Page 62 of The Holiday Hate-Off
“Oh no,” I say with a dismissive wave. “I’m not afraid of the big, bad wolf.”
“Good,” Enzo says, giving a small, hard nod to Hudson. “Then you wouldn’t mind if I join you?”
I tighten my grip on Hudson’s arm. “Yes, we would actually. This is our first date.”
“But hopefully not our last,” Hudson says, his eyes sparkling like he’s enjoying this game too.
“We’d prefer privacy,” I demur.
“Of course,” Enzo says in a low, gravelly voice. “I understand completely. I don’t like to share either.”
His words send a hot shiver through me—just like they’re meant to. He wants me to think about that moment yesterday, when only inches separated us. And in the kitchen last weekend. He wants my mind to keep dipping back to his incredibly rude offer.
And that’s exactly where my mind goes. To be perfectly honest, I’ve thought about it a lot. Every night. I’ve been desperate to take out my vibrator. But I haven’t, because that would be like letting him win. And I’ll be damned if I do that.
I feel Enzo watching us as Hudson pulls out my chair for me. The hostess hands us our menus and takes off, probably grateful for the chance to escape.
“A gentleman,” Enzo comments. “Your mother raised you right.”
I ignore him and smile at Hudson. “Would you like some wine? I’d love some wine.”
“I recommend the malbec,” Enzo says, lifting his glass in a toast.
It’s then I realize the flaw in my plan. He’s sitting on the same side of the table as I am, which puts him next to me. Barely two feet away. If I held my hand out, I could touch him.
A server arrives to take our drink orders. Damn it. Idowant the malbec. It’s my favorite red. But I pointedly place an order for a glass of merlot, even as Enzo gives me anit’s your funerallook.
Hudson grins and orders the malbec for himself—“Sounds great,” he says breezily with a nod to Enzo.
No, they willnotbe friends.
“Are you sure?” I ask. “I’m not confident I trust Enzo’s taste buds. I’ve heard the sandwiches at Hidden Italy areverydry. Wasn’t it your dad who thought so?”
Again, I feel Enzo staring at me, so I pick up my glass of water and sip it.
“Oh, we’ve fixed all that,” Enzo says in a seductive voice. “If anything, they’re too wet.”
I fumble the glass of water, splashing cold liquid onto the tabletop.
“Oops,” I say sunnily, setting the glass down. I will not look at Enzo or even acknowledge his existence. “What will you be having tonight, Hudson? Everything looks so good.”
I haven’t actually glanced at the menu, but I came by a few weeks ago to talk to the manager while I was working on my app project, and she let me taste-test some of the appetizer specials with the staff.
Hudson smiles sweetly at me. “The lobster roll’s the best inHideaway Harbor, if you ask me—other than my mom’s, of course.”
I nod, not wanting to admit out loud that I don’t eat lobster. If I did, Enzo would give me one of his withering looks, reminding me without words that I don’t belong.
I check out the menu, finding a vegetarian entrée that looks good, then set it down.
“So, you’ve always lived here, Hudson?”
“Born and raised,” he agrees. “Wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. And you?”
I have to smile. “I’m sure you already know everything about me. Everyone in Hideaway Harbor seems to know everything about each other.”
He shrugs. “You’d be surprised. The only thing I was told is that you’re gorgeous and single. The first I could have seen with my own eyes, and I’m hoping the second is still true.”
“It is,” I say, not able to resist a slight, dagger-eyed glance at Enzo. “Verytrue.”
