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9

Chapter 9

Sunlight spilled through the branches of the elm trees lining the busy street, a swish of wind making the serrated leaves dance overhead. Hudson sucked in a breath, enjoying the smell of the breeze and lake. Her hands fluttered over her dress as she stepped around a squirrel scurrying across the walkway in front of them. 

She glanced sideways at Myles. "So, how long have you been a cop?" He stood nearly a foot taller than her and she had to squint through the sun to see his face.

Myles stood close, his arm occasionally brushing against hers. He was possibly the most attractive man she'd ever seen, and the sight of him now made her insides mushy. The sun did amazing things to his hair, bringing out golden hues she hadn't noticed before. And his eyes. His eyes reminded her of the robin eggs she'd once found in a bird's nest, during a camping trip with her family as a child. A light blueish-green she couldn't help but get lost in. She watched as Myles' lips moved, but had no idea what he'd just said.

"I'm sorry." She giggled softly. "I missed that last part."

Myles looked down and smiled. "I graduated from the academy sixteen weeks ago today."

A wide grin spread across her face. "It's your anniversary!"

Myles's eyebrows crinkled in confusion.

"Sixteen weeks ago today," she explained. "It's your four month anniversary on the force."

He tilted his head, the slightest hint of a dimple appearing in his left cheek. "I guess you're right. Today is my anniversary. So, what about you? How long have you been a painter?"

Hudson reached up and tugged a low-lying leaf from a tree. "Oh, I've been painting my whole life." She studied the jagged green edges before letting it quiver to the ground. "But professionally, not very long. My work's going to be featured for the first time in an art show coming up." She looked at him, her mouth tugging at the corner. "I'm pretty nervous."

"Really? I'm impressed. It takes a brave person to put themselves out there like that."  Myles ran his tongue over his bottom lip before catching it between his teeth. He let it loose. "Do you paint with oil colors or water colors?"

Hudson raised one eyebrow. "You're familiar with painting?"

He chuckled. "Not really. That's about the most intelligent question I can ask."

A gust of wind tossed the hair around her face. Hudson readjusted the strands above her eye. "I use water colors mostly. That's what my mom used to paint with, so it just seemed like the obvious choice. My younger brother was sensitive to the fumes of oil paint, so I wasn't really exposed to them very much growing up. But I prefer water colors anyway. They have a stunning clarity you won't find with oils." She laughed. "And I can't lie ... they're way easier to clean up."

"I noticed the painting in your apartment last night," he said. "The one with the white lilies. It's beautiful."

Heat swamped her cheeks. Her eyes dropped to the sidewalk. "Thank you."

Myles let out a soft exhale. "Humble and talented? Those are attractive traits."

The heat wave made its way down her back. If she didn't know any better, she would almost swear Officer Myles Young was flirting with her. Where was Annie when she needed her? Her friend always knew exactly what to do; how to respond confidently in new situations. She always had, even as a child. Hudson couldn't remember the last time she'd been this attracted to a man. She'd barely dated in college, and high school ... forget about it. She hadn't been nicknamed "Wallflower" for nothing. It wouldn't have been an exaggeration to say she'd only muttered a handful of words before graduation. But it's not like she didn't have enough going on. She spent her days in school and her nights studying or painting. That is, when she didn't have appointments scheduled with her therapist.

"We're here," Myles said, interrupting her thoughts. He opened the glass door and lead them into the dimly-lit restaurant. A sweet and spicy mixture of aromas greeted them as they entered. Hudson's stomach rumbled.

A hostess with waist-length, dark hair and an accented voice seated them at a table for two in a far corner. The small space was illuminated by a single candle on the tabletop. Myles pulled out a seat and Hudson sat down. After he pushed her chair in, he sat across from her.

"I'm starving," he said, placing the cloth napkin over his lap. "I hope you're hungry."

She nodded. "I am."

A ringing noise sounded from his back pocket. Myles pulled out his cell phone, his eyes scanning over the screen. He flipped a button on the side and put it away.

"If you need to take that outside, I understand." Hudson nodded at the waitress as she dropped off two menus.

Myles shook his head and smiled. "It can wait."

They were quiet as they studied the entrees. From the corner of her eye, Hudson glanced around the restaurant. Only a handful of couples were scattered about, giving the room an illusion of romance. Did she and Myles look like a couple? Probably so.

"Do you know what you'd like?" Myles asked.

Hudson cleared her throat, feeling suddenly awkward. "Yes, I'll have the Almond Chicken."

He grinned. "Nice choice. That's exactly what I'm getting." They set their menus down and a moment later the waitress took their order.

Myles placed his elbows on the table and leaned in. "Can I ask you something?"

She nodded.

"Why Hudson? I mean, is there a story behind the name? It's very unique."

Hudson cringed. "Yes, but it's embarrassing." She didn't need to look in a mirror to know that her cheeks were burning bright pink.

He laughed. "Those are the best kind of stories."

Her gaze dropped to the table. She fiddled with the fork in front of her. "Before I was born, my parents celebrated their third anniversary at a bed and breakfast they fell in love with on their honeymoon. It's in New York, on the Hudson River. I was conceived during that trip." Hudson set the fork down and curled her hands in her lap, too uncomfortable to make eye contact. "When they found out they were expecting, they decided to name the baby Hudson, whether it be a boy or a girl. Then I was born." She met his gaze and shrugged her shoulders. "And so was this extremely embarrassing story." Not knowing what else to say, Hudson picked up her water and took a sip. Ice cubes jangled against the glass.

Myles smiled, the dimple in his cheek popping out ever so slightly. "Not embarrassing at all. In fact, I think it's nice. I admire how they found a way to honor something as significant as that."

"I suppose," she murmured.

"You said before you have a brother?"

Hudson nodded. "I did. His name was Jonathon." Her gaze turned downward. "He was killed in a car accident, along with my parents."

She heard a soft gasp. Her eyes moved toward Myles' face and the look she found there made her wince with sadness.

"I knew you said your parents passed away but I never ..." His voice trailed off. "Were you in the car with them? I'm sorry," he added quickly. "It's not my place to ask. I don't mean to make you uncomfortable."

Tears pricked the backs of her eyes and she blinked them away. She could still see her little brother's smiling face every time she stared off into the distance. She tried not to look there often.

"No, it's okay. I don't mind. It was a long time ago, but some days it feels like only yesterday." Hudson took the cloth napkin from the table and pressed it to the corner of her eye. "I was seven years old, Jonathon was five. We were going to visit my grandmother in Peoria. It was just about an hour drive from where we lived. The roads were slick from freshly fallen snow. I'm not even sure if my parents saw the semi coming. I remember my mom was reading the newspaper and she leaned over to show my dad a picture. Johnny was sleeping next to me in the backseat. I think I was the only one who saw the truck cross the line."

Scrunching her eyebrows, Hudson lowered her head. Two tears rolled down her face and plopped onto the tablecloth. She wiped at her cheeks, the navy napkin like sandpaper against her skin. Myles watched her, his lips spread into a tight line. Pitying her, no doubt.

"My parents were killed instantly, but my brother managed to survive for a few weeks in Intensive Care. I remember hearing Gran whisper to someone on the phone that the left side of his face was missing and his brain swelled out of a fist-sized hole in his skull." She shook her head, trying to chase away the image that had haunted her for so long. "I never even got to see him. They wouldn't let me."

"I'm sure they didn't want to scare you," Myles said quietly. Before she knew it, his hand reached over and covered hers on the table. "Were you okay?"

She nodded. "I was fine. I walked away with a broken arm and some scratches." She let out an ill-humored laugh and held out her arms for Myles to see. Several thin scars marred her soft flesh. "You know, it's not fair. I shouldn't even be here right now. My parents were hit so hard they died instantly. And Johnny ..." She pressed her lips together, letting a new wave of tears descend. "... what happened to his little body. Why did I make it out alive? It doesn't seem right. I should be dead."

Myles squeezed her hand. "Don't say that. For whatever reason, it wasn't your time." His eyes held hers. "This might sound cheesy, but maybe your work on earth isn't finished."

Hudson sniffled and brought the napkin to her nose. "Maybe." She paused. "I went to live with my Grandma Nadine after that. I stayed with her until she passed away from breast cancer. I took care of her, you know. Made sure she ate and took her medications. Most of the time it was me who took her to her chemo treatments. I held her hand while she died. Something I never got to do for my family." She twisted the bracelet on her wrist. "Gran sent me to a therapist growing up. It helped to sort out all my feelings. Then when I came to Chicago for college I found a new one. Dr. Robin Beldini. She's great, but I haven't seen her in awhile. I miss her."

What in the world was she doing? She'd just told a complete stranger about the three worst days of her life. Losing her parents. Her little brother. Gran. And she'd just admitted to having a therapist! It was no wonder Myles didn't get up and leave her there on the spot. Who wanted to hear about all this drama during a first date? If that's even what this was.

Hudson was afraid to look at him; afraid of what she might see. But when she raised her eyes, she saw nothing but compassion.

"You are, without a doubt, the bravest person I know," Myles whispered, his gaze never leaving hers. "After everything you've been through with your family, and now this." He nodded to her face, indicating the attack. "You've covered your wounds well. If I didn't know they were there I wouldn't be able to see them at all. But they are there. And here you are with me at a Chinese restaurant, and never once have you brought up how scared you must be."

Hudson shook her head, waves of golden hair tumbling over her shoulders. Two plates of Almond Chicken sat on the table in front of them. She hadn't even noticed the waitress drop them off. "I'm not brave, Myles. I'm terrified. But what choice do I have? I can't stop living because of some sicko. I won't let him scare me away from my apartment; from my artwork. He's not going to run me off." She took a deep breath and changed the subject, sensing he wouldn't pry. "I feel like I'm doing all the talking. Do you have any brothers and sisters?"

Myles' blue eyes danced wildly, as if trying to recover from everything she'd just said. Maybe she'd gone too far? Said too much. But for some reason, she couldn't stop talking.

"I do." He leaned back in his chair. "I have two younger sisters. Hannah's twenty, and Madelyn's seventeen. They live with my parent's in Missouri. That's where I'm from. Hannah's studying nursing at the local community college, and Maddie's still in high school." A slow grin spread over his face. "I talk to them every week on the phone, or whenever they have their latest boyfriend crisis."

Hudson smiled. "You sound like you're close with them. That's great." Suddenly she yawned, not even bothering to cover her mouth. Talking about her family always took so much out of her.

"You're exhausted," he said. "Why don't we eat and I'll get you home."

She nodded and scooped a forkful of rice into her mouth. It was difficult to swallow past the lump that had formed there. But if she was going to stay strong, she'd need to take better care of herself. They ate for a few minutes before Myles broke the silence. "Will you be alone tonight?"

Why was he asking? Out of concern for her well-being? The smoldering look in his eyes told her it might be something more. "Annie doesn't have to work. She said she'd stay with me."

Myles nodded, his lips glistening from the Almond Chicken. He wiped his mouth with the napkin and took a sip of water. "Good. I don't want you to be alone. Not until we catch this guy."

"You don't think he'll come back, do you? Do criminals normally return to the scene of a crime?"

He shrugged. "Every suspect is different. I don't know what this guy's thinking. I wish to hell I did. All those weird things he said ..." His voice drifted off. "I did some research earlier. Those were quotes from The Bible, which makes all of this feel so much worse. So, until we have answers, I'm going to keep a close eye on you. I hope you don't mind."

She had no idea why, but her stomach began to flutter. From the threat of the attacker coming back or because Myles promised to watch over her, she couldn't be sure. But she definitely felt safer knowing the handsome police officer would be close by.

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