and the lovely woman in the
photo were in a very serious relationship and were talking about
marriage, he had been pleased to hear that at least one of the
Montgomery siblings was thinking of finally settling down.
An
engagement was the perfect catalyst to sealing the deal, Hudson was
sure of it. He was so close now to realizing his father's lifelong
dream of expanding their family empire into the Asian market.
Time was slipping by these days with the stress of the acquisition
consuming him, and he glanced at his watch again. Six twenty-five. He
forced himself to lower his pen and set aside his papers for the
evening. Annabelle should be arriving any moment.
Hudson
made his way down the hall quickly, but stopped short the moment he
saw a slight flutter of yellow fabric. His body reacted instantly.
When he turned the corner, he could feel her presence like a beacon
calling out to him.
She
was standing in the middle of a small group of people, looking
beautiful in her soft yellow dress. Her silky blond hair was pulled
up on one side with a daisy. She looked young and innocent, but the
moment her eyes flickered to him, he recognized a flash of desire
that suggested a naughty side as well. Maybe a quiet dinner for two
would have been more appropriate on her first night here.
He
couldn't take his eyes off of her.
“Oh,
well, there you are, dear.” His mother crossed the room and
kissed his cheek. Her cheerful voice carried throughout the entire
room. “I was about to send your sister looking for you. After
all, you are the host this evening. And we couldn't be more excited
to finally meet your beautiful new friend.”
“Hello,
Mother,” he said, walking into the
dining room. “I see I'm too late to give the introductions.”
“Oh,
nonsense,” she said with a wink toward Annabelle. “No
formalities needed. We're all friends here tonight.”
Drawn
to her, Hudson crossed the space between them and leaned down to kiss
Annabelle on the cheek.
“You
look stunning in yellow,” he whispered into her ear, feeling
her tense at his closeness.
“I
had no idea there would be so many people here this evening,”
she whispered back. “I thought it was just going to be your
family.”
“I
didn't see any point in wasting time. Besides, it isn't everyday that
my future fiancé moves in. I wanted to show you off.”
“Is
there anything in particular I need to say or do? Honestly, I feel a
little bit lost here.”
“Just
follow my lead,” he said, taking her hand in his.
She
smiled, and he felt it all the way down to his toes.
Reaching
for a water glass on the nearby dinner table, he dinged a salad fork
on the crystal to get everyone's attention.
“Good
evening, everyone. Thank you all so much for coming tonight. I'd like
to introduce someone very special to me.” He met her eyes and
smiled, still holding tightly to her hand.
“This is Annabelle Day, and as I’m sure you’ve all
seen in the papers, we are dating. I’m excited to announce
that, as of this afternoon, she is Sea
Island's newest resident. I hope you'll all join me in welcoming her
to our small piece of the world. Please enjoy your dinner, and thank
you again for being here tonight.”
There
was a rush of people wanting to say hello to his new girlfriend. He
knew that this was only the beginning of the frenzy that would
surround them all once the engagement was announced next weekend at
the charity ball. Hudson was notoriously unattached, so naturally
they were about to create quite the stir. At least,
this time it would be positive gossip instead of harmful bachelor
bashing.
Taking
his place at the head of the table, he directed Annabelle to a seat
by his side. The other guests followed suit and they were treated to
a delicious meal.
Every
time his eyes met hers, he felt a stirring of something he hadn't
allowed himself to feel for a very long time. He had the sudden urge
to reach out and touch her soft skin. The room full of people kept
him from
photo were in a very serious relationship and were talking about
marriage, he had been pleased to hear that at least one of the
Montgomery siblings was thinking of finally settling down.
An
engagement was the perfect catalyst to sealing the deal, Hudson was
sure of it. He was so close now to realizing his father's lifelong
dream of expanding their family empire into the Asian market.
Time was slipping by these days with the stress of the acquisition
consuming him, and he glanced at his watch again. Six twenty-five. He
forced himself to lower his pen and set aside his papers for the
evening. Annabelle should be arriving any moment.
Hudson
made his way down the hall quickly, but stopped short the moment he
saw a slight flutter of yellow fabric. His body reacted instantly.
When he turned the corner, he could feel her presence like a beacon
calling out to him.
She
was standing in the middle of a small group of people, looking
beautiful in her soft yellow dress. Her silky blond hair was pulled
up on one side with a daisy. She looked young and innocent, but the
moment her eyes flickered to him, he recognized a flash of desire
that suggested a naughty side as well. Maybe a quiet dinner for two
would have been more appropriate on her first night here.
He
couldn't take his eyes off of her.
“Oh,
well, there you are, dear.” His mother crossed the room and
kissed his cheek. Her cheerful voice carried throughout the entire
room. “I was about to send your sister looking for you. After
all, you are the host this evening. And we couldn't be more excited
to finally meet your beautiful new friend.”
“Hello,
Mother,” he said, walking into the
dining room. “I see I'm too late to give the introductions.”
“Oh,
nonsense,” she said with a wink toward Annabelle. “No
formalities needed. We're all friends here tonight.”
Drawn
to her, Hudson crossed the space between them and leaned down to kiss
Annabelle on the cheek.
“You
look stunning in yellow,” he whispered into her ear, feeling
her tense at his closeness.
“I
had no idea there would be so many people here this evening,”
she whispered back. “I thought it was just going to be your
family.”
“I
didn't see any point in wasting time. Besides, it isn't everyday that
my future fiancé moves in. I wanted to show you off.”
“Is
there anything in particular I need to say or do? Honestly, I feel a
little bit lost here.”
“Just
follow my lead,” he said, taking her hand in his.
She
smiled, and he felt it all the way down to his toes.
Reaching
for a water glass on the nearby dinner table, he dinged a salad fork
on the crystal to get everyone's attention.
“Good
evening, everyone. Thank you all so much for coming tonight. I'd like
to introduce someone very special to me.” He met her eyes and
smiled, still holding tightly to her hand.
“This is Annabelle Day, and as I’m sure you’ve all
seen in the papers, we are dating. I’m excited to announce
that, as of this afternoon, she is Sea
Island's newest resident. I hope you'll all join me in welcoming her
to our small piece of the world. Please enjoy your dinner, and thank
you again for being here tonight.”
There
was a rush of people wanting to say hello to his new girlfriend. He
knew that this was only the beginning of the frenzy that would
surround them all once the engagement was announced next weekend at
the charity ball. Hudson was notoriously unattached, so naturally
they were about to create quite the stir. At least,
this time it would be positive gossip instead of harmful bachelor
bashing.
Taking
his place at the head of the table, he directed Annabelle to a seat
by his side. The other guests followed suit and they were treated to
a delicious meal.
Every
time his eyes met hers, he felt a stirring of something he hadn't
allowed himself to feel for a very long time. He had the sudden urge
to reach out and touch her soft skin. The room full of people kept
him from
Similar Books
