Love, Tussles, and Takedowns (Cactus Creek #3)(44)

She circled around to examine the beautiful workmanship, her hands smoothing over the carefully carved teak. She’d seen a few different kinds of Wing Chun dummies in the past—some looked essentially like a coat rack with extra parts, while others were terribly high-tech and almost cold in their complex design. But this one… It was beautiful. Gorgeously grounding in its simplicity, and alive with a palpable energy due to its hand-carved construction.

Landing a few practice strikes on the protruding arms built into the dummy, the satisfying thunk against the wood was music to her ears. She fired out different punches along the centerline of the dummy, the main targets in Wing Chun. She worked in quick succession, smacking the wooden pegs soundly in different angles and positions. Finally, like a machine gun, she pistoned out punch after punch with both hands.

Hudson let out a soft whistle in appreciation.

As she circled around to throw in a few kick combinations next, the cemented plaque on the ground in front of the dummy finally caught her eye.

…And had her dropping to her knees to trace each engraved letter.



IN MEMORY OF DAVID & JANET LIN

PARENTS OF LIANA

WHOLLY BELOVED, NEVER FORGOTTEN



“I can’t believe you did this.” Lia was dumbstruck.

Hudson came over and brushed aside the few stray tears she’d been unable to hold in.

“You mentioned having one of these in your yard growing up,” he answered with a shrugging smile. “Then it was just a matter of getting folks around town to help.”

Lia looked around and saw the townsfolk who happened to be out and about smiling and waving. Some were just standing there looking emotional for her.

“This way, you can always have them close by.”





CHAPTER TWELVE


SEEING HER EXPRESSION, feeling her fly into his arms moments later; hell, Hudson hadn’t ever felt anything so amazing in his life.

After the explosion he’d thought for sure his life from that point would never hold this kind of happiness. Not for him.

But Lia…she made him believe that maybe his future wasn’t the one he’d thought it would be.

Since the day of the explosion, his whole life had been just one growing riptide that he’d treaded water in just to stay afloat. Until Lia splashed into his world. Intentionally or not, she’d been bobbing just slightly out of reach this entire time, challenging him to fight, to risk drowning completely in the process...until he was able to drag himself out of that riptide.

So he did.

And now here he was. His feet on solid ground again for the first time in months, standing at the cross-section between potential soul-crushing heartbreak and true happiness.

Ironically, a very thin line separating the two.

He was ready.

...Or so he thought.

The reminder that his being ready had little bearing on their forked futures was a crushing blow that came crashing into him not ten minutes later.

Literally. Crashing into him.

Via the half-dozen children who came rushing over to play with Lia in the new park.

Jesus Christ, she was like Mary Freakin’ Poppins.

And just like that, he saw the tide rushing back up to grab him.

Because while Lia was clearly meant to be a mother, he couldn’t, wouldn’t ever be a father.



*



THE CLOSER THEY got to Lia’s apartment, the more Hudson knew he had to stop walking and turn around. He couldn’t walk away yet.

But he could turn around.

“Hey, do you guys have any hotels in this town?” he asked from way the hell out in left field. “I thought I saw one, but it was called ‘Ted’s B&D.’ If that ampersand sign is supposed to be an ‘e’, someone ought to tell that guy his hotel name is super creepy.”

Lia’s bright, startled chuckle shot daggers at his heart. “You know, I never saw the sign that way.” More amused chuckles. “But fear not, Ted, the owner, isn’t creepy. He just isn’t a morning person. And he’s not a fan of breakfast foods. So, instead of a Bed & Breakfast, he decided he wanted to open up a Bed & Dinner. It’s actually pretty popular.”

This town was so stinkin’ weird. If he wasn’t getting ready to drink his dinner for the night, he would’ve laughed and added this to the long list of things he liked about Cactus Creek.

“I know I sprung my visit on you,” he began lamely, “so why don’t I go check in to a room for the night and then we can hang out tomorrow?”

Lia’s body went utterly still as she looked him square in the eye. “You sound like you mean for that to be a solo room.”

“I do.”

She didn’t back down. Not his gorgeous little warrior. “What’s going on, Hudson? Why are you doing this?”

He grit his jaw to push the words out. “The movie is wrapping up in the next few weeks. Then my next gig will be in Canada. For at least a year.”

“Oh.”

God, he wanted to beat his own ass to a bloody pulp. Especially when she just stood there, putting on a bright smile for him, telling him how excited she was for him.

He knew she’d be like this. Just wanting the best for him. Keeping things easy and simple for him—

“So what does you leaving have to do with you staying somewhere else tonight?”