Free Hudson by Shayne McClendon

thought processes fascinated him.  She
came from means but her outlook was almost innocent.  He was unfamiliar with
such a character trait but it was refreshing to meet someone who wasn’t jaded
or cold. 
    “There are original moldings, crystal doorknobs, wood floors,
and the light …”  She waxed poetic about built-in bookshelves and he
listened with an internal smile.  “The landlady is wonderful.  She has that timeless
look about her – she’ll still be stunning when she’s eighty.  Do you know she
found me furniture ?”  Brie gazed off into the park.  “I’ll have to do
something to thank her.”
    Shaking herself, she smiled up at him.  “I talk a lot.  I
apologize.  I’ve gone on and on.  Bor-ing .”  Looking around with a small
wrinkle between her eyes.  “What direction were you headed?  I think my chatter
distracted you.” 
    He gestured to the Rolls pulling along the curb.  “That’s my
car.  I wanted to take a few minutes to see how you were adjusting to the city. 
Allow me to drive you.”
    “I wouldn’t dream of taking you out of your way.  Thank you
though.”
    “I insist.  You aren’t inconveniencing me.”
    “Well, alright.  Thank you.”  The driver held the door and
she smiled before getting in.  “Hello.  I’m Brie.  I’ll be hijacking your
services for a little.”  She gave him the address and Hudson was proud that
Leonard didn’t so much as twitch at the familiar location.  “Thank you in
advance.” 
    “You’re welcome, miss.” 
    As she grinned and got in the car, Hudson watched his stuffy
driver’s eyes widen.  Hudson slid in beside her.  She traced her fingers over
the leather between them. 
    “I’ve rambled about me.  What do you do for a
living?”
    “You never looked me up?”
    She shrugged.  “I never even thought about it.  Where
I come from – a town with about three thousand people – everyone knows
everyone.  If you say you’re who you say you are, suspecting you’re lying to me
isn’t my first response.” 
    Looking out the window, she sighed.  “Which made me the
perfect mark, I realize.”  The self-mocking laugh sounded wrong coming
from her.  “I can’t believe I never thought to Google you.  If there
were photos of you online, that would have blown his whole deal.  You look nothing alike.”
    “What did my impersonator look like?”
    “A couple of inches shorter than you; in general, very
much…um…smaller than you are, blonde hair, and blue eyes.”  She tapped her
cheek.  “He had an interesting scar right here but he never told me where he
got it. 
    Hudson went very still and Gabriella noticed. 
    “What’s wrong?”  Her head tilted away from him slightly.  “Oh
my god …you know who it is.  I…I shouldn’t have said anything.  I’m
sorry.”
    “Why the devil are you sorry?”
    “You’re not very friendly.  If you know who it is, that
means it’s probably close to you in some way.  Either through your family or
your work.”
    This woman was very dangerous to his self-control. 
    He schooled his features and gave her a small smile.  “That
description fits many people I know.  It just crossed my mind that it would
likely be someone I come into contact with regularly since I don’t make it a
habit of leaving my identification lying around for someone to steal.”
    Brie looked out the window.  “I did.  Some days, I’m rather
naïve.”  She met his eyes and shrugged gently.  “I still don’t want to be
jaded.  I don’t want to suspect everyone of foul play.  I know it’s not very
smart to be like me.  Not in the real world.”
    Hudson stared at this woman with the fuckable lips and the perfect
ass and realized she was a creature unlike anyone else he’d ever met before. 
    She was decent and kind.  Not because she had to be but
because she wanted the world to be a place where good things happened.  Where
men didn’t pretend to love you while they stole all