acting on his sudden desires, but each time he looked at her
or heard the tinkling of her bright laughter, he became more aware of
just how much he wanted her.
And
he was amazed at how well she seemed to fit in with his family and
friends. She had an easy way about her, as if she genuinely liked
everyone she’d ever met.
He
tried to make an effort to look away from her, but it suddenly
occurred to him that he was acting exactly as he should be.
To
anyone paying attention, he would simply seem to be head over heels
in love with his new girlfriend. What could be wrong with that? It
would make it all the more convincing when they announced their
engagement.
Hudson
let a mischievous smile tug at the corner of his lips as he
contemplated a new idea. For months now, he had reined
in the passionate side of his personality in order to focus on the
family business. Getting engaged had been so far from his mind, he’d
never really given it much thought in the past. He didn't exactly
consider himself to be the settling down type. At least not yet.
But
there just might be some advantages to having a fiancé in his
current situation.
After
all, who would accuse him of being a playboy if the only woman in his
bed was his own fiancé?
The
cool night air caressed her shoulders, and Annabelle inhaled the
fresh scent of the ocean. It was so nice to get out of the house for
a minute. She’d had no idea tonight
was going to be a social event, and it made her uncomfortable to know
that Hudson never thought to tell her ahead of time. Annabelle wasn’t
used to other people making decisions for her, and she didn’t
like having a lot of unspoken expectations put on her behavior.
Yes,
she’d agreed to this charade, but she didn’t even know
the rules yet.
Even
the beautiful dress she was wearing suddenly felt like a
manipulation. What looked like a thoughtful gift was actually a
passive way of saying, Here, wear this and look the way I tell you
to look tonight . Besides, maybe believing that Hudson’s
mother was as ruthless as her son was much safer than feeling
grateful and sentimental towards her.
Annabelle
was here to get Julia into this family, not herself, so becoming
attached to Hudson’s mother was like asking for a broken heart
in the end. This whole thing was messy enough without letting her
emotions get involved any more than they already were.
She
made a mental note to corner Hudson as soon as she got the chance and
ask him to explain exactly what was expected of her in the coming
months.
She
didn’t get much chance to talk to him at dinner, but afterward,
when most of the guests had said their goodbyes, Hudson asked her to
join his family by the pool for drinks. Sue Ellen handed her a mint
julep, and she leaned in to smell the cool, fresh mint leaf. The
smell reminded her of a mojito, but when she took a sip, the strong
taste of bourbon surprised her, and she coughed. Behind her, she
heard Hudson’s deep, full laughter.
“I
take it you’ve never had a mint julep before?”
He
was so close, she could feel the warmth of his body behind her. She
leaned forward onto the railing overlooking the beach, desperate to
get away from the tingles that ran up and down her spine. Hudson
joined her, resting his hand on her lower back. The heat burned
through the thin chiffon fabric of her dress and she pulled away.
Damn,
why did a simple touch of his hand make her knees go weak? At dinner,
she’d had to avoid his eyes, because every time she looked his
way, he was staring at her with a smoldering look that told her he
had more than a business deal on his mind. Annabelle wasn’t
sure what he was up to, but she didn’t like the attraction she
felt for him one bit. The only thing a man like Hudson Montgomery
could offer her was a broken heart.
So
why does my heart race every time he touches me?
She
needed to put some space between them before she let her own body
betray her. Luckily, Hudson’s sister Jilly
or heard the tinkling of her bright laughter, he became more aware of
just how much he wanted her.
And
he was amazed at how well she seemed to fit in with his family and
friends. She had an easy way about her, as if she genuinely liked
everyone she’d ever met.
He
tried to make an effort to look away from her, but it suddenly
occurred to him that he was acting exactly as he should be.
To
anyone paying attention, he would simply seem to be head over heels
in love with his new girlfriend. What could be wrong with that? It
would make it all the more convincing when they announced their
engagement.
Hudson
let a mischievous smile tug at the corner of his lips as he
contemplated a new idea. For months now, he had reined
in the passionate side of his personality in order to focus on the
family business. Getting engaged had been so far from his mind, he’d
never really given it much thought in the past. He didn't exactly
consider himself to be the settling down type. At least not yet.
But
there just might be some advantages to having a fiancé in his
current situation.
After
all, who would accuse him of being a playboy if the only woman in his
bed was his own fiancé?
The
cool night air caressed her shoulders, and Annabelle inhaled the
fresh scent of the ocean. It was so nice to get out of the house for
a minute. She’d had no idea tonight
was going to be a social event, and it made her uncomfortable to know
that Hudson never thought to tell her ahead of time. Annabelle wasn’t
used to other people making decisions for her, and she didn’t
like having a lot of unspoken expectations put on her behavior.
Yes,
she’d agreed to this charade, but she didn’t even know
the rules yet.
Even
the beautiful dress she was wearing suddenly felt like a
manipulation. What looked like a thoughtful gift was actually a
passive way of saying, Here, wear this and look the way I tell you
to look tonight . Besides, maybe believing that Hudson’s
mother was as ruthless as her son was much safer than feeling
grateful and sentimental towards her.
Annabelle
was here to get Julia into this family, not herself, so becoming
attached to Hudson’s mother was like asking for a broken heart
in the end. This whole thing was messy enough without letting her
emotions get involved any more than they already were.
She
made a mental note to corner Hudson as soon as she got the chance and
ask him to explain exactly what was expected of her in the coming
months.
She
didn’t get much chance to talk to him at dinner, but afterward,
when most of the guests had said their goodbyes, Hudson asked her to
join his family by the pool for drinks. Sue Ellen handed her a mint
julep, and she leaned in to smell the cool, fresh mint leaf. The
smell reminded her of a mojito, but when she took a sip, the strong
taste of bourbon surprised her, and she coughed. Behind her, she
heard Hudson’s deep, full laughter.
“I
take it you’ve never had a mint julep before?”
He
was so close, she could feel the warmth of his body behind her. She
leaned forward onto the railing overlooking the beach, desperate to
get away from the tingles that ran up and down her spine. Hudson
joined her, resting his hand on her lower back. The heat burned
through the thin chiffon fabric of her dress and she pulled away.
Damn,
why did a simple touch of his hand make her knees go weak? At dinner,
she’d had to avoid his eyes, because every time she looked his
way, he was staring at her with a smoldering look that told her he
had more than a business deal on his mind. Annabelle wasn’t
sure what he was up to, but she didn’t like the attraction she
felt for him one bit. The only thing a man like Hudson Montgomery
could offer her was a broken heart.
So
why does my heart race every time he touches me?
She
needed to put some space between them before she let her own body
betray her. Luckily, Hudson’s sister Jilly
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