“You going to have time for a family with that busy career of yours?” Hudson asked, their arms brushing. “A director position, that’s a pretty full plate.”
“Women do it all the time.”
“But what about you?”
Reese bit down on her bottom lip, refusing to take her eyes off Cami. She couldn’t trust herself to look anywhere else. “I do want kids,” she said. “But I’ve also accepted that they may not be in the cards for me.”
“You’d rather have the career.”
She repeated his words over in her mind, searching for the unsaid in his tone. But she couldn’t decide if he was simply stating a fact or judging her for her choices.
“Is that so bad?” Her words came out snippy, but she was too irritated to take them back.
“If it’s what you really want, then no.”
Reese released some of the tension she’d been holding in her shoulders. The answer had always seemed so simple before. But playing with Cami earlier, watching Hudson with his niece . . . something was happening to her, and it made her feel as though she were spinning out of control. “I better get back. I’m supposed to dry the dishes.”
Hudson reached for her wrist, tugging her back against his chest. “I want you to be happy, Reese, that’s all. I don’t want you to look back ten years from now with regrets.”
Her body trembled, both from his proximity and the gravity of his words. She didn’t want to think anymore, so she closed the gap between them. Stretching up on tiptoe, she gave in to the kiss she’d been craving since the moment she returned to Starlight. She thought it would help silence the rampant thoughts in her mind.
She wasn’t prepared for the exhilarating rush that swept through her whole body. She melted into him, letting his strong arms and broad chest swallow her whole. Her mind didn’t go blank. It flashed with images of sitting on the tailgate of his truck three years ago, anticipating their very first kiss. Slow dancing at Ronnie and Colten’s wedding. The two of them curled under a blanket on the side of a hill, watching for shooting stars.
The creak in the hallway was the only warning they had before Ronnie popped into the room. Reese and Hudson shot apart like a lightning bolt had struck between them, but Reese had no idea if they’d been caught.
“I’ve been looking for you two,” Ronnie said, an eyebrow raised in suspicion until a yawn got her. “It’s hard to stay away, isn’t it?” She came to the crib, peering down at her daughter. “Tonight was one of the rougher nights, but I promise she’s worth every ounce of drama.”
“And you’re going to have another one, so it can’t bethatbad,” Reese said lightly, her breath finally slowing enough to form words.
“I wish you could be here when baby Jace arrives.” Ronnie squeezed Reese’s hand. “But I know it’s too much to ask for you to come back so soon with your big promotion.” There wasn’t an ounce of malice in Ronnie’s tone, only love and understanding. “You’re going to be the best marketing director that place has ever seen.”
Her problem without a solution was back, and she had even less clue what to do about it than she had before. That kiss . . . it was potent. So much more powerful than any other they’d shared before. Her skin tingled with goose bumps at its very memory. “Do you need help with the dishes?” she asked, desperate to be busy.
“Nope, they’re all cleaned up.”
“Can I do anything else?”
“I mean this in the best way possible, but go home. This momma needs some sleep. Cami will be up in a few hours. She never sleeps through the night after a massive breakdown like she had tonight.”
Reese’s heartrate doubled, then tripled. It didn’t stop until they were back at the ranch and she was safely behind her bedroom door. They hadn’t spoken on the drive back, despite Hudson’s couple of attempts. She couldn’t talk about that kiss.
She couldn’tthinkabout that kiss.
The best thing she could do was work. She scanned emails until she heard Hudson’s bedroom door close. Every single email had been answered by her team, except the one that arrived in her inbox on the ride home. Another from Vanessa.
Reese needed to be busy, but she wasn’t Vanessa-desperate.
She tiptoed out into the living room, certain she could find something to quietly do with the remodel project. If only Dane and Ashton hadn’t been so good at their jobs. The walls were all sanded and painted a light bluish gray. More than half the laminate was laid. Even most of the fireplace design was put together.
She couldn’t do anything that didn’t make a lot of noise.Figures.
Reese stopped in the kitchen to scour the fridge and discovered chocolate-covered strawberries. She wouldn’t allow herself to wonderwhythey were in there, but she stole two and scurried back to her room.
There was only one option left.
She called her mom.
“Sweetie, I’ve been trying to get ahold of you for days. Is everything okay?”
