Читать книгу Falling For The Millionaire - Merrillee Whren - Страница 11
ОглавлениеNothing had prepared Melody for her attraction to Hudson Conrick. Did she believe in love at first sight? Never. How had that crazy question popped into her mind? With everything she had to think about tonight, her mind must be playing tricks on her. Sure he was handsome, a good dancer and a gentleman, but he also liked to skydive and race cars. Who knew what other crazy things he liked to do? No way could she be having romantic feelings about a man she’d met only a few hours ago.
Attraction at first sight was plausible but not love.
The music faded, and Melody gazed up at him. “I apologize, but I have to check with Adam about the silent auction now.”
“I’ll tag along if you don’t mind.”
“Sure.” Melody found it difficult to concentrate with Hudson by her side. Thankfully, the meeting with Adam lasted only a few minutes. As Melody and Hudson returned to their table, they received a few speculative glances from a couple of her coworkers, but she ignored them. She didn’t want to add to the conjecture.
While the band played a lively number, Hudson tapped his foot. “Can I convince you to dance again, or do we have to stick to the slow dances?”
Melody gripped the back of her chair as if it was a lifesaver in the sea of her own uncertainty. Would she encourage his interest if she agreed? This date contained no future commitment, and he certainly expected to dance with his date. Enjoying this time was what she needed to do, but she couldn’t let her attraction to Hudson show.
“You seem dubious.”
Melody’s halfhearted smile skidded into a grimace. Did she dare say what she was thinking? “Most of the men I know, including my brothers, don’t like to dance.”
Hudson held out his hands. “Hey, what can I say? I have to make use of those lessons.”
Melody couldn’t help laughing. “Okay. I wouldn’t want them to go to waste.”
Hudson grabbed her hand. “And we wouldn’t want to waste this good music, either.”
Letting the music and Hudson whirl her away, she focused on the here and now. She wouldn’t think about the future, and she wouldn’t think about the past. Tonight she would live in the moment and relish every aspect of it.
The time with Hudson sped like one of his race cars. When the band announced the last dance, she couldn’t believe the evening was about to end. Despite her vow only to think about the present, had she let herself get too involved?
No. Tonight wouldn’t translate into anything for tomorrow. One and done like her other blind dates. That philosophy kept her heart safe from disappointment.
Hudson escorted her off the dance floor. “Do you have any last-minute things you have to do?”
“I do. I’ll check with Adam to see if they have a job for me before I leave. I hope you don’t mind waiting.”
“Not at all. I’ll get your things and meet you there.”
“Thanks.” Melody hurried to the back of the room where Adam and Annie sat at a long table.
As Melody drew nearer, Annie looked up, a little frown creasing her brow. “What are you doing here? You should be with your handsome date.”
Glancing at the pile of receipts, Melody ignored Annie’s reference to Hudson. “I thought you might need me for something.”
Annie shook her head. “Got it under control, and you’re going to like my report on Monday. Now get out of here and enjoy the rest of your evening.”
“Okay.” Melody went around the table and gave Annie a hug. “Thanks for all you’ve done.”
“You’re welcome. Now go, go, go.” Annie shooed Melody away with her hands. “You have a date to take care of.”
“Okay, okay. I’m off.”
When Melody turned, Hudson was standing a few feet away as he held her purse and wrap. A momentary image of Christopher flashed through her mind. Hudson didn’t resemble her former fiancé in the least. Christopher had been shorter with light brown hair and blue eyes. So why had his image come to mind when she looked at Hudson? She couldn’t begin to answer that question.
She tried to shake off the pain in her heart. Thoughts of her old love usually didn’t bring as much hurt these days, and she thought of him less often. No one could ever replace Christopher. He’d been her life, and now he was gone. Her only comfort lay in knowing she would see him again in heaven.
“Ready to leave?” Hudson’s question snapped her out of her sentimental thoughts.
Melody nodded. “Annie assures me that I’m not needed here.”
“Good. I’ve called James. He should have the car at the front door when we get there.”
“James? Really?”
“Yeah. That’s his name.” A frown puckered Hudson’s eyebrows as they entered the lobby.
Melody shrugged. “When I was a kid we used say, ‘Home, James,’ to my dad when my brothers and I were strapped into our car seats in the back and we were pretending that he was our chauffeur.”
“Oh, I see.” Hudson stood aside as Melody scooted through the door ahead of him.
He probably didn’t see the same humor that she saw. He didn’t have to pretend to have a chauffeur. Why had she told Hudson that story? It only underscored the differences between them.
The inadequate feeling she thought she’d overcome slithered through her mind. She tried to push the unwelcome thoughts away, but they kept intruding. She remembered how the popular rich girls had befriended her, and she’d been on top of the world. But they’d made her the butt of their jokes. The reality of the situation had been a cruel awakening.
As a grown woman, she was stupid to let old hurts color her perception. But that incident popped into her thoughts more often than she would like. Once they were settled in the limousine, Hudson poured himself another glass of water. He raised his eyebrows as he gazed at her. “Would you like one?”
She nodded, her mouth parched. For a minute, they sipped their water in silence. What was he thinking? What did it matter? Even though she didn’t plan to go out with him again, she wanted this date to have been a success.
“So you have brothers?” After the silence, his question sounded like a loud clap in an empty room.
Melody pushed aside the cobwebs of her thoughts. “Yeah, younger brothers.”
“How many?”
Melody never knew how to respond when people asked that question. Fortunately, it didn’t come up that often. A lump rose in her throat as she thought about her eldest brother, Blake, who’d been killed when his dirt bike had skidded and slammed into a tree.
“Is that a question I shouldn’t have asked?” He peered at her in the dim light, concern on his face.
Waiting for her emotions to subside, she shook her head. “The eldest of my brothers died in a dirt bike accident when he was seventeen. He was a year younger than me. I have two other brothers. So I never know quite how to answer that question.”
“I’m sorry about your brother. That must’ve been a difficult time.”
“Thanks. It was for my whole family.” Melody lowered her gaze as she twisted the strap on her purse. She didn’t want to talk about it anymore, or she was afraid she might embarrass herself by bursting into tears. She’d lost too many men in her life.
Her brother. Her father. Her fiancé.
Hudson fell silent again, and Melody stared out the window as the limo turned onto her street. The evening was at its close, but she didn’t want it to end on a sad note. She had to say something cheery or at least make an attempt. “I appreciate you taking me to the fund-raiser. I had a good time.”
The concern on Hudson’s face morphed into a lazy smile. “Me, too. It’s been a while since I’ve been able to show off my dancing skills.”
Melody laughed, feeling the earlier sadness waft away. “Ms. Smithers would be proud.”
Hudson joined in the laughter. “Maybe. I don’t believe she ever considered me one of her star pupils. I stepped on too many toes.”
“She should’ve seen you tonight.”
“Thanks.” He set his empty glass on the bar, then turned to her. “I had more than a great time tonight. I enjoyed every minute with you. I’d like to take you out to dinner next Saturday.”
Melody’s heart caught in her throat. His request caught her off guard. Aware that she’d upped his expectations with her compliments, she wished he hadn’t asked. How could she explain her reasons for not wanting to go out with him again? She didn’t want to go into past heartaches that he couldn’t begin to understand. Could he possibly see how their very different backgrounds weren’t compatible? “I did have a fun time with you, but another date wouldn’t be a good idea. I’m sorry.”
His eyebrows knit above his brown eyes. “Why not? It’s only dinner.”
“I don’t know, Hudson.” Melody sighed. “I’m not sure I fit into your world.”
The limousine came to a stop in front of her house before Hudson could respond to her statement. He lowered the window between them and the driver. “James, we’re going to sit here for a minute.” Without waiting for James’s reply, Hudson turned back to her. “My world isn’t any different from yours.”
Shaking her head, Melody let out a halfhearted chuckle. “You come from a rich family. I’m from small-town Georgia and grew up poor. I went to the University of Georgia on a HOPE scholarship, got a degree in psychology and then a masters in counseling. I worked for a few years with a government job-counseling center before I started working at The Village. I love my work there. What do I know about the life of a multimillionaire?”
“Maybe you should find out. People are people. How can you make a judgment without getting to know me?”
“I don’t want to go down a road that wouldn’t be good for either of us. Tonight was wonderful, but this has to be it.” Melody gritted her teeth, wishing he would listen to reason, but his mentioning her judgment went right to her guilt. Was she too critical? But this wasn’t all about his money. She couldn’t forget his love of skydiving and car races—dangerous activities that took lives. She couldn’t be with a man who took such risks.
“I won’t take no for an answer.”
“Please don’t make this difficult. It’s not just because you come from wealth and I don’t. You like to live on the edge and I like to play it safe. How can that be a good combination?”
“It might be fun to find out.”
Melody let out an exasperated sigh. “You don’t give up, do you?”
“Not when I want something.” Hudson’s look could cut steel. “I won’t press you anymore tonight, but you haven’t heard the last of me, Ms. Hammond.”
“I’ll take that as a warning, Mr. Conrick.”
“James, I’ll be walking Ms. Hammond to the door.”
Again the driver seemed to materialize out of thin air. He opened the door. Hudson stepped out and extended his hand to Melody. She braced herself against her reaction to his touch as she took his hand. She didn’t want to like the way her hand felt in his, but she did. She didn’t want to like anything about tonight, but she did. She didn’t want to think about Hudson kissing her good-night, but she did. She couldn’t let that kiss happen, no matter what she wanted.
When they stepped onto her porch, Melody quickly snatched her keys from her purse and unlocked her door. She turned to look up at him, another lump forming in her throat. Her head was telling her to run and run fast, but her heart told her to take a chance. She couldn’t listen to her heart. “I can’t thank you enough for being my escort and for your support.”
That lazy smile reappeared. “Sure you can. You can go out with me again.”
Melody clenched her fist around her purse strap. She would not give in. She would stand her ground no matter how captivating his smile was. She would not take a chance on another man determined to pursue something dangerous, especially when it had no redeeming value. “I’m sorry, Hudson. The answer is no. Please don’t ask me again.”
“I’m not going to make promises I can’t keep.” Hudson leaned closer, almost close enough to kiss her.
“Thanks again. Good night.” Her heart pounding, she ducked inside as his good-night was lost in the closing of her door.
Melody watched through the sidelight window while Hudson strode away without a backward glance. Her wobbly legs failed to move an inch. She put her fingertips to her lips where he’d almost planted a kiss. Her pulse raced as she stood there until the taillights of the limousine faded from her view. She couldn’t let his persuasive words, his handsome face or his generous nature change her determination not to go out with him again.
* * *
The redbrick buildings of the former college gave a stately air to The Village of Hope campus. Even the grays of winter didn’t take away from the beauty as Hudson parked his car near the administration offices. How would Melody react when she saw him? He’d spent the past four days trying not to think about her, but her image plagued his thoughts.
Maybe his ego had taken a hit when she’d refused to go out with him again. He wasn’t used to women turning him down. But he was wary of female motives no matter the circumstances. Too often they were looking at his bank account and not at him. Melody certainly had reason to see him as a dollar sign even if her interest wasn’t personal.
He wanted another date with her, and he would find a way to get one. But first, he had other things to accomplish. After a little research, he’d discovered that they were still taking bids for the women’s shelter project. Winning that bid was his goal.
Hudson and Carter Duncan, the general manager and numbers guy from the construction division of Conrick Industries, walked into the impressive reception area with its shiny marble floor and the two-story ceiling. A smiling silver-haired woman sat behind the massive reception desk. “Good morning. May I help you?”
“Good morning, Lovie. I’m Hudson Conrick, and this is my colleague, Carter Duncan.” Hudson motioned toward the short stocky man with the thinning brown hair who stood nearby. “We have an appointment with Adam Bailey and Melody Hammond.”
Lovie’s brow wrinkled. “How do you know my name?”
Hudson pointed toward the little gold bar pinned to her jacket. “It says so right there on your name tag.”
Lovie shook her head. “You can’t fool me. You said my name before you were close enough to read it.”
“Okay. You’ve got me.” Hudson chuckled. “I heard about you and your quilt the other night at the fund-raiser.”
Clapping her hands together, Lovie beamed. “So wonderful what the Lord can do with a little bit of nothing.”
“I saw your quilt. That wasn’t a little bit of nothing. It was a lot of work. A true work of art and love.” Hudson leaned on the raised counter of the reception desk.
“Thank you. I am proud of it and so happy I was able to help The Village.” Lovie blushed as she reached for the phone. “I’ll let Adam know you’re on your way to his office, which is down the hallway to the left.”
“Thanks.” Hudson nodded, then fell into step with Carter as they made their way around the corner.
“I sure hope you know what you’re doing. I wouldn’t want to make your father unhappy with this venture.” Carter frowned as he slowed his step and turned to Hudson.
Hudson stopped, taking in the worry in Carter’s eyes. “I told you this project will be mine. I’m prepared to take this whole endeavor on my shoulders. You don’t have to be concerned about a thing.”
“I’ll hold you to that.”
“Your part is to help me get the numbers I need. I want to be armed with as much information as possible when I confront my father.”
Carter shook his head as they continued on their way. “Better you than me. Besides, I’d sure like it if this project saved my job.”
Their footsteps sounded loud in the quiet hallway as Hudson tried not to think about his dad’s reaction to this undertaking. He had heard rumors that the construction side of the business wasn’t doing well. Carter’s statement made it a certainty. Hudson would like nothing better than to save the jobs of all those involved. Before they reached their destination, Adam stepped into the hallway. “Good to see you again, Mr. Conrick.”
Hudson shook hands, then made introductions. Adam ushered them into his office. Hudson glanced around the Spartan space until his gaze rested on Melody. Although she smiled as she greeted them, she didn’t look happy to be there. Was she still wishing to avoid him?
Adam motioned for them to sit on the black leather chairs near his desk. “I understand you want to see the blueprints for the new project and tour the area. Is that correct?”
Hudson nodded as he shrugged out of his jacket and hung it over the back of the chair. “Carter here is my numbers man. He’ll want to see what you’ve got so Conrick Construction can give you a bid.”
“We’re close to making a decision, so you’ll have to give us your proposal by Monday.” Adam pushed the rolls of blueprints and another folder across the desk.
“That won’t be a problem.” Despite the statement, Hudson’s dry mouth and racing pulse gave him no peace. So much of what he wanted to prove to his father was riding on this proposal. For years he’d walked the path his father had set before him. Those dance lessons, law school and the army had been his father’s command. Hudson was determined not to jump to his dad’s wishes anymore. Staring death in the face on the battlefield made him realize he’d been living a life that had been chosen for him. He didn’t know who he was or what he wanted because he’d let someone else plan his life. Not anymore.
Could he make his case? No time for doubts. He would finally stand up for himself and make his own mark in this world. That included his interest in one very reluctant woman. Melody Hammond was a challenge he couldn’t resist.
While thoughts of standing up to his father rolled through Hudson’s mind, Carter studied the blueprints and the information Adam had provided. Finally, he closed the folder and glanced at Hudson. “I’d like to take these blueprints to the construction site.”
Adam waved a hand in Melody’s direction. “Melody will give you a tour. I have another meeting this morning, so I’ll meet you in the senior center after you finish.”
Melody produced another uncomfortable smile as she led Hudson and Carter into the hallway. “Let me stop by my office and grab my coat.”
“Sure.” Hudson nodded as he walked beside her. “It’s a little chilly out there today, unlike the night of the fund-raiser.”
She nodded, still trying to hold her smile in place as she scurried into her office and out of sight. Had he made a mistake in mentioning their date? He had to quit second-guessing himself. Women didn’t usually intimidate him, but Melody did. He’d never met a woman like her.
“I can see why you’re eager to do this project. She’s quite a looker.”
Annoyed at Carter’s description of Melody, Hudson glared at the other man. “She might be good-looking, but this isn’t about her. This is about business.”
“If you say so.” Grinning, Carter shrugged.
Hudson balled and unballed his hand. The urge to wipe that smile off Carter’s face passed through Hudson’s thoughts. Not wise. Not productive. Not Christian.
He took a deep breath as Melody reappeared wearing a dark gray trench coat. With a nod, she led them out the side door. The bright sunshine belied the temperature outside. Hudson liked the way sunlight sparkled in her blond hair as it lay on the jacket’s dark material. He wished he could say something to brighten her mood, but it was obvious his presence didn’t make her happy. Much the same as the night of the fund-raiser, Melody charged ahead at a fast clip as she made her way across the quad. She walked with determination. He liked that about her, too. When she reached the fountain, she stopped and turned. “I’ll show you our current women’s facility so you can see what’s been done before with an existing building.”
“Works for me.” Carter nodded.
Hudson nodded but didn’t say anything. He wanted to ask about the colored water and balloons on the fountain but decided against it. The less he said the better at this point. The situation demanded patience. Not one of his virtues. He’d let Carter take the lead. That might be more to Melody’s liking.
Melody took one of the sidewalks leading away from the fountain toward the right side of the quad. She said little until they reached the building, where she punched in a code on the pad next to the door. Looking up at Carter, she motioned for him to go in. “We hold security very important, especially for our women. So we require background checks on every member of your crew if you win the bid for this project.”
Without a word, Carter entered the building and Hudson followed, walking along the hallway where the faint smell of a pine-scented cleaning solution explained the gleaming tile floors. “Nice facility you have here.”
“Thanks.” Melody turned her head, giving him the first genuine smile of the day. “This used to be a dormitory that we converted into apartments. There are a dozen on each floor. That’s what we plan to do with the other building. That’s why I wanted to start here.”
“Your new project’s similar to this one?” Hudson asked.
“Yes.” Melody stepped toward the first door. “I’ve made arrangements for you to look at this apartment. The resident gave her permission to let me show the place while she’s attending job training. You’re welcome to look around.”
Carter made a hurried trip through the place while Hudson took a more leisurely stroll, observing the modest furnishings in the two-bedroom dwelling. When he finished his tour, he joined Carter, who was studying the blueprints he’d laid out on the dinette table near the galley kitchen.
Hudson glanced at Melody. “Do they all have the same layout?”
“Basically.” Melody shifted her weight from foot to foot as her gaze flitted around the room. “Are you ready to see the other building?”
“Absolutely,” Carter said as he rolled up the blueprint.
Minutes later, as Melody reached the door to the next building, she turned, focusing her attention on Carter. Hudson didn’t want to believe that she was doing her best to ignore him, but he couldn’t dismiss the evidence.
“When we go in, you’ll see that the interior has been gutted. It’s been that way for a couple of years. We’d planned to renovate it right after we did the other one, but we didn’t have the funds at the time. So we put this one on hold.”
Hudson digested this information as Melody granted them access. He glanced around at the bare concrete block walls and floors illuminated with light filtering through dingy windows. He tried to focus on the possibilities rather than the grim picture the place presented while Carter asked the questions. Hudson figured the less he said the better.
After they completed the tour, Melody locked up, then turned to face them. “Do you have more questions for me?”
“Not right now, but I may have some after I go over the information I’ve collected today.” Carter stuck the rolled-up blueprints under his arm.
Melody produced one of those forced smiles. “Good. Then we’ll meet with Adam.”
While they walked back across the quad, she chatted comfortably with Carter. The breeze ruffled her blond hair around her shoulders as she laughed at something he said. Why couldn’t she be that comfortable with him? She obviously wanted to make it abundantly clear that she meant what she’d told him the night of the fund-raiser. She wouldn’t go out with him again. Would that be a strike against Conrick Construction getting the bid?
Hudson shook that question away as they walked into the senior center cafeteria. The folks here at The Village would make a sound business decision based on the bids they received. Not on personal feelings.
Melody introduced them to the woman who signed them in. Another layer of security. Immediately, Adam joined them and led them to a nearby table.
“Do you have questions for me now that you’ve seen the building we want to renovate?” Adam asked.
Hudson leaned back and steepled his fingers as he placed his elbows on the arms of the chair. “Melody has explained your emphasis on security, so will we have access to a construction entrance for our heavy equipment?”
“I’m glad you brought up that point. When we did the first renovations, we didn’t have any residents so we didn’t have to worry about security.” Adam wrinkled his brow. “We have an emergency entrance on the road that runs along the back side of the campus. It’s there for vehicles that are unable to go through the main gate. I’m sure we can make some arrangements to use it if the need arises.”
Melody scooted forward in her chair and frowned. “Do you think it’ll be necessary to use that?”
Despite her frown, Hudson relished her question. At least, she was talking to him. “I wanted to cover all the bases. The logistics will figure into our bid. I know how important security is to you.”
A little smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “Yeah, it is. So opening another entrance worries me.”
“I understand. If we get the bid, I’ll be personally responsible for personnel and vehicles that go through there if we have to use it.” Hudson watched her expression as she took in his response.
“I appreciate that, and I’ll hold you to it.” The look in her brown eyes let him know that she meant business. “We can’t be too careful when it comes to the women here. They depend on us for their safety.”
Hudson tried to put himself in the place of the women who had fled abusive situations and the fear they must feel.
“Does that cover everything?” Adam asked.
Nodding, Carter looked Hudson’s way as he tapped the roll of blueprints. “I’ve got everything I need.”
“Great.” Adam stood. “You’re welcome to join us for lunch.”
“Sounds good to me.” Hudson nodded as he glanced at Melody. He breathed a sigh of relief when she didn’t make some excuse to leave.
Carter stood. “I appreciate the invitation, but I’ve got to get back to the office. We’ll have that bid to you by the deadline.”
Hudson popped up from his chair. “I’ll be right back after I see Carter to the exit.”
“Good to meet you. I look forward to seeing your bid.” Adam shook Carter’s hand, then turned to Hudson. “We’ll wait here for you.”
“Thanks.” Hudson fell into step beside Carter. “So what do you think?”
“We can come up with a competitive bid, but I’m not sure it’ll meet muster with that pretty blonde. What did you do to get on her bad side?” Carter gave Hudson a speculative glance.
“Hard telling. I’m not going to worry about her.”
Carter narrowed his gaze. “I thought you wanted this project because of her.”
“I told you before she’s not the reason for my interest in this. Showing my dad that I can be my own man is on top of the list.” Hudson clapped Carter on the back. “We’ll talk after you’ve had a chance to crunch the numbers. Thanks for your work.”
Hudson hurried back to the table. He didn’t miss Melody’s less-than-enthusiastic smile upon his return, but he wouldn’t let that dampen his spirit.
As they went through the cafeteria line, Hudson took in Melody’s interaction with those around her. She had a smile for the workers and knew them by name. What did he need to do to gain one of those smiles? Maybe he should quit thinking about himself. That might be a start in the right direction.
For too many years, he’d lived his life, never understanding the plight of folks less fortunate than himself. Even though his parents had always been charity minded, he hadn’t known how other people lived until he’d joined the army. Looking back, he could see his father’s wisdom when he’d insisted that Hudson spend time in the military. The experience had given him a new perspective on life and the world.
Could Melody appreciate that, or would she continue to look at him as a person who was out of touch with the people she served? He’d done himself no favors the night of the fund-raiser when he’d jokingly talked about attending the event to please his father. At the beginning of the evening, he’d had no idea that he’d find Melody a very fascinating woman. Now he had to work doubly hard to undo her bad impression of him. No easy task. And if she did show an interest in him, would it be for him or the money he could contribute to her cause? When it came to women, that thought was never far from the surface.
After they brought their food to the table, Adam offered a prayer of thanks. For a few minutes, they ate without saying anything, the sounds of lively conversation flowing around them. Hudson observed the residents of the senior center as they partook of their meals. The place radiated with joy. This was a happy place—one he wanted to help. And he wanted to help one very independent woman, but he wasn’t sure she wanted it.
Hudson set down his fork. “The residents here seem to be having a good time.”
Melody nodded. “We do our best to make this a wonderful place to live. Ian does a great job with the facility.”
“That’s right,” Adam said to Hudson. “In fact, he’s got one of the most anticipated events of the year for the senior center coming up. The Valentine banquet. We can always use some volunteers for that. Would you be interested?”
Hudson let the request roll through his mind as he watched the consternation spread across Melody’s face. She wasn’t happy about Adam’s suggestion. Was this a chance to prove to her that he was willing to help others? “What kind of volunteers do you need?”
“Adam, Ian probably has enough helpers.” Melody wrinkled her brow. “He usually invites the youth group from his dad’s church to act as servers, and we always have plenty of people from right here. You don’t need to be bothering Hudson.”
Adam nodded. “That’s true, but it never hurts to let other folks see what we’re doing. What do you say, Hudson?”
“It sounds like a great opportunity. I’ll talk to Ian and see where he can use my services.” He’d love to help out where he could, and if this was another way to spend more time with Melody Hammond, then things were looking up.
