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

  “He’s good with the old folks.” Hudson moved closer to Rebecca. “Not many kids his age would interact with them the way he does.”

  “He had a bit of a rough patch last year, acting out, being disrespectful. For a while, I was worried about him.” Rebecca folded the towel in her hand and placed it on the counter. “But Liam’s got a big heart, and age doesn’t matter to him. If you treat him kindly, he’s all in. He doesn’t discriminate.”

  He watched her closely. Saw the love and pride. “You did good, Becs.”

  She turned to him then, but he couldn’t read her. Hell, he’d been trying to all night. Ever since she’d shown up for dinner. No one had been more surprised than Hudson to find Rebecca and Liam in the driveway. He’d figured it was Nash swinging by to see the old man.

  “What about you?” she asked, head cocked to the side.

  “Me?”

  “Kids. Do you want them?”

  “Yeah,” he answered slowly, nodding. “I do. Some day. With the right person.”

  They’d suddenly strayed into heavy territory, and she shuffled her feet a bit, though she never took her eyes from his.

  “You and Candace never had that conversation?”

  “Candace and I weren’t married long enough to have that conversation. But maybe that was because we both knew a kid for us would have been a huge mistake.”

  She glanced back to Liam. “My marriage was a disaster. Pretty much from the beginning. But I wouldn’t trade any of the bad, because at least I have Liam.”

  There were so many questions Hudson wanted to ask Rebecca. So many damn things he needed to know. Things he needed to say. But it wasn’t the right time. Not here in his dad’s kitchen. They needed to be alone. Needed to be in a place where there were no distractions. This thing between them was no longer simple, and he needed some clarity.

  I want her back.

  The words whispered through his mind. They hit him like a punch to the gut. He took a step toward her.

  I want her back.

  She looked up, a bit startled by his close proximity.

  “Come away with me next weekend.”

  The look on her face was priceless. “Are you high?”

  “No.”

  “Well, you sound crazy. Why would I go away with you for the weekend?”

  “Because you know there’re things we need to figure out.”

  “I…” She shook her head. “We…” And then slowly stopped. She stood there looking up at him, her face a myriad of emotion, and it took everything in him not to put his hands on her and stake his claim. When she spoke, her voice was low, with that throaty rasp that told him she was ruffled. “It’s probably not a good idea.”

  “Probably not.”

  “Where would we go?”

  “Leave it to me.”

  Liam laughed, a shriek that got both their attention. Rebecca couldn’t help but smile when she spied her son practically standing on his head in an effort to prove some point to John.

  “You know John thinks we’re involved again.” She spoke quietly now.

  “No one ever accused my old man of being dumb.”

  “He called me yesterday and threatened to come get me himself if Liam and I didn’t show for his welcome home dinner. I didn’t think this was a good idea.”

  “But you came.”

  She turned back to him, her soft lips parted, those big blue eyes of hers luminescent. “I did,” she whispered.

  “Come away with me.” He pressed forward, so close to her now, he could feel her.

  A heartbeat passed. Then another. She leaned forward and whispered close to his ear, “I’ll think about it.”

  I’ll think about it.

  After that parting shot, Rebecca had left him in the kitchen. She’d kissed his father good night, thanked Darlene for a wonderful meal, and then she and Liam had gone home. She’d put Hudson through three torturous days and nights without a word, and then finally, Wednesday evening, she’d sent him a simple text.

  Okay.

  It was now Friday afternoon, and he was ready to head out. He’d just come from a meeting with Mackenzie Draper. Rebecca’s brother was donating his skills and company and would be drawing up the plans for the development. Once they were up to snuff, they’d be presented to the town council for approval. They were hoping to have everything in place for a spring start.

  The meeting had gone well, and Mackenzie had been easy to work with and professional. Other than a warning not to dick around with his sister, Hudson was going to call it a success.

  He left his father’s office and headed back across town to catch River Road to the other side of Crystal Lake. Rebecca’s car was in the shop, and she would have had to wait until five for a ride home, so he’d been more than happy to get her from work. Of course she’d told him to get there at four thirty. On the dot. Not one minute before. And then she’d proceeded to tell him not to bother coming inside because she’d meet him in the parking lot.

  He smiled as he parked his truck. He was early, and damned if he was going to wait in the parking lot. Sure, there was going to be hell to pay for violating the terms of her agreeing to go away with him, but he was fine with that. He was curious about how she spent her days. He wanted to know everything.

  Hudson strode across the lot just as an elderly woman reached the door. A large red-plaid coat nearly dwarfed her small frame, while a fluffy, saucy white hat sat on her head. Golden-white curls peeked from underneath the fluff, and her overly pink lips smiled up at him. Shiny black rubber boots made squishy noises as she trudged along, and a long red scarf billowed in the breeze. She gingerly held on to a small carrier with both hands, and he was going to assume the hisses and growls belonged to a cat.

  “Would you like me to carry that in for you?”

  “Oh, would you, dear?” She sounded winded. “My husband was too sick to come with me but I’m afraid I’ve not the strength I used to.”

  “Not at all.” Hudson grabbed the carrier and held the door open for her. She looked familiar, and it hit him as he as followed her inside. “Mrs. Anderson?”

  The woman turned around and a slow smile spread across her face as recognition hit. “Hudson Blackwell. Bless your heart. Harry told us what you’re fixing to do in town. He’s been so excited.” She came at him and hugged him. “You don’t know what this means to our grandson. His parents are thrilled. It’s been a long, hard road for all of them.”

  “I think I do.” He spoke a bit gruffly and set the carrier up on the counter. A large tank took up the entire middle of the waiting room, and it was filled with colorful fish. A cage in the far corner held four kittens up for adoption. And behind the counter was a lady who regarded him closely.

  Mrs. Anderson shuffled past him. “Hello, Kimberly. I’ve got Bootsie here for her shots.”

  “I see that.” The woman smiled, but her curious gaze fell back to Hudson. “I’ll let Doctor Burke know you’re here.”

  It was a few more minutes before Kimberly returned, and while Hudson waited, he wandered back to the cage. He’d never been into cats. As a kid, he would have killed for a dog, but as an adult, he’d never had the time to devote to a pet. Or a kid. Or, as it turned out, to a wife.

  It was saying something that his head was thinking things. Things he’d never considered before. He stuck his finger in the cage, wiggling it like an idiot at the smallest bundle of fur. A light golden tabby with big blue eyes. It wandered over and took a swipe at him.

  “Little shit,” he murmured. He kind of liked his spunk.

  He heard Rebecca’s voice just then and straightened, his smile fading a bit when he spied her chatting with Ethan. She turned, as if sensing his presence, and he walked toward them, liking the way her cheeks darkened, the way her eyes widened.

  “Hey,” he said, aware that everyone in the clinic was watching them.

  She cleared her throat and darted a look at Ethan. “You’re early.”

  “I am.” Hudson t
ore his gaze from hers and offered his hand to Ethan. “Mind if we leave now?”

  “No,” Ethan replied. “Not at all.”

  “But I’ve got some things to look after.” Her eyes were spitting fire and, holy hell, was Hudson looking forward to putting out the flames later.

  “Don’t worry about the filing,” Kimberly said with a grin as she sat back down behind the desk. “I’ve got things covered. You two skedaddle off to wherever it is you’re going.” Kimberly ducked and disappeared under the counter, but they had no problem hearing her muffled words. “I was wondering what this big weekender was here for.” She popped up, face red from exertion, and blew a long strand of hair from her face. “Here’s your bag, Rebecca, and your winter coat.” She winked. “Have fun.”

  “I’ve got it.” Hudson reached for the bag and stepped out of the way so Rebecca could pass. She grabbed her jacket along the way.

  “Are you sure?” she asked once more, only to have every single person in the clinic, including Mrs. Anderson, shout at her to leave.

  She sailed past him and was out the door before he could say good-bye to Ethan and Mrs. Anderson. Kimberly gave him a big smile, and as they left, he could tell from the way Rebecca stomped across the parking lot, she wasn’t happy with him.

  Here it comes. And it did. Not one second after she climbed into his truck.

  “Dammit, Hudson. You did that on purpose.”

  “What?” He played dumb, but she wasn’t having it.

  “Now everyone and their mother is going to know you’re the person I’m going away with for the weekend. Jesus. We should just have taken out a billboard. A whole weekend of sex with Hudson Blackwell.” She was trying to get her seat belt buckled, and he hid a smile when he reached over to help her.

  “Who said anything about sex?”

  She glared at him. “I’m serious. I don’t want anyone to know what we’re…what this…” She cursed. A lot. And then sank back into the seat with a long sigh. “I don’t even know what this is anymore.”

  “Well, it’s a good thing, then.”

  “What’s a good thing?”

  He headed out and turned onto the road, but instead of heading back to town, he pointed the truck in the opposite direction.

  “It’s a good thing we’ve got the whole weekend to figure it out.”

  She picked at an invisible piece of lint and then sat up a bit straighter, glancing out the window. “Where are we going?”

  “It’s a surprise.”

  “Well, I didn’t bring anything fancy to wear, so…”

  “Won’t be a problem.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because you won’t be wearing much of anything for at least forty-eight hours.”

  He saw the first hint of a smile. “You’re damn sure of yourself.”

  “I am.” He flashed a grin and cranked the tunes as they sped down the highway that rounded Crystal Lake. It was the first week of November, and the snow they’d been promised had fallen a few days earlier, though most of it had already melted. With the temperatures hovering just above freezing, and precipitation on the calendar, the roads would be dicey later. Didn’t matter to Hudson. He planned on spending most of the weekend inside, indulging in a lot of indoor activity and having a conversation or two with the woman beside him.

  They drove in silence for nearly twenty minutes, and when he turned onto Ingalls Side Road, she perked up. Rebecca looked his way, but Hudson kept his eyes on the road. He’d already been up here and knew the potholes weren’t exactly vehicle friendly.

  The road twisted and turned, taking them deeper into the bush, and another twenty minutes passed before the conifers and evergreens began to thin. He saw the sparkling water in the distance. They’d nearly reached their destination.

  When he rolled into the clearing and cut the engine, the two of them sat for a while, their silence more like a companion as they gazed up at the large rustic cabin in the woods. The sun was setting just behind it, the last rays of orange and gold slowly disappearing as dusk fell. In the distance, several more cabins dotted the shoreline, each with their own dock, though they were smaller.

  “This place looks the same,” she murmured, reaching for her seat belt.

  “Yeah.”

  She turned to him and his chest tightened. He was hot and cold, and his heart beat so damn fast, it hurt. Him. Hudson Blackwell. He was scared. She shook her head, a catch in her voice. “I forgot about this place.” Her gaze wandered back to the cabin before claiming him again. “Or maybe I just wanted to forget.”

  Hudson waited a beat and then reached for the door handle.

  “I didn’t.”

  He opened the door and got out, and as he followed Rebecca up the steps to the veranda that ran the length of the cabin, he hoped like hell he knew what he was doing. He knew they’d reached the end of whatever it was they’d had in Crystal Lake. He’d seen that in her eyes the weekend before.

  This right here was new territory for him and Rebecca. He couldn’t screw it up.

  Chapter 28

  The door was unlocked, and with one last glance at Hudson, Rebecca turned the handle and pushed it open. It was like walking back in time. She stood at the threshold for several moments as a wash of memories hit her.

  Hudson carrying her over his shoulder to the rug in front of the fireplace.

  Hudson smiling down at her as she told a funny story.

  Her hands on his strong, young body.

  His mouth on hers.

  Rebecca exhaled and took a step inside. She breathed in the past and turned in a full circle. The large cabin was part of an old resort that at one time had been popular in the area with city folk looking to experience the wilds of Michigan. Fishing. Camping. Canoeing. Hiking. Sledding in the winter. The smaller cabins were always full. But when the car industry collapsed and folks didn’t have as much money to spend, this place had died a slow death.

  It became the go-to for local teens to hang out and party. And do other things.

  “Do the Edwards still own this?” she asked.

  “They do.”

  “It looks clean,” Rebecca said as she walked farther into the great room. The fresh scent of pine was in the air. Heck, even the windows looked crystal clear, as if they’d just been washed.

  “I got the key off Jake a few days ago and came up to make sure there were no critters running around. I was surprised to find everything in working order. The fireplace has been checked out, the bedrooms are made up. Even the kitchen is up to snuff.”

  “Are they planning on reopening?”

  Hudson shrugged and dropped their bags. “He didn’t say, but obviously they’ve pumped some money into the place over the last while.”

  He walked past her, and Rebecca watched as he got busy with the fire. The fireplace was the focal point of this great room and was built into stone and granite. Above it hung the requisite stuffed head. In this instance, a large moose. The furniture was still the same. Massive pieces, leather and suede, with a few dark rust-colored chairs as accent. They were more than a little threadbare, but considering the age, they were in good condition. She noticed a large bag beside the sofa, one full of pillows and blankets.

  Seemed as if looking for critters wasn’t the only thing on Hudson’s mind.

  She wandered over to what had at one time been the reception desk and spied several framed photos on the wall. Her father, Ben, had never brought his children out here, but Hudson’s family had spent time at the lodge.

  Her heart took a tumble, and she walked around the desk, eyes on the last frame to her right. She stood staring at it for so long, her neck ached. And then on tiptoes, she reached up, but her fingers couldn’t quite grasp the edge of the frame.

  “Here.” Warm breath touched the back of her neck. “Let me.”

  She froze as Hudson’s hands reached overtop and grabbed the photo from the wall. He held it in front of Rebecca so both of them could see it. It was black and white. The im
age simple. Powerful.

  A woman sat at the edge of the water surrounded by three young boys. Her laughter was frozen in time as she gazed up at the photographer. Long hair hung in wet ropes down her chest, and the oldest child leaned against her, his head on her shoulder, his arms tucked into hers. The look on her face was one of pure, unrestrained joy. She was happy. Her boys were happy. She was loved.

  “I forgot this was here.” Hudson spoke quietly, and Rebecca moved so that she could see him.

  “She was beautiful. Your mom.”

  He nodded. “She was.”

  When he glanced up and looked at her, a knot formed in her throat. He made no effort to hide his pain, and the sadness reflected in his eyes touched something deep inside Rebecca. She knew what it was like to lost a parent. Sure, Ben was still alive, but he’d surrendered to the bottle a long time ago. What had it been like for the Blackwell boys? She took the photo from Hudson’s hand and ran her fingers over the images. All three of the boys touched their mother in some way, and their love was evident. She was their life.

  Rebecca set the photo down onto the counter and slid her hands around Hudson. He pulled her into his arms, and they embraced for what seemed like forever. She laid her head against his chest, listened to the strong, steady beat of his heart, and in that moment, she let everything go. As if a weight lifted.

  She didn’t want to think about what they were doing. Or what the future held. Right now, all she wanted to do was feel. She wanted a connection. She wanted the love she saw in that photo.

  “We should talk,” Hudson said quietly.

  “No.” She shook her head. “Tomorrow is for talking.”

  Gently, she wriggled out of his grasp, and Rebecca slid her smaller hand into his large one. She slowly led him back toward the now-robust fire, and for a few seconds, the only sound she heard was the whistling wind outside the windows, the cackling sound of the wood as it burned, and their breathing.