One Tiny Lie – Jennifer Youngblood Page 0,28

catch her. It was a long, winding hill. He’d always admired Ava’s tenacity, how when she saw something she wanted, she would set her goal and then put one hundred percent effort into achieving it. However, the past several years, Ava seemed to have lost her passion and zeal for their way of life. She’d become restless and discontent with everything, including Hudson.

Now, for some reason he couldn’t explain, she was back full force. But she was different. There was an added depth and complexity to her. Ava had always been so carefree and open, often wearing her feelings on her shirtsleeve. Hudson only had to look at her expressions to know what she was thinking. Now, it was harder for him to get a read on her thoughts. Ava had suggested that the two of them get to know each other as if meeting for the first time. In many ways, Hudson felt like he was meeting Ava for the first time. He grunted. That was absurd. He’d known Ava all his life. How could he just now be getting to know her?

Ava had been Hudson’s first crush. Over the years, those childhood feelings had developed into something deeper, at least, for him. It had been torture watching Ava date so many guys over the years. He got used to her patterns … how the relationship would last a few weeks, and then she would grow tired of it, craving the next new or shinier object. Hudson had wished so many times that Ava would come to her senses and realize that the two of them were meant to be together. Now, here they were. Miracle of miracles, Ava now wanted him. The question was—would she soon grow tired of him? His stomach tightened. He didn’t want to go through the heartache of giving her his all, only to lose her. Maybe he should walk away. Yeah, right. Like that would ever happen! Hudson had never been able to deny Ava anything.

When Hudson realized the Giles’s vineyard was failing, he’d gone to his dad and pitched the idea of the two of their families joining to create a powerful dynasty. Hudson had a knack for business. Even though his family’s vineyard was solidly in the black, having been built on several generations of hard work and reputation, Hudson had, through his prowess and ingenuity, taken the business to even greater heights. He had no doubt that he could do the same for the Giles’s vineyard.

Hudson’s parents had been excited and on board with the plan. They had a fondness for Ava and felt like she would fit in well with their family. Alastair had gone to Todd Giles, pitching the idea as his own. But the plan had backfired. Hudson couldn’t have anticipated how adverse Ava would be to marrying him. He figured she wouldn’t mind, since the two of them were close friends. Also, Ava had dated so many guys and hadn’t found anyone. Hudson hoped she would one day grow to love him as he did her. He never could have anticipated that she would up and disappear for weeks on end. Nor could he have anticipated that Ava would come back a changed woman, ready to embrace him

Yesterday, when Hudson realized Ava had gone into the water, a cold, hard panic overtook him as he jumped in to rescue her. He couldn’t allow himself to think about how close he came to losing her. Ava was his entire world. He was in too deep to ever turn away from her. If she’d let him, he’d spent the rest of his life proving that he was indeed the guy for her.

“Come on slow poke,” she taunted as she looked back over her shoulder. Ava was a good two-hundred yards or more ahead of him. Adrenaline shot through Hudson as his legs moved faster, his muscles burning as he pumped the pedals. He caught up with Ava and passed her just before they reached the top.

“Victory!” he shouted as he let go of the handlebars, using his body to balance the bike, and lifted his hands in the air.

“Congratulations,” she laughed as she caught up with him. “For a minute there, I thought I was gonna leave you in the dust.”

“Hah! That would be the day,” he responded with bravado as he winked. He sucked in a breath, hoping that Ava wouldn’t hear how hard his heart was pounding against his chest. He’d had to exert a super-human