While We Waited (Smuggler’s Hideaway #3)

Chapter 34

Laundry – a dangerous task that should be avoided at all cost

Nova

I force myself out of bed. When Hudson got up to go for a run, I rolled over and went back to sleep. It’s Sunday. Doesn’t he understand Sundays are for sleeping in? Drinking coffee in bed and generally being lazy.

I’m going to enjoy being lazy for a little while longer. As soon as Sprog arrives, lazy days will be over. I can’t wait.

Speaking of Sprog, I need to pee. Again.

When I finish in the bathroom, Hudson still isn’t back from his run. Welp. I’m awake now. I might as well get a load of laundry started. Hudson wants me to send our laundry to the resort laundromat, but I would never take advantage of his position as the owner. I can do laundry.

I’m checking all the pockets are empty before I throw the clothes into the washing machine when I feel a crinkle from the back pocket of Hudson’s jeans. I pull out the paper and set it on the washing machine before getting the rest of the load ready.

I switch on the machine and grab the piece of paper intent on putting it on his desk in his office. I’m not going to read it. It’s none of my business.

I set the paper on Hudson’s desk and start toward the hallway. But I can’t stop staring at the piece of paper. What is it?

It’s probably just some boring work thing he forgot was in his pocket. But there was nothing in his pocket when we walked to the restaurant last night to meet Seth. I know since I couldn’t keep my hands off of him. It was his fault. He’s the one who kissed me. I can’t help it if his ass is too sexy to not touch.

It has to be something Seth brought him. But what would his former teammate bring him?

The curiosity is killing me.

“Fine! I’ll look!”

I march to the paper and unfold it. Offer. Offensive Coordinator. Starting salary. Bonuses.

I collapse on the office chair. Hudson was offered the position of offensive coordinator for his old team for an obscene amount of money and he didn’t tell me.

There’s only one reason he wouldn’t tell me. He’s going to accept the position.

He’s leaving me and Sprog.

I knew this would happen! I knew he would break my heart!

Naomi was right. I’m a nobody from Nowheresville and Hudson is a star who should shine bright. He shouldn’t be stuck here with me because I’m pregnant. I need to let him go.

I march to the bedroom. I can pack and be out of here in no time. There’s no reason to prolong the pain. Ripping the bandage off is better.

“Hey,” Hudson greets as he walks toward me in the hallway.

I was in such a tizzy I didn’t hear him come home.

“I’ll be out of your hair in fifteen minutes.”

“What?”

“You’re right. Fifteen minutes is too little. Thirty minutes.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“Okay, fine. More like an hour. I’ll message my friends. If they come, I’ll be faster.”

Hudson shackles my wrist as I try to pass him. “You’re not making any sense, Nova.”

“I’m not making sense! I’m not the one who’s keeping secrets!” I tug on his hold but he doesn’t release me.

“You need to slow down. Stress isn’t good for the baby.”

I push up on my tiptoes to get in his face. “All you care about is the baby. You don’t care about me.”

“What are you talking about? I care about you.”

“Because I’m growing your baby inside of me. But don’t you worry. Me and the baby will be out of your hair momentarily.” I tug on his hold again. “As soon as you let me go.”

“I’m not letting you go,” he growls. “I’m never letting you go.”

“Really?” I throw my free arm in the air. “How is that going to work when you’re off galivanting with the team while I’m here on Smuggler’s Hideaway being a boring mom and beer salesperson?”

“Galivanting?”

“It means—”

“I know what it means,” he says and cuts me off. “What I don’t know is why you’re talking about me off galivanting.”

“I saw,” I seethe.

“Saw what?”

This time when I yank on his hold, it works and I manage to retreat a few steps from him. “You’re leaving me.”

“You have to help me out here.”

“Help you? You want me to help you get a job that earns one million dollars a year? Are you out of your mind?”

“Shit,” he swears under his breath.

“Now you get it. And I need to leave.”

He blocks my departure. “You are not going anywhere.”

“I’ll go wherever I want.”

“I’m not going anywhere either.”

“Of course not. This is your chalet.”

“Listen to me, Sunshine. I am not going anywhere. I’m not leaving. I’m not accepting the job.”

“Why not? Isn’t offensive coordinator your perfect job?”

“I thought it was.”

My heart seizes. I was right. He’s leaving me.

“Sunshine.” He cradles my face with his hands. “Hear me. I thought it was. I was wrong. Football is my past.”

“But you always sound full of regret whenever I bring up your football career.”

He cringes.

“Exactly. Like that!”

He blows out a breath. “Can we sit down?” He doesn’t wait for my answer before picking me up and carrying me to the bedroom.

“You can’t carry me around without my permission.”

He lays on the bed and settles me on top of him so I’m straddling him.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have carried you without your permission but you were swaying and it scared me.”

“Oh.”

“Can I speak now?”

I shrug. “You can speak, but it won’t change a thing.”

“Sunshine, what I have to say changes everything.”

A tiny spark of hope ignites in my belly. I try to extinguish it. Having my hopes crushed will make things hurt even worse than they already do.

“I did regret the end of my football career. I thought being an athlete is who I am. But when Seth offered me the position, I realized an athlete is not who I am, it’s what I was. There’s more to me than my ability to catch a ball or sprint down a football field.”

“Of course, there is. You’re the owner of this resort. A resort everyone on the island thought was doomed to fail.”

His brow wrinkles. “The smugglers thought I was doomed to fail?”

“Have you seen the price of your rooms? And the chalets cost even more. Most tourists to Smuggler’s Hideaway stay in the Mermaid Hotel and go to the Rumrunner for two-dollar beer night. Your hoity-toity resort wasn’t a step up. It was another floor all together.”

“The smugglers thought I was going to fail,” he mutters.

“But you didn’t.” I clear my throat. “There’s clearly more to you than football. There always has been. You practically raised your brothers. You’re a great son. All of your employees rave about your management skills.”

“They do?”

I frown at him. “Don’t beg for compliments. It’s unbecoming.”

“I wasn’t begging for compliments.”

“But if you want to accept this position, I’m not going to stand in your way. Which is why I need to leave.”

My hands tremble and my eyes are itchy but I’m not standing in his way. If this is what Hudson needs to be happy, I’ll make sure he gets it. All I want is for him to be happy. Even if it’s not with me.

I start to climb off of his lap but he clamps his hands on my hips to stop me.

“I’m trying to tell you I don’t want the position, Sunshine. I don’t want to leave you or Sprog. I love you.”

My mouth drops open. “What?”

He uses a finger to close my mouth. “I love you. I think I’ve known it for a while, but I was afraid.”

“Afraid of what? I’m not scary. Besides the one time with the high school principal but really, she should have known not to enter the office when the door wasn’t locked.”

He chuckles. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, my crazy girl. But I wasn’t scared of you. I was scared I’d ruin us. I’m good at ruining good things.”

“What good things have you ruined? If you say your football career, I’m going to throat punch you.”

He barks out a laugh. “You’re going to throat punch me? I tell you I love you and this is your response?”

“I love you, too, but you know this. What you don’t seem to know is that you don’t ruin good things and you’re more than your football career. Someone has to set you straight.”

“And you’re the person who’s going to do it.”

I shrug. “I think I signed up for the position when I fell in love with you.”

He draws his hands up my sides, skimming along my breasts, until he reaches my neck. “I love you, Nova. I don’t deserve you. I’m a grump and you’re sunshine, but I’m not letting you go.”

I wrinkle my nose. “You’re not always a grump.” He smiles and I point at his face. “You smiled. Thanks for proving my point.”

“I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.”

I smile. “Same.”

“There she is, my sunshine.”

He uses his hold on my neck to pull me close and molds his lips to mine. I moan and he thrusts his tongue into my mouth. I love how he kisses me as if he can never get enough. As if he loves the taste of me.

I understand since I love the taste of him, too. I love being surrounded by his sandalwood scent and feeling his warmth against my body. His hard muscles against my soft curves.

He pulls back and places his forehead against mine. “What do you say to a shower together?”

“I’ll never say no to a joint shower.”

He lifts me off of his lap. “Just try not to drown me this time.”

“I make no promises,” I sing as I rush into the bathroom. He chases after me.

I hope he always chases after me.