Page 30 of Beyond the Darkness
Early Evening Heat
Once the sun left the front of the house, the temperature dropped.Molly leapt from Luke’s lap, stretched, and sauntered off in search of somewhere warmer.
“I think that’s our cue to move inside too,” Luke said.
The purpose of coming to the beach had been to help Hudson relax, and in the last hour he had achieved that.It was surprising how calming it could be chilling with a hot guy and a cute cat.
Hudson was pleased to note that Luke had locked the front door behind them.He hadn’t wanted to spoil the mood by mentioning it, but on the wacky chance that Julian’s killer was obsessed withRed Hills Massacre, they couldn’t afford to be complacent.It continued to rile him that the stupid old movie occupied so much space in his head.He refused to allow it to spoil anything else today.
They slipped off their shoes at the door and he followed Luke into the kitchen, admiring the firm flex of his butt cheeks at he walked.
“Hungry?”Luke asked.
He realised it was after eight.“Actually, I’m not.Not yet anyway.”
“Me neither.Beer then.”Luke reached into the fridge.He produced and uncapped two bottles.“Cheers,” he said, handing one to Hudson.
“Cheers.”They clinked bottle necks.
The kitchen was small but stylish, with buttermilk-coloured units, black granite counters and dark oak flooring.
“You did all this?”Hudson gestured around the room with the bottle.
“It was all my idea, but I didn’t do the physical work.I’m a writer, not a joiner.This was the last part of the house to be renovated.The most expensive, too.I had to save up a while before I could afford it.”
“But worth the wait to get exactly what you wanted.”
“Exactly.Want to see the rest of the house?”
“I’d love to.Lead the way.”
Off the kitchen was a small patio area, with outdoor dining table and chairs, and views of fields and moorland behind.“The outlook can’t compete with the front, but I like it.It’s more private, too.No traffic passing in this direction.”
“It’s stunning.”The nearest properties to the rear were nothing more than tiny boxes of colour on the distant landscape.“Don’t you ever feel isolated out here?”
“Not at all.I’m just a few miles from the city.There’s even a pub in walking distance if I want to get out without taking the car.”
Upstairs there was a very small bathroom, with a shower over the tub.
“The one drawback of living in a small house.There was no way to expand on the bathroom without losing another room, but it’s a sacrifice I was prepared to make.”
Next was a compact study, with barely room for a desk and chair.The desk was piled high with books on art, theatre and history.
“That reminds me.I ordered your book about the Empire Theatre.It arrived yesterday.”
Luke’s mouth popped open.“You did?”
“I’m afraid to say I haven’t had concentration to do more than flick through it so far.”
“Hardly surprising.I would have given you a copy if I’d known you were interested.”
“No chance.I don’t want freebies.I want to support local talent.”
“Very noble of you.”
Luke’s thigh brushed against Hudson’s as they stepped back into the hall, sending a frisson of excitement all through his body.
There was a small bedroom at the rear of the house, with unspoiled views of the fields behind.“Guest room,” Luke explained.“Not that I do a lot of entertaining here.”
