Page 25 of Make Me Swoon

“Which is your favorite restaurant that you own?” I ask him and he sips his whiskey.

“That’s a hard one. I like Noir et Blanc, the one in France for the location. It’s right in the heart of Paris and surrounded by these bakeries and cafés. Tru Blu in New Orleans reminds me of home and it’s right in the square. I like Prim + Proper too though. Like I said, it’s laid back and fun here.”

“Why would you ever leave Paris?”

“Have you been?”

“No, I wish.”

“It’s nice, but I missed the states.”

I nod as our waiter comes over to drop off some fresh rolls and butter.

“What was your favorite job?”

“Ohh, that’s a long list.”

“Really?” Hudson asks with a laugh as he butters me a roll.

“Yeah, I’ve had quite a few.”

Hudson leans back in his chair with a grin and I take another drink of my martini before I tell him about some of the jobs that I’ve worked over the years.

“Let’s see, there was the ice cream parlor in high school. I worked one day for this pest control company—it was the worst day of my life. Then I worked a month at an animal shelter and tried to adopt eight dogs and five kittens. That’s apparently too many animals and I was let go to find a job that was a better fit.”

Hudson grins at me as I go on.

“Then I tried to be an assistant for a wedding photographer. The three months I worked as a gas station clerk. They got robbed one night while I was off and I just couldn’t bring myself to go back.”

“I don’t blame you,” Hudson says with concern.

“I spent a summer on the carnival circuit, working the Ferris wheel, a few months as a dog groomer before I finally landed at a law office as an assistant to one of the partners.”

“Did you like it?”

“Nope, but it paid well and was a quick commute from our apartment. Plus, it had great health benefits,” I say with a shrug.

Saying all of my failed careers out loud just reminds me that I still don’t have it figured out.

“I guess I never really knew what I wanted to do with my life and I still don’t,” I mumble, a lump forming in my throat.

“That’s okay. You’re still young and it’s cool that you have so much experience in all of these different areas.”

“I wish that I could find what I love though.”

“You will,” he promises me and I smile as the waiter comes back to drop off our food.

He asks me more about my jobs and growing up. I tell him about my dad and I swear it’s like my mom can tell that I’m happy because she calls as we’re getting ready to leave.

Hudson pays and I excuse myself to the bathroom where I can call her back.

“Finally!” my mom says in annoyance as soon as the call connects and I want to point out that I literallyjustmissed her, but I know it’s no use, so I bite my tongue.

“Sorry, I was out on a date. What’s up?”

“I’m calling about your sister’s wedding. You already missed the engagement shower,” she huffs.

“Stepsister,” I correct her and I can feel the icy chill coming through the phone at that reminder.

---