Madly Yours (Nora Reed) novel Chapter 275

Hudson stared at her flushed, shy expression, his heart hammering heavily against his ribs.

If it weren't for the fact that they were in a gym, he would have pulled her right back into it...

But deeper than the surging wave of desire was an overwhelming instinct to cherish her.

He rested his forehead against hers, his voice dropping low, their breaths mixing. "Are you hungry?"

"...Yeah." Nora buried her face back into his chest, her voice muffled. "Starving."

And she was.

She hadn't eaten breakfast.

The moment she finished the call with Arthur, she had grabbed her keys and rushed out the door.

Then, she'd spent the last few hours dealing with all of... this.

Her stomach was practically touching her spine.

"What do you want to eat?" Hudson asked.

Nora thought for a moment before the name of a small eatery popped into her head.

"Caldwell's Bistro."

Hudson arched an eyebrow, clearly having never heard of the place.

"Alright. Lead the way."

Nora lifted her chin with a proud smile. "My treat today."

Hudson let out a low chuckle, raising a hand to affectionately ruffle her hair, his voice warm and impossibly fond.

"Okay."

...

Caldwell's Bistro was tucked away in an old alley in the Old South End.

The street was too narrow for the car, so Arthur parked at the corner while Hudson took Nora's hand and they walked the rest of the way.

The cobblestone street was uneven, flanked by drab, gray buildings with large patches of peeling paint exposing the blackened brick beneath.

Her face lit up as she hurried out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. "Where have you been? It's been over a year!"

Nora smiled softly. "I was out of town for a while. I just moved back to San Francisco."

Mrs. Caldwell's gaze shifted to the man standing beside her.

He was tall, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. Standing in this cramped, run-down diner, he looked entirely out of place—like a streak of brilliant gold painted over a faded, rustic canvas.

But Mrs. Caldwell had seen it all. She only studied him for a brief second before looking down at their intertwined hands, her smile widening until her eyes nearly vanished.

"Your boyfriend? He's handsome!"

Nora's cheeks flushed slightly, and she instinctively tightened her grip on his hand. "He's my husband. We got married."

Mrs. Caldwell froze for a second before her smile grew even brighter, deep laugh lines crinkling around her eyes. "Oh my! Married? Congratulations! You two make a stunning couple!"

"Thank you."

Nora led Hudson to a corner booth. "Mrs. Caldwell, we'll take the usual! A bowl of clam chowder, a grilled cheese sandwich, a side of BBQ ribs, and a slice of apple pie."