Chapter Two

      Nothing had prepared Melody for her attraction to Hudson Conrick. Did she believe in love at first sight? Never. How had that crazy question popped into her mind? With everything she had to think about tonight, her mind must be playing tricks on her. Sure he was handsome, a good dancer and a gentleman, but he also liked to skydive and race cars. Who knew what other crazy things he liked to do? No way could she be having romantic feelings about a man she’d met only a few hours ago.

      Attraction at first sight was plausible but not love.

      The music faded, and Melody gazed up at him. “I apologize, but I have to check with Adam about the silent auction now.”

      “I’ll tag along if you don’t mind.”

      “Sure.” Melody found it difficult to concentrate with Hudson by her side. Thankfully, the meeting with Adam lasted only a few minutes. As Melody and Hudson returned to their table, they received a few speculative glances from a couple of her coworkers, but she ignored them. She didn’t want to add to the conjecture.

      While the band played a lively number, Hudson tapped his foot. “Can I convince you to dance again, or do we have to stick to the slow dances?”

      Melody gripped the back of her chair as if it was a lifesaver in the sea of her own uncertainty. Would she encourage his interest if she agreed? This date contained no future commitment, and he certainly expected to dance with his date. Enjoying this time was what she needed to do, but she couldn’t let her attraction to Hudson show.

      “You seem dubious.”

      Melody’s halfhearted smile skidded into a grimace. Did she dare say what she was thinking? “Most of the men I know, including my brothers, don’t like to dance.”

      Hudson held out his hands. “Hey, what can I say? I have to make use of those lessons.”

      Melody couldn’t help laughing. “Okay. I wouldn’t want them to go to waste.”

      Hudson grabbed her hand. “And we wouldn’t want to waste this good music, either.”

      Letting the music and Hudson whirl her away, she focused on the here and now. She wouldn’t think about the future, and she wouldn’t think about the past. Tonight she would live in the moment and relish every aspect of it.

      The time with Hudson sped like one of his race cars. When the band announced the last dance, she couldn’t believe the evening was about to end. Despite her vow only to think about the present, had she let herself get too involved?

      No. Tonight wouldn’t translate into anything for tomorrow. One and done like her other blind dates. That philosophy kept her heart safe from disappointment.

      Hudson escorted her off the dance floor. “Do you have any last-minute things you have to do?”

      “I do. I’ll check with Adam to see if they have a job for me before I leave. I hope you don’t mind waiting.”

      “Not at all. I’ll get your things and meet you there.”

      “Thanks.” Melody hurried to the back of the room where Adam and Annie sat at a long table.

      As Melody drew nearer, Annie looked up, a little frown creasing her brow. “What are you doing here? You should be with your handsome date.”

      Glancing at the pile of receipts, Melody ignored Annie’s reference to Hudson. “I thought you might need me for something.”

      Annie shook her head. “Got it under control, and you’re going to like my report on Monday. Now get out of here and enjoy the rest of your evening.”

      “Okay.” Melody went around the table and gave Annie a hug. “Thanks for all you’ve done.”

      “You’re welcome. Now go, go, go.” Annie shooed Melody away with her hands. “You have a date to take care of.”

      “Okay, okay. I’m off.”

      When Melody turned, Hudson was standing a few feet away as he held her purse and wrap. A momentary image of Christopher flashed through her mind. Hudson didn’t resemble her former fiancé in the least. Christopher had been shorter with light brown hair and blue eyes. So why had his image come to mind when she looked at Hudson? She couldn’t begin to answer that question.

      She tried to shake off the pain in her heart. Thoughts of her old love usually didn’t bring as much hurt these days, and she thought of him less often. No one could ever replace Christopher. He’d been her life, and now he was gone. Her only comfort lay in knowing she would see him again in heaven.

      “Ready to leave?” Hudson’s question snapped her out of her sentimental thoughts.

      Melody nodded. “Annie assures me that I’m not needed here.”

      “Good. I’ve called James. He should have the car at the front door when we get there.”

      “James? Really?”

      “Yeah. That’s his name.” A frown puckered Hudson’s eyebrows as they entered the lobby.

      Melody shrugged. “When I was a kid we used say, ‘Home, James,’ to my dad when my brothers and I were strapped into our car seats in the back and we were pretending that he was our chauffeur.”

      “Oh, I see.” Hudson stood aside as Melody scooted through the door ahead of him.

      He probably didn’t see the same humor that she saw. He didn’t have to pretend to have a chauffeur. Why had she told Hudson that story? It only underscored the differences between them.

      The inadequate feeling she thought she’d overcome slithered through her mind. She tried to push the unwelcome thoughts away, but they kept intruding. She remembered how the popular rich girls had befriended her, and she’d been on top of the world. But they’d made her the butt of their jokes. The reality of the situation had been a cruel awakening.

      As a grown woman, she was stupid to let old hurts color her perception. But that incident popped into her thoughts more often than she would like. Once they were settled in the limousine, Hudson poured himself another glass of water. He raised his eyebrows as he gazed at her. “Would you like one?”

      She nodded, her mouth parched. For a minute, they sipped their water in silence. What was he thinking? What did it matter? Even though she didn’t plan to go out with him again, she wanted this date to have been a success.

      “So you have brothers?” After the silence, his question sounded like a loud clap in an empty room.

      Melody