Chapter 9

 

 

 

Callie sat in her office, going over new membership applications and numbers, but she couldn’t focus. Her mind continued to wander to Hudson’s interview. She had no idea he’d speak so highly of her book. Granted, he wasn’t as awful as she thought after he had barged into her office that first day, but what she saw today shocked her.

Gina had told Callie that she’d sent pictures to Morgan, but it never occurred to her to ask Gina which ones she was sending. In her mind, she figured it would be of them enjoying wine or staring lovingly at one another. Not the kiss or the candid one she didn’t even know about. Oddly, that one had even her thinking they were a real couple.

Since she’d released Ready to Fall, Callie had done her best not to look at her numbers. Except this morning, she decided to before Hudson’s interview. Her sales had been steady. When she refreshed her screen, they made a big jump. “No way,” she said aloud to herself. Moving on, she decided to search her book’s title on social media.

Wow, I’ve seen sexy and then there was that interview this morning. Callie is one lucky lady. #CongratsHudson

Congratulations! Bummer that you’re taken. Hit me up if you guys break up! #stillsexy

I guess you can forget my marriage proposal. LOL #offthemarket

Callie blinked a few times before closing her laptop, and she didn’t bother to read the rest of the several dozen comments. She grabbed her purse and headed out to see a man about an interview. Her assistant, Gwen, smiled when she saw her.

“Heading out for lunch?”

“Yes, I should be back in about an hour or so.”

“Going to see your gorgeous boyfriend?”

Callie held her breath.

“I know we’re at work, but I can’t believe you acted as though you didn’t know him. You’re so sneaky.”

The day Hudson came to her office, they hadn’t been dating. Once again, she found herself lying. If she were religious, she’d go to confession.

“Guilty.” She needed to leave before Gwen started asking more questions that deserved real answers. “Well, I should get going.”

“Have fun. You should invite him for a round of golf. Maybe he’ll become a member.”

Yeah, that’s not going to happen.

“We’ll see. Bye.”

She hustled outside, and once in her car, Callie punched in the address of Hudson’s office. Thankful that it wasn’t too far, she began driving in his direction. How dumb she’d been to not factor in her coworkers finding out about her relationship. She’d been so consumed with worrying about Lily May’s identity and her book that she’d forgotten about her real life. Callie needed to figure it out. Knowing Hudson, he had an exit plan already in place.

Shoving her anxious thoughts away, she rolled down her window and enjoyed the warm breeze until the robotic voice interrupted a song on her radio, telling her she had reached her destination.

She pulled into the parking lot and turned into a visitor’s spot. When she looked up, she saw a coffee shop. That must be where he used to get his coffee. Deciding to help him and the situation out a bit more, and to thank him for pimping her book on live television, she walked into the café.

Tables were buzzing with customers. Some had laptops open and headphones in; others seemed to be on a break, chatting away or just enjoying their favorite drink.

A young girl looked up at her and did a double take. “Um… hi. What can I get you?”

Callie looked at her name tag and wondered if she knew Hudson. Taking a chance and realizing she didn’t know his favorite blend, she said, “Hi, Annie. I’m here to get Mr. Newman’s favorite. Do you know him?”

She nodded. “Yes, I haven’t seen him in a while. Well, until this morning on television. You’re his… um—”

“Girlfriend. I’m Callie. I thought I’d pop in and surprise him. You know how he loves his coffee.” Callie prayed the barista did, because she had no idea what Hudson’s favorite blend was or if he took cream, sugar, or some flavored syrup.

“Of course. It’s nice to meet you. I’ll get it right now. Can I get you something?”

Callie almost let out a sigh of relief, but instead she thanked Annie and decided to get herself a nonfat vanilla latte. Another barista whispered something as Annie prepared Hudson’s favorite drink. She wondered what that was about but could only imagine it had to do with her handsome boyfriend. If she were a young woman and a gorgeous man like Hudson came in every morning, she’d miss seeing him too. Had to be one of the highlights, if not the highlight of their day.

“Here you go; it’s on the house. Please tell Mr. Newman we miss seeing him. And that we’re sorry. We hope we didn’t make him uncomfortable. It’s just the book…”

Callie felt like preening, knowing those girls had read her novel. “It’s okay. I’m sure you’ll see him soon. Take care, girls.” She left a ten-dollar bill in the tip jar and walked out.

The heat from the cups in her hands made her thankful his office wasn’t far away from the café. She walked through the double doors and was greeted by a man wearing a brown uniform, sitting behind a large wooden desk. “Good afternoon, Callie.”

Confused, she racked her brain, wondering how he knew her. When she came up blank, she apologized. “I’m so sorry, do we know each other?”

His chuckle eased her nerves a bit. “No, ma’am. I’m Michael. I happened to see Mr. Newman’s interview. I must say, the man has wonderful taste.”

She felt heat rush to her cheeks. “Thank you, Michael. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Is he in? He isn’t expecting me.” Callie lifted the hot beverage. “Just thought I’d surprise him.”

“I believe so. His assistant just left for lunch. Here’s a pass. Go ahead on up. Floor twelve.”

Callie set one coffee on his desk and clipped the laminated badge with a blue V to the bottom of her blouse. “Thank you very much.” She picked up the cardboard-wrapped paper cup, and with a straight back and wobbly knees, Callie headed toward the elevator, pressed the call button, and waited for the doors to slide open. Thankfully, when they did, the few people who got off didn’t look her way. After what Michael had said, she wondered how many other people had seen the interview. And if that was the case, what type of day was Hudson having? Maybe Gina’s idea would backfire and he’d get a different sort of attention.

Once inside, it took only a few seconds to reach Hudson’s office floor. She stepped out, and thanks to the empty reception area, Callie realized she had no idea which direction to go. Then she heard a man chuckle, and then another one. Callie couldn’t prevent the smile that grew across her face as she recognized the second one as Hudson’s.

Following the voices, she turned to the left and walked past several cubicles. A few employees glanced up over their burlap-paneled walls, but no one said anything. Keeping a strong stride, she made her way closer to his office, stopping just shy of the cracked-open door when she heard a man’s voice that wasn’t Hudson’s.

“You even had me convinced,” she heard him say before he added, “And she’s gorgeous.”

“Yes, very.” Hudson’s agreement had Callie smiling from ear to ear.

“Well, you’re a lucky man.”

The aroma coming from the coffees reminded her that she hadn’t moved in a few long seconds. Taking a deep breath, she stood in the open doorway. “Knock, knock.” Both men’s heads snapped in her direction. “Hi, honey. Sorry to just drop in.”

Hudson’s lips quirked up. He smoothed his tie down, pushed his chair away from his large wood desk, and walked toward her. She held out a coffee. “For me?” Taking the cup from her, he leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Thank you.”

The other man also rose to his feet and extended his hand. He was just about the same height as Hudson, with the same broad shoulders, but he seemed more relaxed… something not that difficult to accomplish around Hudson. “Hi, I’m Jack.”

“Hi, Jack. It’s nice to meet you.” Callie shifted the coffee from her right into her left, and she briefly shook his hand.

Hudson clapped him on the back, and as Jack walked out the door, he said, “I’ll see you later.”

“It was a pleasure meeting you, Callie. Good luck with this one. He tends to be a little high-strung.” Jack glanced at Hudson before letting his chuckle trail behind him.

“I hope that’s the right one.” She regarded the paper cup in Hudson’s hand.

When he looked at the navy logo on the cup, his face lit up. He popped the lid, took a big whiff, and sipped it. A sweet sigh followed his swallow. For a moment, Callie wondered what it would be like to be the cause of that reaction. Not knowing where that thought came from, she blinked a few times and brought her attention to the man in front of her.

“Wow, how did you know?”

“I didn’t until I pulled up to your building. Then I saw the café. Annie was all too happy to make your favorite. I think you’re missed in there.”

“Believe me, I’m the one who misses this.” He took another taste. “It’s like coming home to an old friend.”

She couldn’t help but laugh. “Well, now that you’re off the market, you should be able to go there without any bizarre happenings. As your girlfriend, I wanted to make sure you could get a good start to your day. I figured if they saw me in the flesh, we could both move on from this and move on with our lives. Plus, they do make a mean vanilla latte.”

Despite her nerves at what he was going to say on live television, she also knew this was the beginning of their end. The sooner he stopped receiving unwanted presents, the sooner they could split up. She’d be lying to herself if she didn’t admit that she’d miss his witty banter. Not to mention the man was a skilled kisser. Whoever he did end up with would be a lucky woman.

Hudson set his cup down. “I appreciate the coffee, but was that the only reason for your visit?”

Callie shook her head. “No, I also wanted to let you know how appreciative I was for the interview you gave this morning. My sales hit my release-week numbers in just a few hours. I hadn’t expected you to boast about my book.”

“Yes, well, I didn’t feel it right to toss your business under the bus. Like you said, everything was coincidental. Your hero’s name came from two actors, while mine came from my mother’s maiden name mixed, of course, with my father’s.”

“I did a bit of research after our encounter, and there are several people, men and women, with your name. I honestly had no idea. But yours came up first in my search.”

“Because of a business article I was featured in last year. Our company’s marketing team did a great job getting it out there to bring in more clients.”

“Didn’t hurt that your handsome face was the first thing to pop up.”

“Hmm, you think I’m handsome?”

Callie’s face flushed, but before she could answer, the sound of tiny feet running in the hallway had them both looking at the door. “Stop running, Hailey,” a woman whisper-shouted in an authoritative voice.

A familiar five-year-old bounded into the office. Her ponytail, tied with a red ribbon, swung side to side before she stopped dead in her tracks after spotting Callie.

“Miss Callie! You’re here!” She ran up and hugged Callie’s legs. When Callie glanced up at Hudson, his eyebrows pulled together. No doubt wondering why his visitor was hugging his fake girlfriend.

“Hailey Margaret. What did I tell you about running in Uncle Hudson’s office.”

Callie glanced at the woman she knew as Mrs. Webster, and then to Hudson, before looking down at the adorable dark-haired girl. All the pieces started coming together.

As if knowing exactly what to do, Hailey released Callie and jumped into her uncle’s arms, then kissed his cheek. He dipped her and peppered her face with kisses, causing a squeal to erupt before righting her in his arms. If Callie hadn’t thought he was already the sexiest man she’d ever met, that maneuver just amped it up a million notches.

“Hey, squirt, why aren’t you in school?”

She looked at her mom, who answered, “It’s teacher workshop day.”

He gently tugged her ponytail. “Well, lucky me. So many visitors today. How do you know Miss Callie?”

“She’s my dance teacher.”

Hudson’s gaze flashed up to Callie, who bashfully shrugged before nodding.

“Watch…” Hailey squirmed out of his hold, lifted her arms in fifth position above her head before squatting into a plié. Her little sandals didn’t help her when she started to fall forward. Hudson reached out to stop her from hitting the floor.

“How about you show Uncle Hudson the next time he comes over and you’re wearing your ballet shoes,” her mother said, beaming at her daughter.

“Okay. I know! I’m having a recital. You can come with Miss Callie now that she’s your girlfriend. I’m so excited. Does that mean you’re going to get married?” The exuberant little girl didn’t stop to breathe. Instead, her questions came rapid-fire. “Can I be the flower girl when you do? My friends are going to be so jealous. Can I have a white dress like yours, Miss Callie? Are you coming to Mommy and Daddy’s party? Will you dance with Uncle Hudson?”

Everyone stood silent. Hudson ruffled his niece’s bangs before crouching down to her level. “Hey, guess what?” She leaned in closer. “Miss Keira has candy on her desk. Why don’t you go and get some for yourself?”

She looked at her mother for compliance, and when she nodded, Hailey bolted out the door.

“I’m so sorry about that,” his sister said before giving her brother a proper hello with a kiss to his cheek. “We were sitting at the breakfast table watching the morning show when you popped onto the screen. I was a bit surprised, since I didn’t know you were dating anyone. And I haven’t read that book. But now that I know your name happens to be the lead character’s, not sure that I will. No offense to the author, since she clearly didn’t know.”

“Right. Funny, isn’t it? And our relationship is new,” Hudson stated as a way of explaining. He looked at Callie. “As you can see, this is my sister, Isabelle. But you already know her.”

“It’s good to see you again. I never put two and two together. However, now that I know you’re related, I see the resemblance.”

“Hi, well, to say I’m surprised would be an understatement. And that book…” Callie felt dots of sweat spring up on the back of her neck. “How wild, right? I can’t believe women sent you gifts. I mean, I can, I suppose, but wow.”

“Yes, wow would be an appropriate word.”

Isabelle rolled her eyes. “I can only imagine how you handled it.” She looked at Callie and laughed. “The man needs his order.”

“Yes, I know,” she replied, smiling affectionately at Hudson.

“Well, you two are adorable, and Hailey couldn’t be more thrilled—as you saw. As far as our party, you must come. It’ll be so much fun, and although Hailey will only be there for dinner, she’d love to see you there. Oh, and Hudson, you’re lucky that our parents left for their Mediterranean cruise or you’d really have a lot of explaining to do. Mom would want all the details. Speaking of, how did you two meet?”

Before Callie could even come up with a lie, he blurted out, “Coffee shop. We’re that cliché couple.” It suddenly felt as though their little snowball of a lie was rolling into a massive one.

“Mommy, can we go now?” Hailey stood in the doorway with a lollipop in her hand.

“Yes, sweetie.” She kissed her brother. “I promised I’d take her to the museum. I’m very happy for you both. Next time”—Isabelle swatted Hudson’s shoulder—“I don’t want to hear about your love life on the news. Bye, Callie, see you at class.”

“Yes, nice seeing you.” She lifted her hand and waved at Hudson’s niece. “Bye, Hailey.”

“Bye, Miss Callie.”

When it was just the two of them, Hudson raked his hand through his hair. “I hate lying,” he said to Callie, who felt awful for doing it herself. Although she didn’t say much on the matter. “I also dislike my niece being involved. She really likes you.”

“I adore her,” Callie said. “She’s so much fun in class. I should have known she was your niece with the way she always takes charge.”

Pride flashed in Hudson’s eyes. “Looks like you’re going to meet the rest of my family at their party.”

“Hudson—” When she saw the determined look in his eyes, she forfeited her argument on why she shouldn’t and simply said, “Okay.”