You Make Me Weak (The Blackwells of Crystal Lake 1)

“Thanks for inviting me,” Hudson continued, taking a step toward the front of the house where his boots and coat were.

“You’re leaving already?” Rebecca seemed surprised, and truth be told, so was Hudson. They’d reached that awkward post-dinner and pre…something. He’d been thinking about this moment since before dessert and wasn’t sure what that something was. Hence the awkwardness.

“It’s been a long day, Becs.”

“Jesus, Hudson. What are you, like ninety?”

“Hey, I’m just trying to be polite here.” His smile slowly widened. “Don’t want to overstay my welcome.”

“Trust me. If I wanted you gone, you’d know it.”

“I don’t doubt it.” She was full of fire. He kind of liked that.

She set aside the folded tea towel she’d been holding. “What about a movie?”

He’d been trying to read her all night and still wasn’t sure where they were headed. The only thing he did know was that wherever they were going, it was down a road called Complicated. He wasn’t so sure either one of them was ready for that.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” he asked, watching her closely.

“I’m not sure about anything.” She waited a heartbeat as if considering her words. “But it’s

just a movie, Huds.” She cleared her throat and looked as jumpy as a jackrabbit. “We’re friends, remember? We can do a movie.”

Hearing his name come from her mouth like that did some crazy things to his insides. He resisted the urge to grab her and show her how it’s just a movie didn’t mean much where they were concerned.

“I think I can do that.” As soon as the words came out of his mouth, he felt like taking them back. How the hell was he going to make it through an entire evening of being just friends? But he’d already given in, so he’d have to take it like a man.

She laughed. “Didn’t take much to get you to cave.”

Just five foot six inches of you.

He followed Rebecca to her dining room. With the renovations still underway in the front, she’d converted this space into a temporary entertainment area. The only problem was there wasn’t a whole lot of room. Just enough for the television, a coffee table, and the sofa.

Hudson grabbed the right corner of the faded blue sofa and settled in while Rebecca dimmed the lights and searched for the remote.

“Steel Magnolias?” she asked in a tone that wasn’t really asking, so he was guessing he had no say in the matter.

“Sure. That a superhero deal?”

“You’re kidding me, right?” She gave him a look that told Hudson he was definitely wrong. “It’s an old Julia Roberts movie.”

Well, shit. “Does anyone die?”

“Not in a hail of bullets.”

A guy could hope.

“No explosions?”

“Not the kind you like.”

She was killing him.

“So it’s a chick flick.”

“One hundred and fifty percent.” She bent over and grabbed a blanket from beside the coffee table. Hudson had just enough time to drag his eyes from her butt before she sat down beside him. “I can look for something else if you really don’t want to watch it.”

“Nah. This is good.” Hell, he’d endure a chick-flick marathon if that was what it took to spend the night with her.