Page 72 of With This Ring
Hudson scratched his cheek. “Are you sure?”
“You provided the propane, and we at least owe you a burger,” Nick said.
“Okay, if you insist.” Hudson raked his hand through his wet hair, and it stood up at odd, adorable angles.
Stop staring at him!Dakota silently chastised herself.
The back door opened, and Dad walked out holding a metal pan with a stack of burgers and a large spatula. He grinned at Hudson. “Why, Hudson. What a surprise.”
“Hi, Mr. Jamison.”
“You’re an adult too. Call me Mitch.” Dad set the pan and spatula on the table by the grill and shook Hudson’s hand. “Are you back for good?”
Hudson shook his head. “No, sir. Just for a couple of months.”
“Where have you been living?”
“Manhattan. I started a company, and my business partner and I recently sold it. I’m in between gigs right now.”
“Is that right?” Dad seemed impressed. “Is it that software company you always talked about?”
Hudson nodded, and Dakota’s heart squeezed. She recalled how close Hudson and her father were when they were dating. Hudson once told her he felt he could tell her father anything, and he always sought his approval as well as his advice.
And as Hudson and her father fell into an easy conversation about Hudson’s life, her body suddenly felt heavy with grief and regret for what could have been between them. They could have built a life together—a family, a future...
“Dakota?”
Her head swiveled to the back door, where Mom stood looking annoyed. “Yeah?”
“Should we eat inside or on the deck?” Mom’s question was laced with a hidden meaning Dakota couldn’t quite decipher.
“Well, we can—”
Mom’s eyes narrowed. “Get in here, please.”
Dakota stepped inside, and Mom took her arm and pulled her down the hallway toward the kitchen. Skye, Gunner, and the other kids sat in the den while an animated movie played on the TV. Trouble purred on Aubrey’s lap, and she scratched his ears.
“You’re pinching my arm, Mom,” Dakota said in the kitchen. “What’s the problem?”
“Why is Hudson Garrity in your backyard talking to your father?” Mom demanded.
Eileen stopped tossing a salad in a large bowl and sidled up to Dakota. “Hudson’shere?” She looked back and forth between Dakota and Mom. “I’d heard he was back in town. Are you dating him?”
Dakota held up her hands. “Calm down. Hud and I arenotdating. We’re accidental neighbors.” She explained that he was in town temporarily and staying at the Airbnb next door. “My grill was out of propane, and Hudson brought over his spare tank. Blame Nick for inviting him to stay for supper. We’ve spoken a few times, but we’renotdating. That’s it. End of story.”
“He broke your heart, Dakota,” Eileen said. “You can’t forget that.”
Mom poured a bag of chips into a large bowl. “Eileen’s right. Don’t let him worm his way back into your life again.”
“I already told you all Auntie is dating my teacher, Mr. Bryant,” said Skye, who had materialized with her boyfriend in the kitchen. She leaned on the counter and swiped a chip from the bowl.
Dakota shook her head. “It’s nothing serious. In fact, I haven’t seen him in a few weeks. I’ve been too busy with work.”
“And he misses you.” Skye swirled a chip through the air. “You should call him.”
Eileen wagged a finger at Skye. “You shouldn’t meddle in your aunt’s business.”
“But I’m good at playing cupid.” Skye took Gunner’s hand and led him toward the hallway. “Let’s go check on the burgers.”