Page 18 of Paper Horses

I shoved my heels on and tromped to the back of the kitchen, finding a half bath with no sign of a female’s touch. Like the kitchen, it was understated in neutral tones but stylish. Very Hudson. No flowers and fluff.

I washed my hands, then smoothed them over my hair, appalled that I looked as if I’d walked from my suite to the office on a windy day. Letting out an irritated huff, I left the bathroom just as Hudson came into the house, knocking his boots against the door. He hung his hat on the hook next to the door and ran his hand through his thick hair, mussing it more.

“Let’s go,” he said, stomping to the sink and washing up.

“I need to grab my coat.”

He peered over at me, frowning. “What’s wrong with mine?” Grabbing a towel, he looked around the island at my feet. “And where are the damn boots?”

“I’m not wearing that thing out, and I’m not wearing those things in public.”

“You’re a pain in the ass,” he grumbled.

“Excuse me if wearing your ex-girlfriend’s boots is a turnoff.”

It was a strange way to phrase it. Awkward even, and he stared at me for a beat before he rolled his eyes and turned away from me. Grabbing his jacket from where I’d put it on the stand, he threw mine at me, smirking when I missed it.

“Never were a good catch,” he said, opening the door.

“I caught you,” I blurted, heat rising in my cheeks when I realized what I’d said.

“Yeah, but then you dropped me.”

He was out the door, yelling at me to catch up before his words could hit home.

I had dropped him, and in doing so, I’d left us both damaged.

Valley Knoll was almost too small to be called a town. Tucked in the heart of the valley, it offered a panoramic view of the mountains. With a handful of mom-and-pop stores—hardware, pharmacy, grocery—it screamed quintessential small town. Fall decorations hung from the light posts, reminding me that my nephew’s birthday was in two weeks and I still needed to get him a present. I wasn’t certain what to get a boy turning six, but I’d figure it out.

Hudson stayed quiet, keeping his eyes on the road while a country song played from the radio. I’d never been in a truck, and I would never admit I liked the sensation of being so high above the other cars—the few we passed.

He pulled into a spot in front of a diner that looked like something out of an old movie. Booths lined up against the windows, and a pretty blonde woman in an apron poured coffee at the counter.

A bell jingled over my head as I followed Hudson through the door. He held it open for me, greeting the woman behind the counter, who gave him a big smile and a hello that held familiarity.

“Take a seat, and I’ll be right there.” She gave me the same warm smile, which I did not reciprocate because I didn’t smile. Smiling didn’t earn me points with my father. Being cold and emotionless did.

I walked over to the third booth, inspecting the seat when Hudson cleared his throat.

“This one,” he said, his authoritative tone bunching my stomach into knots.

“What’s wrong with this one?” I asked as he shrugged his coat off. Strong, solid shoulders, a thick neck of muscle, scruff from days of not shaving. All things I’d never cared for on a man, but suddenly had warmth forming in my lower body because Hudson made them look sexy. Too sexy.

“This is where I sit.”

He slid into the booth as I thinned my lips, debating whether a retort was worth the effort. Taking my coat off, I walked to the booth, looking for a place to hang it. He snatched it from my hand and tossed it to where his was bunched in the corner.

“Sit,” he grunted, and I lifted my brow.

“Did you leave your manners when you moved to this godforsaken place?”

“I wouldn’t say that too loud, Olivia. You’re outnumbered here, and the locals don’t like city folk. Especially uppity ones.”

I took the paper napkin from the table and wiped off the seat as he rolled his eyes.

“I’m not uppity. I’m just particular,” I said, scooting into the booth.

He snorted, but a sugary voice cut my reply short