Page 47 of The Chef's Kiss
“In the flesh.” I wrapped an arm around Jorgina’s waist. “She’s exhausted. Let’s get her inside.”
“I thought I heard something outside.” The elder Mr. Ashford walked toward us. “Jo?” He looked at me. “Hudson, what’s wrong with her?”
I liked this man, so the fact that he remembered my name sat well. “She’s fine, according to the doctors. She just needs rest.”
He nodded. “Her room is this way.”
I was so focused on Jorgina I barely got the chance to take in the double staircase or wide hallways. I grew up with wealthy parents, but wealthy in a New York kind of way, with penthouse apartments overlooking Fifth Avenue. This was a different kind of life, the one of the Ashford Princess. With fancy libraries and massive kitchens, manicured gardens, and staff just to keep the weeds at bay.
It was like she lived in a castle right here in Maine.
Jorgina and I couldn’t have been more different, yet I saw the struggles in her eyes, the way she didn’t trust people around her, even her own family.
After walking through the ornate home, I was surprised to find her bedroom so … young. A four-poster bed sat in the middle, but the room wasn’t overly large or extravagant, it was just very, very purple.
“I haven’t lived here since I was in high school.” She gestured at the girly room.
I led her to the bed and helped her down.
Her grandfather hovered on the other side and smoothed the hair back from her face. “Honey, are you okay?”
She nodded against her pillow, a sleepy smile on her face. “I’m just happy we’re both okay.” Her hand drifted to her stomach as her eyes slid shut.
Surprised etched into her grandfather’s face. “She’s … my girl is …” He shook his head.
“I found out today,” I said. “But I think she’s known for a while.”
Ruby stayed silent beside me, and I realized she too must have known.
“That’s why she came home.” He still seemed too stunned to process it.
“I think she’s afraid.”
His face softened. “She shouldn’t be.” He looked down into her face. “Everyone will be surprised at first, but I know her father and her brothers. This girl has a village. I wish she’d have told us.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “You’re going to be just fine, Jo.”
When he straightened, he gave me a nod of thanks and left. Ruby followed in his wake.
I turned to go after them, but strong fingers gripped my hand.
“I am,” she whispered. “I’m so afraid.” I wasn’t sure if she was awake or not because her eyes didn’t open.
Yet, I couldn’t help turning back to her. “If you weren’t scared, Jorgina, I don’t think you’d be doing pregnancy right.”
Her lips tilted up, and she slid her eyes open. “That was the right thing to say.”
“That’s odd, I usually only say the wrong thing when it comes to you.” I thought of the first time we met when she spilled her coffee or that day at Hugga Mugga when I wanted nothing more than the scone she stole.
“No, you say the honest thing. You say what you’re feeling.”
“You mean I’m rude.”
“A tiny bit.” Her smile grew. “But you can be nice when you want to be.”
“When am I ever nice?” I was sarcastic, sometimes not unkind. But nice … not likely.
“Today.” She closed her eyes again. “Today, you were very kind.” Her breathing evened out into sleep, and I straightened, removing my hand from hers as her fingers went slack.
When I left her room and shut the door, her grandfather was waiting for me. I didn’t get a chance to say anything before he spoke. “Be careful, Hudson. That girl …” He sighed, looking to the door. “She has the ability to steal every heart around her. I should know. She’s owned mine since the day she was born.”
