13. Hudson
Chapter 13
Hudson
The next morning, I stared unseeing out at the ocean as I replayed the day before in my head. I’d woken up early but gave up trying to sleep when the anticipation of seeing Evan set in. Not to mention, my erection refused to subside.
The memory of Evan’s mouth on mine and how his hands explored my body made it impossible to sleep. With no other choice, I’d taken myself in hand as thoughts of him stroking me off sped things along.
For the first time in over twenty years, I was experiencing excitement and intense feelings for someone other than Carrie.
It had been two long years since she’d died, and I’d worked through my grief. I’d been numb for months while I wondered if she would have gone to the doctor sooner or if I had been around more to help with the kids, maybe she would still be here. Then, the anger took over before I accepted there was nothing we could have done.
Ovarian cancer didn’t leave you many choices. Through all of it, she only thought of me and the kids. She wanted me to be happy and told me more than once to find someone to live my life with.
After two years of grieving, I was ready to do what she asked and move on with my life.
Even though Evan wasn’t the first person to show me that kind of attention, he was the first that I had reciprocated.
There was no doubt the press would have a field day with my new friendship, but I couldn’t bring myself to care. Talking to him made me happy, and he was great with my kids. What more could a man ask for?
Strong, warm hands landed on my shoulders as Evan’s heat radiated toward me. His unique ocean scent sent a charge through my body as he leaned in and squeezed my shoulders.
“Good morning. What are you smiling about?” he murmured in my ear. His warm breath caused chills to erupt across my skin. When his hands slipped away, I wanted them back on me.
Turning, I looked into his eyes to see that gorgeous smile and dimple in his chin. “Good morning. This place is beautiful. How could I not?”
“Really?” he smirked, knowing I was lying through my teeth. “I’ll have to remember that.”
We stood smiling at each other like two teenagers with a crush but kept our hands to ourselves. His wavy hair was damp from his shower, and the beard he’d been growing was hot as fuck.
I reached up and ran my fingertips over his jaw. “This is new.”
Evan shrugged and ran his palm over his face. “Do you like it?”
“Very much so.”
His eyes sparkled as he stepped closer until my back was against the glass. And just as he leaned in, thundering footsteps came down the stairs, dousing us both in the cold realization that we were not alone in this big house.
Evan sighed wistfully as one side of his mouth turned up in a smile before he turned to head into the kitchen.
“Want coffee?” he asked over his shoulder.
I cleared my throat and nodded. “Yes. Please.”
Jack came down first. He looked from me to Evan with a furrowed brow. I was warm all over, and my skin tingled from Evan’s proximity. But I was sure he didn’t see that.
“You okay, Dad?”
I smiled and nodded. “Yeah, I’m fine. Where’s your sister?”
Jack shrugged. “I don’t know. Upstairs somewhere. I heard the water running.”
Nodding, I put my hand on his shoulder. “Ready for your big day?”
My son nodded, then looked over at Evan. “Should I eat before we go? I don’t wanna throw up out there.”
Evan laughed. “You should definitely eat. Do you like eggs? I make a pretty good western omelet if you’re interested.”
Jack’s face lit up.
“Yeah, sure. That sounds good,” he said, moving to the kitchen. “Can I help?”
My eyes went wide at his offer, making Evan laugh. Jack turned around and glared at me.
“What?” my petulant teenager asked with attitude.
I held up my hands. “Nothing. I’m just surprised. That’s all.”
His face morphed into a scowl, but before he could lash out, Evan put his hand on his shoulder and steered him toward the kitchen.
“Hey, calm down. Grab the eggs out of the fridge, would you? And the cheese. We’re going to cook a high-protein breakfast prescribed by the team nutritionist.”
Jack glanced up at Evan, and I recognized that expression. It was the one I wore around him, too. He had that effect on people.
My phone buzzed in my pocket. Reaching in, I took it out to find my security checking in.
“Good morning, Thomas,” I said, walking out onto the deck.
“Good morning, Governor. I’m calling to verify the schedule for today and to let you know we’re ready whenever you are to head to the stadium.”
I smiled. “Thank you, Thomas. Nothing has changed. I’ll call you when we’re ready to leave.”
“Thank you, sir.”
I ended the call just as Erin came down the stairs. I watched as she walked into the kitchen and took a seat on a barstool. Evan smiled and poured her a glass of orange juice, then leaned across the counter as Jack cracked eggs into a bowl. They talked for a moment before Evan looked up at me. His smile was warm and spoke to the ease he felt around them.
When he turned away, I turned to look out at the water, crashing against the rocks below. The tide was in, and the beach had all but disappeared.
Footsteps behind me alerted me to my company. I turned as Evan handed me a cup of coffee.
“Thank you,” I said, looking down at the perfect ratio of creamer to brew. “How did you know I liked cream in my coffee?”
“Erin told me.”
I watched him as I tasted his creation and groaned when the dark roast with sweet cream hit my tongue.
“That’s really good.”
I took another sip as Evan laughed. “Sounds like it. Is everything okay?”
“Yes. Thomas was checking in.”
“Cool. Will you need to ride with him? Or can you guys go with me in my car?”
I smiled. “We can ride with you as long as they’re behind us.”
“Excellent. Let’s eat so we can go.”
Evan pulled out his phone from his pocket as I followed him back inside. He typed out a quick message as he headed for the kitchen.
“Okay, chef, let’s get it going. We have a workout and practice to attend today.”
A sense of calm settled over me as I took a seat next to Erin at the bar and waited for breakfast to be served.
“This place is bussin’,” Jack mused as we walked into the player’s entrance to the Storm Stadium.
I frowned. Bussin. Bussin? Evan winked at me.
“Yeah, it’s state-of-the-art,” he replied, giving me some context for what my kid was saying. I wasn’t as up-to-date on teenage slang as I probably should be, and it made me feel old.
I trailed behind the three of them as they walked through the hallway toward our first stop. The Storm’s locker room was huge with banner partitions between each locker.
“Which one is yours?” Jack asked Evan.
“It’s over here.” He pointed to the third partitioned space. “This one next to me is Lennox’s.”
“Is he your ride or die?” Jack asked, looking around.
Evan glanced at me with a smile on his face. “Yeah, he is. Both of us were in the same draft class, but not the same age. Been friends ever since.”
I glanced around at the vast number of leather chairs and sofas scattered around the room. The ceiling was painted with a swirling hurricane, and the carpet on the floor was the same color as the ocean water.
“I’ve got something for the three of you.”
I turned back at his words with a curious grin. Evan pulled out three duffle bags, handing the first one to Jack, then one to Erin, before handing the last to me.
“I thought you guys could use some Storm merch.”
My son’s face lit up as he took a seat at Lennox’s locker and unzipped the duffle bag. He pulled out three jerseys in the team’s colors, with number eighty-four and Ellis written across the back.
“Wear one of those when you come to watch us play,” Evan told him. “We threw in some shirts and a jersey for you to wear today if you like. It’s got your name on it.”
Jack dug around in the bag and pulled out a bright blue jersey with Gatlin on the back.
“Daddy, look!” Erin pulled out her own jersey with squeals of delight.
I laughed and looked over at Evan. His smile was breathtaking, and when he held my stare like that, my heart skipped a beat.
“Thank you,” I mouthed silently as Erin squeezed me around the waist.
Evan nodded and gestured toward my bag. “You have my jersey, too.”
Laughing, I looked in my bag. “I’ll definitely wear it sometimes. Maybe when I’m gardening.”
He smirked, knowing I was full of shit.
When Jack slipped into his jersey, he looked up at Evan with that familiar grin again. “Thanks, Evan. This is really cool.”
He held out his hand to shake, but Evan wasn’t having it. Jerking him forward, he hugged him tightly, making Jack laugh.
“Come on, slowpokes. We’ve got a game to play.”
He pointed to the door as Jack and Erin led the way. I looked over at him as he trailed behind them with me.
“Thanks for all of this.”
He bumped his shoulder with mine. “You’re welcome. But your bag has something special in it.”
“Yeah? What’s that?”
I don’t know what I was expecting, but the contents of the big brown envelope weren’t it.
“Four family passes. To all sixteen games.”
I huffed out a laugh. “Evan?—”
“I know what you’re thinking,” he said, stopping inside the mouth of the tunnel. I turned and looked at him.
Evan took my hand and pulled me out of view of the field. He leaned against the wall, then slid down to widen his legs.
Reaching for my hips, he pulled me close.
“I want to see you socially, Hudson Gatlin. And personally. You live on the other end of the state, and this way, you have no excuse.”
My cheeks reddened as every neuron in my brain fired simultaneously. This beautiful man wanted me, and I was dumbfounded. All I could do was nod, which Evan found hilarious.
“Damn, Governor. I’ve made you speechless for the second time in less than twelve hours.”
I chuckled and ran my hand over my neck as I found my kids on the field, well out of earshot.
“Yes, well, you have that effect on me.”
“Good.” He slipped a hand down my left arm until he squeezed my fingers. “I’m going to work hard to make sure that never changes.”