While We Waited (Smuggler’s Hideaway #3)

Chapter 35

Baby shower – an excuse for Hudson to spoil his sunshine

Nova

I bustle around the kitchen checking to make sure everything is ready. I want everything to be perfect for the baby shower. I can’t wait to surprise my friends with the gender of the baby.

“Sunshine,” Hudson growls.

“I’ll sit down in a minute.”

He’s been growling at me to sit down every few seconds. He acts as if I’m made of glass since I’m pregnant. As if women haven’t been having babies since the beginning of time.

He grasps my elbow and guides me toward a chair. “You’re nearly eight months pregnant.”

The past months have flown by since Hudson declared his love. Christmas was the best holiday I’ve had since Mom was alive. I missed her something terrible but Hudson was there to hold me when it got too much. And his mom, Emma, is an absolute saint who is beyond excited to become a grandmother.

I place a hand over my belly. “I’m aware.”

“You should rest. You don’t need—”

“Shhh…” I shush him and grab his hand. I place it on my belly. “Did you feel Sprog?”

The baby kicks again and Hudson’s eyes light up. “Sprog is one strong baby.”

“Because Sprog’s daddy is the strongest man I know.”

He smiles and my heart warms at the sight. Hudson is no longer the grumpiest man in the world, but his smiles are still rare and therefore precious to me. He’s precious to me.

“I have a surprise for you.”

I roll my eyes. “No more surprises. You have to stop spoiling me.”

He helps me to my feet. “I love you. I’ll spoil you as much as I want.”

“What if I become a spoiled brat?”

He barks out a laugh. “My sunshine will never be a spoiled brat.”

“I don’t know. Maybe I expect you to buy me a new car every Christmas from now on.”

Yes, a car. Hudson doesn’t do small Christmas gifts.

“You yelled at me in front of my entire family for buying you a car.”

I shrug. “So, what if I did?”

He tweaks my nose. “You will never be a spoiled brat.”

He leads me to the sliding doors to the back patio. “Is the construction on the patio done?”

There was a problem with the support beams for the deck. Workmen have been making a racket for a week now.

“Yes! I was hoping they would finish before the baby shower.”

He pulls the drapes open. “It’s done.”

“Great. We can…” My voice trails off when I realize there’s more than a repaired deck back here. There’s an entire swimming pool. “You put in a pool?”

I yank on the sliding glass doors to open them but they don’t move. Hudson nudges me out of the way before sliding the door open and ushering me outside.

“What do you think?”

“I think you didn’t need to build me a pool. I already agreed to put my house on the market and live with you.”

“And this is me thanking you. I know how much that house meant to you.”

“Not as much as you do.”

He kisses my nose. “Love you, Sunshine. Now what do you think of your new pool?”

I hesitate for a second before giving in and hurrying to the edge of the pool. “It’s gorgeous! I love swimming pools!”

“I know.”

“I can’t wait to swim in it when the weather gets a bit warmer.”

“You can swim in it now. It’s heated.”

I gasp. “Heated?” I toe off my shoe and dip my foot in the water. The warm water. “What time is it? When are the guests coming? Do I have time for a quick swim?”

He laughs as he helps me put my shoe back on. “The guests will be here any minute. You can go for a swim after the party. If you’re awake.”

I slap his shoulder. “No making fun of the pregnant woman for needing her sleep.”

“I wouldn’t dare.” He leads me back inside. Just as the doorbell rings to indicate our first guests have arrived. I go to open the door with Hudson hot on my heels.

“Welcome!” I greet Weston.

He scowls. “I don’t know why men have to attend a baby shower.”

“Be nice,” a woman scolds him.

He sighs before wrapping an arm around her and grinning down at her. “Nova, this is my Scarlett.”

I rub my eyes. “I must be seeing things. Weston Milton with a woman?”

“That’s what I said,” Scarlett quips.

I smile at her. “We’re going to be great friends.”

“Congratulations.” She places a gift in my hands. “I hope you like it. I didn’t know what to get you since we haven’t met yet.”

“Blame him.” I point at Hudson. “He doesn’t want me going to Drunk Poker unless he drives me. Apparently, being pregnant affects your ability to drive. But he did buy me a new car for Christmas.”

“I’m confused. He bought you a new car but he doesn’t want you to drive?”

“Exactly! He makes no sense.”

Hudson kisses my hair. “I’m getting a drink with Weston.”

Weston squeezes Scarlett’s hand. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Go have a drink. I’ll drive home.”

He scowls. “You are not driving home. I’ll have one drink and switch to water.” He kisses her cheek before following Hudson to the wet bar.

“Wait!” I rush after him with the tray of ribbons. “You have to choose sides.”

He stares at the blue and pink ribbons in confusion.

“Blue for a boy. Pink for a girl.”

“You’re revealing the gender?” He rubs his hands together. “What do I get when I guess correctly?”

“Everyone goes home with a goodie bag.” He frowns. “But the goodie bag for the winners is better.”

“How much better?” He glances around. “Where are these goodie bags?”

Scarlett elbows him. “I swear he isn’t always a jerk.”

“I’m never a jerk to you.” He waggles his eyebrows at her and she giggles.

I shake my head. “The mighty Weston has fallen. I wouldn’t have believed it if I didn’t see it for myself.”

“See what for yourself?” Sophia asks as she enters with Flynn.

I point to Weston. “Your brother in love.”

“It’s awesome. I finally have a sister.”

I scowl at her. “I’m your sister.”

She grins at me. “And I’m going to be the best auntie your baby could ever have.”

“You can be the best aunt. I’ll be the best uncle,” Brooks says as he strolls inside the chalet with his brothers trailing behind him.

I sigh. “You’re going to cause our baby to get into so much trouble.”

“It’ll be awesome.” He winks.

I hold up the tray. “Pick your poison. Pink if you think the baby, is a girl. Blue if you think the baby, is a boy.”

Brooks grabs two blue ribbons.

“What are you doing? I’m only having one baby.”

He puts one ribbon back. “Just checking.”

“Ha!” Sawyer holds out his hand. “You owe me money.”

Hudson growls at his brothers. “You better not be betting on our baby.”

“They’re betting on whether you’re carrying twins and whether the baby is a girl or a boy,” Logan says.

Owen glares at him. “Tattletale.”

“Don’t make fun of your brother,” Emma says as she joins us with Hudson’s dad.

I glance around and notice the chalet has completely filled up with our friends and family. I wave to Maya who’s standing by herself in the corner. She’s not good with crowds even if she knows most of the people in attendance.

“Listen up!” Hudson hollers. “We’ll be revealing Sprog’s gender today. Pick a blue ribbon for a boy or a pink ribbon for a girl. Pick one ribbon only.” He glares at his brothers. “There is only one baby.”

I walk through the crowd ensuring everyone has a chance to pick a ribbon. Once everyone has one, I return to Hudson.

“We’re going outside for the reveal,” Hudson announces before ushering everyone outside onto the new patio.

“Awesome!” Owen shouts when he sees the pool. “We’re going to have epic pool parties here.”

Hudson wraps an arm around my shoulders and leans in to whisper in my ear, “Don’t worry. I already have contractors on the ready to build a pool at my parents’ house.”

“Your brothers are welcome to swim here.”

“My brothers are hellions.”

I point to where Brooks is stripping off his clothes. “I kind of figured.”

Hudson shakes his head before leading me to the board filled with balloons. I had planned to do the reveal inside but since the construction on the deck is done, we can do this outside.

I glance around at our guests. “I don’t think giving our guests darts is such a great idea.”

He kisses my hair. “Don’t worry. I won’t let anyone harm you.”

I’m not worried about me. I’m worried Smuggler’s Hideaway emergency services can’t handle fifty people needing stitches all at the same time.

Hudson picks up the tray of darts before explaining how the gender reveal works. “Everyone gets one chance to hit a balloon. One balloon reveals Sprog’s gender but which one?”

“Me first.” Chloe rushes to the front of the line and throws her dart. Water splashes out of the balloon but no color. “I want to go again.”

Sophia shoves her out of the way. “My turn.” Her balloon doesn’t have any color either.

Paisley pushes her glasses up her nose as she studies the board. She takes aim and hits a balloon on the bottom row. It bursts and the color pink explodes.

Maya rushes to me and throws her arms around me. “A girl. You’re having a girl. I’m so happy for you.”

I wipe the tears from my eyes. “I always wanted a little girl.”

“I’m going to spoil your daughter rotten.”

“You need to get in line.” I thumb my finger at Hudson. “Daddy is going to spoil his little girl rotten.”

Hudson frowns as he marches to me. “Why are you crying?”

“Because I’m happy.”

He wipes away the tears. “I don’t want you to cry.”

“Too bad I’ll cry if—

“Cannonball!” Brooks shouts and I glance over in time to watch him jump into the pool. He splashes several guests who laugh and begin stripping.

“Fuck,” Hudson mutters. “I’ll get him.”

“Let him be. He’s having fun. It’s a party.”

“It’s supposed to be your baby shower.”

“It still is. We revealed Sprog’s a girl. I got tons of presents. And everyone’s having a good time. The baby shower is a success.”

I spot someone standing to the side of the chalet.

“Is that Caleb?”

Hudson nods.

“What is he doing here?”

“He lives in one of the chalets on the edge of the property. I couldn’t not invite him.”

“Lives in one of the chalets? Caleb is stationed overseas.”

Hudson shrugs. “I guess he’s back home.”

“But he didn’t tell anyone.”

“I didn’t know it was a secret.”

“I need to find Maya.” I scan the crowd but I don’t see her. “She should be warned he’s home.”

Hudson motions to Maya marching toward Caleb. “You’re too late.”

I start toward her but he shackles my wrist. “Let them work it out for themselves.”

“You’re home!” Maya shouts and throws herself at him.

He catches her but sets her on her feet before stepping back. “I knew I shouldn’t have come to this party.” He marches away. Maya chases after him.

“I should…”

“Let them be. And enjoy your party.” Hudson motions to the pool where his brothers are now playing a rigorous game of volleyball against my friends.

I sigh. “I love the family we’ve created.”

He places a hand over my belly. “I love our little family.”

I smile up at him and he kisses me. My lips tingle and my belly warms. This man can get me excited with a simple kiss. I hope he always can.

Because I’m never giving him up. I tried once. It didn’t take.