I swallowed down my rising tears. “Yeah…hey.”
“Are you okay?” Hudson asked.
Since I was used to always putting my needs second, I almost replied that I was fine. But since this was Hudson I was talking to, my voice trembled as I replied, “Actually, I’m not.”
After quickly filling him in on my visitor, Hudson said, “Oh fuck no. I’m coming to get you right now.”
A shaky laugh escaped my lips. “No, you’re not.”
“Oh hell yes, I am. Not only are you not going to walk to your car alone, but you’re going to spend the night with me and Archie.”
Considering his tone, I knew there was no point in arguing with him. He’d always been like an older brother to me. Even more so than my own older brother whom Hudson was friends with since middle school.
“Okay. I’ll wait here for you.”
“Go lock your office door,” he instructed.
“Right,” I forced my shaking legs to cross the room.
Hudson waited until he heard the click of the lock. “Do you want to stay on the phone with me until I get there?”
“No, no. I’m fine.”
“Sarah–”
“I promise. Besides, I need to write some clinical notes from my last patient.”
“Okay. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“Be safe.”
“You too.”
Once I’d hung up with Hudson, I forced myself to take out my iPad and add the clinical notes to Lucas’s file. I got so engrossed in my paperwork that when a bang came at the office door, a shriek escaped my lips as I jumped out of my skin.
“Sarah?” Hudson’s voice boomed.
I’d forgotten I’d given him a key to the front office door. I bolted out of my chair and streaked across the room. After throwing open the door, I rushed into Hudson’s waiting arms.
As I buried my face into his broad chest, he tightened his hold on me. “Oh, babe, you’re shaking.”
“Ugh, I’m being such a neurotic idiot,” I groaned into his shirt.
“Hey now. Watch how you talk about my best friend,” Hudson chided.
With a weak laugh, I pulled back to stare up into his dark eyes. His handsome face was filled with concern. “Could you give the police a description of the man?”
“Seriously, Huddy? What kind of police report would I make? Yes, officer, a cruelly handsome man in an expensive suit asked me to help his client with his stuttering.”
Hudson’s brows popped wide. “You didn’t tell me he was handsome.”
I smacked his arm playfully. “That’s not the point.”
“Maybe it was just an act. Maybe there wasn’t a client, and he was just trying to lure you somewhere to sell you into trafficking.”
“I don’t quite fit the trafficking type.”
“Don’t sell yourself short, sweetie,” Hudson countered with a wink.
