Page 104 of Tough Love

Charlie snaps his head up with a growl. The only person he has ever been happy with inside this house is Addy. I drag my weary body up the wall and pad to the kitchen. I don’t even care that I’m a mess. Or that Charlie is snarling at Harry, who is now leaning against the new center island.

Harry drops papers on the counter beside him. He wants to do this now?

“It can’t wait ’til tomorrow?” I say.

“Nope.”

Harry’s brows pull down as he taps the papers. I sigh and pull them across the counter and in front of me. Deeds, partnership agreements for the businesses. I flick through them and sign where my name is. I turn to the next bundle of papers.Partnership between Harrison John Rawlins & Adeline Grace Howard.

What the hell?

I flick to the last page.

There are two spots to sign: one for Harry, one for Addy.

I snap my gaze up. “What is this?”

Harry points to the papers in my hand. “That is the contract I offered Addy.”

Why didn’t she mention this? Why didn’t they tell me?

Ma taps the papers. “And it still stands. Always will—she is a brilliant equine vet.”

“But she left. I don’t understand. Why didn’t anyone tell me about this?”

Harry pushes from the counter and folds his arms over his chest. “We didn’t need Addy to ride along; Justin would have done fine. But you did. We didn’t need Addy to get back on a horse. She needed that for herself. We don’t need another business. But you two need a way to make this work.” He glances at Ma. “When I told you not to get involved with her, I needed tosee for myself what you thought was worth fighting for, Hudson. I couldn’t care less who you fool around with. But Addy was different.” He swallows. “I needed you to show us how much you were willing to work for her. Every order I have ever given you, you followed. Every single one,except that one. You see where I’m going with this, son?”

He rubs a hand over his jaw. “Hudson, I am going to make this real plain for you. When you find your captain, you do everything in your power to keep them, because without them, you will wander the sea like a lost sailor, second-guessing every choice you ever make. Alone and bitter. Your mother is mine. And I wholeheartedly believe Addy is yours. Hell, even that mutt hound of yours knows it.”

“It was a test?”

“Bless your father’s cockeyed methods. And after Jemma...” She tilts her head, her mouth a thin line, silver lining her eyes. “We can all see who Addy is to you, Huddy.”

“But she still left.”

“Isn’t that what you told her to do? After everything, you were hell bent onnotgiving her a reason to stay?” Ma’s words are soft.

“She deserves to have her dreams. I’m not gonna be the person to take that away from her, after everything she went through...”

Harry shakes his head. “And thank god she did. Otherwise, you two never would have met. You never would have had reason to work together. Not one moment of this was coincidence, Hudson. But now, you can give her what she wants, what you both want.” He points to the contract with Addy’s name on it.

“What if she doesn’t want it?”

“I have a feeling it will all work out fine.” Ma pats my shoulder and walks out.

“Don’t just stand there, son. This ship ain’t gonna steer itself.” Harry winks at me and follows Ma.

I stand stunned in the kitchen. The fire crackles and pops, filling the space around me that the ringing in my ears miss.

Four days.

I have four days to figure out what to say to Addy.

To analyze every memory that I have of me and her.

No time like the present . . .

“Charlie, pack your shit.”

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