Hudson’s eyes narrow at the paper. “Okay, the first question is for me from Sandy in Ohio. With a body like yours have you ever thought about doing one of those firemen calendars? If so, when do you think you’ll do it and where can I buy it?”
He looks over at me and we both burst out laughing. “Now that’s something I’d like to see,” I say to him.
Hudson laughs some more and turns to the camera. “Hey Sandy. Thank you for the compliment. When I get back home, I’ll talk to my guys and see if they’re up to doing a calendar with me. I think it’ll be fun.”
“You could always do one and donate the proceeds to a charity,” I add.
Hudson nods. “Good idea. That could work.” He taps the paper. “The next one is yours.”
Taking a deep breath, I read the second question. “This one is from Derek in Arizona. Why would someone with your beauty and brains have to go on a reality show to find love? If you were here, I’d treat you right.”
Hudson waves at the camera. “Hey man, those are fighting words.”
Rolling my eyes, I smack his arm and focus on the camera. A part of me is a little embarrassed by the question. I didn’t go on the show to find love like all the other contestants. “Hey Derek,” I say, “that’s really sweet of you. To answer your question, I didn’t come on the show to find love. Honestly, I didn’t want to be on it at all.” I slap a hand over my mouth. “Oops, maybe I shouldn’t have said that.” I move my hand away and smile. “Actually, my sister is one of the producers and she really needed me to take a spot. I did it for her.” Then I look over at Hudson. “Luckily, I haven’t had such a bad time.” Hudson and I both look down at the questions. The next ones are for us both. “You can read them out loud,” I tell him.
Hudson reads off the next few questions and we answer them. They were pretty easy like what’s your favorite color, food, movie, and so on. It turns out that Hudson and I have the same taste in a lot of things. We answer about twenty different questions, both shocked at how similar we are.
Then it comes down to the very last two questions. Hudson and I both look at them together and then at each other. “I’ll answer mine first,” I say. I turn back to the camera. “The question is … what are the things you like most about Hudson?” I stare at the camera and a slow smile spreads across my face. “There are a lot of things I like about Hudson. For one, he has gorgeous gray eyes. It’s hard not to get lost in them. He’s also charming, witty, funny, and sometimes a complete pain in the ass. But what I love most is his heart.” I turn to him and take his hand. “Yes, we knew each other in high school, and I hated him. I thought he was just one of the popular guys who didn’t have a brain.” Taking a deep breath, I look back at the camera. “I was wrong. Being on this show made me realize that. Hudson is so much more than I thought he was. I look forward to seeing how everything plays out in the end.”
Heart racing, I wait for Hudson to speak out his question. It’s the same as mine, only he has to say what he likes most about me.
Hudson clears his throat. “My turn. What are the things I like most about Allison?” I glance at him out of the corner of my eye and I can see him smiling at the camera. “What’s not to like? I think I’ve been in love with her since high school.” My heart stops and I freeze. Did he seriously just say that? “She’s always been so smart and beautiful,” he continues. “Never once did I feel good enough to call her mine. I remember seeing her in the halls and watching her smile at her friends, wishing like hell she’d smile like that at me one day. Her laugh is even more intoxicating.” He looks over at me and cups my cheek. “I could listen to you laugh all day. What I’m so thankful for now is that you’re mine. It only took ten years.”
We stare at each other, and for a moment, I forgot we were still on camera. Clearing my throat, I quickly focus on the lens and wave. “Thanks everyone. I know Hudson and I appreciate the questions. Hopefully, we didn’t disappoint you.”
Hudson waves. “Good night everyone.” He goes over to it and turns it off. The room falls silent, but then our eyes meet again. He kneels in front of me and wraps his arms around my waist. “Please tell me what you said was true, or at least some of it was.”
He looks up at me and my insides tighten. His hands grip my waist and all I want is to feel him touch every square inch of my body. “All of it’s true,” I murmur. “I meant every word.” But then his words echo in my mind, the ones about him being in love with me. “What about you? Is what you said true?”
Slowly, he guides me further up the bed and covers me with his body, his expression raw and serious. “Yes,” he whispers back. “I’m in love with you, Allie. I just hope one day you love me too.”
Tears burn my eyes and I smile. I think I already do. “I’m sure there’s a very good chance of that.”
Dipping his head low, he parts his lips and touches them to mine. Soft and gentle at first, but then his kiss turns
