Page 76 of With This Ring
“I do. In fact, Layla mentioned them recently.”
He looked embarrassed. “Would you believe mine is still hanging in a closet at my aunt’s house?”
She guffawed. “You’re lying.”
“Nope.” He shook his head, and she laughed. “Any news on your financials?”
Her happy mood evaporated, and she gave him a tight smile. “Everything’s about the same.” She turned toward him. “Hey, do you remember the old Franklin farm?”
“Of course. We used to go for hayrides there every fall.”
“Right. I took my nieces and nephew there until they said they were too old for the hayrides, which makes no sense. No one is too old for a hayride.” She folded her leg underneath herself. “Anyway, it’s for sale.”
His lips twitched. “Are you in the market for a farm?”
“Yes and no.”
“Dakota, I’m sorry, but you’ve lost me.”
“I know, but just listen. Lately people have been turning theirold barns or warehouses into wedding venues. The Franklin farm had this big old barn, and if I had the money, I’d buy the farm, restore it, and open my own wedding venue. I’d hire someone to run the venue part and then I’d open a store on-site. It could be a one-stop shop for gowns, tuxes, bridesmaids’ dresses, and all of the accessories, plus the wedding venue.” She shrugged. “I know it sounds crazy, but it might bring more weddings to Flowering Grove. Which would be good for our little town.”
She folded her hands in her lap, shocked that she’d shared that idea out loud with him. She hadn’t told anyone, but when she was with Hudson, she couldn’t seem to stop herself from admitting her deepest thoughts and desires.
He studied her and then took another drink of iced tea. “Have you thought about my offer for a loan?”
“Thanks, but no.” She picked at a piece of lint on her jeans. Maybe she should have kept her idea to herself.
“Now isn’t the time to be so stubborn.”
She decided to let that dig go. “Tell me about the company you sold.”
“All right.” He leaned back in the chair and rested his right ankle on his left knee. “It’s called D&H Software Solutions. My partner and I designed a business management system that combines human resources and financial management. Many companies use different applications, which can be tedious, especially when the systems don’t talk to each other. This streamlines their processes, and since we were a little bit ahead of our time, the software took off.”
“That’s amazing. You were always so determined to own your own company, and you did it. You should be proud.”
He gave her a half shrug.
“You’ve always been so modest.”
“What?” He laughed.
“You have. I remember when you got all of those scholarships to college, you acted like it was no big deal and you didn’t deserve them. But youdiddeserve them.” She couldn’t help but be proud of him even though he wasn’t hers anymore.
He shook his head.
“No, really, Hud. You’ve always been humble.”
“Well...” He grimaced. “Layla would disagree with you.”
They were silent for a moment as they took in the sunset. Then she turned toward him again. “Who’sD?” she asked.
His forehead crinkled. “What?”
“From D&H.His obviously you.”
“Oh.” He chuckled. “Darren, my business partner.”
“How’d you meet?”