Chapter 8
Hudson tipped back a beer, laughing with his buddies on the beach that Saturday as Sawyer told them about a date gone wrong the other night. Apparently, the woman had just broken up with her boyfriend, and the guy was pissed when he saw her out a few nights later with Sawyer. While his friend’s antics were amusing to listen to, and Sawyer seemed to never have a dull story, Hudson hadn’t been feeling it lately. He found himself no longer into the bar scene that had been his game for so long, and even if a pretty woman approached him, he just wasn’t interested in bringing her home.
His gaze briefly scanned over his group of friends. Aaron had arranged for the team to get together, and Hudson had a feeling that Emersyn would be staying here in Oahu permanently. While she hadn’t made any such announcement to the group yet, she was all smiles, beaming at his teammate as they stood slightly apart from everyone, talking and seemingly lost in their own little world.
Hell.
Half of his teammates were in a relationship now. His team leader Wyatt was cozied up with his fiancée Callie, and Austin was here with Alexa. Hudson, Sawyer, and Ryan were the only single guys left. Emersyn’s laughter trailed across the sand, and his gaze briefly swept her way. She looked a damn lot like her sister, but he wasn’t attracted to her the way he’d been with Layton. And there he went again, thinking about the beautiful, sexy blonde he’d slept with a month ago. He’d kept his questions about her casual ever sense, not wanting to ask Emersyn too many details, but he also sensed Aaron was onto him.
Hudson couldn’t help it. The idea of her going back to her old life, dating some other guy—kissing him, letting him strip her bare—made Hudson see red. He had no hold over her, no right to feel that way, but the mere thought of Layton with another man was like a punch to the gut. And wasn’t that a fucking reality check. He’d almost texted her a handful of times, wanting to tell her something funny or see how she was doing. Ask if she’d nearly dropped any other huge boxes. She sold homes, however, and didn’t typically help her clients move.
Shit. He should’ve looked her up online. Hudson wasn’t on social media, but didn’t all realtors have a website these days? Maybe seeing her photo would’ve been the kick in the ass he needed. He’d take one last look at those pretty blue eyes and just—move on.
“You should give up, Sawyer,” Ryan said as he chuckled. “You have the damn worst luck with the ladies. Did that guy actually try to throw a punch?”
“Nah,” Sawyer countered. “She told him off, and I ended up taking her home. The pancakes she made me the next morning were almost as good as the sex.”
Ryan nearly choked on his beer.
Callie eyed Sawyer thoughtfully, not seeming to believe the playboy attitude he had. “I don’t know, Sawyer. You play a good game, but when you fall, you’re going to fall hard.”
“And I can’t wait to see it,” Alexa said with a peal of laughter. “You act like you don’t give a shit, but it’s all for show. I think you’re secretly a big softie inside.”
“Nothing about me is soft,” Sawyer countered with a wicked grin. “If you ladies weren’t already dating my buddies, I’d let you take a ride and see for yourself.”
Alexa burst into laughter. “You wish,” she said.
“Can it,” Wyatt told Sawyer, shooting him an irritated look.
Aaron walked over to the group. “Guess the party has already started over here,” he joked. “I figure you’ll be happy with the newest arrival,” he added, looking smug as he glanced at Hudson.
“How’s that?” Hudson asked, taking a pull of his beer.
Aaron nodded toward where Emersyn was standing with another woman, and Hudson did a double-take. “Holy shit. Layton’s here?”
At that moment, she looked directly at him, and he felt a strange tug in his chest at seeing her for the first time since they’d slept together. She looked so pretty it almost hurt. Her blonde hair blew in the breeze, and she had on another little sundress, hugging those curves he loved. Her cheeks pinkened slightly as their eyes met, and he recalled how gruff his voice had been as he’d growled in her ear, telling her to come for him. He’d given her sweet little clit a pinch, and then she’d gone wild, climaxing in his arms and crying out his name like he was the only thing holding her together.
Was she remembering that night as well? No doubt. It had been a private moment between the two of them, something only they shared. Yet right now, Hudson felt like the entire beach could see right through him, know exactly how he felt about this woman.
He was moving without thought, walking toward the sisters without waiting for an explanation from Aaron. His teammate had clearly known she was coming, and there’d been no reason for Aaron to tell him. Not any reason Aaron knew about, at any rate. Layton paled slightly as Hudson approached, and he felt a surge of protectiveness wash over him. Did she think he was going to be a dick to her? No doubt she probably had trust issues given her prick of an ex, but hell. Hudson might’ve claimed her without a single regret, enjoying an illicit night together as they’d made wild love on the beach, but he wasn’t an asshole.
“Layton,” he said as he got closer, his voice rough. “I didn’t know you were in town again.”
“Surprise,” she said weakly. He searched her gaze, wondering why she seemed so worried. Hudson quickly surveyed the area around her. There wasn’t another man standing around, so she hadn’t brought a boyfriend. His gut clenched. Layton wasn’t his. But the idea of her flying with a man to Hawaii was enough to make him want to punch the imaginary guy in the face. A torrent of emotions churned through him.
Hudson didn’t date. He didn’t have relationships. So why the fuck was the idea of Layton in one twisting up his insides? He didn’t know the first thing about what she’d been doing for the past month, and inexplicably, regret churned through him.
She was probably upset he’d never reached out. They hadn’t promised one another a thing, but her sister was dating one of his best friends. He could’ve at least shot off a quick text to see how she was doing back in D.C.
A little blonde girl ran up and handed him a seashell, her hands and dress covered with sand. Hudson awkwardly took it from her, wondering if the child’s mom would be upset with her talking to strangers. “Uh—thanks,” he finally said as she stared up at him with big blue eyes. “Where’d she come from?” he asked in confusion as the child ran back down the beach once more, grabbing some more shells from by the water.
“You don’t like kids?” Emersyn asked after the girl had run off, clearly picking up on his discomfort.
“I don’t think I ever want kids,” Hudson admitted. “I was raised in foster care and—” He shrugged. No sense in bringing up those shitty memories. The women wouldn’t want to hear about getting sent from home to home as a child and teenager, having nothing but a garbage bag to carry around his few belongings. If people treated you and your stuff like shit, you began to feel like that’s all you were worth. Emersyn and Layton didn’t need to know any of that. This was supposed to be a party, not a psychoanalysis of his childhood.
His gaze swung back to Layton, who was beginning to look visibly upset. Hudson frowned. They might not have spoken since their night together, but that didn’t mean he wanted to see her in distress either.
“I need to get going. I shouldn’t have come tonight,” Layton said in a clipped tone.
“Layton—” he started, feeling his heart pound as she was already pulling back. She’d just gotten here. It wasn’t right for her to rush off because of him.
“Good to see you again, Hudson!” she said too loudly, waving and abruptly walking away. He watched her in surprise, his mind trying to play catch up with whatever was going on. Had she expected him to call or text her? They’d both agreed their night together was just that—one night.
He’d obviously handled it wrong if it bothered her this much to see him.
“Come on, baby!” Layton yelled to the little blonde girl with the seashells. “Time to go!”
“What was that about?” Hudson asked, confusedly looking at Emersyn
“Aunt Emersyn!” the child shouted, running toward her with open arms. “We get to see you again soon! Yay!” Emersyn caught her easily, swinging her around as the girl giggled. Layton had paused to watch. To wait for the child.
Hudson did a double-take.
“Aunt?”
The girl was blonde and blue-eyed, just like Emersyn. And just like her mother—Layton.
Layton turned around to call her daughter again, and her eyes briefly locked with Hudson’s. He could see her trying to hold herself together and stiffened, unsure as to what to do. They weren’t dating. He wasn’t her boyfriend. But hell if he didn’t feel like shit for simply standing there when she was clearly upset. He’d held her naked body in his arms. Kissed her tenderly. Been inside her.
“We’ll have to catch up, Hudson,” she said, her voice trembling. “I’ve got some, uh, news to share. And yes, that’s my daughter. Caroline and I are moving to Hawaii.”
***
Hudson muttered under his breath as the conversation continued on around him, suddenly not in the partying mood at all. Emersyn had been mum about Layton’s sudden arrival, only saying that her sister wanted to talk to him soon.
Emersyn and Aaron had disappeared shortly after that, no doubt going after Layton. Layton and her daughter. He was in complete shock that she had a child. Layton had mentioned her divorce and cheating ex-husband, but not once had she told him about her little girl. Hudson didn’t know what to make of that. Sure, they couldn’t know everything about one another in the short time they’d had, but damn. He’d stripped her bare on the beach. Kissed her. Made love to her. It bothered him that he truly knew so little about her.
He wanted to be annoyed that she’d kept it from him, but it’s not like he had any right to know. They’d had sex. There were no promises made. And she’d looked almost haunted by something when he’d seen her earlier. It made him uneasy. Was she sick? In some sort of trouble? If that asshole of an ex was harassing her or something, Hudson would tell him in no uncertain terms that Layton was off limits.
And what the hell did she mean that she was moving to Hawaii? Not even a month ago, she’d told him she couldn’t leave her life back home.
Her life that included being a mother to a little girl.
“What was that about?” Ryan asked, walking over to him with a beer in hand.
The others were gathering at nearby picnic tables, enjoying subs, chips, and drinks, but Hudson had stalked over to the water, trying to get his head on straight as he watched the waves crash on the shore. He was restless, and not in the way he’d been feeling for the past month. Hudson knew exactly what was bothering him now, and it was in the form of a five-foot-four blonde who’d reappeared like an apparition to haunt him, then vanished moments later.
“Dunno. Layton looked upset and said she’s moving to Hawaii.”
“No kidding?”
Hudson lifted a shoulder. “Guess not. She’d mentioned the real estate business is good here. She’s a realtor, but hell. I never thought she’d pack up her stuff in D.C. and actually come.”
“Who was the kid?” Ryan asked. The concern on his face made it evident he’d already guessed.
“Her daughter.”
Ryan let out a low whistle. “Wow. Is she divorced or something? You seemed into her that day we moved Emersyn into her place, but I didn’t know Layton had a daughter.”
“Me either,” Hudson muttered. “I didn’t think I’d ever see her again.”
Ryan studied him. “It looked like she panicked when she saw you walking over. Did something happen between you two?”
Hudson huffed out a breath. “Something happened all right. Or rather—all night. I know what color panties she wears but not that she had a child.”
Ryan looked at him in surprise. “Damn. Didn’t see that coming. Layton didn’t give me the impression of being the type of woman interested in only one night.”
Hudson licked his lips. “Me either, but it just sort of happened. I’d rather not talk about it.”
Ryan chuckled, annoying the hell out of Hudson. “Chicks love to talk, so you’re going to have to get over that shit real quick. Her sister is dating Aaron. It’s going to be hard to avoid Layton if she’s moving here.”
“I’m not avoiding her,” Hudson said, shooting him a glare. “I walked over to say hello earlier, remember? She rushed out of here like the place was on fire—metaphorically speaking given we’re on a fucking beach.”
Ryan shook his head, clearly trying not to smile. “Maybe she’s got it bad and is head over heels in love with your dumb ass.”
“She’s not,” Hudson said dryly. “We even agreed there’s no such thing as love at first sight. Now lust? That’s a different story. I think we were both feeling the chemistry between us. We had a drink the night before the team deployed, and stuff happened. We left on good terms, but damn. I sure as shit wasn’t expecting to see her show up and then pull a disappearing act. I should head out,” he finally said. “Everyone’s in a good mood having fun, and I’m just not feeling it right now.”
“I know a pretty blonde you could call,” Ryan razzed.
“You know what? I will call her. She flies across the ocean, blurts out that she’s moving to Hawaii, then runs off like I’m some asshole to be afraid of. Fuck that noise. She said she had to talk to me, and I’m running around in circles here trying to figure out what the problem is. Well—no time like the present.”
“Atta boy,” Ryan quipped, slapping him on the back.
Hudson glared at him.
“Hey,” Ryan said, lifting his hands up in the air. “I’m just calling it like I see it. Both of you were practically undressing each other with your eyes last month. Layton’s cute. Sweet. So what if she’s also a mom? If she’s moving to Hawaii, go for it.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Hudson muttered. He shouted goodbye to the rest of the guys, then was hustling toward the parking lot. He didn’t like that Layton had rushed off, clearly upset. He’d thought about her for an entire month and now that she was back, he needed to know what was going on.