which was exactly what I wanted. I was in the mood to tease a bit but knew we couldn’t go further because we were still discussing things.
“Okay, so Cappuccinos,” I said and sat up. I didn’t leave Hudson’s lap though, I just sat back on his thighs. He was giving me a pleading look, and I knew exactly what he was asking. “Tomorrow, if you invite me to spend the night. I don’t see us as a hookup, and I hate leaving afterward.”
Hudson’s arms fell. “You’re always welcome to spend the night.”
“What about Ford?”
“He has his own house and has a room here if he ever wants to stay here. But I’m pretty sure he has something going on because he hasn’t spent the night in several months. He’s not really talking about it though.”
I didn’t want to impose, ever. Hudson and Ford were family, and I was the current boyfriend. I knew how things were.
“Okay. Well then, I might be able to be convinced to spend the night tomorrow if that’s what you want.”
“I do. Pack for the weekend?” I took a deep breath before nodding. I wanted to spend time with Hudson outside of work, but I also wanted to spend time with Chris. He was off the same day I was, but I’d spent the last two weekends with Hudson from Friday until Monday.
“Or not. You don’t have to stay, you know.”
“No. I want to stay. I’m just trying to juggle time with both you and Chris. But back to Cappuccinos. So what are you proposing exactly?”
“I want you to run it. It’s yours. At least, if you want it. We can work out a rent thing if you want, or whatever. We’ll figure it out, and I realize it’s going to require legal documents and everything.”
“What?” I whispered and slumped on Hudson’s lap, my hands falling from his shoulders.
“Yeah, so I was talking to Ford about it as we tend to do. Grandma gave him the funds to start his garage because she knew I was going to take over Fairy Tales. But we still talk things over with one another about work stuff. Anyway, he said that I should offer you at least top management and decision making for Cappuccinos. But we agree. Cappuccinos is really yours.”
I shook my head. “No. You named it. It’s your bookstore. Your space.” I was not…no. This wasn’t happening. I got up from Hudson’s lap and took a few steps to the side.
“Sawyer?”
“Yeah, okay. I’m… I’ll read over everything, but Cappuccinos is yours, Hudson. Not mine. I don’t want it. It’s yours. I don’t mind running it for you, but I’m not going to take any part of your business. Even you said you were looking for new ways to update everything. I just helped with that.” Hudson jumped up, and I took another step back. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning. You’ve given me a lot to think about though.”
“Don’t leave like this. I’ll worry all night and be a mess come tomorrow morning,” Hudson said as he wrapped his arms around my waist.
“We’re not there yet, Hudson. Okay?”
“Fine. We’re not there. But don’t leave. Let me make us some hot chocolate. We’ll talk about this. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to jump things like this. I just…I feel terrible knowing I’m paying you not nearly enough to be doing what you do for the store. For me.”
I looked into Hudson’s eyes and saw the worry there. “I don’t need a lot. And I just want to enjoy things. Enjoy life. I’m doing that with you. I didn’t come here to find you or a business to run. You’re just a bonus that I feel fortunate to have found.”
Hudson leaned forward, placing his forehead on mine. “And the store?”
“We’ll figure it out, but right now, let me just be a manager or something. None of that it’s yours stuff because what if things don’t work out? With it? Or us? Then I lose everything.”
Hudson leaned in and gave me a kiss that lingered just long enough to say something before he pulled back.
“Okay. We’ll wait.”
18
Hudson
We were still waiting. It had been a little over a week, and we were still in somewhat of a holding pattern where Cappuccinos was concerned. I at least knew that Sawyer and I were on okay terms as far as everything else went. He’d spent Friday and Saturday night with me last weekend but went home Sunday, midmorning.
It was Friday, and he was staying