Chapter 10
ten
HUDSON
There are people everywhere and the party hasn’t even officially started yet. Not just staff – though Autumn has hired a whole army of them, thank god, because I’ve seen the full guest list and it’s huge. But my family and closest friends arrived last night, and our close-knit band are together having one glass of champagne before the party officially begins.
I look around, my throat tight, because I’d lay down my life for each and every person here. There’s Autumn and Parker, of course. But Autumn is too busy adjusting Ayda’s braid to drink her champagne. Ayda is dressed as Elsa from Frozen – though a brunette version, because she tried the wig on and hated it.
“You look like you could do with a whole magnum of champagne to cheer you up,” West murmurs. He’s flown in from LA to be here. Which is a minor miracle because he’s the only man I know who has more meetings than I do.
“Just trying to get in the party mood,” I mutter, taking a big mouthful of my champagne.
“Don’t worry, I brought someone to cheer you up. Her name is Sylvie. I think you’ll like her.” West gives me a grin.
“You brought a date for me to my kid’s party?” I frown, not liking that one bit.
“She’s here as my plus one. But don’t worry, she’s very sweet. She loves kids. She’s from a good family. Just your type.” He winks. “And it’s time, my friend.”
I never should have told him how long it has been since I’ve touched a woman. I open my mouth to tell him I can manage my own love life, thank you very much, when I see my brother, Asher, staring at something to my right with such an intense look on his face it makes me jump.
All of us are dressed up to one extent or another. Autumn and her best friend, Francie – who also arrived from the mainland for the party – are in full Disney princess regalia, and West had gone full Prince Charming because the man can pull anything off.
Parker, who I know has been fighting with Autumn as much as I have, finally conceded to wearing a pair of blue dress pants and a brocade jacket, so he looks a little like Prince Charming to Autumn’s Cinderella.
Asher and I, on the other hand, have had the same idea. We’re both wearing suits – because we decided to come as Prince William and Prince Harry.
Basically, we look normal. Or we did until Autumn, who can read us like a book, gave us crowns to go with our designer suits.
Asher’s is in his hand at the moment, because he hates the damn thing as much as I do. He’s still staring past me with that dark gaze though. And when I see what he’s staring at, I frown. Because it’s not what, it’s who. Francine Salinger. My sister’s best friend.
She’s part of our extended family, the same way West and Parker are. But I have no idea what she’s done to make Asher look like he wants to kill her.
“Okay, people are starting to arrive,” Autumn says, patting Ayda’s face. Her eyes are shining with excitement. I hate to admit it, but Autumn was right, this party is exactly what my daughter needs.
I have a natural inclination to keep her safe from harm, but I know that can lead to isolation.
Autumn puts her hand to her ear and nods, and that’s when I realize she’s got an earpiece in. Like some kind of damn Secret Service agent, she murmurs back and stands up.
“Hudson, you need to get to reception to welcome your guests,” Autumn tells me. “Ayda, you can come with me, we’ll go meet the Disney Princesses,” she says to my daughter, because I’ve paid only god knows what to bring a whole hoard of them over from the mainland to mingle with the kids. “Parker, Asher, West, can you make sure the guests are given drinks as they come in?”
All three of them grin. Being next to the drink servers isn’t exactly a hardship. “Sure,” West says, winking at me. “Let’s go, fellas.”
I take a deep breath, walking out of the office to the reception area, where I’m shocked by the number of people who are already milling inside. Luckily, we have enough staff to point them to the ballroom and the double doors beyond which lead to the gardens, where the carousel is running, the bouncy castles are inflated, and a band is playing Disney music from the stage set up next to the dance floor.
For the next half hour I’m greeting locals with their kids, and friends and business acquaintances from all over, who gush about how beautiful the island is, how lucky I am to own this place, and how they’d love to come back to visit when things are quieter.
A blonde wearing a short black dress with a heart neckline, a thick choker on her neck, and sheer tights walks in. Her hair is brushed back from her face, and her heels are like daggers.
“Hi,” she says, walking straight up to me. “You’re Hudson, right?”
“Right,” I murmur.
“I’m your mother,” she says. I frown and she giggles.
“Okay, I’m Princess Diana. In her revenge outfit. The one she wore after Charles admitted he was unfaithful.” She shifts uncomfortably. “West said you were dressed as William. Her son.” She holds out her hand. “I’m Sylvie Armstrong.”
Oh fuck. The woman West talked about. And yeah, he’s right, she’s just my fucking type. A cool blonde, obviously well brought up. And with a killer body.
And I feel absolutely no attraction toward her.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” I tell her.
“And you. Is your daughter here?” She looks around.
“She’s with my sister in the gardens.” I look at her lips, waiting to feel a reaction. Or at least a stirring. There’s nothing.
Dear god, I hope I’m not broken inside. I’ve always had a healthy sex life. Or I did until my life twisted into what it is now. Sure, I’m discreet but I’m a fucking man.
“I can’t wait to meet her. I think you know my father.”
It’s clicking now. “Your dad is Martin Armstrong?” One of the wealthiest men on the east coast. I’ve done a lot of business with him in the past. He’s in his sixties, and from the looks of it Sylvie must be in her early thirties.
“That’s right. We’ve met before, but you probably don’t remember. At one of his parties. We have a lot of mutual friends.”
“I’m sure we do,” I say. “Half of them are probably here.”
She laughs, her eyes crinkling. “I know you’re going to be super busy, but if you have a chance later, it would be great to get to know you better.” She leans forward to kiss my cheek at exactly the same moment my eyes land on a pair of perfect lips and a silver lip stud and my whole body tightens in response.
Skyler Brown walks in, her stride so damn sassy it makes my dick weep. She stands out like a sore thumb in the sea of pastel princesses, because she’s wearing some kind of dark brown leather bodice, laced so tightly it pushes her breasts up so high that I swear she’s a breath away from a wardrobe malfunction.
Her skirt is white and gauzy – so gauzy, in fact, that I can see the outline of her legs through it. It takes every fucking ounce of effort I have not to look to see if she’s wearing panties.
“Excuse me,” I murmur to Sylvie. “I should go greet my other guests. I’ll see you at the party.”
“It’s a date,” she says, looking happy at my words.
But I barely hear her over the rush of hot blood that drums in my ears and pumps to my groin. How could I ever have thought I might be dead inside.
I’m fucking alive and kicking. And desiring.
Striding over to where she’s standing, I nod at Jesse, who’s dressed as Flynn Ryder, which was one of the outfits Autumn tried to persuade me to wear.
But it’s Skyler I’m looking at. Skyler who is looking straight at me, her eyes a challenge, her lips curled into a taunting smile.
Fuck, I want her. Like I’ve never wanted anything else before. I want to make her come so hard the smile melts from her lips, replaced by her screaming my name.
The need is getting almost impossible to ignore.
“You promised me slutty princess,” I murmur, as Jesse walks off to chat with somebody else.
Her smile widens into a grin. “At least I’m dressed up. What are you dressed as? Let me guess. Designer business man who needs a personality transplant?”
I grin. “Prince William, actually.”
“Close then.” She runs the tip of her tongue over her top lip. I’ve never met a woman so unknowingly sensual.
“And who are you?” I ask her, mesmerized by that mouth.
“Xena, Warrior Princess.”
“Of course you are.” I can’t help it, I smile back. Because there’s no way this woman would have come as a Disney princess like all the other women – and girls – here.
“It’s suits you.”
“Is that a compliment?” Her brows lift. “Excuse me while I faint.”
“I’m royalty today,” I tell her. “I have to be nice to everybody.”
“It’s a shame, isn’t it? You should have come as Henry the eighth. You could have ordered all the women to have their heads chopped off.”
“That’s one way of getting the party to finish early,” I say. “A missed opportunity.”
She tips her head to the side. Her dark hair shines beneath the lights of the receptions’ chandeliers. She has a leather crown tied across her brow and around to the back of her hair. “You know,” she says softly. “You’re kind of fun when you take that stick out of your ass.”
“I’m not sure whether that’s a compliment or criticism,” I reply.
“Maybe it’s both.”
My gaze dips to her chest. Her breasts look magnificent. My fingers twitch with the need to trace the swell of them.
“Well thank you. And fuck you.”
She laughs harder. “Always a pleasure.”
“You ready?” Jesse asks, coming back to take her arm. He smiles at me. “Hey, Hudson.”
“Hey Jesse.” I nod at him.
“Sure, I’m ready,” she says, looking at me once more. Her eyes are dark, the same as mine.
Jesse walks off, and she goes to follow, but before she gets too far she turns back to me, putting her hand softly on my chest.
“By the way,” she says, her voice so low I have to lean down to hear her properly. “I’m not wearing any panties. So I guess that counts as kind of slutty.”