“Hudson, darling, I mentioned to Corinne that you would be in town this weekend, and she’s hoping you’ll give her a call.Find time to get together?” She glances at me. “Hudson and Corinne go way back,” she explains, daintily patting her lips with a napkin.
At least I haven’t taken a sip of coffee or a bite of pie, because my mouth opens wide. His mother is actually matchmaking while he sits at the table with another woman by his side.
“You know, I assumed since I was bringing a date, you’d have enough class not to mention this ridiculous request again. Apparently I gave you too much credit.”
“Hudson!” his father says in a warning tone.
Ignoring him, Hudson yanks the napkin off his lap and tosses it onto the table. “Bri is sitting right here, and you’re being rude.” He rises from his seat, taking my hand and helping me to my feet.
I manage to lean down, grasp my purse, then take my shawl off the back of my chair.
“For the record,” Hudson says, “Corinne and I do not go way back. We aren’t even friends. You just keep giving the woman false hope that she can marry into this family, and you need to stop. Now.”
“But… Hudson, don’t leave. I won’t bring her up again. I just thought—”
“You thought you’d try and run my life in your own way, just like Dad is trying to do in his.” Anger vibrates through him, and I feel his fury.
I reach for his hand, but my touch does nothing to calm him.
Martin rises from his seat. “Sit down, son.”
Hudson shakes his head. “I put up with you both pushing me. I’m used to it, but Brianne is my guest, and I won’t have her dismissed the way you did tonight. We’re leaving, and we’ll see you at the wedding.” He eases out my chair and guides me toward the arched entry and exit.
“Umm, thank you for dinner,” I say as he all but pulls me from the room.
I rush alongside him, waiting until we reach the front door before I come to a halt. “Hudson, go back and make peace. You need something from your father, and this isn’t the way to get it.” Softening the man up would have been a better angle.
“Actually it was exactly the right move. My father respects a man who stands up for himself. I’ll deal with the clinic funds on Sunday. Right now I want to get the hell out of here.”
He pulls open the door, and we step outside. Hudson sends a text for the driver, letting him know to pull around to the front of the house because we are ready to go.
On the ride home, I give him space, allowing him the time to lose his anger and refocus his energy. Meanwhile, I go over the evening in my mind. And I can’t deny how much I appreciate Hudson sticking up for me and refusing to let his parents treat me badly. He’d put up with it for himself because they are his mother and father, but he draws the line when it comes to me. And that fury on my behalf turns me on.
He won’t want to hear it now but later? When we get back to the room, I’ll let him in on that secret and show him exactly what his protective behavior means to me.
Chapter Five
Hudson
Igrind my teeth the entire ride from my parents’ house back to the city, surprised I haven’t destroyed my molars by the time we reach the hotel. Clearly sensing my anger, Bri remains quiet during the trip, just as she did on our way there. I feel bad enough my mood has been shit, but she’d been dismissed by my mother, and I’d had enough. I dragged her out of there as fast as I could and have taken the time since to get myself under control before I do something stupid. Like turn our first time into a release of my frustration instead of making it about us.
Once we return to the hotel suite, I kick off my shoes and toss my jacket over a chair in the outer room. She does the same with her heels, then pads on bare feet to where I stand.
Somehow I have to make things right, but after that dinner disaster, I’m not sure how. I meet her gaze and say the first words that come to me. “Tonight never should have happened, and I’m—”
She cuts me off by throwing herself into my arms and sealing her lips against mine. Obviously she doesn’t need an apology, though I’ll make sure I give her one. Later.
Right now, I have a beautiful woman in my arms who has made her desire for me clear. I shove my parents’ behavior from my mind and turn my focus to Bri.
I pull her tight against me and take control of the kiss, my tongue thrusts into her mouth and captures her moan in my throat. Her hands come to my chest, fingers fumbling with thebuttons, and I let out a low growl, then break the kiss and pull at the sides, sending buttons flying.
“That was sexy.” An approving light touched her eyes. “But if you try to rip off my outfit, we’re going to have issues,” she says with a laugh. “I paid good money for this pantsuit.”
“And it was worth every penny.” I shrug off my shirt, pulling my hand through the buttoned sleeves.
“Look at you. Tanned, muscled, hot.” She sets her palms on my chest, the bandages still there, but the rest of her hand feels warm on my skin. Leaning forward, she presses her lips to the patch of skin below my throat, licking my flesh with her tongue.
A full-body shudder takes hold, and I can’t take the teasing. “I want to see you naked.”
