Page 28 of Resting Beach Face
“I know.” I pinched the bridge of my nose. “I’ll give you an answer soon, I promise.”
“Do you know what that answer might be?” he said, tone cajoling. “Maybe give me a hint.”
“Sorry, Nathan, if I knew that, I’d give you an answer now.”
“Right, well?—”
“I have to go. Talk later.” I hung up before he could try to sell me. He was way too good at that, and I was too tired to fight his powers of persuasion.
I changed into some ratty cargo shorts and a gray T-shirt, then went out to my garden behind the house—the only place I could really find some peace. I made the rounds, watering my nearly ripened strawberries, my newly planted basil and cucumbers, the tomatoes just beginning to set fruit.
It was still early. A crisp breeze came off the water, gently fluttering through my hair. The smell of damp soil rose from the ground, setting me at ease. This was my oasis in Swallow Cove, the one place I belonged.
Here, I didn’t disappoint anyone—except maybe the weeds.
I finished watering, then grabbed the pruning shears and went to work on the rosebushes and shrubs. By the time I’d moved on to ripping weeds out by their roots with a vicious satisfaction, the sun was high in the sky and I was pouring sweat.
I wrapped both hands around the base of the pesky broadleaf weed, tugging with all my strength.
“Don’t test me, you bastard,” I growled as I leaned back, straining to rip it from the ground.
“What a way to greet your best friend.”
Hudson’s voice startled me just as the roots gave up their grip on the soil and I fell back onto my ass with an exclamation.
“Fucking hell!” I tossed the weed aside. “Can’t you warn a guy?”
Hudson chuckled and extended a hand down to help me up. I took off my gardening gloves, now covered in soil and bits of grass, then grasped his hand.
He tugged me to my feet with impressive ease. Hudson was brawny where I was wiry. I dusted the dirt from my knees and ass.
“You still up for grabbing an early lunch?” Hudson asked. “Or do you want to go back to wrestling weeds?”
“Shit, is it that time already?” I glanced down at my dirty, sweaty self with a grimace. “Sorry. I got carried away.”
He grinned. “This look suits you.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Dirty?”
“Earthy,” he said with a chuckle. “Casual and comfortable.”
“I guess that’s one way to put it. Do I have time for a quick shower?”
“Sure. There’s actually not much I need to do until my afternoon boat tour. Sawyer did a damn good job managing things for me.”
Hudson had gone out of town for a week, so I hadn’t had the chance to fill him in on my dilemma yet. I saw him briefly Saturday night—but he was at dinner with Cash and all his friends, so I hadn’t stuck around long.
“Great, come on in.”
Hudson followed me to my private quarters, and I left him on my sofa while I rinsed off in the shower. I dressed in casual slacks and a short-sleeved dress shirt, combed my hair, and applied cologne. I resisted the urge to shave, even though dark stubble colored my jaw.
I didn’t want to keep Hudson waiting too long.
We decided on Catch of the Day, a casual cafe, for lunch. We placed our order at the front counter, then carried a number to our table so they could bring the food when it was ready.
While we waited, Hudson caught me up on his trip to Granville, Nebraska, where his boyfriend had family.
They’d gotten back only a couple of days ago with gifts for all their friends. Fisher had given his friends sex toys—I’d almost swallowed my tongue when I saw the monster dildo Cash accepted with glee in the middle of the dang pub—but thankfully, I’d received a box of treats instead.
