since then, too, because I’d been eating like a pig. I could use another five, maybe six pounds or so to get back to my normal weight, but I’d put that back on naturally, over time. What I really needed was to build more muscle by getting back into my daily routine, but my physical therapist had wanted me to wait on getting back to my Tai Chi.
I smiled. When my appetite had returned that first week, it had hit me with a vengeance. I’d eaten anything and everything Hudson had given me, appreciating every bite. I’d slowed it down after the first week, when I’d finally realized that I didn’t have to eat like every bite I took was going to be my last.
“Honestly, I’ve never seen a small woman like you put away as much food as you did last week,” he said, sounding slightly amused, and strangely awed. “It was pretty incredible.”
“Horrifying, you mean?” I corrected, not wanting to think about the constant, ravenous look that had probably been plastered on my face.
“It’s good for you. You missed a lot of meals,” he answered.
My body relaxed to the sound of the waves hitting the shore. For some reason, Hudson and I had made it a habit to head outside every night after dinner, and we generally stayed on his patio until after the sunset.
He had amazing views, and enough privacy to make it an ideal way to spend the evening.
Sometimes we talked a lot, and sometimes we didn’t, but if there were silences, they were never uncomfortable.
Granted, he’d had to physically haul my ass out here the first few days, but I could step outside on my own two feet now. I wasn’t about to win any races, at least not until my leg strength was built up again, but at least I could walk reasonably well.
Thank, God! I don’t have to rely on poor Hudson to lug me around!
I still wasn’t certain what had prompted Hudson to carry me out here that very first day. It was almost like he knew I really needed to breathe in the fresh air so I could truly believe I was free…
Sitting outside was still like therapy for me, and I was always anxious to get outdoors, so Hudson’s instincts had been spot on.
I did need the fresh air to chase away some of the lingering shadows.
Harlow and I talked every morning. She was dealing with a lot of grief, remorse, and anger. Really, the only thing I could do as a friend was listen to her, but maybe that was all she actually needed from me right now.
“I’m not quite sure what happened,” I tried to explain to Hudson. “Don’t get me wrong, I love my food, and I can eat a lot of it. But I was starving every single moment of the day for that first week.”
“You’re healing,” he said huskily. “Your body needs the nutrients. You need to keep eating well, Taylor.”
I snorted. “Not like that. I don’t feel as desperate for food anymore, so I’m just listening to what my body is telling me.”
“I hope it’s saying we can scarf down some ice cream later.” His tone was hopeful.
Like he can’t do that without me?
Hudson didn’t need my permission or participation to do any damn thing he wanted, but for some reason, he did seem to like company whenever he gave into his love of desserts.
“Maybe I can manage a small bowl once dinner wears off,” I teased, knowing Hudson had the same sweet tooth I did.
From what I’d seen so far, he ate pretty healthy most of the time, and he had a workout routine in his home gym that would probably leave most men crying in pain halfway through it. But when it was time for dessert, he rarely passed on anything sweet.
“You better eat some,” he said in a fierce tone.
I smiled at his bossy demeanor. I’d gotten used to it, and mostly just ignored it. Underneath his somewhat intense, fierce exterior, the guy had an amazing heart. Yeah, maybe he preferred not to reveal it most of the time, but I knew it was there.
What other man would bring a woman he barely knew back to his Del Mar mansion to recover from her injuries just because he knew she hated being in the hospital? Or cater to her every need as she healed?
I suspected his actions were somewhat motived by some kind of misplaced guilt. Hudson was willing to take