One Tiny Lie – Jennifer Youngblood Page 0,30

thine own self be true,’”

When she remained silent, he peddled his hand. “Come on, let’s hear the rest.” She looked down. “Aha! I’ve stumped you!” he proclaimed victoriously.

A second later she began quoting, her tone somber and recollective.

“‘This above all: to thine own self be true,

And it must follow, as the night the day,

Thou canst not then be false to any man.’”

“That’s great,” Hudson was super impressed with her knowledge. Then, he saw her stricken expression. His insides tensed. “Are you okay?”

She offered a slight smile. “I’m fine.”

He touched her arm. “Are you sure?” A fear seized him. Had Ava somehow found out that Hudson was the one who masterminded the plan for them to get married to help her parents’ vineyard? Was this her way of calling him on the carpet? No, it couldn’t be. This was Ava they were talking about. If Ava had a problem with him, she wouldn’t beat around the bush but would call him out on it. At least the old Ava would. Another thought occurred to him. Was Ava being true to him? Was there something she wasn’t telling him? If so, what was it? “Is there something that you’re not telling me?” His question startled her.

“No,” she asserted with a shaky laugh.

His throat tightened, but he managed to force the words out. “If you’re having second thoughts about the marriage, us …”

Her head snapped up. “Never,” she said fiercely.

A swell of relief went through him as he smiled. “That’s good to know.”

She tightened her hold on the handlebars. “Are you having second thoughts?”

A grin spread over his lips. “Not for one second. Ava, you know how I feel about you … how I’ve always felt.”

Several emotions that he couldn’t read sifted through her eyes. Hudson would have thought his comments would have been a slam-dunk reassurance, but that didn’t seem to be the case. “I want this to work,” he said earnestly.

“Me too.”

This time, he edged his bike up beside hers. The air sizzled with the electricity of a lifetime of untapped possibilities as his hand went to her cheek. Her breath hitched as her lips parted. He felt his own breath, coming in short bursts, his heart hammering out a fast beat as he closed the distance between them, his lips taking hers.

The sparks that zinged through Hudson took him completely by surprise as their lips moved together in a tentative dance. Hudson had kissed Ava before, and it had been good. But this was revolutionary! Her mouth was soft, accepting, and yet he could feel her insistence and strength melding into him. Hudson’s hand slipped around the nape of her neck as he pulled her closer. The kiss was aching and tender, filled with an unspeakable need that stoked the fire in Hudson’s soul. He felt like he and Ava were connecting in a way they’d never connected before.

When he pulled back, a large smile curved his lips as his hand cupped her cheek. “That was incredible,” he murmured. He felt reborn, as if he were seeing Ava through new eyes. His thumb stroked her skin in light circles. The future was brighter than Hudson could have ever dared hope. “That was different.”

She blinked in surprise. “In a good or bad way?” she asked hesitantly.

Laughter rose in his throat. “The best it has ever been.”

“Really?” she hiccuped, moisture rising in her eyes. She rewarded him with a smile so brilliant that it spread warmth to his entire body.

“Really.” He leaned in to kiss her again but lost his balance as his bike fell into hers.

She gasped as she used her body and bike to steady him. Thankfully, he regained his footing quickly and righted his bike before any damage was done.

“Sorry about that,” he said sheepishly.

Ava motioned with her head at the ribbon of road that trailed over the rolling hills. “You wanna keep going?”

“Sure,” he said, with a burst of energy as he charged forward. “Your turn to catch up with me,” he called over his shoulder.

Her laughter came floating up. “You’re on,” she shouted exuberantly.

Hudson didn’t know what had caused the change to come over Ava, but whatever it was, he wanted it to stay for the long haul. He wanted to build a life with her, to be able to see her beautiful features reflected in the faces of their children. The life Hudson had always wanted was within his grasp. The trick was not to do anything to mess it up. As much as he wanted