The Lighthouse Cafe (Gulf Coast Getaway Book 1) by Bebe Reed

Author:Bebe Reed [Reed, Bebe]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ladybugbooks LLC
Published: 2023-06-03T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 22

Chandler

As soon as she laid eyes on Hudson, Chandler immediately regretted her decision of asking him to come. He arrived with a leather duffel bag slung over his shoulder, his tweed blazer over a light blue shirt. He beamed when he saw her, and as they approached one another outside of the gate, the rest of the world melted into the background.

Hudson stared down at her with eyes full of warmth and love. “Hey, gorgeous.”

He brushed his lips over hers, and she felt a tingle dance down her spine. “Hey, handsome.”

It was their normal greeting and it felt right, but at the same time so wrong, for she immediately felt selfish calling him to her.

He would want answers, an explanation of why she was being so cold, and Chandler wasn’t sure if she was ready to admit the truth.

It was easier explaining this to her family because they had known her before she was a success. But not him. He’d known her when her art was growing, when her abilities were expanding instead of shrinking.

He threaded his fingers through hers, and as they walked, Hudson’s shoulders brushed hers. Every once in a while, she would get a whiff of his scent. Hudson smelled of leather and cedar. The smell wrapped itself around Chandler, and she pressed her body closer to his.

He asked her how her mom was, and she told him about the restaurant’s success. He talked animatedly about a new client he’d just won, and though he dreaded the load of work it would bring, he said that this would help secure future dealings.

She felt his gaze on her then, warm and bright, when he talked about the future. Chandler murmured how proud she was of him, and then he sank back onto the seat of the car, watching the scenery fly by.

For a late lunch they stopped by Killer Seafood in Mexico Beach. They sat outside at one of the long tables as they waited for their servings of Killer Simmerin’ Sauce with shrimp and scallops served in bread bowls. The restaurant had been a freestanding building before the hurricane hit. Now the kitchen was in a food truck across the street from the beach.

Hudson grabbed the food when it was ready, and she inhaled the savory red sauce. It smelled of shrimp and tomatoes. It tasted even better than it looked.

He ate a spoonful and nodded. “Delicious, but I can’t wait to try your mom’s food tomorrow. She’s a great cook.”

“Thanks.” She looked up, suddenly realizing that eating out might’ve been a mistake. “We could’ve waited to eat.”

“First of all,” he said, giving her a wry smile, “I wanted you all to myself for a few minutes before I saw the rest of your family. Last time I met Reece, she bombarded me with questions about my family and my job.”

She quirked a brow, thinking about how her sister had pounced on that Aiden guy. “You’ll be happy to know that she hasn’t changed.”

“I bet not.” He held her gaze until she felt the weight of his unsaid question bearing down on her.

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