Crafted by Love, page 12
Hudson’s mouth curved into a grin, pride sneaking into his tone. “Firm limits and praise,” he said, giving Molly a light pat before signaling her to relax. “Though Dustin still undermines the training with excessive treats when he thinks I’m not looking.”
The accusation was affectionate rather than reproachful, a familiar refrain that had become a running joke between them.
Vanna’s eyes sparkled. “Looks like someone is sabotaging training.” She nodded toward the open library doors, where Winston, their second rescue, padded in cautiously. He lingered near the threshold, appraising the crowd, amber eyes wary but curious.
“Dustin must have left the door open again,” Hudson murmured.
Right on cue, Dustin emerged from the study, tablet in hand, his expression focused. He caught sight of Winston and frowned, then gently ushered the dog back toward the quieter wing of the house. “He was napping; I didn’t see him follow when I checked catering.” His voice was apologetic, but his touch was tender, his hand slipping into Winston’s ruff like a quiet reassurance.
A murmur rippled through the crowd as Fitzgerald, their imperious cat, appeared at the top of the staircase. He surveyed the assembled guests with narrowed green eyes, tail flicking once in disdain, then vanished back upstairs with a soundless leap. Fitzgerald had never been invited to stay, yet he had claimed the mansion as his own, a sovereign among subjects.
When Dustin returned, he leaned close enough for Hudson to hear over the mingling voices. “The gallery wing is ready. Everything’s in place.”
“Perfect.” Hudson adjusted the cuff of his shirt, still not used to events where his name appeared on programs and invitations. “The first group should be here any moment for the workshop introductions.”
What had begun years ago as a single apprenticeship with Trent had grown into something neither of them could have imagined. Hudson’s work now extended beyond custom furniture.
The program had blossomed into a structured living curriculum. Young artisans learning under his eye, experimenting with wood and metal and fabric in ways that carried the lineage forward.
Today, their progress would be on display in the very home that had become both sanctuary and stage.
Dustin gave a satisfied nod. “Margaret’s keeping the schedule—rotations, breaks, refreshments. Everything’s covered.”
Hudson chuckled under his breath. “Of course it is.” He glanced toward the staircase where Fitzgerald had retreated. “Though I suspect the cat will boycott.”
“Already lodged his protest,” Dustin said dryly. “He’s sulking in the master bathroom, perched on the towel rack. Our most dramatic resident.”
They spoke quietly, sharing a comfortable closeness, a love that had grown stronger as time passed.
Hudson’s hand brushed against Dustin’s as they moved toward the gallery wing, just a fleeting contact, but it steadied him. Even after years of travel adventures, fun, and hard work in all kinds of places, that touch still held the meaning of their promise.
Their home was full of life and voices and possibility; it felt as if they were only just beginning.
The first apprentices filed into the gallery wing, their nerves disguised by freshly pressed shirts and polished shoes. Sunlight streamed through tall windows onto the long rows of benches, the air smelling faintly of sawdust and polish; a craftsman’s scent, earthy and grounding, somehow at home even in the mansion's elegance.
Hudson stood near the front, his hands resting lightly on the edge of a walnut display table. It wasn’t his work on display today. Instead, each piece lining the room—chairs, jewelry boxes, carved frames, his students had made even a daring attempt at a curving chaise.
The students’ names were engraved on brass tags beside each item. The pride wasn’t his to claim, but it welled up in his chest anyway, almost overwhelming.
One of the younger apprentices, a boy barely older than Trent had been at the start, caught Hudson’s eye across the room. He lifted his chin, tentatively but proudly. Hudson gave him a nod, and the boy straightened as if someone had set a spine of steel inside him.
Trent, who started everything as a young apprentice, was now a mentor himself, teaching the new group with the same patience he was taught.
He was proud to teach at the mansion’s program, even though his workshop was successful, because he saw the craft flourishing.
Dustin and Hudson watched him laugh with the students, easing their nerves. The house hummed with life, with work, with love, and for the two of them, it was only ever a beginning.
As the crowd moved through, murmuring, Dustin drifted to his side, tablet forgotten for once. He leaned in, speaking low enough for Hudson alone. “Look at their faces.”
Hudson glanced past him. The apprentices stood proudly by their work when people praised it, and they blushed when others touched the smooth surfaces.
Their eyes shone with the same disbelief Hudson once remembered carrying, the disbelief that your hands could create something both useful and beautiful, and that others might value it.
“You gave them this,” Dustin said softly. “Not just skills. A way to see themselves differently.”
Hudson swallowed hard, eyes stinging more than he expected. He reached for Dustin’s hand, squeezed once, hard. “We gave them this. I couldn’t have built this program alone.”
Dustin’s answering smile was steady, and it anchored Hudson more deeply than applause or recognition ever could.
The murmur of guests grew louder, the showcase fully underway, but to Hudson the sound blurred at the edges.
He looked at the art and its creators, plus the man who had always believed in him, and with whom he shared a strong and happy life. He knew he was blessed to have discovered the rarest gift of all - a love that endured, a love that was his.
Dustin leaned close, his breath warm against Hudson’s ear. “Six years, and you’re still mine.”
Hudson’s lips curved, his voice rough but sure. “Forever yours.”
Their hands remained joined, unnoticed in the hum of voices and footsteps around them. Not a performance, nor an announcement. It was a promise, as steady as the bench still waiting for them in the garden.
And as the afternoon light gilded the gallery and laughter filled the mansion, it felt like the perfect beginning. Again.
THANK YOU
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ALSO BY HAYDEN
Friendship sparks the fire, but love is what could break the rules.
Liam has it all. He’s a budding businessman, charming, confident, and with many dates behind him. Despite his success, a nagging restlessness sneaks up on him: A desire to settle down. In a bustling mid-sized city, he’s climbing the societal ladder, but something is missing, and he can’t quite figure out what, or who, that might be.
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When a mix-up brings them together, an unexpected friendship forms, a bond neither man saw coming. As they grow closer, the lines between friendship and something more begin to blur. Their attraction deepens, yet both are too afraid to admit their true feelings for fear of destroying the friendship.
Liam’s best friend doesn’t approve, despite initially warming up to Jett, and he is torn between the life he’s living and the love he never expected. As the slow-burn, friends-to-lovers romance ignites, he must decide whether to follow his heart or bend to pressure and forsake the happiness he’s been longing for.
In this later in life, age-gap romance, Storm reigns supreme as the fixer extraordinaire, the go-to guy when things go awry.
His latest gig? Clearing the name of a celebrity entangled in a murder scandal. But this time, he needs more than just his wits. He needs legal genius Laken by his side.
Laken, a seasoned lawyer with a quiet demeanor and a past shadowed by loss, is drawn into Storm's world of intrigue and danger. As they work together to shield the star, a spark ignites between them, their attraction undeniable despite their age difference.
They find themselves holed up in Vegas with the troubled actor, his reckless behavior threatening to derail everything.
While Storm and Laken navigate the murky waters, they must confront their own feelings, grappling with the ghosts of Laken's past and the possibility of a future together.
Will their newfound connection withstand the storm of scandal and suspicion, or will it crumble under the weight of a past love?
You’re not supposed to fall for the rebound guy, are you?
After getting dumped by my long-term boyfriend, l was done with love at thirty-seven. I headed off to a Florida resort where l planned on licking my wounds. It was supposed to be nothing more than a getaway. Away - to get over my old love, but somehow it managed to rock my entire world when l found myself falling for the rebound guy.
When my ex shows up at the same place, hot and sexy Lance steps in as my partner to spite my ex, but it’s not long before he invades my every thought. Was l ready for a mature gay romance?
Could the rebound guy become the rebound love of my life in such a little amount of time?
If you love a short and steamy book, then check out this Insta love MM romance.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hayden Templar is an emerging author of gay romance. A life-long dream is getting fulfilled, something that makes him proud. His forte is short steamy romance books between mature gay men.
When not writing, he enjoys photography of street art on the streets of Philly, movies, daydreaming about becoming a best selling author, and playing with his two rescue dogs.
He lives in Philadelphia with his partner. would love to hear from you. Contact him via his website or on social media.
Hayden Templar, Crafted by Love
