Page 33 of Summer Love

Hudson nodded. "I'll clean up my tools and head out."

"Are you mentoring tonight?" Dalton asked Hudson before he headed around the side of the house.

"Yeah, I told Shane I'd play basketball with him."

"Who's Shane?" I couldn't help but ask.

"He's a boy I mentor through the local youth program. He usually wants to play basketball at the community center, and then I take him for ice cream."

I tipped my head to the side, trying to gauge his mood. "Would you mind if I joined you guys?"

Hudson shook his head. "Not at all. I'm sure he'd love to have another person around."

"Later, brother," Dalton said, and his brothers got into their trucks and left.

"I'm going to jump in the shower. Then I'll meet you at the community center," I said, strangely excited to see Hudson in a new element. We spent a lot of time working on construction, and we talked about a lot of things, but he'd never mentioned mentoring a child. Had he meant to hide this side of himself from me? Or had he thought it wasn't important?

"Sounds good."

I went inside where Grams was drinking tea at the table.

"Did Hudson leave for the day?" she asked.

I grabbed a glass from the cabinet. "He's collecting his tools from the back. Then he'll be leaving. He has plans tonight."

Gram raised a brow. "With you?"

I turned my back to her so I could fill the water from the filter on the fridge. "He said he's mentoring a child through the youth program. They're going to play basketball."

"Are you joining them?" Grams asked.

I moved toward the table. "I think it will be good for the article I'm writing. 'Local Businessman Mentors Child.' The story practically writes itself."

"This eligible bachelor keeps getting more attractive," Grams said, and I couldn't help but shake my head.

"You aren't going to give up on me and Hudson getting together, are you?" I asked before sipping my water.

"You'd better snatch him up before the story hits the magazine. All the women will be clamoring for his attention then."

I sat in the chair next to her. "His brothers get more attention. Hudson is the quiet one."

Grams raised a brow. "Are you going to take my advice and flirt a little?"

I sighed. "I'm going to take a shower, and then do my job by shadowing Hudson."

Grams nodded seriously. "I'm sure there will be plenty of time to flirt after you're done with the mentoring."

I laughed. "You're impossible."

"You know I'm right. He's a hot commodity. And did you see the younger ones? All of them must be built from the same mold. Handsome and charming."

I shook my head. "I think you are the one who brings out the charm in people. They adore you."

Grams's eyes widened in mock surprise. "I don't know about that."

I kissed her cheek. "You charm everyone, Grams."

She patted my arm. "Now take a shower. You look like a drowned rat, and that won't do."

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