While We Waited (Smuggler’s Hideaway #3)

Chapter 17

Poker – an excuse to spend time with the people you consider family

Nova

“H ave a good evening.” I wave to Hudson as I aim for the door.

“Where are you going?”

“It’s family night.”

“Family night?”

“Drunk poker.”

He growls. “You are not drinking.”

I roll my eyes and pat my still flat stomach. “Obviously not. I’ll be home in a few hours. I’ll eat at Sophia’s mom’s house.”

“Hold on.” Hudson pushes to his feet. “I need five seconds to change.”

“To change? You don’t need to come.”

“What?”

“You don’t need to come.”

Hudson has hardly left me alone since he moved me into his chalet. He drives me to work each morning and picks me up at the end of the day, he cooks for me, he lets me watch whatever I want on the television, and—

It’s too much! I’m going to declare my undying love to him if he doesn’t cut it out.

“What did you say?”

“You don’t need to come,” I repeat.

He scowls. “Do we need to have the talk again?”

“What talk?”

“The one where I explain how I’m going to take care of you.”

I long to hear him say those words about me and only me. Not the me who’s carrying his baby. I force those thoughts away. I may be falling in love with Hudson, but he doesn’t feel the same way about me. I’m the baby mamma to him and nothing more.

“Stop it.” He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear and I startle. I didn’t notice him approach while I was off in la-la land dreaming of a place where Hudson loves me for me.

“Stop what?”

He taps my forehead. “Whatever you’re thinking that has your brow wrinkling.”

Curse the smugglers. He’s not supposed to notice when I’m upset. Can’t he be the same as every other man I’ve ever known and pretend to not notice?

“Am I not allowed to think?” I sass since I’m not telling him what I was thinking. No way. No how. I’ll allow the pirates to steal me away first.

“You’re allowed to think whatever you want. But you’re not allowed to be sad about it.”

“I’m not allowed to be sad?”

He grunts. “Stop fighting me to fight me.”

I don’t enjoy how intuitive he is. Hudson is supposed to be the big, bad football player who doesn’t have any feelings and is one step up from a hermit. He’s not supposed to worry if I’m sad and make me fall for him.

“We’re going to be late.”

He snatches his keys. “Let’s go.”

“Don’t you want to change first?”

“And give you the chance to run away? Not happening.”

“I wouldn’t run away.”

He cocks an eyebrow.

“I’d drive away.”

He grunts but he can’t hide from me. I saw the way his lips tipped up. He thinks I’m funny. He just doesn’t want to admit it for some reason.

He places a hand on my lower back and I lock my muscles before I shiver at the feel of his oversized, warm hand on me. Too bad my skin is covered. What I wouldn’t do to feel his hands all over me again.

He leads me to the passenger side of his truck. He opens the door and before I have a chance to climb in, he lifts me and sets me on the seat.

I should probably protest. But I don’t. I love feeling his hands on me in any capacity I can get them. I’m in so much trouble. Living with Hudson for seven months while I grow this baby is going to end in heartbreak.

I place my hand over my stomach. But I’ll have the best consolation prize in the universe. My baby. My family. My future. I can’t wait.

“Where are we going?” Hudson asks once we’re driving away from the resort toward the town of Smuggler’s Rest.

“Lily and Jack’s house.”

“Sophia and Weston’s parents?”

“Lily has the family over once a month. She tried doing Sunday dinners but people would cancel. No one cancels for drunk poker night. And before you say anything, Lily and Jack are my family.”

He reaches across the console to squeeze my thigh. “I wasn’t going to say anything. I’m glad you had them when your mother passed away.”

I sigh. “Lily and Jack are the best. Have you ever heard the story of how they fell in love?”

He shakes his head.

“Jack isn’t a native Smuggler. He arrived on the island one summer to do some construction work. He took one look at Lily and was smitten,” I begin.

“And there you have it. The story of how Lily and Jack fell in love,” I conclude as Hudson parks in front of their house.

Maya’s the romantic amongst my group of friends but I appreciate a good love story as much as the next person. I watch Hudson as he rushes around the truck. I blow out a breath. Unfortunately, I don’t believe the ‘love’ story of Nova and Hudson is going to end in a happily ever after.

Hudson lifts me out of the truck and sets me on my feet.

“You’re not going to be able to lift me much longer.” I rub my belly. “Once Sprog starts to grow.”

He crowds me until my back hits the side of the truck. “You don’t think I’m strong enough?”

“Um…” With his heat surrounding me and his sandalwood scent filling the air, I can’t remember the question. I want to lean into him. I want to feel his arms around me, surrounding me. I want his lips on mine, exploring my mouth. Filling me with his taste.

“No making out in the driveway!” Sophia shouts from the front door.

“You’re cheating. I bet five bucks Hudson couldn’t keep his hands off of her,” Weston complains.

“Welcome to family night,” I mutter.

Hudson tweaks my nose. “You can’t scare me off. I have four brothers, remember?”

We begin walking to the house. “I don’t think I’ve met any of your brothers.”

“You’ll meet them soon. And then you’ll wish you hadn’t.”

Silly man. I can’t wait to meet his family. I would have loved to have siblings growing up. A sister to share the burden of caring for Mom when she was sick. A brother to grieve my dad with.

I force thoughts of what I can never have away and smile up at Hudson.

“They can’t be that bad.”

“Logan holds the record for most detentions given at Smuggler’s Hideaway High School.”

I gasp. “You’re kidding. Someone stole Sophia’s record?”

“Hey, Huddy,” Weston greets when we reach the porch.

I glare at him. “His name is Hudson.”

Weston chuckles as he holds up his hands in surrender. “Another one bites the dust.”

“Why is everyone standing on the porch?” Lily pushes her way between Weston and Sophia and smiles at me. “Oh good, you made it. And you brought Hudson with you.” She rakes her gaze over him. “Still as handsome as ever, I see.”

“Sweet flower,” Jack hollers. “No accosting our guests.”

“He’s not a guest. He’s family since he’s with Nova.”

“He’s not… I mean... We’re not… What I’m trying to say is—”

Lily snatches my hand and pulls me into the house before I can figure out how to say Hudson and I aren’t together despite the baby growing in my belly.

She throws her arms around me and hugs me tight. “I’m excited. Our first grandchild.”

“Hey!” Chloe shouts. “Did you forget about Natalia?”

“Of course not,” Lily claims. “I meant our first baby grandchild.” She wags a finger at Chloe. “I’m still waiting for you to give Natalia a sibling.”

Chloe’s eyes widen to the size of saucers. “Um…”

Lucas wraps an arm around her shoulders and draws her close. “We’re not in a hurry.”

My heart fills with happiness for them. Lucas is the best man for Chloe. He knows she’s afraid to have children and he supports her instead of pushing her. It’s everything she deserves.

I glance up at Hudson from beneath my lashes. He’s everything I deserve and want, but he doesn’t want me. He wants this baby I’m carrying. Not me. There’s not a happy future for us.

“Who’s ready for some poker?” Lily asks.

“I’m ready to kick some ass,” Weston replies.

Lily slaps him upside the head. “Language.”

“Why? There aren’t any kids here.”

She points at me. “But there will be soon.”

I place a hand over my stomach. Not soon enough for me. I can’t wait to meet my baby.

Everyone rushes to the poker table in the dining room. Hudson places his hand on my lower back and leads me to the table where he pulls out a chair for me.

“Hudson, the gentleman, is in the building.”

He pushes in the chair. “I’m always in the building.”

Chloe slaps Lucas. “Why don’t you ever pull out a chair for me?”

“Probably because you’d slap me before giving me a lecture on women’s equality.”

“Women’s equality does not exclude men acting as gentlemen,” Paisley says as she sits across from me.

Maya sits next to her and gives me a thumbs-up. I roll my eyes. My romantic-obsessed friend believes this is the kick-off of the Nova and Hudson love story. She’s wrong. I wish she was right. But she’s not.

Hudson wasn’t interested in me until I got pregnant. And I can’t forget it either. Not if I want to survive Sprog’s birth with my heart intact.

Lily arrives with a tray of drinks.

“Those aren’t whisky,” Weston points out.

“We’re doing non-alcoholic drinks since Nova’s pregnant.”

“You don’t have to change things for me,” I protest.

Lily shakes her head. “Don’t you know, Nova, I’d do anything for you. Anything you need is there for the asking.”

My eyes itch and I sniff before any tears can fall. I fail and one tear escapes.

Hudson growls as he wipes the tear away. “You made Nova cry.”

I grasp his wrist. “It’s okay. It’s a happy tear.”

“I don’t like it when you cry.”

“I promise I’m not sad, Mr. Grumpy.”

He studies my face for a moment before nodding and kissing my forehead. “If anyone makes you sad, let me know and we’ll leave.”

It’s a good thing I’m sitting because my knees would have given out if I were standing. Hudson seriously needs to stop being sweet. I’m already falling for him.

But he doesn’t feel the same. He’s protecting me because I’m carrying his baby.

Which is sweet but not what I need.

My heart squeezes. It knows heartbreak is coming for me.