HARPER
The weekend came around quickly, and it was a beautiful day for a pool party. The mayor’s house was spectacular,justas I had imagined it would be. The main building was a huge, two-story, whitewashed brick building with Georgian-style windows. It looked grand sitting there so majestically against a clear blue sky and that blazing sunshine.
Our flag was flying proudly from the rooftop, a clear symbol of national pride, patriotism, and support for our country. I had alwayslovedthe American flag; it was strong and bold, representing valor and bravery, as well as the many other qualities we Americans were renowned for.
The front door was open, and an archway supported by two white columns was decorated with red, white, and blue balloons. Balloons! I should have known Storm’s party would have been over the top. The girl probably orchestrated the gorgeous weather with one click of her nail-polished fingers. I can honestly say I had never met someone so lucky, with the world at their feet. I wondered what that would feel like.
As my eyes scanned over the stunning house, I could see ivy draped down one side, the dense, woody vine clinging to the stone, softening the hard and cold architecture of the mansion.
Storm used to boast about how old her house was, stating it dated back to 1790. And she wasn’t exaggerating; it looked like it belonged in the past, but in a good way. The building reminded me of Tara, Scarlet O’Hara’s house in Gone with theWind, albeit not as big. Gone with the Wind was one of my favorite movies. I had watched it with my mother hundreds of times. I also had the book and its sequel.
Swallowing a lump of sadness, I assessed the caliber of some of the other guests who were making their way in through the main doors. From the purses and shoes of some of the women, you could tell they were wealthy.
My palms started to itch; luckily, Hudson’s gruff voice interrupted my thoughts.
“Why did I agree to come to this?”
“Because it’s a party, and you need to loosen up, my darling,” Molly told Hudson in her firm accented voice. Her British tones still gave me goosebumps.
“I know, kitten, it was a rhetorical question,” he pointed out dryly.
I rolled my eyes whilst listening to their loved-up bullshit. I hated three-wheeling it when they were being smushy. Who would ever have thought Hudson had it in him? When I’d first joined the family, he’d been the scariest motherfucker I’d ever met. Molly said Hudson had witnessed his father murder his mother, which had given us something in common. Out of all the Sawyer boys, I’d warmed to Hudson first. Having still carried the chip against Phoenix and his desertion.
As soon as the traffic started to clog up the stretch of road that led to Storm’s estate, I knew Hudson was there under duress. If it were up to my brother, he would spend the entire weekend in bed with Molly. The guy couldn’t get enough of her, and he didn’t like sharing his girl with other people. I sure hoped he had taken his medication that morning; Hudson needed that shit to calm him down in stressful situations. And being at a party where other guys would be ogling his woman would be up there.
“You have to let Mols come out to playsometimes,” I teased from the back seat. That caused Hudson to shoot me a death glare through the rearview mirror. “Just saying,” I added, holding up my hands in surrender. I loved winding him up abouthis relationship. Hudson only had two things he focused on in his life: Molly Miller and football.
As Hudson’s truck slowly crawled behind the others up the driveway, I turned my head and continued gawking at the proof of how rich the Summers’ family truly was. And I knew it wasn’t just because Dominic Summers was the mayor. He’d been some hotshot, highly paid congressman once.
A guy dressed in a valet uniform appeared by Hudson’s window and directed him where to park. My eyes continued to take in the beauty of the estate.
People were milling around the front garden, drinking champagne from flutes, and clearly having a good time.
Double garages and an annex appeared before us as Hudson pulled his truck past a large hedgerow, possibly a building for the staff? I already knew they had maids and chauffeurs; Storm boasted about them all the time when we were at school together.
The driveway then opened out, revealing loads of other parked cars. Thankfully, there were a few spare spaces.
Hudson blew out a breath as he slid the truck in next to a large royal blue SUV, which had ‘Cayenne’ on the trunk.
I undid my seatbelt and leaned between the two front seats. Hudson reversed the car and then drove forward again to get a better position. Probably to allow us to open the doors without creating an astronomical insurance claim if we dented one of the other cars.
Molly was riding shotgun with her hand on her boyfriend’s thigh. Her skin looked so pale as her fingers rested against his thick, tanned, hairy leg. Hudson was wearing boardshorts and a white Paul Smith shirt with the top few buttons undone, revealing part of his chest.
“Well, at least you know no one will take your truck,” I commented from between them, and they both turned to look at me, unclipping their belts.
Having put the car in park, Hudson started to roll up his sleeves, revealing his veiny, muscular, tattooed arms. “What’sthatsupposed to mean?”
I quirked him a look. “Well, I know which car I’d go for, and it wouldn’t be this piece of shit,” I belted with a chuckle.
Molly laughed. Hudson didn’t. We collected our bags and climbed out of the truck.
“This piece of shit is your ride, Baby Sawyer. Better not hurt its feelings as it’s a long walk home,” Hudson drawled as we came together at the driver's side of the car. The guy had a point.
“My apologies. I take it back. Your wheels are bitchin',” I replied with a toothy grin, holding one hand against my heart.
Hudson pocketed his keys. “And besides, my car is worth a million Porsches.”
We all fell in line behind another group of guests who were walking towards the house's entrance.
