Page 57 of With This Ring
Parker pointed to Trouble, who was taking a bath in the doorway after licking his bowl clean. “What happened to your cat?”
“I couldn’t find him,” she said. When Parker nodded slowly, she figured she’d better explain herself. “I had a bad day, and when I came home, I couldn’t find Trouble. I thought he’d gotten out. Hud heard me calling for him in the backyard, and he came over and looked for him.”
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
She squinted at him. “We already found the cat.”
“I know.” Parker smiled. “You said you had a bad day. Can I help?”
She felt a wash of warmth for this kind man. “No, but thank you.” She told him about the bride who’d canceled on her and how it would affect her bottom line. She left out the bigger issues with her store and her mortgage, not ready to share that level of detail about her life with him just yet.
“I’m sorry you lost that sale. I know that was a big one.” Parker reached across the table and took her hands in his. “But I’m sure there’s another bride with an even bigger wedding party who will come to your store and buyallof your yellow dresses.”
She smiled. “I hope so.”
“I shouldn’t have just shown up here, but when Skye told me you were pulling some long hours, I thought you wouldn’t mind some cheering up.”
She admired her roses. “The flowers are beautiful, and they’re just what I needed.”
He gave her hands a gentle squeeze. She wished she felt a sizzle at his touch, but instead, it just felt... nice.
“I’m sorry I didn’t respond to your texts,” she said. “I was just so stuck in my own head. I didn’t mean to take you for granted. I hope you can forgive me.”
“Of course I can.” He glanced at the clock on the microwave. “But it’s getting late. I should let you rest.”
“I’ll walk you out.” Dakota set the vase of roses on top of her china cabinet so the cat wouldn’t eat them or try to knock them over.
The rain outside had stopped, and the cool evening air smelled clean and fresh.
“Thank you for stopping by to check on me.”
Parker closed the distance between them and traced a finger down her cheek. “I think about you a lot, Dakota.” His brown eyes were intense in the light shining down from her garage. “I care about you.”
He leaned down and brushed his lips over hers, and she closed her eyes, waiting for the fireworks to start. Instead, her thoughts carried her back to when she was in Hudson’s arms. When she imagined Hudson’s lips massaging hers, heat moved up her neck to her cheeks.
When Parker broke the kiss, he smiled. “I’ll text you soon.”
“Good night,” she whispered.
Dakota cradled her arms to her middle while Parker backed out of her driveway. After his taillights disappeared into the night, she spun to face the colonial next door, where golden lights glowed from the second floor.
It scared her how easily she had fallen into Hudson’s arms and under his spell. She needed to let him go once and for all. Parker was a good man who deserved her full attention.
Hudson was her past, and Parker was her future. She just needed to find a way to convince her heart.
***
Hudson had hoped that a long, cold shower would stop his entire body from thrumming with yearning and confusion—but it hadn’t helped a bit. He paced the master bedroom, trying to calm his thoughts.
When he’d heard someone yelling outside, he’d been out the door in a flash. As soon as he realized it was Dakota, he recognized the anguish in her voice. He couldn’t stand seeing her so upset, and it just seemed natural to call her by the nickname he’d given her when they were sixteen.
He’d been determined to find her cat. The pain and anguish in her sobs had torn his heart in two, and he couldn’t help but console her. He’d held her close, soaking in her warmth, and having her in his arms again felt like a dream. He didn’t want to let her go. In fact, he’d longed to hold her all night.
And when she’d lifted her eyes to his, he couldn’t take his focus off her lips. For a moment, he imagined resting his mouth against hers and drinking in her taste. The thought made his lips burn with desire. He’d almost kissed her until he realized she was going to talk to him—actuallytalk to him for the first time since he’d returned to Flowering Grove. He’d hoped she might even tell him why she’d broken up with him seven years ago.
But just as she was about to open up,that guyshowed up with a dozen red roses. Hudson was disappointed and furious until he realized he had no business even dreaming about having Dakota back in his life. That ship had sailed a long time ago, and she was with another man now—which was why he’d tried his best to smooth over the awkward situation and hotfoot it out of there.
He dropped onto the corner of the bed, which creaked under his weight. He was having a difficult time calming down his heart. Asmuch as he wanted to deny it, he still had feelings for Dakota—deep feelings—but that didn’t matter. It was best for him to focus on his future.