Playing with Words (Boggy Creek Valley #2) - Kelly Elliott Page 0,19

crowds are starting to get to me. Lately I’ve felt like I can’t get enough space.”

“I’ve always imagined New York to be a town that doesn’t sleep.”

He laughed. “No, it doesn’t. Back when I was younger, it was a hell of a good time. Now, a lot of my friends are settling down or moving out of the city, and the idea of going out doesn’t appeal to me. I needed this break more than I realized.”

“Well, you won’t find crowds at the cabin. It’s up in the hills. The views are beautiful and it overlooks Russell Lake. The trails around the lake are amazing if you like to hike.”

Hudson smiled and slipped into the passenger seat. “Sounds like heaven, but I may have to buy some warmer clothes. I didn’t bring much stuff with me.”

“It is heaven, and yeah, you’ll need some warmer clothes,” I agreed. “If I didn’t live above the bookstore, I would probably live in the cabin. It’s always been one of my favorite places to go. I feel like I can think better there.”

He huffed. “A place I am in desperate need of then. I haven’t felt like I could think clearly for the last few years now.”

I laughed as I started my car. “Do you want me to drive around Boggy Creek, show you some points of interest, and then go up to the cabin, or head up there now? It gets darks around six thirty.”

Hudson flashed me that panty-melting smile of his. “How about we head out to the cabin? That way I can look over that list you’ve got from your father and see if I’m taking on more work than I’m ready for.”

With a chuckle, I backed up and headed out of the parking lot and down the alley that led to Main Street. “I think you’re going to be pleasantly surprised. My dad only listed three things, all easy fixes.”

“That so, huh? Are you a fixer-upper type of gal?” he teased.

“Yep, I sure am. I feel like you can trust me on this one. Growing up with an older brother, I learned pretty quickly that I needed to be tough in order to hang with him. And, as silly as it sounds, I thought if I acted like my brother, my father would love me as much as he loved Kyle. It’s silly now that I look back on it all. My father adores and loves both of us equally, but as a little girl, I always thought he loved Kyle more.”

“I can see that thinking though. As children, I think we all do things to get our parents’ attention. You just learned different things.”

I laughed. “Different things other than playing with dolls, you mean?”

He looked at me and winked. My stomach did a little flip, and I attempted to ignore it.

“Plus,” I said, “it will give you something to do when you take breaks from writing.”

He appeared to let that one sink in. “That’s true.”

“Do you have set hours where you try to write?” I asked.

“No, not really. I do try to write something every day, even if it’s part of another book.”

“So you never take days off?”

He laughed. “I take plenty of days off, trust me. I try not to go more than two weeks without writing, though, if I can help it.”

I smiled. “When did you first know you wanted to write?”

“Is this fair?”

I quickly looked at him with a confused expression before I focused back on the road and turned onto Poplar Street. It was one of the main roads that led out of Boggy Creek and into the valley. “Is what fair?”

“You getting to ask all the personal questions. I think I should be able to ask a few.”

I felt my cheeks heat. “You have a point, Mr. Higgins. Ask away.”

He cleared his throat. “Okay, let me think. What made you want to own a bookstore?”

“Ha, that’s an easy one. I’m a book lover and always have been. Books have been my passion since I can remember. I love everything about books. The way they feel in my hands. The smell of an old book is one of the best things ever. I love getting lost in a story and falling into another world. I could turn pages for hours and be completely happy.”

“Is that how you came up with the name for your bookstore? Turning Pages?”

With a grin, I nodded and shot him another quick look. “It is. My mother would always call for