Page 40 of The Wedding Cake Wish
At the wall, Hudson lowers his locked fingers to make afoothold and I step up, abject terror turning me into an Olympic pole vaulter.From my position on top of the wall, I shout encouragement to Hudson as he runsat the wall and somehow manages to scramble up.
My heart is in my mouth as the dogs reach the wall and startleaping up at Hudson’s legs, snarling with intent.
That thug eats enemies for breakfast! And his dogs arejust one snap away from taking off Hudson’s leg.
How the hell did I get myself into this?
And then by some miracle, Hudson’s up on the wall beside me.
‘How do we get down? It’s much too high for me to – ’
He grabs my hand and then I’m sailing through the air forthe second time in the space of four minutes. We land in a heap and he pulls meto my feet.
We race back to the car, to a cacophony of furious barking,and jump in.
And in a manner reminiscent of Starsky and Hutch, Hudsonguns the car and we screech off along the country lane...
*****
We drive at speed in total silence for the first fiveminutes, just wanting to put a distance between us and one extremely cross manand two dogs.
‘That was him, wasn’t it?’ I say at last, shivering in mywet clothes and aware I’m creating puddles under the damp passenger seat.‘Brendan Myers.’
Hudson nods. ‘The man himself.’
I glance at him suspiciously. ‘Did you really think that wasfake barking? Or did you just say that to get me over the wall in the firstplace?’
His gleeful expression suggests he enjoyed deceiving me andI prepare to be suitably annoyed with him. Then he gives a rueful shrug.‘Actually, Ididthink they sounded fake. Sorry.’
‘I forgive you. But don’t do it again.’
‘Noted.’
He indicates and slows the car right down.
‘What are you doing?’ I shriek, glancing behind. ‘BrendanMyers might be after us.’
‘There’s not much he can do to us in the middle of asupermarket car park,’ he points out, turning in and bringing the car to astop. ‘I thought you might want to rub yourself down. You’re soaked through.’
He reaches over into the back seat and fumbles in his sportsbag, bringing out a towel.
‘It’s been used. I was at the gym last night. But if youwant...?’ He holds it up with a sheepish look.
‘Of course I want.’ I grab the towel with a smile – althoughI’m decidedly unprepared for effect on my senses of the musky male scent clingingto it. Rubbing my hair and my arms with a towel that’s so recently caressedHudson’s naked body feels naughty and a proper turn-on, if I’m honest.Especially when he takes the towel himself and gently uses a corner of it topush the wet hair out of my eyes.
I swallow hard as our eyes lock, feeling sure he must beable to read my mind with all its x-rated thoughts. The intensity in thosemesmerising blue and green depths is making my heart beat faster.
Then a car horn intrudes.
‘We’d better go,’ says Hudson, sounding reluctant. ‘I’d hateBrendan Myers to catch up with us. It was quite scary for you back there. Areyou sure you’re okay?’
‘I’m fine. Honestly.’And I love that you’re concernedabout me...
‘So...I haven’t put you off being mypartner in crime, then?’
The look he gives me tells me it’s a genuine question thatneeds a proper answer and not a joke.
‘No way.’ I shake my head. ‘I’ll be sticking around for theforeseeable and beyond. Whether you want me or not.’
