that this is a lease-to-own agreement?”
I opened my mouth to answer him, then pressed my lips together tightly. “He wouldn’t do that to me, Kyle. He just wouldn’t.”
With a slow shake of his head, he replied, “I’m sure you’re right, Greer.”
I spun on my heels, walked into the kitchen, and picked up my cell phone. I pulled up Tom’s phone number and called him.
When it went straight to his voicemail, I tried not to worry. I left him a message, hit End, and then looked at Kyle. “I’m sure it’s nothing. A misunderstanding. That man was most likely talking about the gristmill.”
Kyle sighed. “I don’t know. There have been some suits snooping around ever since the mayor decided to sell the gristmill building. What makes you so sure old man Brooks won’t sell?”
With a sigh, I folded my arms over my chest. “Because he agreed to sell me the building, and I’ve been paying him toward it for the last five years. That’s why.”
Kyle’s expression turned doubtful, which gave me pause. Would Tom really sell the building out from under me?
“Something doesn’t smell right here,” Kyle stated as my doorbell rang once again.
“That’s Hudson with his folks.”
“His parents, huh?” Kyle said, his expression changing. He gave me a teasing smile.
“Yes, I’m having dinner with them.”
“That’s nice,” he said.
I hit the button to unlock the downstairs door and immediately heard footsteps on the stairs before a light knock had me rushing to the front door. Even though Hudson had been here not that long ago, I was anxious to see him again.
I had to pull in a deep, calming breath before I slowly opened the door. I was greeted by that smile I had quickly grown to love, and warm, liquid brown eyes that heated my entire body with one look.
“Hudson,” I said softly as he leaned down to brush a kiss across my lips. A shiver of delight ran though me, but I stepped to the side so they could all come in.
“Greer, I’d like to introduce you to my parents. This is my dad, Doug, and my mother, Melinda.”
Hudson’s father was an older image of his son. Same height, though maybe a bit taller. Brown eyes and brown hair that was sprinkled with streaks of gray. Melinda was beautiful, and I could see Hudson’s smile in hers, including the dimples. She had brown hair, as well, but her eyes were the most beautiful shade of green I’d ever seen.
Melinda walked up, drew me into her arms, and hugged me. “Greer, it’s so nice to meet you. Hudson has been talking about you nonstop since we arrived in Boggy Creek. Truth be told, even before we arrived.”
I felt my cheeks heat and I stole a quick peek in Hudson’s direction. He grinned widely and winked at me. “She’s not lying.”
Focusing back on Melinda and Doug, I said, “It’s wonderful to meet you both as well. Let me introduce you to my brother, Kyle.”
Kyle approached and shook their hands. “You’re a police officer, huh?” Doug asked, taking in Kyle’s uniform.
“Yes, sir, I am.”
“Is everything okay?” Hudson asked, finally realizing Kyle was most likely still on duty.
“Yes,” Kyle said. “I just got off duty and stopped by to talk to Greer about something I heard regarding the building.”
Hudson frowned. “What about it?”
I quickly walked up to Kyle and said, “It’s nothing that can’t wait until later. I’m sure Doug and Melinda are just as hungry as I am!”
Kyle and Hudson both shot me looks of displeasure, but I honestly believed it all had to be a misunderstanding on Aiden’s part. I’d deal with it on Monday.
“I heard about this wonderful little Greek restaurant here in town,” Melinda said.
“Athens? Yes! They have the best Greek hotdogs ever,” Kyle added, thankfully distracted by a new topic.
Doug clapped him on the back and grinned. “Kyle, you should join us.”
My brother looked at me and then Hudson, who smiled and said, “You should…if you don’t mind my father asking you a million-and-one questions about being a cop.”
Kyle laughed. “I’d love to, thank you. I just need to run home and change—if that’s okay?”
“Of course it is,” Melinda replied.
Hudson took my hand and gave it a squeeze, but before he could say anything about the bookstore, I put my finger to his lips. “I left a message with Mr. Brooks. I’ll get it figured out.”
He smiled and kissed me on the forehead. “Let’s go feed you some hotdogs.”
I knew the moment we stepped into the restaurant that