I made a point to loop Hudson into the conversation and steer away from any more flirtatious exchanges. While I was flattered by Phoenix’s attention, and it was fun to see a spark of jealousy from the man to my left, this was a business dinner. Plus, it didn’t matter how nice-looking Phoenix was, I had no interest in him.

I wasn’t sure if it was my efforts or perhaps the two scotches on the rocks Hudson knocked back during dinner, but he seemed to relax while we ate. We talked about Signature Scent—everything from how it was developed to the marketing plans Olivia had come up with.

When the waitress suggested coffee and dessert, Hudson declined, so I followed suit.

“How’s nine o’clock tomorrow to start?” Phoenix asked. “Hair and makeup can get to you by eight. Is your wardrobe all set?”

Hudson answered. “Olivia texted me that the last of the packages were delivered to the hotel a little while ago.”

“Perfect,” Phoenix said. “I think we’ll be able to wrap it up by early afternoon, so you can go out and enjoy some of the California sunshine.”

I smiled. “Oh good. This is my first time here, so I’d love to see the city.”

“I’m a born-and-raised LA boy. If you’re up for it, I can show you around after the shoot wraps.”

My eyes slanted to meet Hudson’s. I could tell he was pissed, yet he refrained from saying anything.

“Actually…” I smiled politely at Phoenix. “I have plans already. But thank you very much for the offer.”

The three of us walked to the lobby together. Hudson was quiet, but professional, as he said goodnight to our dinner companion.

“I need to stop at the front desk to pick up the packages Olivia had delivered for you,” Hudson said once Phoenix had gone.

“Oh, okay.” I nodded.

I couldn’t tell if he was pissed at me or just in a piss-poor mood. He maintained his stern demeanor as he asked the hotel clerk about the delivery.

She punched some keys on her keyboard and looked at her screen. “It looks like it was delivered to your room. Room two thirty-eight.”

“Okay, thank you.”

Since room 238 was his, and I needed to try things on, I said, “Do you mind if I pick them up from your room now? I want to prep as much as I can tonight so I don’t waste anyone’s time in the morning.”

“That’s fine.”

Again he was quiet as we made our way to his room. He unlocked the door and held it open for me to enter, but once the door closed, the silence grew deafening, and I couldn’t take it anymore.

“Are you…mad at me?”

Hudson’s eyes looked back and forth between mine. “No.”

“Okay… Are you tired? It’s been a long day with the travel and all.”

He shook his head. “I’m not tired.”

I nodded, intending to leave it alone. But that only lasted thirty seconds. I couldn’t help myself. “When I said I’d never been to LA and wanted to check it out, I wasn’t hinting that he should ask me out.” I shook my head. “I don’t even know if he was asking me out—but whatever he was offering, I wasn’t trying to open a door for him to show me around.”

Hudson’s eyes seared into me. “Oh, he was asking you out. Make no mistake about that.”

“But I—”

He interrupted me. “You were perfectly polite and professional. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

I shook my head. “So why does it feel like you think I did?”

Hudson stared down at his feet for what was probably only a few seconds, yet felt like an hour. Eventually, his eyes met mine. “I’m just a jealous asshole. I don’t mean to take it out on you. I apologize.”

Oh...wow. I didn’t think he’d be so honest. I smiled sadly. “Thank you. For what it’s worth, if the roles were reversed and the photographer was a beautiful, female ex-model who asked to show you around, I’d be jealous, too.”

Hudson looked into my eyes. “You know, we don’t get jealous of things we don’t want.”

“Want has never been an issue for me. It’s just…so much could go wrong.”

“Or so much could go right.” Hudson forced a smile and nodded. “But I get it.” He glanced around the room. “I don’t see the boxes in here. Let me check the bedroom. Do you have a list of what we should have received?”

“Yeah…” I sighed. “I can pull it up on my phone.”

I sat down on the couch and dug my phone out of my purse. As I started to scroll, I noticed something sticking out of the corner of the couch, tucked between the cushions. It looked like a book. Without giving it any thought, I pulled it out and laid it on the end table so it wouldn’t get lost. But when I caught the title on the front, I did a double take.

The Thorn Birds.

Hudson and I had talked about this book the other day. He’d said he hadn’t read it.

I picked the book back up and began to thumb through the pages. About three-quarters through, one of Hudson’s business cards was tucked inside like a bookmark.

“They delivered two box—” Hudson froze. His eyes rose to meet mine, but he said nothing.

“You’re reading this?”

He set the boxes on the coffee table in front of me. “You mentioned you liked it the other day. I usually read a lot while I travel.”

My heart swelled inside my chest, leaving me a little breathless. I shook my head. “You knew I thought Marco reading Amalia’s favorites was romantic.”

Hudson was quiet for a moment before tapping on the boxes. “How many were left to be delivered?”

“Umm…” I hadn’t finished looking to find out. I swiped to my email and searched for the one Olivia had sent with the shipping confirmations. “I think those are the last two. All of the props are being delivered tomorrow morning from a local company.”

He nodded. “I’ll carry these down to your room for you.”

I shook my head. “That’s okay. It’s just a few outfits. I can take them.”

Hudson pushed his hands into his pockets and kept his eyes down. The shy demeanor was very un-Hudson-like.

So many emotions swam through my head, and I stood, not knowing what to say, though the conversation about the book felt unfinished. Eventually it became awkward, so I took the boxes and figured it was time to go.

“Thank you again for dinner. I’ll see you in the morning?”

“I’ll be down at your room by the time they get started.”

“Okay. Thank you.”

He opened the door and our gazes caught once more. Why did it feel like my heart was breaking? “Goodnight, Hudson.”

I made it down to my room but couldn’t bring myself to go inside. I had two boxes in my hands, yet I just stared at my door.

What the hell am I doing?

For the last few weeks, I’d been reading a diary and rooting for a man to get the girl because of all his sweet gestures. Yet in my personal life, I had a man who listened to me, a man who’d forgiven me for crashing his sister’s wedding, and for giving him a black eye. I’d called him an asshole on more than one occasion, yet he’d done nothing but help me get my business off the ground and stand by my side the entire time. He was also an adoring father, which says a lot about a man. Not to mention, I was ridiculously attracted to him.

So why the hell don’t I take a chance?

I’d told myself it wasn’t a good idea to mix business with pleasure because of the way things had turned out with Aiden. But my business had already exceeded all my expectations, and we hadn’t even made the website live yet for the general public. So it wasn’t that. I thought back to my conversation with Hudson a few minutes ago.

“So much could go wrong,” I’d said.

But maybe what he’d said was more important.

“So much could go right.”

The truth was, I was afraid to take a chance. But I realized now that by not taking a chance, I might miss out on something really beautiful.

My palms started to sweat, because I knew what I needed to do. I also knew that if I walked into my room and started overthinking things, I might chicken out. So it had to be now.

Right now.

I dropped the boxes on the floor in front of my door and rushed back to Hudson’s room. Standing in front of his door, my first instinct was to take a moment and pull myself together. But doing that would give me time to lose my nerve. So I forced myself to just do it and knock—though with all of the adrenaline and nerves rushing through me, my knock came out more like a bang, a very loud and fast pounding.

Hudson whipped open the door. His face was angry, but at the sight of me, he jumped into protective mode.

“What happened? Are you okay?” He took a step out of his room and looked down the hall, first to the right and then the left. “Stella, what’s going on? Is everything okay?”

“Everything’s fi…”

I forgot what I was saying mid sentence. When he’d whipped open the door and startled me, all I saw was an angry face. But now…

I couldn’t take my eyes off him.

My Lord.

Hudson’s dress shirt was unbuttoned. His belt was open, and the zipper to his pants was down, revealing dark boxer briefs. But it wasn’t his state of undress that had me unable to form words, it was what was underneath the clothes.

I knew from our talks that he exercised, so I’d expected him to be in good shape. But Hudson was so much more. He was…magnificent. Beautiful smooth, tan skin, carved pecs, and an eight-pack of rippled muscles. A thin line of hair led from his belly button down into his boxers, the sight of which made me salivate.