right guy will come along when the time is right.

I don’t need to run around like a crazy woman looking for it. Nor do I need to take advice from my loved-up gamer brother that ran off to marry Autumn the first time around without telling any of us. That’s a whole other story. But, at least we got to attend the second ceremony.

I glance in the rear-view mirror as Autumn makes her way across the lot, carrying her photography equipment.

I drop my rose quartz so it lands back on my skin and take another breath.

Hudson, here we come.

2

Hudson

I can hear my dad’s voice out front as the girls arrive.

I’ve had all morning to get ready but I’ve left shit until the last minute.

I spray on some Brut deodorant to match my aftershave. I’ve always liked the scent of Brut; it’s fresh and clean, with hints of vanilla, spice and musk. I don’t know why but it reminds me of the Smoky woods when I’d go on camping trips with my dad. The thought pulls a half-smile to my lips because we haven’t done that in a while.

I give myself a once over in the mirror, deciding that I look presentable enough, and walk out of my ensuite into my bedroom.

“Top of the morning,” I hear Dad call out to the girls as I shrug into my long sleeve Henley.

I mean, I assume it’s Georgia and Autumn, it’s not like we get a lot of visitors out here on the farm.

I do up my fly and fix my belt, grabbing my cowboy hat before I head outside. I grin to myself as I imagine Georgia-Blue’s perky little smile because she always has a smile for my dad, Huck. For me, not so much.

He’s a good guy, so I can’t blame her there. My mom always said he was the bread to her butter. The memory of that hits me where it hurts, because I haven’t heard it in so long.

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