Although, I’m one to talk, after what I got up to last Thursday night.
“Why are your cheeks turning red?” Rosie demands of me, pulling my attention back to my friend in front of me.
I press my palms to my so-called red cheeks. “They’re not!”
“Um, they are,” Rosie argues with a playful smile about her lips. She glances behind me and then back. “Is it because you finally want to take Hudson for a ride too? Get rid of that celibacy ring and—”
“Rosie!”
“What?” She straightens up and plants her hands on her hips. “Are you saying you don’t find him attractive, because if you are, I’ve got to ask if you need to go and get your eyes checked. Seriously, that man is on another level, Gee.”
“I don’t need to go get my fucking eyes checked, of course I think he’s attractive.” I gesture to the space around us. “So do all of these other people who are hanging around trying to grab his attention! But just because someone’s attractive doesn’t mean they’re a good person on the inside and I’ve worked too hard on myself to just throw away my celibacy without knowing anything about the man! Even if I can admit he’s the most attractive guy I’ve ever—”
“Who’d you find attractive?”
How the fuck did I not hear him sneaking up behind me?
A hand grazes my lower back and I just have time to turn my head before the man of the hour, the star of my fantasies and probably the fantasy of every other person in the gym, including Rosie, is standing beside me.
I feel my features school into a scowl. “I don’t appreciate being snuck up on. Nor do I appreciate you listening in on our private conversation.”
Hudson’s green eyes flash with mirth. “I wouldn’t exactly call itlistening inif you’re having the conversation in a public place, Giselle.”
My name spills from his lips in a way that has my pulse racing irrationally for a split second, making me forget why he’s even using my name in the first place, but then—
“Don’t be a little shit,” I hear myself snarl, but it lacks any real bite.
Hudson stares at me and then he throws his head back and laughs, loudly, making the column of his throat bob.
It’s impossible for me to pull my eyesight away.
What the fuck is going on with me?
Out of my peripheral vision, I spot a few people looking our way; some in interest at what Hudson’s laughing so loudly about and others in thinly veiled jealously thatI’mthe one who made the hottest man in this entire gym, belly laugh.
Even Rosie’s eyes are ping-ponging between us, trying to read between the lines.
“Ah man,” Hudson huffs breathlessly, clutching his abdomen with both hands. “I bloody needed that laugh.”
A hint of embarrassment creeps in making my skin crawl.
“I’m sorry Hudson, I didn’t mean—”
“You’re fine.” He laughs again. This infectious, joyous sound that takes up half the room. I can’t say I mind. “Iama little shit, much to my mother’s exasperation.”
“Right.” I swallow, still wishing I hadn’t opened my mouth and allowed my snap back to fall off my tongue quite so quickly. “Still, I’m—”
“Seriously, Giselle, it’s fine.” Those glittering green eyes of his bore into mine, making the space around us heat up a few degrees. “I’m giving you permission to put me into place any time you want. I’ll happily comply.”
Any thought I had floating about my brain is simply blown to dust by Hudson’s comment.
He’s fucking flirting with me.
Again.
And my body is reacting to it.
Again.
