Lover Come Hack by Diane Vallere

Author:Diane Vallere [Vallere, Diane]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: amateur sleuth;mystery series
Amazon: B07G3GZHDP
Publisher: Henery Press
Published: 2018-10-30T00:00:00+00:00

SEVENTEEN

Hudson opened the door before I had a chance to knock. “Hey, Lady,” he said in his deep baritone drawl.

“Hey, Hudson.” As we stood there, face to face, I knew my decision. It was as inconvenient as everything else in my life, but I knew. The clouds gathered overhead, and a clap of thunder sounded, followed by a flash of lightning. Pellets of rain started, first one, then two, then a downpour that plastered the oil baroness’s ivory felt hat to my head.

Emotions overwhelmed me. Sadness, guilt, grief. I felt hot tears running down my cheeks but didn’t know if Hudson could tell I was crying or if he thought I’d gotten caught in the downpour.

“Let’s get you out of the rain,” he said. He reached out for my arm and guided me into the hallway. The water that had accumulated on my blazer dripped onto the oriental carpet runner. I thrust my hands deep into the pockets and tried to figure out how to ask what I came here to ask without saying what I knew I had to say. Not yet. I wasn’t ready yet.

“Can I get you some coffee? Tea?” he asked.

“Coffee,” I said. I followed him into his kitchen. Packing boxes, some sealed, some open, sat in his dining room. I turned my head and noticed the paintings that used to hang in the hallway were now sitting on the shag carpet. When I turned back to Hudson, it was with unasked questions.

Hudson handed me a cup of coffee. “I already know why you’re here, Madison. You’re torturing yourself, and that speaks volumes. You say you haven’t made a choice, but it’s written all over your face. In a way, I’ve known all along.”

“No,” I said. I put my hand on his forearm. “That’s not why I’m here.”

A spark of hope appeared in his eyes, and he shifted his body toward me and put his other arm around my waist. I felt my body tense up. Hudson’s hands dropped from me and he took a step back.

“Don’t play games with me. That’s all I ever asked. If you have any respect for me, then be honest and say what you came here to say.”

I kept my hands wrapped around the warm coffee mug. “I’m the anonymous buyer,” I said quietly.

Hudson stared at me. I tried to read the look on his face but couldn’t. The words hung in the air until I couldn’t stand the silence. “I should never have sold my old apartment building to you in first place and I suspect you bought it because you knew I’d regret letting it go. I asked the realtor to make an anonymous bid on the property for me because I was afraid of what you might read into my actions, but that doesn’t feel right either. It’s me, you know? And it’s you. I wanted to be honest and tell you the truth.”

“You’re talking about the apartment building on Gaston,” Hudson said slowly. This time I could read the expression on his face, and it wasn’t relief.

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