Hudson shot him a look, and I smothered a smile.
“Where are we with the break-in?”Bill asked, clearly familiar with wading in when his boys got sidetracked
“Guy’s in the wind.”Griffin blew out a frustrated breath.“We don’t have clear motive or even know if this is tied to Lucy or Hud.”He turned to me.“I’d like to contact your parents and your ex.Even if they won’t cop to anything, at least they’ll know they’re on the radar.As for you, Hud, I’d put your security team on notice.”
“Yeah, will do,” Hudson agreed.
“That’s all we got for now.”Griffin knocked the table once with his knuckles.“Gotta get to the station.Call if you need me.”
“I gotta jet too.”Riley rose to his feet and grabbed a giant piece of coffee cake.“I’ll be at the jobsite if anyone needs me.”He shoved the cake into his mouth as he turned toward the door.
“Have a good day.”Camila’s eyes warmed with affection for her sons as she waved them farewell.“So, what have you two got going on today?”she asked once only the four of us remained at the table, Ranger asleep at our feet.
Hudson looked at me with a deference I was still getting used to.“I was planning to spend some time at the restaurant office.I’m working my way through the books.And then I told Daphne I could watch Jo for a bit,” I replied.
“I’ll drop you at Goodie’s,” Hudson was quick to offer.“What do you think of bringing Jojo over here?”The use of Josephine’s nickname made my belly warm.
“I’m sure that would be fine, but I think Daph just needed to get to an appointment.I was planning to hang at her place.It’s easier for Jo to nap there.”
Hudson nodded.“I’ll come with if that’s okay.”
“Honey…” I glanced toward his parents, feeling only slightly awkward having this conversation in front of them.The ease I felt in their presence surprised me.
I didn’t mind spending time with Hudson, far from it, but I also didn’t want him uprooting his routine for me.
“I swear I won’t always be so overbearing.”He held up a hand in defense.“But the break-in just happened, and I’ve been gone.I just want to keep you close right now.That okay?”
“That’s okay.”I grinned.“As long as you help change dirty diapers.”
His mother laughed.“Sounds like you have a full day.We’ll get out of your hair, too.”She tapped her husband on the shoulder.
“Sorry, that was a lot.”Hudson glanced down at me as soon as we were alone.
“It’s fine, honey.”I squeezed his hand.“I really like your family.I just can’t believe I woke up alone.”I offered him a coy smile.
Before I could catch my breath, he swung me over his shoulder.“Let’s remedy that situation right now.”He smacked my behind as he strode for the stairs.
“Not sure Daph’ll want you under there.”I shifted Jo on my hip.Earlier, after helping with the baby, he’d taken it upon himself to repair Daphne’s sink.On her way out, she’d mentioned that it had been clogging.
“Pretty sure she wants her sink to drain, babe,” Hudson said from under the cabinet.
“Didn’t know you were so handy.”I shifted Josephine as she nuzzled my chest.“There’s no milk in there, JoJo.”I laughed, digging through the diaper bag for a pacifier.
Hudson sat up and shot me an incredulous look.“Baby, I was raised in a construction family.I can damn well fix nearly anything.”
I held up a placating hand, clearly having struck a nerve.My phone began to ring again from inside my purse.
His face grew hard.“That him?”
“I don’t know.”I glanced toward my bag.“Sometimes, I’m afraid to look.”
He stood abruptly, my admission seeming to be all the ammunition he needed.After digging through my purse, he pulled out my phone and pressed it to his ear.
“Yeah?”he barked in a tone he’d never used with me.“This is her man.”He paused as he listened for a moment.“Yeah, her man.The one who’ll put a restraining order on your ass if you keep calling.”He scoffed at Josh’s response.“Her fiancé?Last time I checked, you two were never engaged.Only ring she’ll have on her finger is mine.Get yourself gone, or you’ll find yourself in a world of trouble you do not need.”
He ended the call and tossed my phone back into my purse.“Gotta change your number, baby,” he growled.“Tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow.”I nodded, assessing him warily.
