Hudson Read online

  But as she slipped cautious glances his way, hoping he wasn’t paying attention, she realized she wasn’t thinking about her own worries.

  No matter how bad her life seemed to be at times, someone else always had it worse. She might not always get everything she wanted, but she got enough to not feel sorry for herself.

  A friend had once told her it was okay to be sorrowful and angry with your circumstances. It didn’t mean you didn’t care about others, it only meant you were human and had human problems and human emotions. You couldn’t take on the world, but you could take on one thing at a time. She’d wanted to help people when they were in trouble. But she didn’t think that man would appreciate her help with whatever was troubling him.

  She hated being as judgmental as she was right then, but she gave herself an exception. Her reality over the last several years had seen the best and the worst in people. She was cautious.

  Suddenly, the man’s coffee began to slip from the tray on his lap, and he reached out to grab it before it destroyed his very expensive computer. Daisy saw what was about to happen too late. She tried to move . . . but she didn’t have a chance.

  His elbow connected with her stomach, and for a second she thought she might puke. That was definitely going to leave a mark.

  Chapter Two

  Hudson Anderson had always been restless. His entire life he’d chased dreams with a clear intention of getting whatever he went after. He never lived in the past, always moving forward, always looking for bigger and better. People thought of him in different ways. Some were good descriptions: responsible, loyal, and smart. Some weren’t so kind: calculating and off-limits. Although the off-limits could go in the good column if he truly thought about it.

  Hudson was from a family of five, the middle brother. From the time he’d been a young boy he’d known who he was and what he was going to do with his life. He’d always moved full speed ahead. He worked hard and played even harder. This trip had been an adventure, but at the moment it was costing him. He’d just lost a piece of land he’d desperately wanted, and he wasn’t happy about it. He couldn’t move forward if he couldn’t obtain what he needed.

  Hudson’s life had changed dramatically a few years ago when he’d gone from an ordinary Anderson to one of those Andersons. Growing up poor had been more of a blessing than he’d realized. He now had all of the money in the world, but it came with a whole set of problems most people wouldn’t consider.

  When you were wealthy, it was difficult to find real relationships. Usually people wanted a piece of him, wanted to get something for free.

  They could say he’d been freely handed it, but they’d be wrong. He’d worked hard all of his life; it didn’t matter where he’d come from or where he was now. He was the man he was because of his mother and the principles he’d been raised with. He was handed a huge gift and was grateful for that, but that gift hadn’t replaced his drive to make a name for himself or to work harder than others. He took pride in what he did. He didn’t want a handout, he wanted to be the best because he’d earned it.

  Because of this, Hudson sometimes walked around with a stern expression and a do-not-touch attitude, keeping all but the most persistent away. Well, it kept strangers away. His family, on the other hand, was as tight as could be. The thought of them made him smile even though he was ready to punch a fist through his computer. He loved all of his family immensely.

  As Hudson reached for his drink, his fingers slipped and the cup began to fall. He spun quickly, trying to save his computer when his elbow connected with the incredibly sexy neighbor he’d tried to pretend wasn’t there. Between her curious little glances she thought were covert, and the smell of her exotic perfume, she’d been driving him crazy, making him want to either move or pull her into his lap.

  Now, his elbow had just connected with her stomach, and he felt like the monster she probably thought he was with the scowl he was sporting. He opened his mouth to apologize when her hand swept over her stomach while she looked at him full-on for the first time, her expression shocked.

  “Ouch,” she muttered. Then to his amazement, she laughed. It started as a little chuckle then turned into a full-blown laughing spell that made no sense. Had he knocked her so hard he’d made her crazy? “Wasn’t expecting that today, but I’m not surprised,” she finally managed. He stared at her, unsure what was happening.

  “I didn’t do that on purpose. I apologize,” he said. If she had any idea of who he was, she most likely wouldn’t hesitate to sue. Obviously she was an American, so no foreign lawyers were needed.

  “I’m surprised I get an apology, I didn’t expect it,” she said. Her laughter had settled into a giggle.

  He couldn’t read her, which shocked him. It normally only took seconds to figure out a female. They flirted, flaunted, and threw themselves at him. The youngest to pour out her heartfelt love had been his four-year-old niece, the daughter of his eldest brother, Finn, the oldest had been eighty-one and had offered marriage and nightly dinners. He was used to marriage proposals and vows of love. This woman wasn’t putting out any sort of flirting vibes. She actually seemed . . . what was the word he was looking for?

  Dismissive!

  That was it, she seemed dismissive. She’d already turned away from him. He was so shocked, he found himself giving her his full attention, an amazing feat for a complete stranger, especially some rumpled passenger in a crowded airport.

  “Accepting an apology is the polite thing to do,” he finally said, feeling stupid the second the words were out. Feeling anything other than superior was a new concept for Hudson. He wasn’t enjoying that one bit.

  “The polite thing is to not elbow random strangers,” she countered as she giggled again. “But I don’t mind. I’ve had a crap-show of a day, and this is just one more crappy thing.”

  “If I’d done it on purpose you’d have a valid argument, but since it was an accident, you could be gracious and accept my apology,” he told her.

  “If you’d done it on purpose, you’d be sporting your own red mark . . . on your cheek,” she said with a wink.

  It took a couple of seconds for him to process what she’d said: if he’d attempted to hit her, she would’ve given it right back. He glanced over her, head to toe and back up again. When he reached her face, he saw a blush on her delicate cheekbones. The woman couldn’t be more than a hundred and twenty pounds. A slap from her would hurt less than a mosquito bite.

  “A man doesn’t hit a woman,” he said emphatically. Then he felt as if he needed to add more since she seemed to have zero self-preservation. “But if for some reason you were in that situation, the smart thing to do would be to run and get help. You don’t seem . . . um . . . capable of taking down a man.”

  She glared.

  “I can certainly take care of myself. Don’t let my size fool you.”

  Unbelievably, Hudson felt a grin turn his lips up. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d had a stimulating conversation with a stranger — especially a female stranger.

  Hudson’s family owned a few private jets that he preferred to take on the rare occasions he traveled, but this trip had been last minute and he’d wanted to fly commercial. He’d wanted an adventure. He hadn’t thought it through, though, because now he was sitting in a crowded terminal. But he was also intrigued by this woman and his reaction to her.

  He was turned on, no surprise as she was beautiful. However, he was fascinated with her sass and whit. Some women, hell, even some men, would be weeping from the blow to their stomach like he’d accidentally given her. She was simply waving it away and throwing barbs at him.

  Maybe this flight would get a lot more interesting.

  Hudson hadn’t had a woman in a while — actually, he couldn’t exactly pin down the last time. He’d been busy with work, and he had zero interest in dating. When the right woman came along who understood simply satisfying each other’s needs for a day, a week, or even a month — with zero strings attached �
� he’d do it if he was in the mood. Otherwise, he stayed busy and went without.

  This sexy woman reminded him how much he enjoyed a naked, sweaty body beneath his. And she’d be perfect as neither of them knew anything about the other. It could be a fantastic night, followed by an adios.

  Without sex, the world would cease, so he didn’t see why so many people had to put emotion into the act. Why couldn’t two humans simply pleasure each other and be thankful about it? Why did there have to be flowers, chocolates, and dancing? Couldn’t they simply skip all of that, do what pleased them both, and then be on their merry way? He didn’t understand why some women called him an emotionless pig. Not being with him was their loss. He was good at everything he did, especially those things he truly liked.

  Before he could say something more, an announcement sounded over the PA, letting them know their flight to SFO was boarding in ten minutes. Was that a sign their time together had come to an end? She was probably sitting in the crowded section of the plane. He shouldn’t keep speaking to this woman who intrigued him more than he was comfortable with.

  “I didn’t think that announcement was ever going to come,” she said, a worried frown marring her forehead. She said the words, but it didn’t appear she was happy about boarding. She looked slightly green all of a sudden.

  “Are you afraid of flying?” he asked as passengers stood around them and began making their way closer to the doors, everyone wanting to rush the plane.

  “It’s not my favorite activity,” she admitted.

  He was shocked to hear that. She’d been so confident seconds before. “There are many flights going in and out of cities every day, and hardly any crashes. Most crashes are due to pilot error. You’re far more likely to die from a car wreck than a plane crash,” he said.

  “You’re not helping.”

  He was once again shocked by her words. No one had ever said that to him before, not once in his thirty-two years of life.

  “What is it about flying that scares you?” he tried again. He looked away as he waited for her response. He put away his laptop and made sure nothing had fallen from his pockets as he’d sat there.

  “I can’t explain it,” she finally said. “It just seems unnatural to be in the sky surrounded by nothing but metal and parts made by people who might or might not like their jobs. Then you add in possible storms and turbulence and it’s the longest amusement park ride you’ve ever taken. And I don’t like amusement parks.”

  “Everyone loves amusement parks,” he stated, seizing onto the most shocking thing she’d said in her mini rant.

  “Nope. Never have and never will. You can’t convince me otherwise. Believe me, many people have tried. I think amusement parks are dirty, loud, and unsafe. I find nothing joyful about standing in line for hours to go on a three-minute ride on an object that might or might not fly off of the tracks. No thank you.”

  The more this woman talked, the more he wanted to know her. She was entertaining him. She was challenging him as well. He wanted to take her to a park and change her mind. Though the thing she said about germs was actually true. If he allowed that to creep into his mind, he’d never go to another park again.

  “Did you take a ship to Australia?” he asked, keeping the sarcasm out of his voice — but just barely.

  “No. Sailing that far surely has to be more dangerous than flying and it gives me far more time to get hives. I sucked it up and flew.”

  “Were you in Australia for pleasure?” he pushed. Why was he pushing? He never wanted to know people’s stories.

  “No, for work, but that’s over now. I’m on a new path.” She seemed shocked as if she hadn’t meant to say those words. He wanted to know why she’d said them.

  She began to relax as they chatted, and he felt something stir as he realized he was calming her. He never cared about making the people around him more comfortable. So why was he feeling as if he’d won the lottery when she began to smile?

  “What’s your name?” he asked.

  She gave him a tentative smile. “Not that it matters as we’ll be parting company very quickly, but I’m Daisy.”

  “Unusual name. I like it,” he told her, not offering his name. She didn’t give her last name, but he noticed the boarding pass sticking out of her purse, name side up.

  Daisy Green. Got it.

  He stood and didn’t say a word as he moved to the desk where the harried-looking boarding agent looked up. When she saw who it was, she smiled and relaxed. Now, that was the reaction he was used to getting. He gave her his best smile, then leaned in close. He heard the sigh escape her painted pink lips.

  “What can I do for you, Mr. Anderson?”

  “I purchased the seat next to mine; I want Daisy Green moved to it,” he said. He didn’t like riding next to a stranger for countless hours, so he always purchased the seat next to him when flying commercial.

  “Is Ms. Green here?” she asked as she looked behind him.

  He smiled again, being his most charming self. “I want it to be a surprise,” he said with a wink. The woman blushed.

  “I understand,” she told him. “I’m not supposed to do this, but for you I guess I can make an exception.”

  Within a few seconds, Daisy had been moved next to him. This flight had gotten a whole lot more interesting. Would she still intrigue him after another few hours, or would he regret his decision?

  He had a feeling he wasn’t going to regret anything.

  Chapter Three

  Daisy had never met such a strange man. He’d seemed cold for a while, then he’d loosened up. But all of a sudden, he’d simply gotten up and walked away. Who in the world did that? She could possibly understand it if he hadn’t engaged in conversation with her.

  But nope. He had spoken to her for a brief time and then just upped and left.

  It wasn’t as if she’d exchange numbers with him anyway. Years down the road she might remember this moment and wonder who he was, and what he was up to. He wasn’t a stranger she’d easily forget; he was too appealing for that to happen. But she was smart enough to realize that even if he had made an impression on her, that didn’t mean it went both ways.

  She was positive she was much easier to forget. She was somewhere in the middle of too plain and a bombshell. That had served her well, allowing her to get around without a lot of fanfare. It had made her jobs — and her life in general — easier.

  Being super ugly or super beautiful seemed to make life the hardest. You were picked on either way when you were younger, and as you got older it could affect your work life, your relationships, and even how confident you were.

  But no matter how much you relied upon looks, they weren’t a guaranteed thing. Age had a way of softening a look or taking away beauty. So in the end it typically evened out. Daisy’s positive attitude about life had gotten her through some very difficult times.

  “Daisy Green.” She looked up as her name was called over the PA system. “Please come to the boarding gate counter. Daisy Green, please come to gate A7 for a change in seating.”

  Daisy felt tears spring to her eyes. She’d already been bumped twice. Flying standby wasn’t the way to go. But, then again, she literally had nowhere else to be.

  With great reluctance she slowly made her way to the gate. This too shall pass, she told herself. Even if she didn’t get on a plane for another twenty-four hours, it didn’t really matter. By this time next week, she’d be sitting at home with a hot cup of coffee in her hands and her gramps chattering away. She wouldn’t think about the right now. She’d focus on soon.

  “I’m Daisy Green,” she said as she stood in front of the smiling blonde. “I don’t know how you’re still smiling when you’ve been getting yelled at all night.”

  That made the woman smile more brightly. “I totally understand how people get frustrated,” she said. “We all have places we need to be and we have limited time to get there, so when there are delays it’s frustrating. I try not to take it p
ersonally when a passenger airs their grievances on me. Once in a while it does bother me though.”

  “It takes a strong person to work in customer service,” Daisy said, forgetting that in a moment she might be one of those customers who felt like yelling. But she wouldn’t. She knew it wasn’t this woman’s fault she was in this place right now. Also, yelling didn’t do anyone any good.

  “I’m very pleased to offer you an upgrade,” the woman said as she held out a new boarding pass. “I’ll take your old one.” Her hand was in the air as Daisy stared at her. This sort of thing didn’t happen to her.

  “I’m not a frequent flyer. How in the world did I get upgraded?” Daisy asked as she tentatively reached out and took the ticket. She looked at it in shock. The words Priority Boarding were in bold letters.

  And this was an international plane. That meant first class was truly first class with a real meal, unlimited drinks, and a seat that converted into a bed. She was afraid she’d nodded off in her uncomfortable lobby chair and was now dreaming.

  “Good things happen to good people,” the woman said. She was still holding out her hand for Daisy’s original boarding pass. She handed it over with a bit of reluctance. If this seat didn’t work out for her, she definitely wanted to fall back on her original one.

  Before she could say anything, the woman stepped away and moved to the phone to announce boarding time. She moved away from the counter, grinning. Her night had gotten a heck of a lot better in the span of a single hour. She’d spoken to an incredibly handsome, very interesting man. Then luck of all luck, she’d been upgraded on the plane. Maybe she should buy a lottery ticket. She’d do that the second she landed on American soil. It didn’t hurt to push your luck once you’d found a four-leaf clover.

  Daisy didn’t have much time so she ran to the closest restroom and pulled out a brush and lipstick. She tried to do a bit of damage control as quickly as she could in the few minutes she had. There was nothing to be done about her wrinkled clothes. She’d been traveling for too long already and she desperately needed a hot shower and a washing machine. But that would have to wait.