Chapter 14
HUDSON
“This is so great that you stopped by,” I say, slapping a hand on my son’s shoulder as he walks beside me up the path to my front door.
Drew and Lucy were in the area to pick up an order for Drew’s work, and Drew wanted to deliver a new creation for my house.
Even though I had a hell of a day at summer training, I will always make time for him, especially since I haven’t seen him since his wedding.
When he called this afternoon, there was zero hesitation.
We’ll just order pizza and throw back a beer.
“Truthfully, I knew I would get a free meal out of this,” he jokes. Lucy is in the car quickly finishing up a call.
Drew and I walk through the front door, and maybe I’m so buzzed by the happiness that Drew is here, but I miss the fact that someone is already present in my house.
And as we walk into the kitchen, my entire world shifts.
Piper turns around where she’s standing in the middle of my kitchen. “I thought I would surprise y—”
“Piper, you’re here.”
And fucking rocking it in my old training jersey and heels.
Those pink shoes from the first night we met are on her feet, which contrasts with her legs covered in deep blue stockings because she is clearly matching with my jersey, which she tied just above her belly button, and it’s paired with gorgeous deep blue lace panties.
It takes a few seconds of me admiring this view, because I’ve never seen such a perfect image knowing it belongs to me, before I realize what’s happening.
Piper squeals.
Drew curses, “Oh shit.”
And only then do I understand that my son just walked in on my girlfriend trying to surprise me in a sexy manner that absolutely will be rewarded later.
“Okay, so that whole ‘come and go as you please’ idea kind of took an unexpected turn. This is not how this was supposed to go.” Piper explains, absolutely mortified, I can tell by the shade of red on her face, but she seems to be holding it together.
“Why are you two just standing here?” I hear my daughter-in-law call out from behind me as she arrives, oblivious. “What the...” Her tone changes when she registers the scene.
From the corner of my eye, I already see Drew awkwardly looking away, but I’m quick to storm forward and grab any cloth that is in sight that may help before standing before Piper as her human shield.
But I feel the grin on my face not fading. Is that bad?
“Oh my God. This. Is. Not. Happening.” Piper is embarrassed as hell.
This scene is moving so fast that I’m praying my son and daughter-in-law may erase it from their minds.
“Points for effort,” I mutter into Piper’s ear as I hand her what I grabbed.
“What in the world am I going to do with a tea towel?” she gasps.
I look down at my hand and tilt my head slightly to the side. “Okay, won’t cover much.”
Looking over my shoulder, I see my son has turned around, but Lucy looks like she struck gold and stands there, elated, with her hand across her face doing a half-ass job of covering her view. “I mean, I can’t even tell you how this just fed my inspiration with writing ideas.”
“I mentioned she writes romance books, right?” I quickly clarify to Piper.
Piper gawks her eyes at me. “Maybe we can do the introductions when I have a little more on the coverage front?”
“Oh yeah, sure. Why don’t we give you a few minutes and you can meet us out back?” I suggest, and I know I’m being far too calm about this.
Piper quickly nods and scoots sideways out of the kitchen.
I can’t help myself and I watch her head in the direction of the stairs.
Wow, she is a beauty. But it is way more than that because she wanted to surprise me.
With summer training now in full swing, our ability to chat via text all day is limited, and unless I have a meeting in the city or she can drive out to Lake Spark, then our availability to be with one another is sparse.
But she came out from the city during my busy week to be here waiting for me, and I love the idea of a woman waiting for me at home, even more, if it's Piper.
The clearing of a throat draws my attention back to my other guests.
“Coast is clear,” I declare then turn my attention to Lucy and Drew.
“That’s Piper?” Lucy asks with a wide grin.
“Yep. The one and only.” I smile awkwardly. “What are the chances we can erase the last two minutes?”
“Zero. Fucking zero,” Drew answers, one-toned. “It’s stuck in my brain, and I think I may need therapy.”
I comb my hand through my hair and blow out a breath. “Let’s just order pizza.”
While Lucy and Drew get comfortable outside with drinks, I head back inside to find Piper.
I make it to the stairs just as her feet hit the bottom step.
She’s in jeans and a tank top now, but it doesn’t deter any attraction in the slightest. My hands land on each side of the banister to form a human gate because I don’t want her to step any farther until we have a check-in.
“Piper,” I begin.
“Can I just go hide?” Her facial expression is slightly deflated
I run my fingers along the skin of her cheek. “Nah. I wouldn’t be able to focus knowing you’re here. Besides, I want you to meet Drew.”
“I’m sure with clothes on,” she quips.
She tries to avoid my eyes, but I hook my finger under her chin to draw her sight back to my own. “I love the surprise. I mean, I feel so lucky that it will live rent-free in my head.”
“I’ve probably traumatized everyone else.”
I grin, because of all the things in the world, this is the least of our worries. I must be giving my carefree attitude away, as I feel that I’m smiling to myself.
“Oh my God, you get a complete rise out of this,” Piper accuses me, with her eyes ablaze.
I bob my head side to side in contemplation, knowing she isn’t wrong. I wrap my arms around her middle and pull her flush to me. “A little. You will find the humor in this one day.”
She slaps my shoulder playfully. “How? I am so embarrassed, and I literally made the worst first impression.”
“Only in your mind is it that way. Trust me, they’re laid-back people, and besides, you’re brave, so you can handle this.”
“Hudson, I’m… sorry.”
My face turns puzzled. “For what? Looking like a complete goddess in my favorite old jersey? Don’t apologize.” I glide my hands through her hair to cradle her head. “Now let me finally kiss you.”
I plant my lips on hers and kiss her with what I hope is reassurance, and if I’m being true to myself, then this kiss is selfishness because I’ve missed her.
I don’t like the nights when she isn’t here.
And I just love kissing her soft lips that often taste of some vanilla lip balm, and any stolen moments that I can get with her are appreciated.
She murmurs a sound of delight as she pulls away from my kiss, clearly a tad calmer. “I needed that.” An exhale accompanies her shoulders sinking down.
I kiss her forehead. “Come on, we have pizza and proper introductions to make. It shouldn’t be a long night, as they plan to drive back tonight.
They were in the area, and Drew made a wood shelf for me and wanted to drop it off.
I also need to be at the training facility bright and early, so we won’t be late. ”
“Okay.” She takes the hand I offer because I won’t let her go. “Wait!” Piper pauses us for a second. “I’m meeting your son.”
“And?”
Her eyes grow big and indicate that I need to catch up. “Kind of a big step, Hudson.”
“Wasn’t exactly planned, but I’m not complaining.” I cluck the inside of my cheek because I don’t see this as a big event.
Our train is moving, and I hope she gets on it.
I see the subtle hint of a smile form on her mouth, and it’s my sign to yank her hand lightly to follow me. I feel her hand tighten in my own with every step closer to outside.
“Babe, you may need to loosen the grip. I need this hand for later,” I mutter and smile at the same time as I see Drew and Lucy in our view.
Piper obeys, and I decide my hand is better on her lower back to ensure she doesn’t run away.
The moment we step outside, all eyes are on us. Looking between everyone, I ruefully shake my head, as this doesn’t need to be awkward.
“This is Piper. Piper, this is my son Drew and his wife Lucy.”
Drew gives his signature fingers in the air for a little wave. “Hi.” He uncomfortably half smiles.
“Hi.” Piper’s smile is tight.
“Nice to meet you.” Lucy offers a warm smile.
“I’m sure this will go down as memorable,” Piper says as she flops on an empty chair.
I have to grin to myself as I pick up the bottle of wine on the table to pour Piper a drink. “I think this is turning out to be a great evening.”
“Ignore him. He takes joy from uncomfortable situations,” Drew mentions before taking a sip from his beer bottle.
Lucy is quick to clarify. “I mean, there is nothing to feel uncomfortable about. I think it’s awesome that we got to witness this, slightly out of the box on the introductions, but if you and Hudson are a long-term thing, then I can totally bug my husband that he walked in on his future stepmom who is his age half-naked. ” She grins, completely at ease.
What I love about my daughter-in-law is that her words are 100% genuine and not malicious in any way. I have to laugh, while Piper’s face stays blank, and her eyes don’t blink.
I walk to Piper and hand her the wine while looking over my shoulder to my daughter-in-law. “You know, Lucy, I always knew you would be a good addition to the family.”
“Okay, I’m putting my foot down on both of you dragging this out,” Drew states.
I sit next to Piper and intertwine our fingers. “Message received. Does the shelf fit on the wall?” He went to check when I ordered pizza.
“A perfect fit, the wood is the right shade too.”
“Hand-carved by the greatest,” I add. “By the way, did you have a look at the schedule of which games you want to come to?” I ask him.
He shrugs a shoulder. “Not yet. I’ll get back to you later in the week”