A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust by Sally Garcia

Now even if he was gone, he could still run the company just fine-and look after himself, too.

He'd been a little worried before, but seeing it with his own eyes, he was completely at ease.

He just knew it—he was smart enough, capable enough. As long as he set his mind to something, he could do almost anything, sometimes even better than he could himself.

After about twenty minutes of getting things wrapped up, Lance led everyone out for dinner.

They settled into a cozy booth at a steakhouse.

Over dinner, Calliope couldn't stop thinking about Hudson's situation. She barely touched her food, lost in thought.

Silas sat next to her, nudging her every now and then with a forkful of mashed potatoes or a piece of steak.

"Callie, you've got yourself a pretty good husband here,” Lance teased, grinning. "Went and got married without saying a word, but hey, he seems like a solid guy."

Calliope looked up and smirked. "Well, I've got good taste, don't I?" "I'd say I do, too! Mine's a keeper," Lance shot a look over at Hudson. Hudson's hand trembled a bit as he passed the bread basket to Lance. "Why are you so worked up? Everyone already knows," Lance laughed. Hudson quickly regained his composure. "Eat up. How was your first day at the office? Think you'll get the hang of it?"

"It was alright,” Lance replied. "You've got the place running smoother than a Swiss watch. I barely found anything to do."

Hudson said. “If I ever hand the company over to anyone, I'd feel good about leaving it in your

eyes at Hudson. "Why are you talking like that? Planning to ditch me

we talk after dinner?" Hudson set his fork down, his

a flicker of panic in his eyes. "What's going on? What do you want to talk

a lot lately, and Lance couldn't help but worry-was Hudson

eat first. We'll talk after

you're gonna be all mysterious,"

Hudson ruffled Lance's hair, trying to

shot him a suspicious look, but as soon

Calliope had a pretty good idea-Hudson was finally going

said gently as they sat in the

could tell Calliope was anxious for Hudson and Lance, but this wasn't something she could fix. Matters of the heart-life and death-those were things people had to figure out for

leaned into Silas's

you do?" She looked up at him,

if you died, I'd stay by your side. Or

ye

it took

you with me