Hudson's Luck (Forever Wilde 4)

I showered and dressed in a button-down and suit pants before gathering my messenger bag and making my way downstairs to search out some food. I kept my head down and tried desperately to ignore the jitter of nerves in my stomach. The night in the bar had been so out of character for me. What the hell would I do if I had to face Charlie or the chef again? I would die of mortification. Hell, I was already dying of mortification.

And a hangover.

Thankfully, breakfast for the inn customers was served in a different room than the pub. It was a sunroom full of windows and various-sized round wooden tables and chairs. The food was set out along two sturdy sideboards on one wall, and an older woman in an apron wandered through the room offering coffee and tea.

“Take a seat anywhere, love,” she called to me from across the room. I selected a small table and set my bag down before going to help myself at the small buffet. I was too hungry to allow myself to worry about whether or not the other guests had used sanitary methods to serve themselves from the communal trays.

When I was halfway through eating and most of the way through my first cup of coffee, a large older man rushed into the room and seemed to take over the entire space with his personality.

“Are you Hudson Wilde?” he asked with a big grin, as if he already knew the answer.

“Yes, sir,” I said, standing up and holding out a hand for a shake. “And you are?”

“You don’t remember me from last night?” There was a twinkle in his eye that said he sure as hell remembered last night.

Fuck.

“I’m afraid last night I made the mistake of mixing medicine and alcohol,” I confessed. “Forgive me.”

He had thick red hair and a ruddy complexion. By his girth, I assumed he’d been the chef who’d helped me up the stairs with Charlie the night before.

“Well, now. You’re not the first young man we’ve had to cart up to his room after a few too many pints.” His voice was so boisterous, I couldn’t help but look around in hopes no one was sharing in my shame.

No such luck. Eyeballs were everywhere, and they were all focused on the stupid American.

“Devlin Murray. Owner of this fine establishment. Nice to meet you, Hudson.”

Oh dear god.

Of course the man who’d seen me fucked up the night before was the owner of the company. That was just my luck.

Shitty, shitty luck.

He took the other seat at my table and waved to the server for a cup of tea. Once he took his first sip, he seemed to study me. I gulped down the bile rising up in my throat.

“What do you need from me to make your assessment?” he asked, losing the smirk and becoming all business.

I tried my best to act normal and swallowed another gulp of coffee in hopes it would quell the incessant desire my mouth had to begin spouting apologies like a lunatic again. I’d never felt so off balance before. So much for trying something wild… all it’d done was make me lust after a gorgeous guy, fall at said guy’s feet, and ramble incessantly like the water that slid over the mossy rocks in Sugar Creek back home. “Well, I’d like to start with a tour of the place so I can see what’s included in the real estate assets. Then I’d like to go over some questions I have about P&L statements and—”

“Whoa,” he said, holding up a big paw. “I’m going to stop you right there. Tour. We’ll begin with that. I’ll pair you up with our best tour guide, and then I’ll meet you in the brewery so you can show me this little tap invention I’ve heard about. Sound good?”

I nodded, grateful he’d dropped the embarrassing events of the previous night and focused on the job ahead. I was a bit surprised Bruce Ames had mentioned my tap ring, but I took it as a good sign I was on my way to returning to Bruce’s good graces now that Darci was seeing other people. Maybe Bruce had thought it would make a good icebreaker.

“Good,” Devlin said, looking around before settling his gaze back on me. “Listen, I’d like to keep the purpose of your visit quiet if you don’t mind. No sense in worrying anyone about changes before it’s even a done deal, yeah?”

I nodded. Despite rumors to the contrary, not everyone involved in corporate acquisitions was an unfeeling asshole. And confidentiality was a large part of our business.

“I understand,” I assured him. “Let me just finish my breakfast and I’ll be ready for the tour. From what I saw of the place when I came in last night, it’s gorgeous.”