Chapter 21
Layton stirred as Hudson climbed out of bed three days later. She groggily blinked, wondering what he was doing in her bedroom, then realized she was still in his. She glanced at the clock on his nightstand. 5:00 a.m. The bed shifted, and he pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. “You fell asleep,” he murmured quietly. “I didn’t want to wake you last night but figured I’d get you up early when I left for PT.”
“Oh.” She sat up quickly, the sheets following to her lap. Hudson’s gaze landed on her bare breasts, the ends of her blonde hair curling around them. He seemed fascinated by her sitting there naked in his bed—never mind that she’d been there last night. And the two nights before that. She gestured for him to toss her something to put on.
“She’s sleeping,” he promised, his voice sincere, but Hudson grabbed a clean tee shirt and handed it to her. She tugged it on over her head, feeling slightly better. If Caroline unexpectedly wandered in, at least she wouldn’t wonder why her mother was naked in Hudson’s bed. Layton had had a tee shirt on now. She wasn’t exactly wearing panties though. Or pajama shorts.
“Are you sure she’s asleep? What if she woke up in the middle of the night and couldn’t find me?” Layton asked, worry growing within her.
“I left my bedroom door cracked open after you fell asleep,” Hudson assured her. She looked at him in surprise, and he lifted a shoulder. “I figured she might need us. Well, she might need you. It’d be harder to hear her with the door shut.”
Inexplicably, tears filled her eyes. “Hey,” Hudson said, sinking down onto the bed beside her. His big hand landed on her bare leg, and he gave her a gentle squeeze. “You were so tired that I didn’t want to wake you. Guess I wore you out,” he added with that sexy smirk that she loved.
“Hudson.”
His smile grew, and she knew he was remembering the various ways they’d made love. Layton covered her eyes in embarrassment, and he chuckled. “Promise I would’ve heard her with the door open. I know mothers have some crazy sense of hearing when it’s your own child, but trust me, I’m fully aware of everything in my own home.”
“But you told me you always sleep with the door closed and locked.”
“It’s not just about me anymore,” he said simply.
She bit her lip, still worried, and he tilted her head up, kissing away the sting. “You’re both safe here, Layton. Actually, all three of you,” he added, pressing his hand to her abdomen. She glanced down at his big hand over the soft cotton of his tee shirt, right up against her stomach, and practically melted. He couldn’t feel or see the baby move yet, as it was far too soon, but she could see how protective Hudson already was.
“You’re still blushing,” he said, his eyes practically drinking her in.
“Well, yeah. Last night—”
“Was fucking awesome,” he said with a grin. “You’re more sensitive everywhere now that you’re pregnant,” he added huskily. “I know we only had one night together before, but trust me, I remember every single moment.”
“Me too,” she admitted, meeting his dark gaze.
“I kind of don’t want you to leave,” he said, growing serious. He was still sitting on the bed, and she knew he needed to get up and get ready. The men trained hard, and Hudson was no exception.
“Me either, but I need to get us settled into our home. Caroline deserves her own room, and my new house is bigger.”
“I know. It’ll just feel lonely without you. You might’ve been sneaking out of my bedroom the other nights, which I totally understand given your daughter, but I liked holding you against me last night.”
“I liked it, too,” she assured him, “but I don’t want to confuse Caroline. She’s already confused enough about the move and not seeing her father.”
“Will he ever see her?” Hudson asked with a frown, clearly unhappy with the other man.
“Two weeks a year, and that’s it. He’ll devote two weeks out of every fifty-two to being a father. How shitty is that?”
Hudson bit back a curse. “I’m sorry.”
Layton shrugged. “Not much I can do. Caroline and I will move into my place—with actual furniture this time—and get settled in. But,” she added, blushing, “I hope you’ll come stay over some nights.”
“You couldn’t keep me away,” Hudson admitted. “And I am still taking you out. Our dinner out with Caroline the other night was fun but not exactly the quiet, romantic evening I’m determined to have with you one night.”
“I know,” she said, warming at the memory. Hudson might think he didn’t like kids, but he was a natural with Caroline. And her sweet little girl already had him wrapped around her finger. Hudson pressed another kiss to her forehead then rose and crossed to his dresser. His navy bedding, dark furniture, and simple décor suited him. It was masculine, just like the man himself, and she could hardly believe she was here in his bedroom.
“Oh, that reminds me. Austin texted me last night after you’d fallen asleep. Some of the girls want to have a BBQ soon. What do you say? We’ll pick a weekend that works for everyone.”
“Sure, that sounds fun. I kind of disappeared quickly at the last party,” she admitted.
“Well, those were unusual circumstances. Aaron and Emersyn will be there, plus Callie and Wyatt. Austin and Alexa of course. I’m not sure about the other guys yet.”
“The single guys,” Layton said with a laugh as she stood. “Em told me that Aaron’s pissed Ryan is always texting his sister.”
Hudson raised his eyebrows, standing there in only his boxers. He’d been naked when she’d fallen asleep in his arms last night, and she wondered if he’d tugged those on in case Caroline came looking for them. For a guy used to being a bachelor, he’d had to change his life rather quickly for them, and she loved that about him.
Loved.
Did she love him? It was way too soon in their relationship to be thinking any such thing, but she knew Hudson was a good guy with a good heart. Even though they hadn’t dated in the traditional sense, all the quiet moments they spent together meant something. Dinners at Hudson’s home. Breakfasts together some mornings—when he wasn’t leaving crazy early for PT. Those days, she’d stay in bed, thank you very much. They’d even played outside together with Caroline. Gone grocery shopping. It almost felt like they were a real family. Nothing had been decided yet. Layton had no idea where their relationship would go. It would hurt if things didn’t work out and she ended up simply co-parenting their baby with Hudson.
But what if something absolutely amazing came from this instead?