I moan and lean into him, tasting a hint of mint and coffee, his hard chest pressing against mine, my breasts and hardened nipples rubbing against the fabric of my shirt. He lifts my shirt and slides his hands beneath the material, his calloused fingers sliding along my skin. Goose bumps prickle over my flesh, and arousal spreads through me, thick and heavy.
My head swirls, a buzzing noise sounding in my ears.
“Shit,” he mutters, lifting his head. “My phone.”
“Answer it,” I say, knowing, as a doctor, any call for him can be important.
A regret-filled expression on his face, he pulls his phone from his pocket, drawing my attention to the hard erection tenting his pants.
“What?” Hudson’s bark into the phone stuns me, and I glance up, startled by the tone I’ve never heard from him before.
“No, Dad, I’m not staying at the house. I’m staying at a hotel with Brianne.” He pauses, listening. “She’s the guest I told you I was bringing,” he says through clenched teeth.
I raise my eyebrows, and Hudson shoots me an apologetic glance.
Apparently his father doesn’t approve of Hudson’s plus-one if he is playing theI didn’t remember game. I know their relationship is difficult, and now I can see how it affects Hudsonfirsthand, the stress his father causes just by hearing his voice or asking questions.
“I can’t talk now, Dad. It’s a bad time. Tell Mother I’m sorry I’m not sleeping at the house, but I’ll see her this weekend. Goodbye.” He disconnects the call and shakes his head, the sensual mood between us obviously gone. “Sorry about that. I told you my father’s a pompous jerk.”
“Hey, I get it. The man who raised me was a tough man.” And that is putting it mildly.
Hudson’s gaze softens. “Braden’s told me.”
“Yeah. The boys had it bad, but Jaxon and Braden took the brunt of his disdain.” I swallow hard, hating to remember the yelling and belittling that went on in the house while I was growing up. My mother would beg my father to stop, and he’d go harder on the boys. Never physical abuse, but the mental anguish was bad enough on their self-esteem.
Hudson leans against the counter near my chair. “Because Jaxon chose baseball over football and because Braden was too smart and not athletically inclined.”
I draw a deep breath and nod. “Yeah. And he basically left me alone. But this is about you. Are you okay?”
“Yes. He’s only getting to me because I need something from him, but we can talk about that on the way to New York. Right now I’d rather forget about my old man if that’s okay with you.”
“It is.” Because he promised to fill me in, I have no problem letting the subject go for now.
“Do you want to bail on me now?” He draws himself up straighter as if waiting for the blow.
I grasp his hands with my fingers. “Considering how I was raised and the athletes I deal with on a daily basis, do I look like a woman who can’t handle a difficult man?”
His easy grin returns. “I forgot who I was dealing with. You can handle anything and anyone.”
Apparently we aren’t including the incident with Jimmy last night, for which I am grateful.
I grin. “I certainly can. And that includes you.”
He tips his head back and laughs. “If I didn’t mention it, the wedding is formal.”
“Got it.” I’ll have to go dress shopping. Of course, I have a long gown or two in my closest I can wear, but I’d rather buy something new for the occasion. Something that makes a statement and has my date drooling. “I take it that means you’re wearing a tuxedo?”
He nods.
Which means I’ll be doing some drooling of my own.
***
The next morning, I walk into my favorite boutique and am immediately surrounded by gorgeous dresses in stunning colors and varying hues. Some sparkle, others glitter, and many are solid, the designs speaking for themselves.
Hudson texts me a general itinerary for the weekend, which includes a family dinner Friday night at his parents’ house, no wedding obligations since he isn’t part of the bridal party, and the wedding will take place on Saturday evening. Since I have appropriate clothing for the night with his parents and the rest of the weekend is casual other than the event itself, I don’t need to shop for anything else.
I ask where we are staying and make a Glam Squad appointment for hair and makeup, and Hudson has promised to disappear from the room while I get ready. My entire point is to look spectacular, and I hope he likes and appreciates the end result.
