Hudson's Luck (Forever Wilde 4)

“Good morning, Hudson,” Bruce began in his booming voice. “Hope I’m not bothering you on a Sunday morning. Listen, I’ve had another idea for the pub…”

As he continued to spout off about yet another one of his ideas, I clenched my teeth in frustration. I hated every bit of this project. When I’d busted my ass at Texas A&M to get an MBA in finance, I’d pictured myself working my way up the corporate ladder as a financial analyst the way my father had—business suits and corner offices, spreadsheets and board meetings. I certainly had not pictured myself managing the grand opening of a small-town pub in a graphic T-shirt and blue jeans. My business education had been accounting heavy and marketing light. It had been all about high-level analysis and not at all about low-level daily business operations in the fickle restaurant business. My corporate experience was about the nuances of negotiating multimillion-dollar mergers. Now here I was trying to figure out which napkins to order and how many highball glasses were needed.

What the hell had I gotten myself into?

“Have you had a chance to meet with Ms. Murray yet?” Bruce asked, shaking me out of my distraction.

“Yes, about that. I thought we were expecting Devlin Murray himself to come help out?” I asked. It would be a big relief if Cait had come in his place. She and I got along well, and I knew the town would adore her.

“Something came up, I guess. The driver said it was a young woman he dropped off last night. She told Hank that Devlin was her uncle. You didn’t meet her when she arrived?”

When I’d learned Devlin was coming over for a few months to help launch the pub, I’d arranged for him to stay in my grandfathers’ bunkhouse to save the poor man from the excessive showy wealth of the Ames family manse. I hadn’t gotten to know Devlin very well the week I’d spent there, but I’d learned enough to know he wouldn’t fare well watching Veronica Ames and her lady friends order the housekeeper back into the house for another pitcher of Bellinis before their next tennis match. I assumed he’d be much happier cracking open a cold one on the ranch porch with Doc and Grandpa.

“The contractor needed to go over a few things, so I was at the building until late. By the time I got in, Grandpa and Doc had already taken care of everything. I guess she’s not awake yet.” I didn’t dare mention overhearing Grandpa tell Doc their new guest had overindulged on the flight to Dallas. No need to start anyone off on the wrong foot with Bruce. There was a lot riding on the success of this launch. No reason for him to know Cait seemed to suffer from the same fear of planes Charlie did.

I cursed myself for letting the Irishman enter my thoughts for what had to be the millionth time since I’d left Ireland.

“Well, then I’ll let you go greet her and make sure she has everything she needs,” Bruce said. “We’ll all meet up bright and early tomorrow morning to get started with the interior designer. See you then.”

After hanging up and sliding my phone back in my pocket, I returned to the table to reach for my mug of coffee. I hadn’t taken the second sip when my sister Sassy walked in.

Followed by Charlie Murray.

Not Cait.

Charlie. My Charlie. The Charlie who’d abandoned me without saying goodbye as if I was some cheap trick he’d picked up in a bar. Well… maybe I had been a cheap trick he’d picked up in a bar, but I’d still been stung by the rejection. And considering the sleepless nights his memories had caused for me the past few months, I resented the hell out of him and his perfect, sweet self. How in the world was I going to handle Charlie Murray here for the next few months? That was easy: I wasn’t. It wouldn’t work. No way.

I felt something land on my foot, and suddenly my leg was burning. “Shit!” I cried, jumping back out of the way of my fallen mug. Hot coffee had spattered all over the floor, barely missing the legs of the high chair. The thought of any coffee marring Pippa’s perfect baby skin shot adrenaline through my veins in a rush. I snapped my head around to Charlie. Why was Charlie Murray in my grandparents’ kitchen? Seeing him walk into a room filled with my family members had caused a near-horrific accident. This was all his fault. “I thought they were sending Cait. Why are you here?” I snapped across the room.

Everyone went completely silent and gaped at me. I kept my eyes on the intruder as I felt my heart hammer dangerously in my chest.