Page 52 of A Pen Pal for Christmas

“Dane,” I said, my voice tight. “If you did this?—”

“I didn’t,” Dane cut in. “Find out if there are cameras. You’ll see.” He turned on his heel and started walking away.

I stared after him, my mind racing, and even though Hudson stayed silent beside me, I could feel the tension coming off him in waves.

I had no idea what to say.

“Are you okay?” he asked, seeming to snap out of it enough to place a gentle hand on my cheek.

I nodded. “Yeah, thanks.”

“Good. Let’s get to the station,” he said, brushing his thumb over my cheek.

CHAPTER 18

Sofia

By the timewe reached the police station, my nerves were frayed. The walk there had been quiet, but not in a comforting way. Hudson had been on high alert, his sharp gaze darting to every passing car and shadow. It made me hyperaware of how exposed we were, and I hated the creeping sense of vulnerability crawling up my spine.

But at least he’d taken my hand. I didn’t know if it was the kind of hand-holding that followed a kiss as amazing as the one we’d shared last night or if it was simply his protective side wanting a point of contact, but truthfully, I didn’t care.

Hudson’s protectiveness was so different compared to the way Dane had always treated me. It was possessive, and not in a sexy way. Dane had always been reactive, his version of care laced with unpredictability. It was a constant push-and-pull that left me walking on eggshells, and even after such a short time with Hudson, I could feel the difference.

He was steady, deliberate. His hand in mine wasn’t a leash or a show of dominance—it was a quiet reassurance, a promise that he was here, and I wasn’t alone.

But that comfort clashed with the fear still bubbling inside me. What if whoever had trashed my room was following us right now? What if Dane’s mess had dragged me into something even more dangerous?

My eyes stung with tears I refused to shed, and I had to fight to keep my steps steady.

Hudson’s hand squeezed mine slightly, as if sensing my turmoil, and the warmth of that small gesture cut through the icy grip of my anxiety.

But warmth wasn’t the same as safety. I wanted to trust him—to trust that his hand in mine meant more than just protection, that it was something real. But trust wasn’t something that came easily anymore. Not after Dane, and definitely not after the events during my last Christmas in Snow Hill. Letting Hudson in felt like standing on the edge of a cliff, waiting to see whether the ground beneath me would crumble or hold.

“You with me?” he asked as we walked up the steps to the front door.

I nodded, unable to help the flush that crept up my neck. “I’m with you.”

Inside, the warm air of the station was a relief, but only for a second. The fluorescent lights buzzed faintly above, casting the station in a sterile, almost clinical light. I squinted against the cool tones. I was a warm light kind of girl, and the beginning of a headache reared its ugly head.

Tommy looked up from his paperwork as we approached his desk, his expression shifting the moment he saw us.

“Conference room,” he said, standing and motioning us to follow him We stepped into a room with a table and six chairs, and he closed the door behind us before resting his hands on his duty belt. “What happened?”

It was a good thing for me that Tommy was a cop. That way, my memories of police stations were generally good, consideringit was my brother’s home away from home. Otherwise, I’d only have the memories of some of the darker times I’d been in a room like this, sitting across from an officer as they asked me about Dane’s latest mess.

I forced myself to focus on Hudson’s steady presence beside me. This wasn’t the same. I wasn’t alone this time. But even as I repeated that to myself, the walls started to close in, the weight of everything pressing down on me.

“We ran into Dane,” Hudson said, his tone clipped. “He says he didn’t do the break-in.”

Tommy’s brows shot up. “And you believe him?”

“No,” Hudson said immediately.

“Maybe,” I said, drawing both their eyes to me. “He didn’t seem like he was lying.”

Tommy crossed his arms. “Dane’s not exactly known for his honesty.”

“True,” I admitted. “But he said he was in his car all night. Near the old hardware store. Are there any cameras around there?”

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