Chapter Three
Brianne
“I’m not only asking you out, I’m asking you to come to New York with me,” he says.
My eyes widen at the out-of-the-blue question.
“My cousin Serena is getting married, and I’d like you to go with me.
” He picks up the roll of gauze and starts to wrap my other hand.
“Serena and I are close. She’s the one relative who completely gets that I want to do my own thing outside family expectations because she’s the same way.
She met her soon-to-be husband at the gym she works out at.
He’s a trainer. Suffice to say, her parents are paying for this wedding with gritted teeth. ”
I glance at him in understanding. “Braden mentioned your family is…” I trail off in search of words that sound nicer than upper-class snobs and can’t find any.
“Stuffy? Full of themselves? High and mighty with ridiculous expectations? Yes, that’s them.
” He shakes his head and laughs, but I hear the pain he hides beneath that forced sound and the wounded expression he can’t completely conceal.
“That’s the drawback to attending, but there are perks, too.
” He finishes bandaging my hand and puts the gauze and tape on the counter.
“Oh, yeah? Name one,” I say because I am seriously considering saying yes.
“Me. I’ll be by your side.”
Arrogant man, I think with amusement. “Your cousin can add someone so close to the event?”
He nods. “I spoke to her this morning, and it’s no problem. Because she loves me.” He raises his eyebrows and studies me. “Well?”
I’m not impulsive. I think things through and go over the pros and cons in my mind.
I just do it faster than most people, because in my business, I have to make split-second decisions to protect a player, fix a problem, or cover up a mistake.
Where the press, paparazzi, and reputations are concerned, I often have to act quickly.
In this case, Hudson isn’t a stranger. I like him, am seriously attracted, know he kisses better than any man I’ve met, and he isn’t using me for anything.
The only cons are my annoying brothers, but driving them crazy is also sort of a plus in my mind.
Hudson and I can have fun in the city, I’ll learn about him without Braden interrupting, and I’ll get to meet his enigmatic family and learn what makes him tick.
“We’ll be staying in a hotel and can get separate rooms if that’s what’s holding you back,” he says in the wake of my silence.
I clasp his face between my hands—more like between my fingers, sparing my palms—and ask, “What if I don’t want separate rooms?”
A sparkle lights his eyes. “Then I’ll book one room,” he says in a husky voice. “You’re sure?”
“Are you trying to make me second-guess myself?” I ask with a teasing grin. I am already certain.
If just a kiss generates the kind of heat that kept me tossing and turning, what will a joining of our bodies do to me? I want this weekend for myself. I deserve it.
I haven’t been with a man in over a year, someone I chose to scratch an itch, so to speak, and have learned my vibrator is a better choice.
No one gets too close. Not since the last relationship I had.
I thought I’d been dating a salesman with no ties to the sports industry.
In reality, he wanted Damon to endorse a new energy drink his company was producing, and Austin, as Damon’s agent, had already turned him down.
At that point, I’d shut down the idea of relationships and focused on myself. I have a feeling Hudson can decimate that self-made promise, but running the pros and cons, I don’t see a downside.
And when his lips meet mine, I am even more sure. Just like last time, the kiss spirals fast, our tongues intertwining, his hand coming up to grip the back of my neck and hold on tight.
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 the I didn’t remember game. I know their relationship is difficult, and now I can see how it affects Hudson firsthand, 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.
I am perusing the dresses, waiting for my best friend and sister-in-law, Macy, to arrive and help me choose.
I’d met Macy at an exercise class in our local gym, and we’ve been friends ever since.
She’d also married my brother Jaxon in what started out as a marriage of convenience and ended up with them head-over-heels in love.
So now I have my best friend as my sister-in-law, and I love that Macy is family.
A bell rings, indicating someone has entered the store, and I glance up to see Macy walking toward me. Because she owns a website design business and works from home, Macy can make her own hours, and my last-minute request to shop isn’t a problem for her.
“I’m here, but I still don’t know why you need a formal dress.
” Macy, her hair pulled up in a casual bun, wears a pair of leggings and a floral tunic top and looks relaxed and happy, a far cry from the panicked woman she’d been when she’d married Jaxon to help her keep custody of her teenage sister.
I hold up a raspberry-colored gown with what looks like silver clasps on the tops of the shoulders. “Because I’m going to a wedding in Manhattan this weekend. Oh, and I also need shoes, so plan on a long day. Does this color go with my complexion?”
Macy shakes her head. “I don’t love it. Let’s keep looking. And don’t keep me in suspense. This has to be a last-minute trip or you’d have mentioned it sooner. Not to mention have already gone shopping. So what’s going on?”