Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 93400 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93400 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
“Something doesn’t smell right here,” Kyle stated as my doorbell rang once again.
“That’s Hudson with his folks.”
“His parents, huh?” Kyle said, his expression changing. He gave me a teasing smile.
“Yes, I’m having dinner with them.”
“That’s nice,” he said.
I hit the button to unlock the downstairs door and immediately heard footsteps on the stairs before a light knock had me rushing to the front door. Even though Hudson had been here not that long ago, I was anxious to see him again.
I had to pull in a deep, calming breath before I slowly opened the door. I was greeted by that smile I had quickly grown to love, and warm, liquid brown eyes that heated my entire body with one look.
“Hudson,” I said softly as he leaned down to brush a kiss across my lips. A shiver of delight ran though me, but I stepped to the side so they could all come in.
“Greer, I’d like to introduce you to my parents. This is my dad, Doug, and my mother, Melinda.”
Hudson’s father was an older image of his son. Same height, though maybe a bit taller. Brown eyes and brown hair that was sprinkled with streaks of gray. Melinda was beautiful, and I could see Hudson’s smile in hers, including the dimples. She had brown hair, as well, but her eyes were the most beautiful shade of green I’d ever seen.
Melinda walked up, drew me into her arms, and hugged me. “Greer, it’s so nice to meet you. Hudson has been talking about you nonstop since we arrived in Boggy Creek. Truth be told, even before we arrived.”
I felt my cheeks heat and I stole a quick peek in Hudson’s direction. He grinned widely and winked at me. “She’s not lying.”
Focusing back on Melinda and Doug, I said, “It’s wonderful to meet you both as well. Let me introduce you to my brother, Kyle.”
Kyle approached and shook their hands. “You’re a police officer, huh?” Doug asked, taking in Kyle’s uniform.
“Yes, sir, I am.”
“Is everything okay?” Hudson asked, finally realizing Kyle was most likely still on duty.
“Yes,” Kyle said. “I just got off duty and stopped by to talk to Greer about something I heard regarding the building.”
Hudson frowned. “What about it?”
I quickly walked up to Kyle and said, “It’s nothing that can’t wait until later. I’m sure Doug and Melinda are just as hungry as I am!”
Kyle and Hudson both shot me looks of displeasure, but I honestly believed it all had to be a misunderstanding on Aiden’s part. I’d deal with it on Monday.
“I heard about this wonderful little Greek restaurant here in town,” Melinda said.
“Athens? Yes! They have the best Greek hotdogs ever,” Kyle added, thankfully distracted by a new topic.
Doug clapped him on the back and grinned. “Kyle, you should join us.”
My brother looked at me and then Hudson, who smiled and said, “You should…if you don’t mind my father asking you a million-and-one questions about being a cop.”
Kyle laughed. “I’d love to, thank you. I just need to run home and change—if that’s okay?”
“Of course it is,” Melinda replied.
Hudson took my hand and gave it a squeeze, but before he could say anything about the bookstore, I put my finger to his lips. “I left a message with Mr. Brooks. I’ll get it figured out.”
He smiled and kissed me on the forehead. “Let’s go feed you some hotdogs.”
I knew the moment we stepped into the restaurant that the rumor mill was going to explode. Not only was it painfully obvious to the whole town I didn’t date much, but now I was not only out with Hudson, but his parents as well. Hudson had been right: Doug asked Kyle question after question about being a cop in Boggy Creek. He asked for the best locations for wildlife photography that no one knew about, and also about the growth of Boggy Creek. Melinda and I got lost in a conversation about books and who our favorite authors were. I loved her immediately and was excited we were hitting it off so well.
Every now and then I would glance over at Hudson just because I wanted to look at him. He had spent the evening bouncing between both of our conversations.
After everyone finished eating, Melinda pulled out her phone and smiled. “Doug, I just got the text.”
Stopping mid-conversation with Hudson, Doug smiled. “Now?”
Melinda nodded, about ready to burst with excitement. “I sent our location.”
“What’s going on?” Hudson asked.
“Well, you know how we said we wanted to go dancing this evening?”
Hudson nodded, then looked at me and shrugged before turning his attention back to his folks. “Yes, we’re going to Brew’s place. They have a live band tonight.”
Doug chuckled. “The dancing wasn’t our idea.”
Hudson frowned as he glanced between the two of them. “It wasn’t?”
Melinda stood, covered her mouth, and then jumped like a little girl while she stared at the front entrance of the restaurant. We all turned to see a beautiful young woman—maybe a few years younger than me—standing there. Her dark blonde hair was pulled up into a ponytail, and I could see her meadow-green eyes from across the room. She had on jeans, knee-high boots, and a dark green sweater that hugged her body in all the right ways. And when she smiled, I instantly knew who she was.