“Did you invite Margot to go with us?” he asked in a low tone. He felt so stupid for thinking that things between him and Ava could be different. It was just like Ava to invite Margot along so she wouldn’t have to be alone with him. The more things changed the more they stayed the same.
Her eyes rounded. “No, I didn’t invite her.”
“Well, someone did,” he muttered.
She lifted her chin, eyes sparking. “Well, it wasn’t me.”
It occurred to Hudson that Margot was not alone. Dustin Lawrence was with her. He scowled. “Are you kidding me?”
“What?” Ava asked dubiously.
“Dustin Lawrence? Seriously? That moron has had the hots for you since kindergarten.” He pushed a hand through his hair. “If you didn’t want to be alone with me, you should’ve just said so.”
He moved to turn away, but she caught hold of his arm. “I didn’t invite them,” she asserted through clenched teeth. Her eyes held his. “I do want to be alone with you. I’d like nothing more. Truly.”
He searched her face. She seemed so sincere. His anger ebbed as her words sank into his thirsty heart.
“Hey, guys,” Margot said with a breezy smile as she reached the side of the boat. She looked at Ava. “I’m so glad you invited us.”
Hudson’s head snapped to Ava, but she wasn’t looking at him. She was too busy glaring at Margot. “I didn’t invite you.”
Margot’s smile fell a notch as she laughed. “Don’t be silly. Of course you did. Last night when we were on the phone.”
Ava’s feet were planted in a battle stance. “No, I didn’t. You asked if you could come, and I said no, that it wasn’t a good idea.”
Margot’s face turned a deep red. “I guess I misunderstood,” she trilled with a high-pitched laugh. She looked at Hudson. “Well, we’re here,” she said contritely. “Is it okay if we join you?” Dustin stepped closer to Margot and draped an arm around her shoulder as if trying to shield her from any dejection.
Hudson looked at Ava. “What do you think?”
She shrugged. “It’s up to you.” Her irritated expression made it clear that she did not want Margot and Dustin to go with them.
Now that he knew that Ava didn’t want them there, he felt a little better about the situation. Hudson had nothing against Margot. The two of them had briefly dated one summer right after graduating from high school. And while that didn’t end well, they’d managed to repair their friendship. Dustin Lawrence, however, was another matter. He was cocky and arrogant—the type who believed his looks and his father’s money could buy him anything he wanted, including Ava.
Still, to prohibit them from going would be outright rude. “Sure, you can come,” he said offhandedly. The dismay on Ava’s face made his heart feel lighter. “Don’t worry,” he assured her, “I’ll make it up to you.”
“I’m holding you to that,” she quipped with an impish smile.
5
Of all the rotten, lousy things to do. Luna couldn’t believe that Margot would have the audacity to force her way onto the boat. Luna really needed to talk to her sister about her choice in friends. How anyone could enjoy being around Margot was beyond Luna. The woman was a royal pain in the neck!
Margot and Dustin were sitting directly across from Luna. Dustin had his arm around Margot’s shoulders, but he kept trying to make eye contact with Luna. Hudson was at the wheel, navigating them out to sea. He was completely in his element. Luna marveled at how comfortable he was behind the wheel. His curly, chestnut hair was flapping happily in the wind, his tanned, rugged features set in a determined expression. Hudson wasn’t just handsome. His brow was touched with a graceful wisdom beyond his years. Also, he had kind eyes. Luna liked how his long fingers grasped the wheel with such confidence. Her gaze ran the length of his sinewy biceps, noting how they flexed with every movement of the wheel. Even his tanned forearms were manly.
Luna grinned thinking about how Hudson had unknowingly given her the greatest compliment ever when he said he liked her song. Like a dolt, Luna had taken credit for her work and had nearly given herself away. Thankfully, no real harm was done. Her attention was pulled back to Hudson’s appearance.
He was wearing cutoff jeans, docksider shoes with no socks, a navy t-shirt that clung enticingly to his well-defined pecs and chiseled torso. A pair of sunglasses hung from the neck